The Perfect Daypack: Northface Terra 40 Backpack.
Written: Jul 22 '04 (Updated Mar 12 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well designed, durable, easy to use, comfortable, small.
Cons: Small, only for day hikes.
The Bottom Line: This is a great backpack for day hikes, but not much else.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: The North Face Terra 40 Pack Women'S |
Why I bought this.
I needed a backpack that was comfortable to take on day hikes. I was previously using either my camera bag backpack or my REI Alpine. Neither worked the way I wanted for the gear a father needs to carry. So I bought this pack to accomplish my desires.
How I selected this backpack over several others.
I went to REI (of course) to pick up this pack. It was not too busy and a saleswoman came by to help me out. She pulled out every pack that fit my description. She steered me towards cheaper gear but after I requested it she also pulled out two of the most expensive day packs they had. I put about 15 pounds of sand in each backpack and tried each on. Every backpack I tried had a belt that supported the majority of the weight. This was of course a requirement because I did not want to strain my back.
After trying one about 7 backpack I felt this pack was the best pack for under $150 (actually it cost about $80). There were two pack I thought were better but I could not justify the extra $100 they would of cost. It was relatively inexpensive and still provided me the comfort I required.
As for the expensive daypacks, they were nice but they failed to offer anything unique or helpful. They failed to standout. I could not see spending another 80-120 bucks just for something I thought served the same purpose, to allow me to carry gear in a comfortable manner.
How it works
The pack is designed just like my REI New Star Backpack. It supports the majority of the weight on my hips and has several straps to adjust for the load. The basic drawback is it does not carry much weight (not more than 30 pounds in my opinion).
How the straps work.
There are several straps on these types of backpacks to help the user distribute the weight between their shoulders and their hips. The main load should be on the users hips, the body handles weight there better then on ones shoulders. On the top of the pack are two straps behind the head. You tighten these to increase the load on your shoulders. You loosen these to increase the load on your hips. This also brings the pack closer to your main body, if you have them too loose it will feel unbalanced. They work just like every other backpacking pack.
The next strap is located in the front of each shoulder strap. Increasing the tension on these and you increase the load on your shoulders. Because the belt on my pack is not the best I sometimes carry more on my shoulders than what would be recommended.
The belt
The belt is a basic belt but it is still comfortable. It attaches by a pair of clips. I have not had any problems with it and it holds tightly to my waist.
The shoulder straps
The shoulder straps are pretty generic but still comfortable. They can be tightened or loosened to increase/decrease the stress on your shoulders.
The compression straps
There are compression straps on the sides the tighten the gear closer to your body. This is a good thing because the load needs to be right next to your body. This decreasea balance issues and makes the hikes easier for the user.
How well does it breath?
The air circulation on your back is average. It is nothing special but you get a little bit of air to carry your sweat away.
Is it water proof?
In light rain it will do fine with some water soaking the outer layer of the pack. But if you are in a real storm then you need to surround the pack with a poncho or a plastic trash bag. I do not know of a water proof accessory like what my New Star backpack has.
The main pouch
The main pouch is only 2400 cubic inches. This is enough to hold everything a family of 4 needs for a day hike. Hopefully the kids are carrying their own supplies. The pouch only has one opening. There is no side opening and I think it should be designed in future models. Because it has only one opening you may have to empty the entire bag to get to your gear that has fallen to the bottom.
External pouches.
There is an external zippered pouch that generally holds my Platypus pouch for hiking or personal effects when I am using it instead of a suitcase. I have no problem with using it as a hydration pouch. But the problem is that because of the weight of water it can create a balance issue. There is a small liner on the back inside of the pack that can also hold a water bladder. This inside pouch works better for a rectangular bladder like the platypus but I feel the oval 10L MSR bladder fits better on the outside pouch.
The detachable day pack
What detachable day pack. This IS a day pack.
My experiences
I have taken this on several day hikes, a trip to the beach, and as a book bag for school (to carry my teaching material, and lots of it.) I have not had any problems with the bag, just with my implementation of it. I will talk about each below and any problems.
The beach
I took this bag to the beach because it held a lot of junk. With two kids and a lot of junk my wife insisted on taking, it was necessary. I almost wish I brought my backpacking backpack. I just haphazardly stuffed items into the bag and did not notice any problems with the 100 yard walk across the sand. No imbalance issues or sore spots (you can tell even with such a short walk.)
