Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

Quality wise backpack seems very well made and would last a long time. Unfortunately I will be returning this. It's oddly shaped and does not hold as much as I expected. If you put things in the admin part you lose a lot of valuable space in the main compartment.

After looking at a lot of backpacks, this one seemed to have the best features for commuting with a laptop. After using it for several weeks I now wish I could return it. 1) The pack is structured in such a way that it creases half way down when opened. This makes it hard to get items into and out of the bottom because it basically seal itself shut at the midpoint. 2) The accessory pocket exacerbates the crease. It's constructed as a pouch in the inside of the main compartment but isn't sewn all the way across the bottom. It happens to fall right at the crease mentioned above, so items constantly snag in this pouch when trying to squeeze them through the crease. Try so slide some items in and out of the bottom before you buy it.

The middle pocket as half as much organizational pockets as the old version. Also the outside pocket doesn't have a class so everything will fall out if your backpack is upside down. Overall not as good a backpack as the old one. Except for the fact of the back support and venting.

I love how durable this backpack is. However, I bought this backpack for my high school freshman. I would not recommend this for a student because it does not sit on the floor. Student are constantly placing their bags on the floor and this bag falls over.

Attractive look, but straps were not long enough and back was too stiff and hard. It was poorly designed. Returned.

I have had a version of the recon backpack for about three years now. It is very roomy and durable and I would definitely recommend it. I use it for college along with traveling for the military. My main concern, however, is the lack of waterproofing on the bottom. Maybe my waterproofing has worn off, but every time it gets remotely wet, the bottom of the contents inside end up soaking. I have gotten many notebooks, textbooks, and my military medical records soaking wet. I usually love all my products from The North Face, and I used to love this backpack but I am extremely disappointed in the lack of quality waterproofing that has cost me a lot of frustration.

I bought this backpack online exactly a year ago, got it 21st June 2018 and before even a year of use there is a huge tear in the front zipper section (a small hand could fit through it). I took this backpack in four different trips and sometimes used it for school, overall, it has at most 250 days of use so I am quite dissapointed that there is such a tear. If it had happened in two or three years time I would have understood, but now? No. I have had backpacks from other brands that of course have gotten tears in their fabrics but after more time and heavier uses, I completely understand that nothing lasts forever but the amount of damage the backpack has after such light use is ridiculous. Is it comfortable? Yes. Roomy? Definitely. Well padded? Of course. Would I recommend it? Absolutely not, you would be throwing your money away.

While typical of tnf in terms of attractive appearance, looks can be deceiving. The pack is poorly designed and not ergonomic in function. The side straps at the midpoint of the pack creates a choke point not allowing larger items, such as lunch bag, to be placed into the lower, and roomier portion of the pack. In addition, the concentration of pockets above this choke point causes it to be top heavy so that it is constantly flopping backwards. The design seems to come from a novice at tnf and is truly one of the more disappointing purchases from tnf. Especially in view of the cost which I surmise was just paying for the name brand rather than a quality product.

Previous versions were excellent as gym bags. This one does not open widely enough for my equipment: clothing, shoes, swimsuit, fins, cap and goggles, plus toiletries, glasses, keys, and wallet. Because it does not stand up but is also quite tall, it is difficult to reach all the way to the bottom while the bag is flopping over. The ubiquitous laptop compartment is useless and a waste of space if one is using this bag for the gym. Previous versions opened wider and could hold everything, plus a purchase or two on the way home. Previous versions also functioned as a carryon that fit under the seat when flying; this one is way too flat and narrow for items to be easily pulled out while on a plane. In addition, the zippers stick and do not slide easily. Back to the store it goes. I can find a much cheaper and better proportioned backpack from other sources. Please, North Face, go back to your more versatile and functional designs of the past.

This backpack's main compartment has a small opening that is not practical. My previous backpack was under armour and it had a lot more room. Also, the backpack always falls over when sat on the floor.

A friend of mine has the past season Recon bag and he convinced me to get this one. However, when I received it I realized that the current season bag had changed in some negative ways. First of all, the pack seems to be slimmer overall, and as one of the other reviewers mentioned, the laptop sleeve is not fleece lined and actually isn't a sleeve at all. It is a separate compartment all together. Second, the "tablet" sleeve is extremely small and does not fit your average sized tablet. Also, the front media pocket only zips down about halfway which is extremely frustrating. The quality still seems to be there but with these changes I will be returning the bag and looking for the past season version.

The website states that the laptop pocket is fleece lined, this is not true... it was on the last version of this bag, I guess they never updated their website. Unfortunately I did not notice this immediately and now I cannot return the bag.

I got this backpack in August before the start of school. I like the way that it looks, but it is becoming more and more annoying each time I use it. For starters, the back of the backpack is way too tall and uneven with the front which makes the backpack fall down every time I set it down. The pockets on the front top of the bag are poorly placed, and make reaching anything in the bottom of the large pocket nearly impossible. The bag has bent and ripped all of my books and notebooks because it falls and slides onto its front so easily. It does a good job until I need to set my bag down for all of my classes. I constantly have to pick it up, and it is a core workout to even get anything in or out of it. I feel like I am constantly fighting with this bag. I love The North Face, but would not recommend this bag for students. This was not the first backpack I have purchased from this company, but it will certainly be my last.

