The North Face Surge II Charged

An innovative backpack and a softshell jacket have won awards for The North Face at one of Europe’s biggest trade shows.

The Surge II Charged pack was named a gold winner at the IPSO 2013 show in Munich.

The rucksack gained the award in the event’s action section bags category and features a built-in lightweight Joey T1 power supply which charges mobile electronic devices.

The North Face said: “Featuring a durable, water- and crush-resistant lithium polymer battery, anatomically fitted shoulder straps, back panel with recessed channel to take pressure off the spine and hipbelt to carry load on hips, it meets the needs of travellers and sport enthusiasts to be connected with the world on all electronic devices. The Surge II Charged also has an American Chiropractor Association accredited fit.

The backpack will be on sale in autumn this year.

The North Face Alloy Jacket, from the Summit Series collection, was a winner in the outdoor section’s softshell category.

The brand said it has been designed for active ski mountaineering with the understanding of body mapping to provide optimum comfort.

TNF describes the Alloy Jacket as a technical backcountry ski outerwear piece with best-in-class fabric technologies, Thermo3D mapping design and hybrid construction to give unique gender-specific focus on moisture management, heat loss and insulation.

The Alloy Jacket

“Scientifically researched and athlete tested, the Alloy Jacket provides the ultimate blend of protection, waterproofness, breathability and physiologic regulation,” a company spokesperson said.

The Alloy Jacket will also go on sale in autumn.