Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

I love this backpack so much, but I've been using it for three weeks and the water bottle pocket ripped. It makes me sad because I love it, but it's compromised my ability to use it.

I bought a recon 4 years ago when I was a freshman in high school and it was the perfect backpack. It had so much storage and was the perfect size for me and it fit my very short torso. I wanted to buy another recon because after 4 years my backpack got destroyed and it was time for a new one. I saw that they now have a lot more cute color options of the recon so I bought this product. I was very excited but unfortunately I'm very dissapointed with how much smaller this backpack was compared to my recon 4 years ago and how super long it was on my body. It is so long that it hits my butt as I walk and to prevent that I basically have to tighten the straps as high as they go which isn't comfortable on me. It is also very uncomfortable on my back and shoulders compared to my old recon. The storage space isn't horrible but compared to my last recon, it is very small. I really wish this product would have worked out for me but unfortunately it didn't. I really hope this review helps.

I have a recon that is 8 years old that is super comfy yet looking worn. I wanted to upgrade to a new bag. The look of the new recon is perfect. I love the pocket placement and everything about the design except for the back panel and straps. The hard plastic backing it's too long. It hits the bottom of my head/neck and sticks out too far on the bottom. The straps are terrible. They are much shorter than my old recon and not comfortable at all. I packed it, put it on, and within minutes had to remove it. The straps hit pressure points that made my upper arms go numb. It's way too heavy unpacked, let alone packed. I'm pretty disappointed as I love the placement and updated mesh pockets, but it's not comfortable at all. Make the new recon like the older version of recon.... long, cushy straps that end past the bottom of the bag instead of ending at 3/4 length of the bag. A softer padded backing instead of the heavy, hard, non-flexible backing. Also find a way to keep it from falling over when it's sat down. If you update this bag to make it more comfortable, I'll buy it. Until then, I'll just keep using my old bag until it falls apart.

I have three kids and needed a new backpack to use for day trips to the zoo, lake, short hikes, etc. this backpack is way too heavy, especially when also carrying a baby. I'm disappointed because it looks fantastic. It's roomy enough, but it's not as fantastic as I expected for the price.

I purchased this backpack to use for school. When it first arrived I was excited about the look and feel of the backpack overall. Pockets are nicely lined and I was able to fit my laptop, empty binder, 2 single subject notebooks and a pencil pouch in the main pouch comfortably. Now the issues I had with the backpack.. The straps when warn comfortably the backpack was up so high on my back it was right up to my neck, and there is a random plastic piece at the top under the material that rubs against my neck/head if I turn my head in any direction or look up. When I lowered the straps so the backpacks was more comfortable, (besides the super stiff back) the straps inside of the straps point upwards and do not lay flat on the shoulders. The back is so stiff and there is zero flex to this backpack at all so don't expect any sort of comfort from that. It is nicely padded but it doesn't help with the comfort. The corners of this backpack are sharp and when you bend to the side they poke. Very disappointed in this backpack!

I loved the color of the backpack but I was disappointed with how stiff it was and how quickly it tore from the shoulder strap area. I'm not sure if mine was defective but I only had it for 5-6 months and I only carried my macbook, a five subject notebook, cell and laptop chargers and snacks while walking around campus. There was no way it should've torn so quickly and easily.

Ok so I had this backpack for about four months before the straps completely ripped off. Grated, I'm a student...so I cary fairly heavy books. But this backpack is built for hiking and other very trying activities, and the fact it broke after just four months of use is disappointing. I like the style of this backpack and its pretty roomy, but the seams were just so weak. I'm gonna give this pack another try (maybe it was a manufacturing issue?). Anyways, I would just be aware of the weakness of the straps of this product, especially if you carry heavier items.

I bought this backpack for my first year of college, knowing that in the past I really liked backpacks from North Face. Before my second semester I bought a new backpack from a different company because this one was so uncomfortable to carry. It hurt my back, the straps would rub my arms and neck, and it wasn't even big enough to be carry all the notebooks I needed in a day. I will not be purchasing again due to the fact that you are spending so much money on a bag that hurts your back so badly when you've only been carrying it for 10 minutes. Very disappointed.

I just got this backpack as an upgrade from the Jester backpack (the older model with no padding on the back) and I really love the features and size of this backpack, it's much bigger and has nicer finishes than my old one. However, I ordered the Blackberry Wine/Chambray Blue color and it's nothing like shown in the picture. The picture makes it look like the majority color is navy, but really it's more of a grayish-light blue and the purple part also has a diamond pattern on it. This color scheme really makes the light blue zippers pop out less and I was really disappointing upon receiving it as I now have to take the time to return it and buy a new color.

