Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

The bag is ok very comfortable the biggest issue I found is there is no pocket for the bottom straps that go around your waist so there left dangling behind you. My other backpack from NorthFace had them did not realize how valuable they are.

I am a grad student and used my old TNF "ILLINOIS" bag - 32 Liters - to go to the university: I usually put in there 2/3 notebooks, textbooks, a 13" Thinkpad laptop with sleeves + charger, and when I go play soccer twice a week I add my shoes and short/t-shirt as well. I also use it to go on weekends and take it as carry-on on long flights. So I wanted a more modern looking bag and be able to do the same. I can...but it is incredibly uneasy. On the bright side, in addition of previous comments, the front outside pocket is very convenient, I put my gloves in there and this is much better than trying to shove them in my jacket pockets. Also I just walked 15 minutes under a snow shower and everything inside the bag was completely dry. Water drops slide or stay on the cover, you can just shake your bag a little and they fall off. The problem of the Recon (I am talking as of Nov. 2018) is packing and accessing things. Once I put my laptop (without sleeve of course) in the back pocket, and very few things like pens/small painkiller/ID in the front, the main pocket seems very small. Basically the front pocket is half the height of bag and goes inside the main pocket. The laptop pocket does the same on the whole length from the back. There is room, I was able to fit all my stuff in this reduced main pocket, but how painful that was! I needed to squeeze my shoes and sports clothes past this bottleneck (zipper only goes half way which doesn't help), then put my notebooks on top. Once in the gym, I had to empty all my school stuff to reach the sport clothes in the bottom, then repeat the process when I left the gym. Bottom line is : there is enough room...but it is hard to make use of it, the bag is too stiff which is very frustrating. Not sure if it's a problem specific to the 2018 new design but I'd love to be able to pack/unpack in less than 2 minutes and not play Tetris everytime I have to.

i bought this bag and it seemed great and first but is now starting to shift to the left a lot making it look and feel uneven tried to do something with the backpakc strings to make it even just made it worse

If you like style overcomfort this might be a great backpack for you. I got it because I was hoping for both but the straps are very hard and uncomfortable and so is the backing. The place where you put your laptop is going to keep it safe, but it also makes the back hard and uncomfortable as well. I had a Patagonia backpack that is much more comfortable with more room. Maybe I just need to use the backpack a few times to break it in.

I had the yavapai backpack for a long time and have been thinking about getting the recon backpack for a long time! I was really excited to get my hands on one of these, and its indeed a pretty good quality backpack, however, the compartment is so much smaller than it was before, like so so so much smaller!!!! The first and second compartment wasn't as deep as it used to be, and the additional laptop compartment take up too much space that makes the main compartment smaller & couldn't fit a lot!! I love the backpack but I wish I would've bought the older version online or at outlet for less of a price and a overall larger compartment!

If it could stand on its own while places on the floor this bag would be absolutely perfect! However, it doesn't so that's why I'm rating it this amount of stars

Too small

Had to return this product because it was too big and bulky for office use. Would be a good backpack for travel, outdoor hiking, etc.

I ordered this product online for my upcoming freshman year at college in the color Rumbred/ Grsllgy and expected it to come as the same color as on the website, but when the backpack arrived the colors were slightly different from the picture. Instead of the linings for the mesh on the outside pocket being white, they are dark grey, along with the bottom part of the backpack, which appears to be light purple in the photo on the website. There are a few other color changes to on the backpack, but they aren't as noticeable as the ones highlighted above. I do love the backpack itself and have heard good things about it, but I am a bit confused as to what happened with the coloring...

The straps on the zinc grey and kimono green recon backpack aren't green like they are in the picture they are actually grey with green flex vent which I have a problem with. The straps are so small, I don't like having to wear the backpack all the way right on my back I like it loose, free flowing and when I try to do that the straps don't allow it, I was much more happier with the guy backpacks I would like it if the strap wrapped all the way around my shoulder and arm instead of getting rubbed by the extension strap.

Even though the backpack is beautiful in design, it is very heavy and uncomfortable. The backpack itself weighs at least 5 pounds. When I first placed it on my shoulders with my notebooks, it felt like my upper body blood circulation was being cut off and I got tired faster. Also when you place the backpack on the floor it will not stand straight. You will have to place it on its front or back. I don't don't want to return it but at the same time I'm not happy with it.

I had this backpack for school last year and absolutely loved it! I decided to order the backpack again for this school year and was incredibly disappointed. The newly-designed backpack no longer holds the same volume as its predecessor. There is now a separate, zippered laptop pocket that takes away space from the main compartment. The main compartment has lost its roominess/ stretch factor and won't hold the same binders that fit in my old Recon. The second compartment is much shallower and would not be able to fit any type of notebook/ binder/ folder. Will be returning....

I bought the bag because everybody was saying that theres so much space, but I'm a university student and can barely fit anything in the bag... My one textbook and binder has pretty much taken up the whole bag ... There's also not enough pockets

Have not bought a backpack for a long time. Bought what was classified as medium size. I was not sure what 30 l. looks like. Turns out it was too small. It had quality construction and whould have worked grat if it held more stuff.

