The North Face Fovero 85

Tested on backpacking trips in Utah and winter camping trips in Colorado, The North Face Fovero 85 is a top pick for high-volume backpacking. The pack is well-designed, with 10 pockets that help to organize should you max out the Fovero’s 85-liter carrying capacity. The adjustability, the load-hauling of the no-nonsense suspension system, and the feature-rich layout of the pack solidified the Fovero as a solid choice—although our testers did take issue with the height of the frame. 

Pros: 

Main access to the central compartment is supplied by a long, wraparound zipper: the L-shaped opening allows for quick location of items thought lost to the belly of this beast.  Additionally, the triple zipper tab system enables you to open up the entire pack, or just the section with those life-saving trail snacks.  

Of the ten pockets present in the Fovero, a tester favorite was the large, flat outer flap, which has two tall narrow zippered pockets that one tester deemed, “useful for water bottles, bars, or almost anything else.” He went on, “The outer flap itself is a great place to store camp shoes, a solar charger, or a rain jacket.” Water bottle holders are one thing that backpack manufacturers can’t seem to figure out, but The North Face has it dialed with the Fovero: at both hips, the water bottle pockets are spacious while remaining snug and secure, and two openings supply the option to carry bottles either vertically or diagonally.  

An 85-liter pack needs to have excellent hip and shoulder padding—once again, TNF hits this nail right on the head, with well-ventilated, comfortably cushioned suspension capable of handling a maxed out load. Additional points were earned by the partition at the bottom of the pack, which our tester found snugly secured a sleeping bag and bulky first aid kit beneath the easy-to-use clip-in panel. Lastly, should the 85-liter capacity not be enough or you need to attach gear like trekking poles or an ice axe, small yet strong lash loops expand your options. 

Cons:

While one tester noted that the torso length adjustment system is intuitive and quick to use, it did inexplicably wiggle loose between uses. He noted, “It’s kind of annoying to shoulder your pack, walk a few steps, and realize the torso length was way off.” Also, our biggest complaint: the metal frame itself is simply too tall. Multiple testers noted the spine of the frame would rub or even bash into the back of the head (especially when looking up), making the backpacker’s classic backwards trucker hat out of the question. This is less of a concern for taller trekkers. 

Tester Comments: “Brain-to-daypack conversion system is brilliant.  Small shoulder straps tuck into hidden compartments under the brain, completely out of the way but ready for use.”

“A really good pack.  Well designed zippers and access pockets allow easy access to everything you need, even if you are carrying 85 liters of gear.”

Key Attribute: Features