Which side of a backpack is the front?

[Bill P]

My buddy asked me to get an item out of the pocket on the Front of their backpack. I looked and said 'huh?'
Not talking about AARN or other affections.

[ofuros]

[quote="Bill P"]My buddy asked me to get an item out of the pocket on the Front of their backpack. I looked and said 'huh?'/quote]

Yep, front of the pack, usually with a big stretchy easy access mesh pocket is facing rearwards...not intuitive, but once you know...you know.

[keithj]

Pocket on front of pack excludes the possibility of top pocket and side pockets and any pocket at bottom of pack.... as does Pocket on back of pack.
For me, the only time I'd ask that question is if I was wearing it, so that pocket is at the back (relative to me).

[north-north-west]

Front is the bit a person walking behind you sees. Wearing a pack is sort of like two people standing back-to-back.

[Warin]

English?

The 'rearside' would be the revers side of the front side.... and your asking which side is the front???

If the diagram was labeled 'harness side' and 'non harness side' things wold be clearer...

Answer?
The 'front side' is generally taken to be the non harness side.

[Tortoise]

Bill, I think you need to look at it from the backpack's perspective. Then it's clear - the back is where the harness is, and the front is where you can have a pocket. After all, it's the front of the backpack. That's why when you see packs hanging up in shops, they put them up with the harnesses at the back, displaying the front.