THE BACKPACK BUILT TO CARRY THE KITCHEN SINK

The North Face tapped into the many guides at Alpine Ascents International to test prototypes over three-day trips on Mount Rainier in the US.

The North Face’s new Prophet 100 was designed for – and tested on – snow-capped mountain summits. But every adventurer hauling a few days of supplies down a trail can benefit from the technology that makes the Prophet not just supremely capable, but one of the most comfortable packs available. The backpack is light (2.58 kg ), and made from abrasionresistant and rip stop fabrics that will last decades, but North Face wanted a pack that made even the ugliest endeavours easier by focusing on the fit, mobility, and balance, says product manager Alex Goulet. ‘It’s built for the ultimate suffer-fests.’ As in, carrying 60 metres of rope, ice axes, and a base camp, including the kitchen, into thin alpine air. The 100-litre aluminium-framed pack (±R5 500) and 85-litre model (±R5 200) are the first to use The North Face’s new Dyno Carry System, which lets users tailor fit without stopping or removing the pack. A tab on the back panel adjusts the pack’s torso length and how close the load sits to your body, which is nice for gradient changes. You can also adjust the sideto-side weight distribution by pulling a buckle on the right shoulder, if you loaded the weight to one side. And a bearing at the base of the pack lets the hip straps pivot up and down with your stride while keeping the weight stabilised.