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Asolo or Northface backpack?
Thu, 05/10/2007 - 16:28
New Member
Hello Everyone,
This site has been amazing in planning my trip.
It’s the first time i ever do a trip like that and i’m going to western Europe for 60 days.
I’ve been looking at a lot of backpacks lately and i’ve narrowed it down to two:
The Northface Backtrack 70
http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/opencms/tnf/gear.jsp?site=CA&model=AJ4X&language=en
or
The Asolo Navigator 70
http://www.shop.com/op/~Asolo_Navigator_70_Backpack_-prod-42831950
I have tried both of them with weights and i felt confortable wearing both.
The vendors at more than one store didn’t really advise me to go with asolo saying that the quality is not that good, and for a 60 day trip it might break. As for the Northface i’m only hearing good thing about it.
Now there’s like around $80.00 difference between both of them and i’m trying to save up to the last dollar for this trip, but i also want a reliabe pack.
So if anyone can help me with this decison…
Thanks!!
I used an Asolo pack (smaller version of the one you’re looking at – 50L, without the extra zipoff toiletries section). It held up perfectly, with the small exception of one zipper handle breaking off on the very bottom of the pack, to hide the rain cover (which I hardly used, so it wasn’t an issue for me). It was sturdy enough to survive my two month trip. Aside from the zipper, it was practically in the same condition as when I bought it at the end of the trip.
I have a suggestion. Try something by Osprey. I went to my local EMS and tried on a bunch of packs by North face and a bunch of others. The kool thing is that they have this really breathable back suspension system. Check out the atmos 65. I think you might like that, but there are tons more to look at. If your willing to spend the money then I would go with osprey.
http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/AtmosSeriesMens/
I second that Osprey comment. I got one not too long ago and it has so many great features. It has seemed to hold up well also. My girlfriend has an Osprey pack that she uses for school (a smaller one) and has used it for a few years and it still works perfectly.
unless you’re doing some camping i’d suggest trying to find a smaller pack than 70 L
also you’d find a hiking pack more comfortable than these “travel” packs
and i’m sure you’ll discover that if you buy one of these packs that comes with a day pack when you fill up your pack, it’ll be too full to attach your day pack on as well unless it’s near empty
i’d find a comfortable hiking pack, and whatever you want to bring as a day bag
MEC has great hiking packs. the downside would be not having all the fancy zippered compartments
http://www.mec.ca/Pr…
London, Paris, Tours, Caen, La Rochelle, Annecy, Genoa, Venice, Florence, Rome
I have used asolo for 2 two week trips, and I have not had any problems with it. It looks pretty much brand new. I did however just buy a new pack, an osprey, for my upcoming trip. I wanted something smaller, and I heard great things about osprey.
I would second getting a hiking pack, less than 60L too. I got a Gregory Z55 and I am extremely happy with it.
http://gregorypacks.com
I havent used a Norface backpack but everything else i have used of Northface has absolutely amazed me. This stuff is indestructible, it will make this period’s fossils