Customer Reviews The North Face Router

Got this for my dad to travel abroad with. He loves it. I think it is made more for a man because it is way too long for me. In terms of appearance, the only thing I didn't like is the ribbons in the front which I don't think he ever uses for anything anyway. Other than that, great backpack!

First the two complaints, the bag gets much of it's capacity from it's height, I am 6'1" and with a pretty tall torso, if I tighten the straps the bag is a little bothersome as it's right up on my neck. You can fix this my loosening the straps and allowing it to hang down further but then the bag is looser on your back. The only other complaint I would have is the bag is quite heavy even empty (again 6'1" 200+ man and I think it's noticeably heavy), this is something I am sure I will get used to and isn't burdensome for me but might be for a smaller framed or less strong person. Otherwise this is absolutely the best bag i've found for general use, i'm no hiker or mountaineer so maybe this won't stack up against those bags but for me a guy that will use this generally for packing gym clothes and sneakers, my lunch, my laptop, some paperwork or maybe a bunch of random misc items when riding my bike or motorcycle or when going on vacation this is perfect and has more then enough room for all that and enough pockets to keep it all organized! I have only had it for a few days now so time will tell how it does in situations like vacation packing but already with the compartments and storage capacity I know it will be great, enough that i've logged onto north face's website to write a positive review haha.

Great back pack -- good size and capacity. Appropriate size and compartments. Good load distribution.

This bag is well designed and laid out. Went to TNF near home and tried daypack. This works for teaching and coaching. Along with traveling and day hikes.

I just got back from a business trip to Belgium and the router backpack saved the day! I'd done lots of research on other bags before I decide to pick up this beauty and it didn't disappoint. 41L of space with several large compartments easily fit my laptop, peripherals, notebooks, and clothes. And several smaller pockets were perfectly place for quick access to my calculator, pens/pencils, cell phone, mobile charger, wallet, and spare change. There was even a nice felt pouch in top of bag for easy access to my shades. Kept my belongings safe and secure during my whole trip even dry while I was walking for an hour back to my hotel in a heavy downpour of rain after the Flanders cycle race finish in Oudenaurde The pack looks good too amid so many other bags that don't. In general I always go for black and was very happy with this. So the question is why wouldn't you buy the router pack? Solid and sturdy yet light, well designed and flexible for different use, super roomy and well design with many small and large pocket to fit your gear, and you even look great wearing it! GO FOR THE ROUTER DONT BE A DOUBTER NUFF SAID (wait...great warranty!)

This is my 2nd TNF backpack and will not be my last. Love the quality and durability. Large enough to hold everything I need at the time but not too big that it becomes a burden. It's perfect for the constant day trips I take, whether they be for work or pleasure I always have this backpack with me. TNF never let's me down.

So far it has been very comfortable, has more pockets that I have things to stuff in them, and will serve for much more than just carrying my books around campus.

I have been using the Borealis for a few years now and love this backpack. I recently purchased a 15" MacBook and although it did fit in the Borealis, it was a very tight fit - had difficulty getting it in and out of the pack. I ordered the Router due the extra room and I am glad I did. This pack has plenty of room for all my business travel needs and allows me to pack the laptop AND iPad in the same pocket for easy access. I don't travel light so this pack allows for the extras needed my electronics and leaves plenty of room for a change of clothes - or two. If you want a pack that is versatile for your day to day travel, this is the one you want.

I bought it for my son as his school bag to replace his old one. My son is in middle school and has many heavy text books and notebooks. This bag hold them well. It is strong and well designed with many useful pockets. Love it and may buy another one for his brother.

Bought this backpack to take to Florida on a special trip to pick up a puppy. I needed a BackPack that could hold my camera bag inside as well as a have a spot for my iPad and a font loading spot for my purse. I needed something also to hold necessities for the puppy on the trip home. It was very accommodating and perfect for my needs. We plan on ordering a second one in the future for both my husband.

Full Disclosure: I am extremely brand loyal and this backpack is one of 5 North Face that I own. The others being Surge, Borealis, Recon and Hammerhead. My Recon bag wasn't giving me the space and comfort that I needed whilst carrying my college textbooks from class to class. I chose the Router because if its size, back support and its organizational pockets. There is more than plenty of space in this pack for my needs although it is worth noting that the bag gets its volume from how deep it is, not how wide it is. That means once I have packed my books all the extra space is at the top of the bag rather than the front and sides. That helps a lot in keeping all of the contents close to your back and cutting out the sway of wider bags. That the contents stay close to your back also make this pack comfortable when carting heavier loads. The padded back and the straps are comfortable also.The endless pockets and pouches are great for stashing whatever I need day to day. Although I don't use it, the laptop compartment easily holds my 17" Sony Vaio which is a big machine. Being able to tuck the hip belt away is a new feature for me and a welcome one. It keeps the buckle from digging in to your back or swinging around and catching onto things. All in all this pack is exactly what I needed and fulfills all the reason I bought it and fulfills them very well. Initially the price was hard to swallow but it's utility over the next 4 years will probably make it worth the price tag. This bag does everything it promises and if you need the space then it's fantastic. If you don't quite need this much or want to spend a little less then the Surge and Borealis are excellent alternatives. In my opinion you can't go wrong with the North Face packs, you just have to find the one that fits your needs best. Everything else about their bags will likely be the best you have used.

