Customer Reviews The North Face Borealis

Honestly, I really enjoy this backpack. I commute to school using public transportation so I have to carry everything. I've carried almost all my textbooks in my backpack and still had room for extra. The straps hurt at first, but they broke in after a couple of week.

PROS: - Durable, water-resistant material as usual. - Smooth, double-zippers for all compartments. - Zipper tabs are now black instead of mint (for the Black/Mint color) like they were for previous years. Now, it won't look dirty as quickly with use. - Just enough smaller pockets. They used to have way too many weird, tiny pockets that no one used, but now it's just right. - The length of the back laptop compartment doesn't go all the way down to the bottom of the backpack. It stops a few inches above the bottom so that if you set your backpack down too roughly, your laptop doesn't hit the floor and is protected by that distance. - If you don't wear the hip straps and don't want them to dangle on the sides, they can be tightened all the way so they lie flat against the backpack, and you can wear the backpack normally with the hip straps out of sight. - Mesh hasn't caused my clothes to pill. I had other backpacks with mesh padding that ruined my clothing because the friction made all my clothes pill, but not with this TNF mesh. CONS: - The side pockets are made of a VERY thin mesh. This is incredibly disappointing because my past Borealis had side pockets made of the same durable material as the backpack itself. This thin mesh doesn't seem like it would hold up well since I tend to use my side pockets for wide 32oz water bottles, umbrellas, and even my keys. I wish they would have kept the old design by using a more durable fabric for these side pockets. I have avoided using them entirely so far because they feel like they'll rip easily, which is a shame.

I love this backpack, but was forced to get plain back . The light colors are impractical, and the other options are boring. Love the women's backpack because it fits me better, but the men's has a far better color selection. disappointed by this

The bookbag is too long in size. It is so pretty but unless you are a tall person, don't get it. It looks so bad on short girls.

I got this backpack because it looks very stylish, but I feel like the sleeves are very uncomfortable because they have a hard material in them instead of having a foamy feel to them. I love when bags have many pockets, but this one only has 2 large ones. 1 for the laptop, the other I use for my books, and they have a medium sized one which I use for my writing utensils. Lastly they have a tiny one where I store my keys. I feel like for the price it could be more comfortable, and they could've added secret pockets. The medium pocket is in the upper half of the backpack so it makes the backpack look fat in the upper half which I believe looks unpleasant.

So far this backpack has been great to use for school and it's durability has me convinced that I'll be able to use it all throughout college. I like that there's a departed compartment for the laptop, but I wish that the back panel of the backpack wasn't so stiff. It makes it really difficult to lean up against things without it sliding down onto the ground. I also wish that the compartments were a little bigger and more flexible to fit more things. I do really like the water bottle holders on the sides just because of how stretchy they are that you could fit almost any sized water bottle in them. Overall, those are the only things I would change, but it's very simple, durable, and lightweight backpack that's great for using to carry my everyday things.

Great backpack but I wish the front pocket was deeper.

I love it but wish it was a little bigger. Can fit my laptop, gym clothes, lunch, and shoes but it is a tough job to squeeze it all in.

I use this backpack mainly for school. I like that's it's stylish and durable because I carry a lot.

For strong and durable backpack. I enjoy it a lot, the only down side is that I would like that he zippers would go all the way down so it'll be easier for me to put my text books in.

I am a college student that was seeking a good looking but comfortable and supportive backpack. The bag does not hold as many books as I was hoping it would but I do take into account the fact that it is still new and may stretch to hold more as time goes on. Unfortunately the color did not match the picture exactly, but it was a close representation and overall I am still satisfied with the look of the bag. I would recommend this product to others but with these factors in mind!

i use this for school but it's too big so it would probably be better for traveling

My husband bought me this for my return to college. I am an avid hiker and love it as a day pack. I love the look of the bag as well. It works well for my laptop but I am unable to put many books in it. Which, can be a good thing as this prevents over loading! The only real con I have it that this pack does not sit upright without being propped up. It is so comfortable to wear! I am petite and have small shoulders. My last pack was uncomfortable due to wide straps. I also love that this pack has a vented back!

Just received my Borealis Backpack. I like the overall design and color, but I didn't expect it to be so long. The material seems really sturdy, but kind of stiff. I trust it will get softer once broken into. I'd give the backpack five stars if it were a tad bit bigger. I'm afraid I might not be able to fit all of the books I need to take to school in it because it's smaller than I expected it to be. The shoulder pads and back padding are quite comfortable so I'm satisfied with that. Stands up by itself if you lean it next to a wall. I don't know if it would stand up if you lean it next to a chair in class. Hope it does. Might not want to put too many things in the second organizational pocket as it doesn't reach all the way down to the bottom of the bag, thus, makint it top heavy. Putting a small notebook or two in it is fine. Can't wait to use this backpack for school!

I love the design and everything but I feel like is a little smaller than I expected, also the back and the straps are so hard that is not comfortable to wear for all day school students. This backpack is very light and good supports, even when you have to carry a lot of textbooks You would still not feel that weight at all. Overall I love this design and everything else, except the material are little too hard. I also recommend this product to my boyfrien and he gets one as well!

love the bag, great quality and very durable

bought for granddaughter for school she loved it

Purchased as a gift to my niece. I really liked the backpack and I am thinking about buying one for myself.

Very durable. Very useful.

Haven't used product yet, this was a Christmas gift, loved the design, hopefully it functions as well if it looks then it will be awesome!

I did not purchase the product, but I saw that my friend had one and it seemed a bit small. Since I am buying one soon, I do have a solution to my problem, since i use one jumbo binder to hold all of my scholar nesecities.

I do love the color of this bag. The laptop pocket is wonderful and so useful. The only thing I am not a huge fan about is how comfortable it is. the arm straps bother me a tiny bit.

Being used for school. Needed a lighter weight backpack that was durable. It does not hold as much as her other one did even though the size is almost the same. Would definitely like it to be about one inch bigger by height and width, or maybe even depth.

Durable and comfortable. Needs a little breaking in at first.

Hikng and carry on. Pad curled into bottom and would need professional seamstress to fix. Poor design w/o being sewn into sleeve its in