Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

I have been the buying this backpack since ages. However when i ordered new version of it it had few things which does not go well with original material and design, So i decided to ditch my new one and go back and fix my old. I did lot of research and paid money to buy a older version from Australia. Things like Fleece padding, laptop sleeve outside just makes things more complicated. The backpack was known for simplicity. The new design is non flexible, bulky

Bring back the old version!!! I gave up my old one so they can fix it. Unfortunately after 12 weeks or so, they decide my Recon backpack from ten years ago is unfixable so they sent me a new one... I wish I didn't sign the paper to get a new one because I absolutely hate this backpack. It's higher in length, less compartment space and just overall does not match with the older version. The bottom of the backpack is bigger than the top. Front two compartments only go half way unlike the older version when it was full length with more pockets for organization. The original main compartment had a sleeve for laptops/tablets or if you want to separate your stuff. Now it's two main compartments but one being very thin for laptop/tablets. Feels flimsy. It does not stand on its own... come on NorthFace!!! Get your act together. My original one had a little slit in case you want to add a little cash or a spot for your cell phone on one of the straps... I am so disappointed with this 2019 version versus my original 2008/2009 version. The main compartment doesn't even hold big binders or science textbooks like my original!!! Hate it hate it hate it! I now wish I kept the original with some minor stain in the front net compartment with the click and some torn lining on the inside of the big compartment... I don't have much regrets in life but this is one of them for giving up my original Recon backpack before inspecting the newer version in store.

I use it for school and I put a water bottle in the side pocket and the water bottle fell through and I had to go home and tap the side mesh pocket shut.

Honestly this is the worst bag I have ever owned. I came in the mail bent stuffed in a plastic wrapping not even in a box. Second it doesn't stretch out so it's hard pulling out textbooks and notebooks even my laptop. Third the shoulder straps are so uncomfortable I can no longer use it. I have owned cheaper bags that were better than this. I am disappointed and would like a refund. However it is passed the return date. Last purchase of the north face for me because I also had the same issue with the jester bag as well.

I bought this backpack for my daughter for high school and seeing the price tag I figured if this is what she wants I'll get it for her for ALL of high school. All she had done is complain about how the zippers are not big enough and that she cant get things out and the zippers get stuck all of the time.... so then yesterday she told me ONE WEEK UNTO SCHOOL that both zippers broke on the top and she could not get it open she had to bend a paper clip to get it open NEVER BUYING AGAIN

I bought the backpack for school because the one I had was wearing out from behind from all the walking I do, but every single zipper and pocket was still working, note that it was also a The North Face backpack I purchased 4 years ago. This new backpack claimed to help my back but it is less spacious, has a longer frame on the back which is really uncomfortable, if it wasn't for that I would've rated it 5 starts. I walk a lot, carry all my books and school stuff in it but holding it on my lap is the most uncomfortable thing.

The colors are not the same as the pictures online. After using the backpack for about 3 months, the backpack got a hole on the bottom of the laptop compartment.

So I barely had this backpack for a few months and since I had spent a decent amount of money on it, I took lots of care of this backpack making sure I never put anything heavy in it etc, then it started ripping from the side which was very unusual, since I never put anything heavy in it. I was very annoyed that the whole side of the backpack was ripping and my mom sews a lot, she used to be a seamstress so she knows the workings and it was an old product I'm sure, because my mom said it shouldn't just start ripping on the side like that. So with warranty I sent it back to North face and first of all they took 2 months to even get any response!! Two months is so long, what was I supposed to do that long without a backpack, then we were told that it wasn't covered by warranty! I have bought quite some things from North face such as there jackets, etc and this was my first time buying a backpack. I will not be wasting my money on another North face product ever again!

I tried this on in the store, looked nice and plenty of storage for my laptop and some notebooks. I initially thought the straps and back padding were too hard/stiff and uncomfortable, but I thought it would get better. So I went home and out my stuff it in and wore it around the house, but I had to take it off because it felt like it was chaffing my shoulder blades/neck. I don't know why but the straps and back padding are so hard and stuff, feels like cardboard inside. Now I'm gonna have to drive back to the store to return it. Very dissapointing.

