Dan Slater takes the The North Face Hydra 38 for a test drive.
"I thought Macpac's Torlesse 35 day pack was light until I picked up the featherweight Hydra, which tips the scales at a smidgeon under one kilogram thanks to its 70D IronLite nylon shell and minimal T6 aluminium frame.
The latter may only be comprised of a pair of thin stays, but alongside the trampoline back panel it gives a phenomenal carry. I couldn’t believe how comfortable it was when I hauled it on, fully loaded, for its test run, and the feeling stayed for the entire walk.
One innovation that may have helped was the Dyno Lift System – connected load lifter straps that self-equalise as you walk, allowing the shoulder straps to move with the natural roll of the shoulders.
The Hydra is large enough for an overnight mission and packed with clever design features. I liked the easy open/close throat – something as simple as a pair of light webbing grab handles made it so much easier to yank open.
The side mesh pockets were angled for ease of bottle extraction, although insertion was less easy.
One negative – I wasn’t that keen on the much-vaunted ‘beaver tail’ front pocket. It would gape open whenever I wanted to access the main compartment, because the clip holding it closed was the same one that tightened over the throat. A single extra external clip would make a big difference.
Verdict – Well done North Face; the Hydra is almost perfect. You wouldn’t want to drag it backwards through a hedge, but it should stand up to years of regular use."
RRP: $300
Website: thenorthface.com.au