Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

This not your basic, low-tier Jansport backpack that everyone and their younger sibling wears. This is what you get when you put together versatility and style, for a backpack that delivers comfort, and is functional enough to handle whatever you need it for. Unfortunately, you won't be getting the coveted 'Supreme' brand collaboration that is highly sought after by 14-year-old kids and grown men who still dress as the former. However, 'The North Face' is a brand that is strong enough to stand on its own two feet, and as such, it deserves its recognition for possibly being the best backpack I've owned for school thus far. Well done, 10/10, would wear again and again.

Being a student that has to lug around 5-6 books and/or binders daily, I needed a comfortable, but extremely durable backpack. This backpack has been awesome! The straps make the heavy load seem not too bad. The seams/stitching are extra tough and withholding of the weight and activity related to daily use.

I ride my bike to work and need a backpack that's roomy and comfortable plus has pockets and pouches for all my stuff that I take with me. This pack is excellent and the materials and construction are top quality.

I like the backpack, but I wish the small pockets were bigger. I don't like how the small compartment interferes with the main one (not the laptop one). Anything bulky will poke out and block room to put stuff in the main compartment. The two front pockets are also smaller than the original recon. I can't fit as much stuff there either. The design is nice and all but what use is it if you can't fit all the things you need. I can't even fit half the stuff in the front I used to put in my old recon.

I love this backpack. It's the only backpack that fulfills my needs and doesn't make me feel like an 8 year old child going to school. I use it every day to carry my Macbook, gym gear and other items into the office. - It's so well formed, structured and sturdy - it's sits really comfortably on my back and doesn't sag or make my spine curve. - It feels slim and not too bulky because you can distribute items in it vertically - i.e. stack them up on top of each other, to prevent items all sagging at the bottom. - There are loads of pockets - I have an area for my Macbook, a separate area for gym clothes (to keep the other parts fresh), and another area for small personal items. I have a little section for everything so I never have to fumble or scramble around. - The bottle pockets and open front pocket are really stretchy and tight so you don't have to worry about things sliding out. - It looks smart and professional for a large backpack. I don't feel like a child wearing it, I feel like a normal office professional. - Travel wise, it fits beautifully under a plane seat/bus/train rack due to it not getting too bulky when filled. Really happy with my investment!

Great backpack on campus-plenty if roomformy laptop, books, and plenty of pockets for all my gear.

Great for school and activities! Very roomy and has great padding for computer and other electronics.

I bought this for my daughter as she has a friend with one and loves. Unfortunately, this one is the new design and hers was the old design. The new design will not sit on the floor and stay upright. The bottom is curved and falls on its face. There isn't enough grip on the bottom to lean it back against something without the bottom sliding out. The old style also made better use of the storage. I wish I could find an old stlye one for her.

Great back. Roomy, well made, and looks good.

I love the backpack. I expected more room in the large section, but it's fine because its main purpose is my laptop. Still fits my needs.

Second one purchased, the last one lasted 10 plus years, from middle school to high school and summer vacation. Still usable, but it time get a new one.

Great for college!

My wife and I originally bought an older version of this bag to use as a baby bag. We were frustrated with the lack of space and durability of many other baby bags and decided to give a real pack a try. No turning back! Fits everything for the kids and more! Having the expandable front pocket it clutch. Using this bag has been so much better than using a traditional baby bag. With some innovation and design geared towards that use and demographic, The North Face would probably crush it in that category. Since then we've purchased another to use for ourselves during travel and other miscellaneous activities. Highly recommend!

i use this for high school everyday. it's durable so it can hold heavy textbooks and laptops. very comfortable on my back and easy to access everything.

This backpack has helped me through my school year a lot ! It's comfortable padding supports my back all day. My last backpack was incredibly heavy and large which left my back in pain. With my new backpack, I have space for all my books and school supplies. Plus , it's super cute and instyle.

absolutely love the style and design of this new pack. I got the FLAGBLUELIGHTHTR/TNFWHITE. If blue is your color this will set you off. Its like the most perfect dark royol blue I've seen. Love it. The material chosen has deep texture which adds great personality and character. I hate super flat materials. The computer pocket is nice because it is just shy of the bottom of the main pocket reducing possible contact during a drop; However, the distance is reduced, if its on the ground and your pack isn't full, displacing that distance. I think an improvement to the overall computer protection would be to place some type dense foam on the very bottom of the computer compartment, placed in-between the inner and outer materials. That may be over kill but better none the less. As it is, I still feel much better with my Mac in this pack as opposed to my last. I would like to see these suggestions as future upgrades of which I would probably purchase and retire my current pack as a result. All-in-all, I love the pack and am looking forward to extensive use going forward.

It's very pretty, but the pockets at the front only go halfway so it's hard to get to the bottom of the bag, and if you put too much stuff in the front pocket it bulges out and looks awkward. It also sits very high and doesn't give you a "relaxed look" but that means it does take pressure off your back and shoulders and is very comfortable.

I was really disappointed after I read all the reviews & ordered this bag. The reviews were great! Maybe I'm one of the few that wanted to use it for work/commuting as opposed to school. I am a female in my 40's & wanted a sturdy backpack for commuting. I have very specific needs when it comes to a laptop bag. One is for it to stand up on it's own. This backpack does not do that because the pockets are not evenly proportioned. The front pocket is only half the size of the bag. The back of the backpack is curved; I don't know if this is a defect in the one I received or if this is normal? Super uncomfortable on my back though. I am also petite with a short torso & I felt the backpack was too long for me. Really disappointed. I was hoping the search would be over. If having a laptop bag stand up is important to you - do not buy this bag.

I got this backpack in August before the start of school. I like the way that it looks, but it is becoming more and more annoying each time I use it. For starters, the back of the backpack is way too tall and uneven with the front which makes the backpack fall down every time I set it down. The pockets on the front top of the bag are poorly placed, and make reaching anything in the bottom of the large pocket nearly impossible. The bag has bent and ripped all of my books and notebooks because it falls and slides onto its front so easily. It does a good job until I need to set my bag down for all of my classes. I constantly have to pick it up, and it is a core workout to even get anything in or out of it. I feel like I am constantly fighting with this bag. I love The North Face, but would not recommend this bag for students. This was not the first backpack I have purchased from this company, but it will certainly be my last.

I use this backpack for school and it is such an improvement from my old backpack! It is so much more comfortable and durable! Overall great product!

Backpack used for school.

Use this for school and when traveling. Love the compartments, easy access.

I bought this for daughter who is a senior in highschool - she wanted a backpak vs a bag to carry her stuff to school in. We got it and tried to put all of her binders -1inch 11/2 inch in size along with notebooks, they fit and then her laptop in the other section, it fit but made it tight, but could adjust the straps. This is a great backpak but does not accomodate for a 15 inch laptop or bigger. Would accomodate a chromebook much easier but her school one broke and they have no replacements.

Bought this for myself sister because she like mine. She loves the color and how it works for many things. She uses it for work and daily carrying the things she needs.

Would really recommend this backpack to anyone that will use it for school.