TENTS • SLEEPING BAGS • HYDRATION SYSTEMS

Pack Refrences

E-VAP™ suspension features perforated foam back panels which eliminate excess weight and circulate air through airflow channels. These channels, embedded in the perforated foam, provide improved breathability and moisture evaporation, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable.

X-FRAME™ SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Founded on the geometry of the X, two lightweight carbon fiber stays provide structure and load support to comfortably carry heavy loads.

- Stays are contoured to trace the shape of the back and direct loads to the hipbelt
- Carbon fiber stays have permanent memory and maintain their shape
- Carbon fiber stays are up to 40% lighter and less susceptible to breakdown than traditional aluminum stays

MGF™ Suspension stands for Mountain Guide Flex suspension and is designed to deliver a comfortable ride for loads in extreme environments for extended periods of time.

The Pivotal Suspension System™ works with the body's movements to constantly and evenly transfer the pack's load to the hips. This results in a more comfortable and efficient backpack experience.

Carbon Composite Flex Arms create freedom of movement

The world is not flat. As you move across uneven ground, your body moves instinctively into a wide variety of positions - balancing, absorbing shock, and moving forward. The Pivotal Suspension System's Carbon Composite Flex Arms adjust with each step you take, making sure that the load of the pack is transferred evenly from the pack to your body no matter what position you're in. So whether you are hiking, skiing, climbing, or just leaning against a rock, the load transfer to your pelvis remains perfectly even.
The Flex Arms work as an independent suspension system to distribute your pack's load evenly to the center of your hips. With equal weight and pressure on your left and right sides, you can move naturally and you are more efficient, so you don't get tired as quickly as you might with a traditional fixed suspension system.

Load Equalizing Balance Beam creates balance
The Load Equalizing Balance Beam pivots the load of your pack in the same direction that you move. You can see the inner workings of this system through a window in the back panel, but you'll feel it working the minute you try it on.
Working with the Flex Arms, the Load Equalizing Balance Beam let's your pack's center of gravity move with yours so that it doesn't shift from side to side like a fixed suspension pack does. This means that your hips can pivot and tilt in any direction because your Pivotal Suspension System™ pack provides a complete transfer of your pack load to the sides of your hips. The design works with your movements to creating a truly dynamic system between the pack and your body.

Lumbar Strut creates comfort and efficiency
Conventional pack design typically features a static hipbelt anchored to the pack body. These hipbelts often fail to fall back into the correct spot as you move, resulting in uncomfortable chafing to the hipbones and midsection.
With the Pivotal Suspension System, the dynamic nature of the Lumbar Strut mimics your body's adjustments, allowing the suspension to lengthen and serve as a stabilizing, shock-absorbing system. This not only eliminates side-to-side flopping, but also eliminates hipbelt motion. The Lumbar Strut ensures that the load remains balanced from side to side as you walk, run, ski, climb, or jump. Your pack remains close to and centered on your back, allowing for forward and backward movement over any type of terrain.

Center of Gravity matches the body's for an intuitive fit
The Pivotal Suspension System's center of gravity matches your own. Integrated with the Flex Arms, the Load Equalizing Balance Beam enables the pack to move with your center of gravity rather than shifting from side to side like a conventional fixed suspension pack. The hips can now pivot and tilt in any direction while the pack completely transfers its weight to the sides of your hips. This multi-component design constantly works with your body movements and stays in sync with your walk, allowing for natural movement, reducing overall fatigue and increasing your comfort.

Anatomical Design
The human body has the perfect independent suspension, constantly adapting to your body's different movements and positions. The North Face Pivotal Suspension System™ is the first multi-day suspension to address the dynamic relationship between you and your pack. By actively transferring weight from your pack to your hips and providing balanced load distribution regardless of your body's position, the PSS™ pack works with your body to allow your natural balance to work properly. This anatomical design gives you greater balance, more comfort, and freedom of movement no matter what you're doing.

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The VX-2™
The VX-2™ suspension consists of two integrated support structures including: 1) tubular aluminum stays are placed in an X pattern with the stays extending from the top of the pack to the top of the hip-belt. This transfers weight directly to the hips- actively moving with the user, 2) a second set of custom extruded aluminum stays are placed in a V pattern from the load filters to a small plate that connects to the back of the hipbelt.

