Customer Reviews The North Face Women's Surge II

I have tried several messenger bags (Osprey, Haiku, and Sherpani) and one backpack (High Sierra) trying to find one that will hold everything I need while on campus and is still comfortable to carry. I am a student and I live an hour from campus, so I need to make sure I have everything I need, which makes for a heavy backpack! I did a lot of research before ordering this one. It was the largest The North Face offered with the most organization. I also ordered a Patagonia one that was comparable in size. I think it was their 32L one. The Surge II won hands down. Tons of space for all my books, laptop, cell, lab coat, hairnet, pens, calculator, highlighters, pencils, wallet, feminine products, and the list goes on and on. To top it off, it is so comfortable. My last backpack aggravated the problem areas in my back and neck, but this backpack doesn't just hang off your back, it becomes an extension of your back. I didn't even know it was approved by the American Chiropractic Association until I got it. I was unsure of paying this much for a bag, but my last one was $80 and only lasted a few months...bummer quality costs so much, but if you can come to terms with the price, you will not be disappointed! Fantastic bag! No wonder almost everyone on campus carries a North Face bag of one type or another! Thanks North Face and Zappos!

Love this backpack! I have looked at so many backpacks for school this fall, but none of them were exactly what I was looking for, except this one. It's feminine, made for a women's body, very good size and it's comfy too. It easily fits my 15.5 inch laptop, in a separate pocket from everything else, which is a must for me. It also easily holds a binder, notebook and 2 books and more! I love the color and it's very sleek it holds a lot, but it doesn't stick out a mile or look super huge when all loaded up! I also love that it Has a middle pocket so its really easy to keep all your things organized. Kind of pricey, but worth the money if you want a bag that is feminine, can fit your laptop, books and more! So glad I bought this bag!

Although this is the most expensive backpack I have ever owned, I have to say that I am happy to have made this purchase. I got the white/grey/pink combo. I love the colors (very feminine), all the pockets, and the cushioning on the back is amazing! I've received some compliments on it, and I have recommended they purchase from Zappos. It holds my MacBook Pro 15" perfectly in its own pocket, and I can also fit my battery in any of the other pockets, as there are so many spacious ones, its hard to choose where to put stuff sometimes. The only negatives I have found are the side water bottle compartment, as well as the top handle. The elastic is not tight enough or long enough, so my water bottle has already fallen out a couple of times, usually when I am pulling it out of my car. Also, the top handle is thin and not as cushioned, making it kind of irritating on the skin to pull the backpack up by the top handle. I was skeptical about the white getting super dirty, but so far it hasn't stained, although I try not to put it on the dirty floors at school. The whistle is not very loud but still convenient if ever needed. The other side pocket on the opposite side of the water bottle compartment, is made up of very thin fabric, and you can't really put much in there without it looking awkward and bulky, and I am also scared the fabric will start to pull. A note to future buyers, the first day I wore this to school, it was a little stiff on the straps, but once they start to take shape to your body, they are super comfy. Overall, I would recommend this back pack, especially if you have back pains like me, since it is the most comfortable I have owned. I am thinking of getting one for my little sister for Christmas, as she is going off to college soon. Thank you North Face for making this, and Zappos for selling it and delivering it the very next day!

Love this! Got it for my 6th grade daughter. Perfect size. Fits all of her books. Comfortable. It has lots of extra pockets for phone, etc. She loves it!

Loved LOVED this backpack! I bought it for Walt Disney World and it was such an asset. All the compartments are extremely helpful, lightweight awesome! This was also my carry-on bag and worked like a charm. I love it and will use it when I go to Disneyland too.

We bought this backpack for our daughter to use for school and she is very very happy with it. Lots of space for large binders, spiral notebooks and a special space for her laptop. Very cushiony and comfortable as well. Awesome backpack!

LOVE IT!! It is HUGE (fits binders, notebooks and laptop + lunch), has many zippers and hidden pockets, is super sturdy and is exactly what I needed for a combo of school use and outdoors use. Also love how Northface has a lifetime warranty. Thank you, Northface for beating everything on the market!

