Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

I'm an archaeologist working long haul in remote parts of Africa so durability and good layout are key; TNF Women's Recon is the best pack I've ever had. First, I had a TNF Borealis for years and it was INDESTRUCTIBLE but the layout of the pockets wasn't ideal and its capacity was a little small. I switched over to a larger pack by another brand. Big mistake. 1. Competitor's Pack was built for a big-shouldered guy and fully loaded it gave me back and neck strain. 2. after 3 field seasons (1.5 years), Competitor's Pack split seams and chest strap link broke. I returned to TNF looking for a bigger capacity than the Borealis. I was glad to see the Recon had a better pocket configuration and larger size, and a female version. Usually I'm not a fan of "gendered" outdoor gear (the "Ladies" version is usually higher price, less rugged, and in pink colors - no thanks) but for backpacks this really is useful, because my shoulders are narrow and packs built for men don't fit me right. The TNF Recon is a great fit, and it carries the same heavy loads that Competitor's Pack used to, without breaking down or throwing my back out. A few small suggestions for improvement: 1) It does not stand up on its own; why not design the bottom to stand up? 2) The outer pocket doesn't open that far so it can be difficult to get to stuff in its basal area. If you want to "bury" a wallet against thieves this is a good place to do so. Still, I would recommend extending the zipper on that pocket a bit farther down, perhaps with gussets so stuff doesn't fall out but you can accordion it open. 3) I would suggest a hidden zip somewhere for valuables. 4) Wouldn't hurt to have a rain fly option (maybe with dedicated pocket). 5) The current lineup of colors is not great for people who work in sunny, dusty areas: dark/vibrant colors fade or show dust, and white is terrible. Try for some tans and medium greys. 6) Thank you for high quality zipper pulls & hardware. Thanks!

The best thing I love about the TNF Recon is it's made of codura. The bag is straight to the point and durable. Having had 6 of them and watching how they evolved as a product over the years tells me it's a backpack That is reliable for everything going on life! Plus being 30% off also help sweeten the decision. Happy Hunting, I wish everyone please be safe, and thank you again TNF for everything you as company does for people.

I am a college student, I have to walk at least 2 to 3 miles daily. This bookbag was pretty expensive for me and it took me a year to decide to buy it. I think it was worth it because of how much back structure it has and how much it has helped me with my back pain! I love how it fits me, and it has a really pretty color. I love it a lot. I do wish there was a little bit more space for clothes for sports but I think the space given gives me the limitation to not hurt my back.

Use it daily for commuting to and from school, its compact, roomy, and fits everything I need. Only downside is that the 3rd pocket used for pencil storage extends into the main compartment making it difficult to take out or remove things from the main pocket.

I use this product for work/school.

I purchased this for my daughter. She is an artist in school and carries with her art supplies, large sketch books, and a laptop. She loves the pack because her sketch books and laptop fit well in the pack but it is still comfortable. The shape of the bag and support are wonderful. She loves the colors and the sturdy side pockets.

I take it to work everyday. It's perfect fit for my laptop and documents. It's super lightweight, very comfortable and stylish.

Just bought it for my daughter right before the school shutdowns but it is great quality and she will use it if and when school goes back!

Arrived quickly. Lots of pockets.

I love my backpack so much. I'm a college student and decided to risk spending the extra money so I could maybe use it for hiking/backpacking too. Best decision! I use it for school, going home from college, and short backpacking/hiking trips. I have two TNF backpacks (Recon & Berkley). Never had any major issues with either and I can assure you I use them for everything, every single day.

I use my recon bag for commuting to and from work on my motorcycle also camping and hiking and I love it

Very durable and stylish.

I use the Recon backpack for work. I LOVE all the pockets that it has.

I love this backpack. I keep my journal in the front which makes it easy to get. Love it for school...not to bulky.

I take this to nursing school everyday with lots of books and a computer. It is perfect!

I am a college student so I tend to carry a lot of things with me. This backpack helps me stay organized and makes sure I am carrying everything that I need. I love the comfort of it and how stylish it looks.

I bought this bag for my daughter and she fell in love with it immediately. It's a perfect fit for laptop and has many great compartments for all her other items.

I use this backpack not only for work but also on the weekends when out with my family. Perfect for kids all of the kids misc. items and water bottles. Comfortable to wear for hours on end.

stylish, light weight, excellent for commuting, and work.

I'm using this backpack for school and it's the best one I've ever had. I couldn't tell if it looked big enough online but when I got it in the mail I could tell it would hold all of my books easily. It's not too big on my back or hard to carry and it holds everything I need. 100% recommend.

I was looking to upgrade my 20+ yr old NF Wasatch backpack which unloaded my laptop in the parking garage when it was partially zippered - my bad! I narrowed my choices to the Recon and Surge, and finally settled on the Recon for its size and am really pleased with the functionality. Specifically, shoulder straps are comfortable and do not slide off anymore, 40 oz hydro flask fits nicely without worrying about toppling out and 15" laptop fits with room to spare and will not "spill" out even if zipper is open. With the Wasatch holding up this long w/o any wear or zipper problems there was no reason to look at anything else but NorthFace. Thank you.

I bought one for me and one for my daughter! Great backpack and great price.

Work

i use this for various purpose from travelling to school

This bag is great! It has multiple compartments for easy organization, the back padding makes the bag super comfortable and it's a great design as well!