It doesn't stand up on it's own because the lip at the bottom of the back panel sticks out. This lip could be a little smaller. The front compartment is essentially a pouch within the main compartment that is half of the height of the actual backpack. If the bottom half of the backpack is not filled it will cave in because the top front half has weight. Not the best design because you then essentially only have one compartment for anything sizable. Granted, the main compartment is fairly roomy. Unfortunately that is also kind of spoiled by, once again, the front compartment; which when filled protrude inwards essentially reducing the capacity of the upper portion of the main compartment. This is a problem if you don't have many large items in the main compartment to counteract the weight in the front compartment. Don't get me wrong, this is a well made backpack. The design however is questionable. The front compartment should at least be separated from the main. Ideally, it is at least 3/4 the length of the backpack. That said, the mesh pockets are huge and are great for large bottles. There's a secret access to ONE of the mesh pockets hidden along the side of the back panel. Cool. The laptop compartment is elevated, large and padded on all sides. The mesh requires some breaking in but I think it is comfortable.

I had the last version and this one is a small upgrade minus a couple things. First with the a good, the new water bottle tabs are big enough to house the water bottles so they don't fall out. Second, the front storage has less fleece making it easier to take pens for pens/pencils and other items out. The older version had too much fleece and made it hard to take items in and out. Now the bad, my biggest dissapointment, I bought the older version because the laptop was well protected in its sleeve. The sleeve did not go to the bottom of the bag which protected it well when you dropped your bag after a long day. Not in the new version, that's unfortunate, because this bag had potential. Also, the new front compartment is part of the main compartment. It makes is hard when pulling out a book or anything in all honestly. As you pull out the item it gets caught on the front compartment making a hassle. Lastly, the back panel, really not much to say except I don't like it. It is stiff and uncomfortable. In my opinion, aside from all the negatives, this is the only bag I have found that you can take from school to the trail, it is why I continue to purchase.

I bought this last year. The straps are very stiff and don't mold very well to my shoulders. It does fit a lot and has great pockets. The bag unfilled also weighs more than I would like. I thought using it more would soften it but it has not. I would not buy this backpack again.

I bought the rocket red/everglade melange color which appears completely purple in the online photo. The color in real life is an orangey coral. Very misleading :( great pack though

I recieved this back pack as a Christmas present for a school back pack and at first I was pleased. It has a nice computer pocket and good cup holders on the sides. Although it would be a very good hiking back pack it doesn't seem like it is a good back pack for school. The biggest pocket barley fits all of my spiral notebooks and binders and it is very hard to get out. Also it is very heavy when picked up compared to my old backpack it is not light weight. Too many straps and not easily acessable. I recommend, but not for a school back pack.

As a high school senior, I have a lot of weight to carry around. While this backpack has served as great protection against the elements (rain and snow), I find it giving my sore shoulders both due to the strap placement and the weight. I strongly recommend going with a darker color because I purchased light grey and within a few months dirt was showing! Overall I think this is a sturdy backpack, but I would recommend something more lightweight for students.

I've had this pack back for two years, and it's still usable. However I do have my qualms. The bag fits my everyday school supplies (2 books 2-4 binders) and not much more. I liked all the pockets, everything in my bag has it's place. My biggest issue is how quickly it looked dirty, my bag is the zinc grey and surf green, and the green is disgusting to me now. Other issues are how hard the straps and back are, and the water bottle pockets developed large holes in the mesh. Also I don't think you're going to be fitting a soccer ball in the front mesh pocket anytime soon.

I have had this backpack for a year, so I do feel able to give an honest review. Cons: I purchased this backpack in the sea foam green color. In the picture it appears to be a mint color, however the bag I received is more green and is made of a different material than the picture. - This backpack was smaller than I expected, however I do pack a lot each day for school. So if you are a high schooler who does not bring a ton of textbooks, it should work for you. - Ths shoulder straps on this backpack are hard. When completely full and heavy this backpack hurt my back and shoulders. It especially made my neck muscles tighten. Pros: - Overall I would say the backpack is good quality. I have not had anything break and the zippers work fine. - The fleece lined pockets are nice for glasses, electronics, etc. - Every compartment in the backpack is extremely useful and they are set up in an easy to use way.

I really like this backpack, and it fits my books and computer well. The sole problem with it is that the mesh on the back of the backpack ruins your clothes. Every article of clothing I've worn while wearing my backpack has pills all over the lower back. When moving, the back pack's mesh moves back and forth tearing at the fabric of your clothing. I wouldn't buy this product again, and I'm now looking for a backpack that won't ruin hundreds of dollars of clothing.

If you were to by this backpack you should go to the store and check it out before buying it.

I really like this backpack. It is large & holds a lot of stuff inside. However, when I ordered this backpack it was supposed to come in white with green and coral accents. Instead the backpack I got was all green with a few coral accents. I was starting school & needed a backpack ASAP so I didn't have the time to send it back. The color it came in actually quite ugly & I really hate that part about it. I get a little annoyed with it being the wrong color every time I look at it. I am considering purchasing this bag again, but hopefully in the correct color, once I save enough money.