Okay so, waste of money. Like really. The straps are plastic and made to look high quality but aren't, same with the back part. I bet a backpack that costs 50$ or less would have better straps. It's really uncomfortable and I can't even walk around with it. And there's not enough space! Like who the heck wants a pocket that can't fit ANYTHING besides a folder or a computer.?! There's only one big pocket, but there should be two. And with nothing in it, it's super heavy. I've bought from north face before a few years ago and not a women's, but a kids or whatever I don't really remember, but anyways.... that backpack was so much more comfortable!!! Worst backpack ever, I would return it but I've had it for a few weeks and lost the tags and stuff. The old recon was better. And it's way to pricey!

This backpack is very uncomfortalbe and hurts your shoulders. We had to return.

I got this backpack primarily for college and travel. Unfortunately it doesn't work for either. It can barely fit 2 single subject notebooks. The smaller pocket was great for pens and pencils, but if you put anything bigger in (like sticky notes or a glasses case) then it poked out in the main pocket and took up a huge amount of space. It definitely would not work for travel, seeing how it could barely hold a jacket and laptop at the same time. Very disappointed. I couldn't return it so I sold it online and got an osprey instead (which cost less and carries twice as much). It's a very attractive backpack, but if you plan on using it as an actual backpack, get something that's more useful. Waste of time and money

It seemed like a great backpack - super roomy with lots of pockets - but it sat way too high up over my shoulders, which was not only uncomfortable but not functional because I couldn't even turn my head.

The design of this backpack is horrible. The backpack is very square so it is very ackward looking on your back. The straps are not attached at the top of the backpack they are attached about an inch or inch and half below so it makes the backpack very ill fitting and horribly unattractive. Only positive I can give is the color

I love the color of the backpack and the Recon holds so much but the design of this Women's backpack is terrible. Most people will miss it but if you look at the straps they are half the size of the men's and they attach about an inch below the top of the bag instead of at the top. This makes the bag sit higher on your shoulders, and it sticks out more and looks funny. The description doesn't tell you the design differences from men's but they are not "made to fit women." The straps are also curved to "fit women's bodies" but they get in the way and hit you in the neck if you turn your head toward your shoulder. Long story short: go for the regular Recon not women's because it will fit so much better. I hope North Face will get more colors for men's or fix the design.

My son didn't realize the camo looked like glitter until he received it. Exchanged it for a different one.

I would not buy this product, or any other from The North Face ever again. I purchased a Recon backpack after doing extensive research when starting university in Winter of 2014. After spending 4 hours doing online comparisons, I thought it was time to replace my Jansport backpack which I had for over a decade, & which, there was nothing wrong with it, but it did not have a Macbook pocket for a laptop. I take 3-4 courses a semester and this is all I use this backpack for. After having it for about a year, the mesh water bottle pocket wore down. I was not concerned about it really and kept using the backpack just the same. Last year, the back fabric wore down. I took it into the North Face Store in West Edmonton Mall in December of 2017 (where I purchased it) in between my semesters to have it replaced/fixed because I thought this was unusual for a lifetime warranty backpack I had had for only 3.5 years. On December 30th, the store manager replied that the warranty department could not fix it because the backpack was undergoing normal wear and tear (meaning wearing it on your back is going to destroy the fabric) I replied to the store manager with this: "Hello and good afternoon. Thank you for your response, however, I find it to be absolving your company of the onus of accountability. By simply wearing a backpack on your back, the fabric is supposed to have a complete deterioration in a mere 3 years time? How is that normal wear and tear? I would call that faulty craftsmanship and an inability to accept responsibility for a product that claims to carry a lifetime warranty, when in fact it is actually only a few years time. I do not find this acceptable. I feel like I have been duped and furthermore, that I have honestly wasted good money on a product that has no quality associated with it." I was also informed the backpack was ready to pick up, but when I spent two hours in January going to the West Edmonton Mall location to pick it up, it was not there.