A great backpack. I compared many and this one is extremely comfortable. The padding on the back and straps feels just like those amazing Swedish foam mattresses that conform to your shape. When I first picked it up, I thought the pack seemed overly padded. But once I started packing it full of books, laptop, groceries, etc. I've been a convert. Really top of the line!

I ordered The North Face Women's Recon backpack at the same time so that I could decide between the two, and I ended keeping this one. They were both large enough to hold all my daily essentials (water bottle, tablet, gym clothes, purse, etc.), but in the end this one felt like it was sturdier with better construction for everyday use. I have had it for a month now and I really like it.

This is a very well designed backpack. It has lots of usable pockets and storage. There is a large storage pocket that holds a lot plus a section for a laptop and an iPad. The only downside is it is long and thus seems a bit too big for my back despite the fact that it's made for women. I'm 5'3" so it would fit a taller woman better. The color is also really nice.

Color was a bit too bright and backpack was too large for my everyday use...I loved it but it was just too large. Fast shipping easy return!

Wow, I'm not normally one to drop this much on a backpack, but if you are going to college, this backpack is a need! Considering that the quality is unbeatable and that you will be using it everyday, it is well worth the price. Say if you used it for four years of college, each day you used it would be under five cents versus if you plowed through multiple 30 dollar back packs of mediocre quality. So it's almost finals week, and I've been using this backpack for the last five weeks and life has been so much easier despite all the stress due to the brilliance with which North Face designed this pack. You need your room key to get in the dorms? Bam! The pockets on the outside, especially the two zippered ones, allow one to organize easily and get stuff in and out super fast. You need to carry 3 textbooks weighing 20 pounds, your laptop, and accessories up and down a half-mile hill every day? Bam! This is what you need. Every day I walk to class, and I see at least three people with this backpack. Not because us students are conformists, but because this is simply the best candidate out there for the job. It has the amazing ability to make everything feel lighter than it actually is due to the stiffness of the back, which also nicely protects the laptop. And the ultimate test? This backpack survived a stampede. Even in a stampede, carrying some of my textbooks and at least 3 pounds of computer, this thing still made all the weight feel light as air. And only after surviving this stampede did I open my backpack and remember that I was carrying my heavy laptop. Also, the size and the amount of stuff that you can fit inside it is amazing. And it does all this without looking bulky. It's the closest thing to Hermione Granger's bottomless bag that you will ever find. Yup, this thing is that good.

I received this as a Christmas give from my husband as he has the male version. It is very we well made and excellent quality. The color is dark gray and black and I have received compliments on it. I definitely would recommend it. I am 5'11" and find it ergonomically well done!

Made the switch from hauling my laptop in a messenger bag to this backpack. Very comfortable and well made. Three main compartments fit laptop, papers/files, and personal items nicely. Even when the backpack is on, am able to contort a bit to access the two horizontal zippers on the face of the backpack fairly easily, making access to essentials like a train pass, key card, etc. possible without removing the backpack. Very happy with the purchase.

This is a great bag-pack. I have received several compliments from total strangers about how pretty it is! Besides being a beautiful bag, it's very practical. It has many little compartments of various sizes which helps in organization. It's very roomy as well. It easily fits my lunch, laptop, book, and has room for a small jacket if needed. The only downside is it's a bit heavy because of the solid back panel.

bought this backpack for my 7th grade daughter. This backpack was very expensive but it was well worth the money. It was very spacious for my daughter's 2 inch binder and her textbooks. Thanks Zappos for the speedy delivery. This was also a good choice of color for my daughter, she loved it.

This backpack might seem expensive but it's well worth the money. I got this backpack when my older North Face backpack was just too small. This backpack is HUGE. I can fit everything I have for every class in this thing (I'm a junior in college). I actually Don't use this one too awful much anymore because I just don't need that much space any more. But I do us this backpack when I travel. I recently went to Buffalo for ten days and I took this backpack wa the only thing I took. With some careful packing I got everything in. If you're looking for a ton of space in a backpack and you want something that is going to hold up through the years, go get this backpack. It's money we'll spent.