Hydration Systems Specs

TPE Reservoir
Reliably tough and beautifully versatile for the die-hard adventurer.
- Special TPE polymer is virtually taste-free
- Strong construction stands up to wear and tear while doing away with annoying crinkly noise
- One piece seamless tubular design means less chance of leakage or tearing

Big Bore Opening
- Wide-mouth cap allows hassle-free access to water dispensers and ice cubes
- 63 mm thread matches the standard for most water purifiers and filtration devices

Reservoir Care
Your new hydration system is made to last. To ensure long life, please follow the care and use instructions.
- Prior to each use, fill reservoir, tighten cap, then squeeze to ensure that the cap is sealed properly
- When freezing, fill reservoir no more than 3/4 full
- To clean, add 1 tsp. baking soda to 1 cup water. Shake, empty and rinse. Then add 1 tsp. lemon or lime juice to 1 cup water. Shake, empty, rinse and dry.

Quick Connect Hose
Quick connect hose assembly means easy-on, easy-off when you’re swapping out components or filling the bladder (not available on Bullhead).

Angled Bite Me™ Valve 9
- Angled design with on/off switch
- Superior flow rate for easy drinking
- Leakproof construction keeps water where it needs to be
- Easy to disassemble and clean
- Angled design keeps a low profile and provides a better fit
- Positive shut-off valve allows you to decide when and where your liquids are available

Bite Me™ Valve Use
For maximum flow, bite sheath with front teeth only and draw fluid in. Biting too hard and/or using teeth or molars will reduce flow and may damage or break the valve. The Bite Me™ valve is not intended for use by small children.

Disassembly, Cleaning, and Reassembly for Bite Me™ Valve
Remove bite valve by pushing it off the end of the drink tube. Remove sheath by pushing it off the end of the stem. Clean and sanitize the parts by soaking the sheath and the bite valve in the open position, in a diluted bleach solution. Replace sheath and reassemble by pushing the bite valve fitting into the end of the drink tube until it stops. Wet the sheath, then push it over the stem until you feel it lock into place. To assure proper operating and maximum flow, the dome of the sealing disk should protrude slightly beyond the end of the soft sheath.

Insulation
Insulated hydration pocket helps to keep your beverage either hot or cold.

SLEEPING BAGS

Anti-Compression Pads
In order to provide added comfort for the head, shoulders and feet, we replace compressible down in those high-pressure areas with thin strips of synthetic Polarguard® 3D. These anti-compression pads provide essential support and warmth and improve thermal efficiency by an astounding 13%, ensuring a warmer, more comfortable experience.

Vaulted Footbox
No longer are feet relegated to being cold and cramped.The new vaulted footbox provides sufficient space to allow the feet to flex and move naturally. This eliminates dead air space and keeps feet warmer and more comfortable.

H.O.T.™ Insulation
When it came to providing a durable, reliable and economical synthetic insulation, The North Face®, unable to find one to satisfy its high standards, created its own: Heatshield Optimal Technology (H.O.T.™ SL). Built with 100% polyester hollow-core fibers, H.O.T.™ SL provides powerful thermal efficiency. Because the fibers are of variable thickness, they compress easily, without breaking down, resulting in a bag that's convenient to pack, yet doesn't lose its softness, warmth or high loft. Protected by The North Face® Lifetime Warranty, durable H.O.T.™ SL insulated bags will provide a lifetime of warmth and comfort.

Shingle Construction
The Overlapping Shingle Construction used in our synthetic sleeping bags evenly distributes insulation for consistent and comfortable warmth. Similar to the shingles on the roof of a house, we overlay our insulation panels rather than placing them side-by-side. This overlapping construction provides uniform loft, prevents insulation from moving and alleviates cold spot formation.

TENTS

Continuous Pole Sleeves
Continuous pole sleeves stabilize the tent by maximizing contact between pole and canopy. Found on several The North Face tents, pole sleeves equally distribute pressure and weight created by high winds and heavy snows over the entire canopy. Quick and easy pitch is especially beneficial in turbulent weather or in the dark.

DAC Featherlite SL Poles
Introduced in 2002, the new Featherlite SL Aluminum tent poles were designed with two main objectives: to offer a high strength-to-weight ratio and to slide easily through tight pole sleeves typical of expedition tent construction. The result is an expedition tent pole that has an even higher strength-to-weight ratio than the original Featherlite pole, and one that works well with The North Face expedition tent sleeve construction. This new design includes an insert tube with a thinner wall than the main tube giving added strength to the sleeve joint. This construction detail eliminates excess weight and is balanced by a small strengthening tube at the joining position.

DAC Featherlite Poles
Found in our 3-Season and Ultralight Tents, DAC Featherlite poles are up to 15% lighter than aluminum poles of comparable strength. Additionally, Featherlite poles are less susceptible to failure because pole linkages are based on extrusion instead of glued-in inserts. Without the extra insert piece, there is less chance of breakage.

Download pitching instructions for VE-25 - more models here at www.thenorthface.com