I got this bag as an additional carry on for a trip to Europe. It was perfect. Held all that I needed it to and fit where it needed to be stowed. Easy access for me to all the compartments and I felt secure that it was not an easy target for a criminal. I endured a lot of rain and it was not a problem for this bag. Can't say enough about it, just love it.

I Bought the Router backpack because I was going on a trip and need a bigger backpack to accommodate all my electronic gear in addition to my laptop. Awesome Backpack! Really well designed, and constructed. Has held up well and has room for all the electronic gear I was carrying through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, including a 17 inch laptop. No tears or lose stitching, including the small handle at the top of the pack. The design makes carrying about 35 lbs of weight very easy on the back. The bag even looks nice. Two comments: 1. Even though you could use the bag as a large day pack, it is too big to wear in the front. The reason this could be an issue is because if you are traveling in a sketchy area, and want to make sure people won??t rip off some of the contents of your pack, people often wear their pack in the front. It is difficult to wear this pack on your front because of its size. 2. Since I think of this as a trekker??s backpack, North Face might want to consider installing loops that make it possible for people to padlock the three single zippers when they are fully closed. Only complaint The sunglass pocket (that??s what I use it for) could be bigger to accommodate a full sized sunglass case.

After trying a number of well-constructed bags, the Router seems to deliver everything that I have been wanting. First and foremost, it's big. Plenty of room for my laptop, diaries, and lots of books. Yet it is still lightweight. Second, it has all kinds of useful pockets and pouches for pens, delicate gadgets, and accessories. Finally, it looks nice and appears to be durable. This should be a bag I can keep for a long time.

Great bag. I miss the front IPod pocket with the headphone grip from previous Northface packs I've owned. The pack is really comfortable to wear though. Solid construction built to last years and years. The two back pockets one zips only 3/4 which seems strange to me. However, it's a minor gripe. I live in a big city and I travel on the subway everywhere. I need a bag to keep my life/work junk organized and dry. This is perfect and a great example of why I've used Northface bags for the last 8 years.

It's a great backpack that holds all of my school books (2 textbooks, 3 binders, 2 notebooks, planner and a pencil case) with room to spare.

They advertize this as a 41L bag. I could only fit 2 university books and no binders in there. This bag is TINY and useless for college/university. I am returning this, don't waste your money.

I commute to school most every day of the week and my old backpack was just too small for the amount of stuff I carry with me. I previously used the Borealis version and love the backpack but my new laptop was taking up a lot of room. Sometimes I spend the night at school and therefore need more books for 2 days worth of classes and a change of clothes. This backpack is absolutely perfect for what I need. The separate laptop pocket is ideal because after spending so much money on my laptop I like to know it's safe and not getting scratched or hit by my books. The book pocket is large enough for me to fit 4 1/2" binders, a textbook or 2 and clothes if needed. This backpack isn't necessarily wider compared to other North Face ones but it is definitely taller. The number of front pockets allows me to store all my pens, calculators (yes plural) keys, wallets, sunglasses etc and know exactly where each item is. A great pro is the special pocket just for the laptop cord. It's very useful to just be able to grab the cord and not have it be tangled with everything else that is in the bag. The only con I have is that it does look rather large when walking around campus but that's expected with a backpack of this size. I will definitely be taking this backpack with me when I also travel whether it be road trips or plane trips it will hold a good amount of clothes. If you're looking for a larger backpack to fit your needs be sure to give this one a try! P.S. I first went to local sports stores to check it out in person and then when on thenorthface.com to pick out a color I liked. Mine is red!

I admit that I baulked at the price of this pack. But the build quality is very good, there are a good amount of pockets...front ones for novels and maps, lots of smaller inside ones for pens etc. and there's a key-safe in one of the smaller zipped pockets, very useful. Zips are pretty heavy-duty, and I have used this bag for a year ravelling around Mexico and Central America. There's room for a hoodie, a jacket, shorts, flip-flops and a few tee-shirts...what more do you need? Laptop pocket useful now that I own one. One complaint is the top loop. When the bag is full and heavy, it's very uncomfortable to carry the bag with this, getting on and off buses etc. For the money, I'd have expected a soft rubber ergonomic grip. But it's a small "con".