I really love this backpack. I was hesitant to spend this much on a school bag so I waited for a long time and looked for something less expensive. Ended up buying this and the Dakine Jewel together. This bag is so comfortable and the other wasn't...so it was a no brainer. I'm a full time college student and carry a lot of books plus a 15" laptop on most days. This stands up to most everything, without sticking out a mile. Lots of interior compartments in the organizer and overall very thoughtful use of space. The charging pocket on the side is nice and stretchy and fits my mac charger particularly well. The water bottle pocket fits my camelbak 750mL. The bag also looks like it would fit legal documents too, it's pretty tall. My favorite part is that the bottom of the laptop compartment is really padded, so [even though I'd never throw it down] I don't have to worry if it happens. My only complaint is that it doesn't stand up on its own, and it seems like it should because it's got such a stiff [but very padded] back. Not a big issue though. My other complaint would be that I didn't buy it sooner.

I absolutely love my backpack! My stuff has become much more organized since I have switched to the Surge. As a graduate student I am required to carry heavy books to and from class on a daily basis. The additional back support on the Surge truly makes a difference in the stain that is placed on my back.

I bought this backpack for my 10th grade daughter. She can fit most of her heavy textbooks into it as well as a large binder, and her 13-inch laptop. She likes the front zipper pockets because they can fit two paperback novels for English class. Overall, she is very happy with this backpack.

This is the perfect backpack! It is really spacious but it is still slim! I can easily fit two large binders and two textbooks in the main compartment and I can store my laptop safely in the back pocket. I love the front pockets too! Those two vertical purple zippers on the front are pockets that go all the way across! There are two separate pockets that are as tall as the zippers and deep enough that when I stick my hand in, it goes to my wrist! The straps and back are soft and comfortable! The front top pocket is perfect for fitting my phone - with a little extra space. It is fleece lined, so I know my phone is safe! The organization in this backpack is amazing! Also, the color is a beautiful mint color in lower light and light aqua in brighter light! Gorgeous! My last North Face backpack lasted seven years and still could go another four! I know this backpack will last as well! You will not regret getting this backpack! It is worth every penny!

This is a great looking backpack, which is what drew my daughter to it. We both like the room it has to carry her huge zippered 3-ring binder and books. Plus, she has space for a laptop, extra shoes and a lunch, but it does really stretch its space. It is also comfortable to carry because of the construction and straps. She also has a place to put her big water bottle. For the cost, I hope this is the last backpack we need to buy for her. She just started middle school and I expect her to use it through college. I gave it an overall four stars because it is so expensive. But, if she's still using it in 6 years, I will up that to 5 stars.

This is the first backpack I've purchased in years! It was more expensive than I had planned on, but purchasing online without being able to do the touchy feely before buying, I put my trust in the quality North Face is known for and decided to spend a little more in order to get a product that would last! I'm loving this backpack! It has ample room to fit my needs, including space for my iPad AND laptop, and it looks great! Terrific construction and I'm happy with the color choice, I actually feel good carrying this backpack around my work campus!

I really, really wanted to love this bag. The colors on the graphite grey/ beach glass green version was so, so pretty. However I had to return the bag as my 17" laptop did not fit in the designated compartment. For reference I have a Dell that measures 16 3/8" L x 11" W and 1 1/4 " D and it was 3 or 4 inches from zipping completely (hopefully I can help someone else with a larger 17" laptop). I was also a little disappointed in the padding on the straps. My 15 year old Jansport has way more padding on the shoulder straps and top handle. It wasn't the deal breaker, but I did notice it. The padding along the back though was wonderful. I also did love all of the other compartments. One final note, this is NOT the same version of Surge II that is offered on TNF website. They have apparently updated the style where the laptop compartment unzips to lay completely flat for TSA (which so far only seems to be available directly through TNF). Would have been a pretty great bag if my laptop had fit.