The North Face
The North Face Terra 65
The Terra 65 is The North Face's mainstay budget backpacking pack, a simple adjustable hauler that shows up everywhere from REI floors to college outdoor programs. The women's version is sold as the Terra 55/65 women's fit.
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Specifications
What do these specs mean? →Sizes Available
| Capacity | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 55 L | $170 | — |
| 65 Lthis pack | $189 | 4.58 lbs |
Features
Pros
- ✓Outdoor-program fleets buy Terras by the dozen because they fit nearly anyone and survive years of loaner abuse.
- ✓The adjustable torso and simple strap layout make it one of the fastest packs to fit correctly at the store.
- ✓600-denier fabric and chunky zippers rarely fail; reviews show remarkably few durability complaints for the price.
- ✓The steel X-frame carries 40-45 lb loads without the wallow cheaper frameless-sheet budget packs show.
- ✓The removable lid works as a rough sling pack for summit days.
- ✓Wide-mouth top opening plus bottom compartment access make packing simple for beginners.
- ✓Widely discounted — patient buyers routinely find it under $150.
- ✓TNF's warranty and huge retail presence make service and returns painless.
Cons
- ✗Pushing 5 lbs, it's among the heaviest 65L packs sold today, with none of the plushness of the premium haulers.
- ✗The foam back panel ventilates poorly; sweaty backs dominate warm-weather reviews.
- ✗Hipbelt comfort trails the Coyote's noticeably above 40 lbs, per side-by-side budget reviews.
- ✗No raincover in the box.
- ✗Bottle pockets are shallow and hard to reach while wearing the pack.
- ✗Hipbelt pockets are undersized for modern phones.
- ✗The design has evolved little in years — fine for reliability, but it lacks any standout feature.
- ✗Serious backpackers on Reddit generally treat it as a rental-fleet pack rather than a destination purchase.
Common Questions
Compare the The North Face Terra 65
Related backpacks
More from The North Face →The North Face
The North Face Banchee 65
The Banchee is The North Face's lightweight backpacking pack, at 3 lb 9 oz for 65 L. It sits well under the Terra in weight while carrying more, and reviewers put its comfortable ceiling around 45 lb with performance falling off past 50.
Weight
3.56 lbs
Capacity
65 L
Frame
Internal Frame
REI Co-op
REI Co-op Trailmade 60
The Trailmade 60 is REI's entry-level backpacking pack, built around inclusive sizing and a fully adjustable fit at a beginner-friendly price. A huge U-shaped front opening makes it one of the easiest packs to load and unload on the market.
Weight
3.44 lbs
Capacity
60 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Osprey
Osprey Kyte LT 45
The women's-fit Kestrel LT, described by Osprey as purposefully built for the female frame with narrower shoulders and contoured straps rather than a scaled-down men's pack. Same AirScape backpanel, five-inch sliding harness and included raincover, on the same 28 to 65 L ladder and at the same prices.
Weight
4.02 lbs
Capacity
45 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Also in 28 L / 35 L / 65 L
Osprey
Osprey Rook 65
The Rook 65 is Osprey's budget-line backpacking pack, delivering a suspended-mesh AirSpeed back panel, adjustable torso, and included raincover for barely half the price of an Atmos. The women's equivalent is the Renn 65.
Weight
3.5 lbs
Capacity
65 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Also in 50 L
Osprey
Osprey Renn 65
The Renn is the women's-fit Rook, Osprey's entry-level trekking pack. It puts the AirSpeed suspended mesh into a $205 pack by using a heavier 600D polyester shell and a simpler feature set, making it the cheapest route into Osprey's ventilated suspension.
Weight
3.6 lbs
Capacity
65 L
Frame
Internal Frame
Also in 50 L
Kelty
Kelty Asher 55
The Asher is Kelty's value backpacking pack and the cheapest way in this catalog to a 55 lb load rating. At $169 and 2.94 lb it undercuts everything with comparable capacity, and reviewers consistently place it as the budget pick.
Weight
2.94 lbs
Capacity
55 L
Frame
Internal Frame