Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

I really wanted to get an older model of the recon because I loved it so very much however now that they don't sell them im very sad and I think you should bring back the older model. I would totally recommend the older model to a friend not this one though.

A bit smaller than my old TNF backpack, which had easily held a 17" macbook pro. This one it is a bit more of a squeeze, and all of the padding makes the bottom of the main compartment a bit more narrow, meaning you can't fit some boxy-er items in addition to things like books. This is a minor gripe though, I feel these are the best commuting/school backpacks on the market and will continue to buy them.

Great for everything from school to getting on a plane. I definitely "recon"mend this backpack!

This pack is AWSOME the one flaw is the designe kinda weird

This pack is great. plenty of storage, comfortable and well made. The only feature that could be improved is the location of the water bottle holders on each side. It is very difficult to reach back and grab a bottle out of the holder with the pack still on. You almost have to take the back pack off to pull the bottles out of the holders.

backpack purchased for my 17 year old who is rough on backpacks. this one has sturdy material, is very roomy inside, and the red, white, and black are great colors together. I am very pleased with my purchase.

I am very pleased with this backpack. I needed a new backpack that would hold my laptop next year as I am starting college. This backpack does a great job of this. The only downfalls I have noticed are that the zippers are a little tricky to use but that could stop being a problem the more I use it! Overall I love the backpack and I am very glad I made the purchase

I've been carrying an all black North Face Back pack for 8 years. I went to college with it, vacationed with it, exercised with it, and began my career with it. I recently returned to The North Face Online to make a second pack purchase not because I need a new pack, but because I felt 8 years of full-time service deserved a retirement. I chose an all black Recon. I really like the grey with green pack, but because I use it for work, I felt the all black look was a better fit in my work environment. The large pouch has improved over 8 years, you can either slide a full size 17" laptop (with extended battery) in the tight fitting sleeve, or leave it loose. Aside from my padfolio, this large pouch could stand to carry a lot more. The mid size pouch is perfect for Pens, electronic devices like a Kindle, digital camera, and the like. The small top pouch is great for an ipod and small snacks. I typically use the outer area for drinks rather than the actual drink holders on the side. The shoulder straps and side of the pack against your back are padded and comfortable as usual, no matter how much I stuff in to it. Aside from work, I use this pack when cycling, going to the gym, weekend trips out of town, and on vacation as my carry on. Last month we went on a cruise and I stuffed all of my paperwork, electronics, toiletries, a bottle of wine, and a snorkeling mask and snorkel in to my pack. These packs are well constructed for all purposes, long lasting, and stylish. I receive frequent compliments on my previous and current North Face pack. If I had to voice a less positive comment it would be regarding all of the straps. There is a chest strap and waist strap that I haven't had a need for. Personally I remove them and all is well in the world. Although there is a neat whistle on the chest strap fastener. I would highly recommend The North Face packs. As far as I'm concerned if you mention a pack, I assume you're talking about The North Face backpacks.

I bought a new backpack for use during school and when I go hiking. The backpack is comfortable, durable and fits everything I need. However, I am still getting over the fact that it was $100!!!

I love the new Recon backpack that I ordered from North Face. It is the perfect size to accommodate all of my school materials and has lots of nifty pockets to hold a laptop, water bottle, wallet, and books. When I received the backpack, I found a tag saying that it is certified as a healthy option for your back, although with the amount I carry, I'm sure anything will help my back. I love the simplistic and sophisticated appearance of the bag. However, it is also durable and will be a fitting option to bring for any of my outdoor trips. So glad I choose this North Face brand backpack!

I bought the Recon backpack for my teenage daughter, and overall, it's a solid, functional school bag with plenty of room. We are loyal North Face customers and love the brand's quality. However, there's a concerning design flaw with the sternum strap whistle. Unlike some of our older North Face packs where the whistle is securely sewn into the strap, this model uses a plastic glider mechanism, which allows the whistle piece to slide along the strap. Unfortunately, the whistle part came completely off not long after we got it. I'm not sure if this has happened to others, but it's concerning that a safety feature can detach so easily. The rest of the backpack is great, but this particular design choice is a definite weak point.

Great packbag! wish they made a smaller version, as it is too big to fit under the seat on an airplane

Straps need to be thicker and the bottom needs to be thicker to protect the computer that I carry

I am replacing my Recon from abt 20 years ago. This bag is worse quality in many ways. - fabric is cheaper, thinner - straps and back have less padding - stitching and zippers not as good

Looks nice but uncomfortable. The straps are way too thin for a backpack. My 20 year old Jansport is more comfortable.

I like the computer section. I like the side bottle pouches. I like the front elastic pouch. I don't like how items stored in the the center zipper area push into the front zipper pouch area, and vice versa.

Plenty of space for laptop and necessary school supplies, however the front netting has ripped and now I will have to find something more reliable for long term use.

I travel a lot internationally, so I was looking for a high quality backpack to use for travel. I saw a review before purchase that the way this backpack is put together causes there to be most space in the main compartment at the bottom, and less at the top - like an upside down pyramid. Since I saw so many positive reviews for the backpack, I decided to buy it. But the pyramid-type shape in that compartment is a significant problem for me. It is very difficult to get to the items in the bottom of the largest compartment of the bag. In order to get to them, I had to unpack most of the compartment. And I think it is also tricky to pack it well, to fill up all of that bottom space. My previous backpack did not have this problem. It had two large compartments which both had a lot more space, so it was much easier to find what I was looking for when traveling. I also liked that my previous backpack's laptop section had two compartments - so I could put the laptop on one side, and items that needed to stay straight, such as important documents, on the other. I would definitely return this if I was not overseas. Since I'll be overseas for months, I will just make do with it and probably buy a backpack that is differently constructed when I'm next in the US.

I take this to work at a school every day, when in session. It is great for my laptop and a couple books, but I often have another bag with what didn't fit. The water bottle pockets have not lasted more than a few months before ripping. The pockets make the bag look more than two years old. Soon there will be huge holes in them. And considering schools closed in March of 2020 and half of the 2020-2021 I've been remote, it shouldn't have holes. Additionally, one of the buckles broke within the year with normal use on a hike.

I use this for everyday use. My old backpack was wearing out so I bought a new one but this bag is soooo much smaller. I don't like the new bag as much.

I use this to bring things back and forth for work. However, it's a pain because it won't stand up and I have to lay it on the floor. No where to hang it

The backpack looks great, is very durable, and the lumbar support is incredible. There are two large pockets and one smaller in the front. The "largest" pocket really only fits a laptop and that's it, leaving only one large pocket to carry your things. This pocket is very deep and fits a good amount, however the elastic band around the outside of the backpack squeezes the top portion of this pocket let, limiting the amount you can store. Additionally the laptop pocket does not reach the bottom of the actual backpack so it protrudes into the second large pocket.

This back pack is cool but it's not wide enough to look through. Every time I look for something I end up having to pull all my bags' contents out. I like that it has plenty of pockets, and the laptop sleeve is plenty cushioned.

Liked it overall, just don't like that it doesn't stand up the tall way. The computer patch makes it uneven and it tips over very easily

The new design of the bag makes it very compact but there is not enough space for larger textbooks. The outer pocket digs into the main compartment so it makes it difficult to put and remove items out when it's full. I love the overall look but it's not designed to hold a lot of storage.