No longer do athletes stick rigidly to one discipline. Increasingly versatile sportsmen and women are switching from one fast moving activity to another – and expecting their equipment to do the same. Enter two new packs from The North Face which do just that – the Ion 20 and Escalada.
Perfect for running and biking, the Ion 20 is a very lightweight hydration compatible pack with an advanced EXO-LITE suspension system, as flexible and supportive as it is load bearing. The pack has stretch woven water bottle pockets and a padded hydration reservoir sleeve. The airmesh waistbelt sports a food pocket large enough for energy bars and combines with three point adjustment and a tuck away facility giving the user versatility whatever the activity. For fit and comfort, the Ion 20 features a dual-density airmesh shoulder harness with sliding, adjustable sternum strap. The specialised back panel disperses fluid volume, helping to eliminate discomfort caused when a full reservoir localises pressure and distorts the back panel.
The new Escalada is another pack capable of embracing multiple disciplines such as summer or winter days out on the hill, whether you are walking, climbing or enjoying a spot of Via Ferrata. Boasting an advanced X-Vent suspension system which gives a balance of rigidity and breathability, a mesh trampoline with anti-bulge backpanel ensures that the weight and discomfort of even the most bulky load is lifted off the athlete’s back. With a volume of 21 litres, the Escalada makes it easy to haul a load across multiple disciplines, offering an insulated hydration compartment, trekking pole/ice axe lash points and tool accessory loops, sliding sternum strap, removable/adjustable hipbelt and finally a tricot lined electronic accessories point for stashing your mobile or GPS.
