Gear Review: North Face Backtrack 50
I’ve used the North Face Backtrack 50 for the last two years. It is an effective pack system designed for world travelers that is built with quality materials and is designed to withstand a fair amount of strain over a prolonged period of time.
It is also the first pack system with a detachable day-pack that I haven’t hated.
Background
Packing for travel is two parts psychological, one part physical and one part intelligent design. “The things you own end up owning you in the end,” a wise but violent man once quipped.
When left to my own devices, I bring (on average) six pounds of “stuff” that I have no use for and by journey’s end have discovered I’ve not used or touched at all. Clothes, toiletry supplies, camera lenses, et cetera, et cetera. That means the two mile death march to find a hostel with vacancy, or mad dash to catch the last ferry/bus/plane is encumbered by 6 additional pounds of crap whose sole function is to bog me down.
The inefficiency of it all is enough to bring tears to my eyes.
Thus, I’ve concluded my packing system needs to be geared towards containing the aforementioned packing tendencies while maximizing agility and accessibility. This criteria demands a pack that limits you to less than 40 liters (or 2440 cubic inches) of room.
The concept basically forces you lug less than 30 pounds of equipment on your back. I’ve found 20 pounds is optimal for my purposes. Longer trips (or short trips, for that matter) mandate different load outs, but the concept of traveling light is key.
The Bag
The North Face Backtrack 50 was North Face’s answer to numerous travel bags marketed toward the “world traveler,” a niche market currently dominated by Eagle Creek. These are bags not designed for scaling Everest but rather designed for a great diversity of environments — airport hopping, camping in the rain, long bus trips and withstanding rough treatment from handlers unconcerned with your bag’s safety.
I discovered the Backtrack 50 after a disastrous trial run with my old top-loading backpack I’d been using as a holdover from my Boy Scout days.
The bag consists of a side loading compartment that contains absolutely no dividers or constraints, allowing you the freedom to pack as you see fit. This freedom is only constrained by the limited packing space permitted. The main bag gives you 2250 cubic inches (37L) while the detachable day pack provides 800 cubic inches (13 liters).
The bag’s flap has two zippered compartments on the inside and outside. I usually keep my notebook and a language book in the inner compartment. The outer pocket, substantially smaller than the inner, contains my Petzl Zipka Plus Headlamp for easy access.
Additionally, the bag features a hidden pocket for a wallet or passport tucked under an inseam on the back of the pack.
The bag can be converted from a backpack to a large shoulder bag thanks to the inclusion of a secondary flap that covers up the main straps. A shoulder strap is included — and despite the clasps being made out of heavy duty plastic they’ve withstood 2 years of rigorous use. Lastly, attached to the secondary flap is a rain cover that shields the bag from the elements — weather or airport conveyor belts.
The suspension system is top notch; and is by and away the most comfortable backpack I’ve worn to date. The Tubular 6061 V Frame gives the pack a comfortable shape while keeping the frame light whether its strapped on your back or swinging by your side. The air mesh lining provides amazing comfort and ventilation.
When packed correctly, the Backtrack 50 allows you maximum agility for navigating crowded roads when you’re in a hurry. As someone who hates acquiescing to the flow of the crowd (which you are consigned to do with a large bulky bag), this measure of freedom is simply priceless.
Durability
Two years of use have given my bag a few superficial scars from being checked in at airports. (Yes, it is carry-on size for those leery of checking in bags.) Structurally the bag is in the same shape as it the day I received it from Moosejaw. There is no fraying or tearing at the seams. The heavy duty zippers (fully lockable, of course), and the inclining shielding them, are a joy to use.
The day-pack detaches with ease. Even when fully loaded, the day-pack fits smuggly against the main bag. When the day-pack is detached, the straps holding it reattach to the main bag in a very streamlined manner through a series of secondary holding clips normally hidden when the day-pack is on.
The secondary flap and rain jacket works as advertised. Although I would note that the first couple of times you use it will inevitably take longer to cover the bag either into a shoulder bag or protect it from the rain.
The aforementioned plastic clips on the detachable shoulder strap remains the only part I have any concern with. I predict it will be the first thing that breaks; although when that will be I cannot say. I originally predicted it would break a year ago and it hasn’t yet. When I use the bag as a carry-on, I always have it in shoulder bag mode.
Final Assessment
The North Face Backtrack 50 has met every expectation I had when I first forked out $250 for it back in 2007. It’s a lean, agile system that enables you to travel fast and hard with minimal maintenance. It is a simple pack lacking that lacks a lot of frills of competing bags.
Many will find its limited cargo capacity a drawback, however for those who enshrine traveling light as a virtue will be hard pressed to find a similar pack system that surpasses the Backtrack 50. Ultimately, it is simplicity in design and quality in construction that makes the Backtrack a 50 a success.
November 6th, 2009 in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