Loved this backpack at first, but 2 weeks in I seen the seam was ripped and one strap was longer than the other. Needless to say im returning mine.

I've used a northface backpack for about 15 years now. I've had the Jester, Recon, and Borealis. Decided to purchase a new backpack for nursing school because I loved the new colors. Upon receiving my new Recon, the colors were just as pictured online. The back padding however was super stiff and the backpack will NOT stand even when holding 20 pounds inside. (Dealbreaker) I am very disappointed in the new design of the northface backpacks. I will have to search for a new brand, sadly.

The bag is really comfortable and seems durable. However, the bag has a huge flaw. Once you put things in the main compartment, the organizing bags in the secondary compartments become useless because nothing will fit in them anymore. For something to fit in these small bags would require the main compartment to be almost empty.

I use this backpack for school and it drives me nuts that I always have to battle putting my laptop in the tight laptop compartment. I have a neoprene cover so it's hard to slide in. I had a Recon before and the laptop compartment was stretchable so I liked that better. In my backpack I can only fit max 3 textbooks, a notebook and my pen bag. Compared to the other model which more spacious. Might be best suitable for hikers with light loads not for students.

This bag was not at all as pictured. It was much darker in color. I didn't give it a chance since the color was so off. I returned and ordered a different style.

This was a gift for a family member

Love the backpack, but the color wasn't anything like displayed on website. We returned for a different NF backpack,

Sorely disappointed I did not buy last year's model of this backpack. This new model is not nearly as good looking as the previous. Will continue to search for a new favorite for school next semester.

I honestly really love the padding on this backpack, the colors are nice too! But my complaint about this backpack is the new designs... in my opinion, the old model of the recon backpack looks way better

I've had a Recon Backpack that I got in the early 2000's. I loved it and used it all the time. It finally wore out and I wanted another. I got this one and to my surprise I don't like it. It's very top heavy and when I try to sit it down it always falls forward. Hopefully there's nothing in there that will spill. They have redesigned it so that the 2 smaller pockets in the front only go half way down the body of the bag. So unless your larger back pocket isn't full, it falls forward. Try a new design NorthFace. This is terrible.

I happily used the old recon for probably 10 years amd then decided to get this to replace it. What a mistake. The design of this pack is completely dysfunctional. If you have even a pencil inside the second compartment it almost completely blocks you from putting anything into or getting anything out of the main compartment. If you have something bulky and rigid inside the main compartment you cant put water bottles into the sides, or if you have a water bottle on the side you cant fill the main compartment. Trying to fit a lunch, laptop, and laptop charger into this pack is somehow an infuriating process of squeezing, pushing and pulling. Forget putting a jacket inside. Every time I try and use it for anything more than a laptop bag it drives me insane.

I got the recon backpack in hopes to use it for my trip but the straps are hard and the padding is very thin. The movement around my arm is limited and the straps are rigid.

Bottom and water bottle pockets do not match the tan/yellow of the nylon and is an ugly brown color. Material very thin and zippers for smaller pockets are get caught in material.

I purchased this product because the last Recon Backpack I purchased was such a great bag, however once I received this item I soon realized the new Recon wasn't built has good as the one from 2011. The newer design seems smaller and the fabric they're now using felt less durable and more prone to tearing; it seems to have lost its stretchiness. The front pocket isn't as deep as the older generation and the main pouch is much smaller than before. It seems the new design has removed valuable space for organizing and easily getting to your items. It also appears they're using cheaper fabric that doesn't feel as soft or as durable. Unfortunately, until this bag is re-designed with deeper pockets and extra room inside, I won't be purchasing another Northface Recon Bookbag.

Details and reviews state this backpack is "water repellent" and it is just the opposite. This backpack draws in moisture and I do not recommend. Contents inside were ruined after walking in the rain under an umbrella.

I purchased a recon backpack on Feb. 2 to use as a daily commuter as well as some occasional hiking and biking. After 4 months of very light use, I realized the sternum strap had ripped (picture attached). TNF used to have great customer service so I reached out to get a replacement sternum strap. Customer service insisted that I send the whole backpack in for an "evaluation" to get it covered under warranty, instead of sending in the defective part only. This is my daily use backpack so it's not worth the hassle to empty everything out and get it shipped off for weeks for TNF to "evaluate". I'm not trying to start a fraudulent sternum strap side hustle here, I just want my gear to function properly. I'm very disappointed in TNF quality and customer service, and don't intend to buy their equipment in the future.