I am totally stunned that there aren't more reviews stating how uncomfortable this backpack is! The straps are the absolute worst design of any backpack I've ever owned. They come in right up against my neck if I don't deliberately position them more outward than they are intended to sit and make an ongoing effort to keep them there. They are also very stiff! But what makes it almost unbearable to wear is the sandpaper-like material around the straps. It will rub your neck RAW quickly if you don't wear a high collared shirt. The same goes for the inside of your arms if you aren't careful, but at least your arms aren't smashed against the straps. Additionally, this backpack holds less than I anticipated, sits weird on me, won't stay upright when I sit it down, and the laptop compartment is TIGHT. The organizational compartment is nice and there is a nice padded handle at the top (good thing too bc you'll need it to keep it upright and/or carry it once your poor neck can't take anymore abuse!). It does also seem well made although for me personally that doesn't matter being as though I won't be using it. Overall this is the most disappointing purchase I've made in a long time despite the fact that I got it at half price. I am definitely going to try to return it. I should have sucked it up and got another Patigonia backpack, but half price was so tempting and it got such good reviews. This was my first and last TNF backpack purchase.

Bought to use at college. Strap broke less than three months of use. Never had a strap break on less expensive packpack. Disappointed in the quality I thought would be there.

I feel like something is either wrong with me or my backpack. Everyone is writing these great reviews and I am not impressed. I love the look and color of my pack but it is so heavy and uncomfortable. My shoulders hurt from wearing it after only a few minutes. It could be the stiff cardboard in the back or the stiff shoulder straps. My water bottle pouch also tore very easily and my dog bit through the straps in minutes.... not impressed with my first ever North Face backpack.

Previously had a Recon, in middle school into high school and loved it. When it was finally time to get a new one, I wanted the same backpack. It was comfortable and fit everything I needed it to while protecting my laptop. Bought a new one < 2 years ago that was the model before the redesign and the back has already started to rip and show the foam underneath near the base of the backpack. As a poor college student, this was an expensive purchase for me and I am extremely disappointed with the quality of the new backpacks and will probably need to buy a new one shortly. It will probably not be another North Face.

Took it on one 15 mile hike. Several areas of the fabric wore, frayed and distressed and fabric dye discolored. One hike, standard load. The pack couldn't handle the movement, any moisture, and didn't properly secure. It's pretty obvious that you market a "durable, outdoors" pack for use as a backpack or office laptop carrier. The logo gives off a perception for the user but the actual product doesn't hold up for the way it is marketed. Even worse, is the warranty doesn't cover actual use the way it is advertised.

I was SO disappointed in this backpack! The pack is supposed to be 31L, but I highly doubt it. There's certainly not 31L of usable space. That stupid non-removable and inflexible back stiffener board not only hampers pack capacity, but makes it impossible for you to sit your pack upright. The front of your backpack (part away from the back straps) will get constant wear and tear on the floor when your pack tips over. All. The. Time. I am a teacher (not an option in the choices given), and I was hoping to use this pack for work, but there is NO way it's big enough for: wallet, pen pouch, lunch, planner, EDC organizer, glasses, notebook, sweater, e-reader, keys, girl things pouch, water bottle, coffee mug--by now I would have to be leaving one or more of those things out. And if you have one or more things in the organizer pocket, the space of the back pocket is cut down even more. ALSO! Any backpack over $50 should REALLY have strap keepers!! Also, the bag is HEAVY on its own. I could not be more disappointed, and I wish I could get my money back. (The backpack is durable, and the double water bottle pockets are very nice, as is the front stretchy pocket. But with as little as it holds, and the constant tipping over, it makes this bag almost unusable. :(

I bought this bag to use for school and for short day hikes. Almost immediately upon putting it on out of the shipping box I found that this bag was wildly uncomfortable. I adjusted the straps multiple times hoping for a good fit and less strain on my shoulders but nothing seemed to help. I was very disappointed considering this backpack is advertised as "fitted for women." I think they simply made the straps thinner which made the bag all the more uncomfortable. After wearing the bag around my house to test it out, my back was sore the rest of the day. I really wanted to like this bag and knew that North Face was known for quality backpacks but I was sorely disappointed. It has so many good reviews so I thought it might just be the way the bag fit me in particular. I had multiple other friends and family try the bag on and they all agree: the bag was quite uncomfortable. I think the reviews reflect the hype around North Face bags, not the actual quality and comfort of this backpack.

I was really excited for this backpack to come in, but the color turnout was so disappointing! I don't know if anyone else got the hydro green/ snow cone red one, but it was a lot darker than what the picture showed. I didn't like that it was also so stiff. I felt really awkward carrying the backpack. But I loved the design and the compartments. I probably won't purchase one again though. :(