I came here to look for a backpack that not only looks classy but also has the capability to handle all the demands of my college life. Recently, I started to notice that more and more students are switching to The North Face backpacks here in my area (Berkeley, CA), so I figured "what's so special about them?" At first I was quite hesitant to purchase one due to the price of the backpack, but I managed to persuade myself to get one after all the reviews and countless visits to the Router backpack page. I am VERY SATISFIED with my purchase; when the backpack arrived, just pulling it out of the the package you can notice that it's what you have been looking at in the pictures provided on the website (I got the asphalt grey emboss type so I was afraid the shade would look slightly off from the one in the picture). Additionally, the backpack simply screams beauty and class along with durability and pristine workmanship even when you first take it out of the package. What I was most concerned with this backpack is if it would look like a large awkward backpack on my back granting that I'm 5'8 and this backpack is somewhat "long." When I adjusted the straps and after countless fittings, it looks PERFECT and AMAZING. I have been using it for a week now and NO COMPLAINTS here. I'm planning to stick with The North Face from now on until this guy gives up on me [from the looks of it, that would be a LONG way from now]. Seriously, they come with a price, but in the end you know that YOU TRULY GOT WHAT YOU PAID FOR.

I love this backpack. I take the train to work every day and I wanted a backpack big enough to fit a change of shoes, my lunch box, umbrella, wallet, and my jacket (plus other little things... iPod, book, gum, etc.). This backpack holds all that and then some! I love that there is a separate pocket for my laptop. My laptop is 17" and it fits very nicely, with a bit of room to spare so if your laptop is on the bigger side, it should fit. Then there's the main pocket that has tons of room. Then there's another pocket with a variety of organizational pouches -- some zippered, some velcro, some that are just open. I love these because I can keep all my odds and ends organized. Then there's a smaller, fleece-lined pocket that would fit something small, like a cell phone or sunglasses. I am a female, about 5'3". I was a little worried that this backpack might be too big for my frame, but I think it looks fine. I've found that backpacks made specifically for ladies do not come in sizes as big as this one, which was really frustrating, so I was so glad when I found this one. One of my favorite things about this backpack is that the hip straps can be stowed away in little pockets made just for them. I would pay this price just for that feature. I love hip straps when I need them, but when I'm not using them they are such a pain (swinging from the bottom of the backpack, getting caught in between seats on the train, etc.).

Before the north face router daypack I used the north face surge (the old version) I have been a backpacker for many years and I have worked in designing combat gear for the army. This is my opinion on the router pack after a little more than a month of use. The router backpack is nearly identical to the new surge backpack with the main difference being the increase in size, from around 30L to 40L. The materials that went into this backpack are excellent and the newer generation seems to be lighter and stronger than the previous. In particular I would like to mention the shoulder straps which are very comfortable and make bearing heavy loads (+20lbs) much more comfortable. The waist strap in my opinion is not really a useful feature, I never used it and in my old back pack the buckle caused the backpack to erode at the base. The new top carrying strap is smaller, lighter and better located than in previous models as is the zipper design. By having a bi directional zipper that can be closed not directly at the top the bag ensures that the zipper won??t open itself from the weight of the content of the bag. The bag is now equipped with a semi hard lining in the bag designed for back support. While it does do its job, this is not a hiking pack. It will no supply the support if you place heavy hard irregular shaped object close to the back of the bag. The tablet pouch is very nice, I would prefer a more elastic material that could accommodate an ipad with a case, but for me that wasn??t a make or break feature anyway. What is a make or break feature however is the loss of the second side (bottle) pocket. In the older models this pocket was a dual layer fabric which could be accessed one from the top and one from the side. A beautiful innovation. The new pocket is a single and only on one side of the bag. On the other side is a pouch designed for a laptop charger or other small items. In older north face bags this was located in a zippered pocket under the bottom of the bag, thus keeping both side pockets. The side pockets are important because usually I used one for a water bottle and one for an umbrella when it was raining. If your water bottle is narrow enough you can have both on one side but this also takes away from the ability to balance the load of the bag equally across both shoulders. A good feature of the Router bag is the abundance of small zippered pockets, different from the older model but whether you like it or not is just a matter of taste. I do. A new innovation of the bag is a tapered bottom. This is designed to bring the weight closer to your back which it does well but it has a downside in that the bag can no longer be balanced standing up. Its default position is face down, which is very annoying if you want to access your things/ keep it clean Lastly I would like to address the size of the bag - a major issue. The bag is very big, but the extra size isn??t necessarily an advantage for school. I needed the extra space for textbooks, but the way the bag is designed, all the extra volume comes from having a taller/deeper compartment. This means that having books lined next to each other results in the same carrying capacity with more space on the top. Placing books on top of each other like that will likely result in damaging of the books. The added depth makes the bag seem useful for trekking or as an overnight pack, but when you take into account the flimsy back panel and lack of hydration pouch, it is really only ideal for an overnight bag or for traveling. It is my opinion that you should buy this bag for that and try the surge (which is significantly cheaper) if you want to use it for school/college.

i love it. its great. i get the looks...