Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

Honestly I absolutely love my backpack. It has already been on two hikes, a road trip and a few weeks of college classes. It is extremely sturdy and comfortable. It also holds so much and I absolutely love the colors and how light it feels despite having a bunch of stuff inside. Definitely worth it. Trust me.

I've been using this backpack every day since I received it, and it is such a step up from the last backpack I owned. I'm a sophomore in college, and my classes are bulked together so I am always carrying multiple notebooks, textbooks, and my laptop which can get very heavy, but I don't notice the weight with this backpack at all! Not to mention how much it holds without looking bulky or awkward. I am so happy with this gift.

I needed a new commuter bag, but was looking for something that could also be comfortably used as a day pack or as a travel bag (think carry-on). There are not a lot of options out there that cater to both needs, but low and behold I found the North Face Recon pack at an REI store late one night. The pack features a padded laptop sleeve/compartment for a typical 15" laptop, a dedicated tablet (iPad) sleeve, and a number of smaller organization pockets for various other gadgets/items (pens, phone, spare batteries, chargers, whatever), and even has a few stretch loops for keeping charging cables. On the outside are two mesh water bottle pockets (I keep a travel umbrella in one of mine) and a 3rd mesh pocket on the back. Two adjustable stabilizer straps allow you to snug down the load and keep the weight from moving around, and the adjustable belt strap can be completely removed if you don't want to use it. There's plenty of internal room for whatever you might need to haul to the office or classroom besides the computer (books, notebooks, paperwork, etc). But when the work week is over, dump all your office gear and load up with a hydration bladder!! Yup, this pack has a reservoir loop built-in above the laptop compartment. Just slides you reservoir into the laptop compartment and hook it on the loop, then route your drinking tube out the port (top of bag, between the shoulder straps) just like any other hydration pack. Then load the bag with whatever you need for your day hike, and reattach the waist strap if you want it. The Flex-Vent backing/padding works really well. Only one small complaint...the interior organizer pockets could be a bit "looser". When you start to fill the pockets with various items, the fit gets a bit tight. Not a deal breaker, but it would have been better to leave some slack in the pockets. I also wish the bag came with a rain cover, but you can purchase a generic North Face rain cover. Couldn't be happier with this purchase!

I'm really happy with my purchase. I like the fact that is suitable for the average woman and I'm a student who has to carry a lot of things including my laptop and it is so comfortable due to the padding. I also love the mesh pouch because it gives me the ability to set my car keys and phone in a reachable and easy access area. Overall the backpack has the capacity to sustain all your school materials and some.

I have a bigger build for a woman and I was worried about the straps on this being too narrow for the woman's bag. Turns out getting the men's bag was the the best choice for me.

My daughter chose this backpack. She carefully considered all of her options and found this one to meet her projected college bound needs. Then when her twin brother starting looking for backpacks she shared her find. My son liked what his sister found and since there was a guy version that was attractive to hiim, we decided to order it.

Hiking and travel

Fully loaded the pack for 1.5 day trip and walked with it for hours. Quick to find a comfort level for the weight

excelent backpack

Backpack is perfect for school and safely holds laptop.

I use this everyday for school. It has the same book weight that I used with my old backpack but it feels less because of the padding and the way it lays.

I have never used north face backpacks before but decided to purchase one this year because I heard that it's really comfortable if I have to carry many items. The previous backpacks I hurt my back a lot as I have to carry a lot of notebooks and electronics for school. After purchasing this backpack, I was able to fit the same amount of the items as the previous but it contributed no pain to my back. My back in return was supported with the materials embedded in this backpack. As a college student who has to walk a lot with materials all day long, I would say this is one of the best school investments I've made. The material and design is also very well implemented.

Purchased for my son. He has it loaded with books, computer and gaming devices. It handles it all! Quality construction, from the material used, extra stitching in the seams, to the high quality zippers. Well worth your money!

I bought this backpack for a Caribbean cruise vacation. It held everything I needed for traveling. It holds all the essentials. It's just the right size, not too big or too small.

I bought this for my daughter to begin graduate school. The backpack she previously had, also Northface was used throughout high school and 4 years of college. It was a great backpack and was still in great condition but it was time for something new that hadn't been written and doodled on.

I mostly use backpack when commuting. I put the same amount of items as in my previous backpack and there's still room in it and it feels lighter than my other one. I would definitely recommend this backpack.

I love everything about this back pack! It is so comfortable and fits everything I need! I cannot imagine going back to any other bag I've carried before. The only thing I'd wish to change is that sometimes the zipper gets stuck, but other than that little mishap, it's perfect.

Love this backpack! I re-bought this style after my first one lasted me three years and I loved everything about it. Great for school and very comfortable.

Great color! Highly functional! Multiple compartments!

easy to carry, not too heavy, fit my shoulder, perfect for me

My daughter loved the north face recon backpack . It is really comfortable and great for school . Worth what was spent you will love it

This is an amazing backpack for students or day hikers! The bag is padded and engineered in a way that makes even a heavy load comfortable. I can have my laptop and textbooks in the bag without my back hurting. The color selection is amazing too!

I can wear it all day and still be comfortable. Perfect size for carrying everything I need for class without feeling overstuffed or bulky. Have used it for a couple day hikes and it's also perfect for that, I would definitely want it bigger for a longer excursion though. I've been debating a new bag for the past few months and I can't have asked for better with this one ! Also the color is the perfect finishing touch

This backpack is amazing it fits everything. I have a MacBook, cords, several books, all my pens, notecards, and lunch. The water bottle holders on the sides are great too and my large 320z. Bottle never falls out. I love the padded sunglasses pocket it keeps them so protected. I live in Reno and we had a blizzard the other day and walking to my classes my backpack got wet but not soaked and my stuff stayed safe!

I love this product and tell people to buy again and again.