I was really excited to get my first North Face backpack because I see so many of my peers with one! I was expecting high quality with lots of space. But when I got it, I was sadly underwhelmed. I think it feels less spacious than I was expecting and less usable pockets. Also, a small (but annoying) feature is that the pen pockets are too long/deep because every time I put a pencil/pen in it, I end up having to fish for it with my fat fingers and it's difficult. AND THEN, THE WORST PART!!! Two weeks into owning it, one of the water bottle holders ripped! And it wasn't because of me because it had a clean tear at a seam, so it must've just been my water bottle and it couldn't handle it (which is bad because what if I tried to take it camping with me). I will say, though, it's comfy as heck. Feels like so much less strain than my old backpack because the shoulder straps are so dang comfortable.

I bought this backpack to walk around my college campus. It is very attractive and lightweight, but I have been very frustrated by how the backpack is unable to stand up by itself once placed on the ground. This makes reaching into the bag to get more things throughout class very difficult. The bag could've easily been redesigned to include a firmer bottom in the main pocket.

I love this backpack so much, but I've been using it for three weeks and the water bottle pocket ripped. It makes me sad because I love it, but it's compromised my ability to use it.

Why doesn't the big pocket zip all the way down?!!!!

I bought a recon 4 years ago when I was a freshman in high school and it was the perfect backpack. It had so much storage and was the perfect size for me and it fit my very short torso. I wanted to buy another recon because after 4 years my backpack got destroyed and it was time for a new one. I saw that they now have a lot more cute color options of the recon so I bought this product. I was very excited but unfortunately I'm very dissapointed with how much smaller this backpack was compared to my recon 4 years ago and how super long it was on my body. It is so long that it hits my butt as I walk and to prevent that I basically have to tighten the straps as high as they go which isn't comfortable on me. It is also very uncomfortable on my back and shoulders compared to my old recon. The storage space isn't horrible but compared to my last recon, it is very small. I really wish this product would have worked out for me but unfortunately it didn't. I really hope this review helps.

I have a recon that is 8 years old that is super comfy yet looking worn. I wanted to upgrade to a new bag. The look of the new recon is perfect. I love the pocket placement and everything about the design except for the back panel and straps. The hard plastic backing it's too long. It hits the bottom of my head/neck and sticks out too far on the bottom. The straps are terrible. They are much shorter than my old recon and not comfortable at all. I packed it, put it on, and within minutes had to remove it. The straps hit pressure points that made my upper arms go numb. It's way too heavy unpacked, let alone packed. I'm pretty disappointed as I love the placement and updated mesh pockets, but it's not comfortable at all. Make the new recon like the older version of recon.... long, cushy straps that end past the bottom of the bag instead of ending at 3/4 length of the bag. A softer padded backing instead of the heavy, hard, non-flexible backing. Also find a way to keep it from falling over when it's sat down. If you update this bag to make it more comfortable, I'll buy it. Until then, I'll just keep using my old bag until it falls apart.

I have three kids and needed a new backpack to use for day trips to the zoo, lake, short hikes, etc. this backpack is way too heavy, especially when also carrying a baby. I'm disappointed because it looks fantastic. It's roomy enough, but it's not as fantastic as I expected for the price.

I purchased this backpack to use for school. When it first arrived I was excited about the look and feel of the backpack overall. Pockets are nicely lined and I was able to fit my laptop, empty binder, 2 single subject notebooks and a pencil pouch in the main pouch comfortably. Now the issues I had with the backpack.. The straps when warn comfortably the backpack was up so high on my back it was right up to my neck, and there is a random plastic piece at the top under the material that rubs against my neck/head if I turn my head in any direction or look up. When I lowered the straps so the backpacks was more comfortable, (besides the super stiff back) the straps inside of the straps point upwards and do not lay flat on the shoulders. The back is so stiff and there is zero flex to this backpack at all so don't expect any sort of comfort from that. It is nicely padded but it doesn't help with the comfort. The corners of this backpack are sharp and when you bend to the side they poke. Very disappointed in this backpack!

I loved the color of the backpack but I was disappointed with how stiff it was and how quickly it tore from the shoulder strap area. I'm not sure if mine was defective but I only had it for 5-6 months and I only carried my macbook, a five subject notebook, cell and laptop chargers and snacks while walking around campus. There was no way it should've torn so quickly and easily.

Ok so I had this backpack for about four months before the straps completely ripped off. Grated, I'm a student...so I cary fairly heavy books. But this backpack is built for hiking and other very trying activities, and the fact it broke after just four months of use is disappointing. I like the style of this backpack and its pretty roomy, but the seams were just so weak. I'm gonna give this pack another try (maybe it was a manufacturing issue?). Anyways, I would just be aware of the weakness of the straps of this product, especially if you carry heavier items.

I bought this backpack for my first year of college, knowing that in the past I really liked backpacks from North Face. Before my second semester I bought a new backpack from a different company because this one was so uncomfortable to carry. It hurt my back, the straps would rub my arms and neck, and it wasn't even big enough to be carry all the notebooks I needed in a day. I will not be purchasing again due to the fact that you are spending so much money on a bag that hurts your back so badly when you've only been carrying it for 10 minutes. Very disappointed.

I just got this backpack as an upgrade from the Jester backpack (the older model with no padding on the back) and I really love the features and size of this backpack, it's much bigger and has nicer finishes than my old one. However, I ordered the Blackberry Wine/Chambray Blue color and it's nothing like shown in the picture. The picture makes it look like the majority color is navy, but really it's more of a grayish-light blue and the purple part also has a diamond pattern on it. This color scheme really makes the light blue zippers pop out less and I was really disappointing upon receiving it as I now have to take the time to return it and buy a new color.