Customer Reviews The North Face Borealis

I bought this backpack because my last North Face backpack lasted me a WHILE (I upgraded cause the bottle holder pockets had a hole in it. I bought this backpack, and I regret it. The side pickets don't hold anything. My 32 fl oz watter bottle always slips out. The back pack started ripping from one of the zippers. I pulled the cord on the bottle holder pocket to tighten it so the bottle won't fall out, the cord snapped and peeled. Also for some context, I had this bag only for 3 months. My last one that lasted way longer, I had for 4 years. Do yourself a favor, save your money and find a better quality backpack. NOT. WORTH. IT.

I use this product for college and everyday life. While inside portions do the job, I am disappointed with the bottle holders that don't work and straps that broke after minimal usage.

Honestly I still have my 2017 version compare to the 2023 version it's very different overall I love it the padding great, the material is different but feels stronger, and can't wait for the next

I love this backpack! 5/5 stars, everyone should buy! So easy to travel in.

Love the bag, feel great good quality.

Used it on a boating and hiking trip in Belize, loved it!

I love the backpack. A lot of room for my stuff and very light.

I use this for school and it is great it has room for all my books

Love it!

Bought this backpack for my son and he absolutely loves it! Great quality and can tell that this backpack will last! He loves that he can fit his water bottle in the side pockets without struggle. Also has a pocket for his laptop. My husband now wants this backpack!

It is extra spacious and holds all my folders and binders for school. Although I do love using it at school it is also great for hiking! Went hiking in New York and held all my supplies in this backpack! Love how the cup holders hold my water bottle, it's very sturdy and won't break like other mesh water bottle holders! Love the little secret pocket under the north face logo, holds all my necessities when going anywhere, such as my deodorant!

great pack,perfect price

I use this backpack for college. While the material quality and construction are very good, the design of the backpack is super annoying. Non-stop annoying. It's designed like a hiking backpack. As in, load up 50 lbs of gear in the morning, hike all day long, then unpack everything at night. So the pack is intentionally designed to create a high center of mass, close to your back. It tapers down the bottom. The external organizational pocket, which is too small, is located high up on the back. It has an complicated system of straps and elastic and cinch straps that are meant to pull the load tight together, pull it in towards your back, and keep it high. What this means is that the compartment you put your wallet, phone, pencils/pens, calculator, etc in flops around all over the place (and again, it's too small). Then, if you put anything smaller than a book in the main compartment, it drops down to the bottom. Your access to the bottom of the main compartment, however, is pinched off by the bottom of the external org compartment, which is pulled in tight against the back w/ straps, elastic, etc. Basically, you have to fight against the backpack to get anything out of the bottom. Another annoying thing - the organizational compartment, being so high and being constrained at the bottom, is constantly flopping around when you're trying to get stuff out of it. It's like a triangle sitting up on one edge. It wants to tip forward, pivoting on the over-strapped bottom edge. If you're packing and unpacking once a day, this might not be an issue. But when you're constantly getting things out all day long (calculator, pens, phone, wallet, keys, watch, etc) it's very annoying. Then, because of the tapered bottom, the high weight distribution, and the flopping organizational compartment, it's easy for the COG to get out past the bottom edge of the bag, and the whole thing tips over. Bottom-line, this backpack is designed for all-day hiking, which results in a backpack that is very annoying as a school-work backpack. Choose accordingly.

I bought it for my boyfriend who is a nurse. He is able to put all his medical stuff inside the bag along with his food and cables. He just wishes that it was wider.

Large bag. So excited to use it!

I got my borealis backpack 16 years ago in the navy. It still looks and functions like it's brand new. You literally can lift it with full confidence, by the main compartment zipper, with it packed full! This backpack is BEYOND military grade, built to last!!!

This is my favorite bag.

I love this backpack! the waist straps are easily removable, very spacious and clean looking!! cannot wait to use it

The backpack is quite nice, the problem is space, it has 2 pockets that practically nothing fits. I think the space could be optimized better since smaller backpacks fit more things than this one.

A great crafted study adjustable backpack.."

Wonderful backpack! Great quality and lots of pockets!

My 11 year old daughter loves this new backpack. She likes the padded section for her school iPad and all the pockets to keep her organized.

Excellent! Perfect size for everyday use!

It is spacious and I can put all my work-related stuff inside it. High quality and beautiful. There is nothing bad about this backpack

I don't feel easy to pack items in the bag, kind of not user friendly. I feel more tightness to fill in the bag.