When I walked back to the car, I put the sunshade vertical across the top strapped in. It fell out and I carried it by hand with my chair the rest of the way. I tried to do this with both the sunshade and the chair (before I left the beach site) but there was not enough room. I frequently do this with my mat, chair, or other long items with my internal frame backpack and it works great. This pack just is not big enough.
I also strapped on a bag and the 2 quart water container on the outside. They hanged loosely and flopped around. This is a problem for a 2 mile hike, but was not a problem when trekking across sand in my Tevas. If I was careful in how I attached it I could of carried more weight, I was surprised in how much weight this backpack carried.
I frequently lost things in the various pouches. This is because they are long and deep. Not easy if you want to get at an item quick. But the advantage of these pockets is they do not let sand get into them easily.
day hikes in the desert
I have only taken this to Joshua Tree so my day hike experience is limited. The first time I used it I only used the water pouch. The pouch worked great, but since the weight was so far away from my body the balance issue was not good. I really felt it when jumping off rocks or walking on unstable ground. Next time I will need to tighten the compression straps all the way or pick a different pack.
The other day hike I took I had food and drink for the whole family and it worked fine. It was a light load so not a real test for this pack.
teaching material
I also loaded it with books, overheads, and other teaching material. The bag handled it fine. But this is not a bag you can easily get stuff in and out of . You will need to dump the whole bag to properly get at your material. So it really is only for transporting stuff that will permanently be in the classroom.
Differences between internal frame and external frame backpacks.
In the late 80's and early 90's the internal frame was thought of as superior and the way of the future. All packs would be like this and external frames would no longer be made. This type of limited thinking thankfully died down. Both packs have their strengths and weaknesses. If I was to give an edge to one of these designs then I would have to give the edge to an internal frame.
External frame pros: Easy to pack, lots of exterior space for gear, easier to carry, cheaper.
External frame cons: Can bounce around in rocky terrain, harder to use when off trail,
Internal frame pros: Great for off trail hiking and rock climbing,
Internal frame cons: more expensive, little room to strap items externally, harder to properly pack.
Remember that with a pack this small it has to be an internal frame. I left this section in here because it is relevant to this pack’s performance and an ideal choice for rock climbers.
Dimensions and weight.
Height: 26 inches.
Width: 13 inches.
Length: 9 inches
Weight: 3 pound, 4 ounces
(measurements were made my me using a good cooks scale and an craftsman tape measurer)
Problems.
I have not encountered any real problems with this pack. I love it.
Who is this for?
People that need to carry gear on day hikes and want to carry it in the most comfortable way possible.
How to select a backpack
-You need to go to a store that has lots of different styles so you can compare.
-Then get atleast 15 pound in sand bags (or real gear) and stuff it in the pack before you put it on. (you should also have your hiking boots on.)
-Walk around the store once and see how it feels. Remember that any small soreness will be magnified 100 fold in a real hike.
-Compare the bags and pick the one that is most comfortable, do not worry about gimmicks.
How to load a backpack
Loading an internal frame backpack is simple, you just need to plan it carefully. The main ideas are to keep as much of the weight as possible in the top of the pack and as close to your body as possible. The second thing is to keep the weight evenly distributed on both sides without a lot of shuffling going on internally.
Internal frames are not as comfortable as external frames unless it is packed properly. External frames you do not really have to worry about how you pack it as much. But internal frames are perfect if you do a lot of hopping and climbing because you will be less likely to lose your balance. An external frame will slow you down in those situations.
Warning- Boring stats from REI.com. Here for your convenience.
Approximate volume 2,400 cubic inches
Fits torso 17 - 20 inches
Fits waist/hips 27 - 48 inches
Number of pockets 2 main compartment
Number of stays 1
Dimensions 26 x 11 x 8 inches
Frame material Aluminum
Average weight 3 lbs. 3 oz.
Hydration compatible Yes
Access / Loading Top
Sleeping bag compartment No
Reason for the rating
This is not the best backpack out there but it is a great pack. So I gave it a four. If I took cost into consideration then I would have given it a five.
Summary:
This is a well designed daypack that should carry enough gear for a family of four. It is comfortable, simple, and durable. This is the best daypack for the price.
About outdoor gear in general
From year to year these companies make improvements yet keep the same name. Although I do not know if this is the case with this backpack yet but do not be surprised if some minor descriptions of this product differ from what you may buy. Usually a good salesman can tell you of the yearly improvements and any REI salesman worth their salt will know even more.
Other review you might be interested in.
MSR Whisperlite
Maglite solitaire
REI clipper 2 man tent
Recommended:
Yes
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