Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

I just bought my second Recon after my first sadly lost a fight with a power-saw (long story, obvious the power saw won). I was devastated when my back pack had a hole spanning the entire bottom side, through the water bottle holder mesh, into both pouches, and through the padded laptop sleeve. (thankfully no laptops were harmed in this outrageous scenario) Took me a while to find this backpack again, as my mom bought it from a sporting good store, and they no longer make it in the color I have, so I didn't recognize it at first. But SO HAPPY I found it again. Was worried it was gonna be discontinued or something. My mom bought the first backpack as a gift for me, going off to veterinary school. I've had it two years, and it was absolutely perfect with plenty of pouches for exactly what I needed. On days I had to travel heavy I simply had to unbuckle the extra support straps to allow the book bag to expand its fullest potential... But on lighter days I could clip those straps back in in the book bag felt light and small again. At my worst I have loaded this bookbag with 40-45lb of books/notebooks & laptop/tablet. Never had any issues with support or straining my back or shoulders. The ONLY downside I ever had was the liner started pealing within the first year (that is what my "con" refers to). BUT I I think this book bag was never intended to be waterproof, and I definitely got caught in many downpours walking from my school to my car. I probably just didn't dry it out quickly enough to prevent water damage. Had to write a review, especially when I realized I was so in love with my old backpack that I couldn't stand the thought of getting a different one. (I would have had the first one mended had the damage not been so extensive!)

This pack features a lot of compartments and easy access storage, which I like a lot. The ability to stow items away knowing they are protected is great. But, then having pockets/pouches that are easy to get to are great for when I need my keys quickly, or sunglasses, or a hat. Super comfortable, and durable. I don't see myself purchasing a backpack for a very long time.

I'm an archaeologist working long haul in remote parts of Africa so durability and good layout are key; TNF Women's Recon is the best pack I've ever had. First, I had a TNF Borealis for years and it was INDESTRUCTIBLE but the layout of the pockets wasn't ideal and its capacity was a little small. I switched over to a larger pack by another brand. Big mistake. 1. Competitor's Pack was built for a big-shouldered guy and fully loaded it gave me back and neck strain. 2. after 3 field seasons (1.5 years), Competitor's Pack split seams and chest strap link broke. I returned to TNF looking for a bigger capacity than the Borealis. I was glad to see the Recon had a better pocket configuration and larger size, and a female version. Usually I'm not a fan of "gendered" outdoor gear (the "Ladies" version is usually higher price, less rugged, and in pink colors - no thanks) but for backpacks this really is useful, because my shoulders are narrow and packs built for men don't fit me right. The TNF Recon is a great fit, and it carries the same heavy loads that Competitor's Pack used to, without breaking down or throwing my back out. A few small suggestions for improvement: 1) It does not stand up on its own; why not design the bottom to stand up? 2) The outer pocket doesn't open that far so it can be difficult to get to stuff in its basal area. If you want to "bury" a wallet against thieves this is a good place to do so. Still, I would recommend extending the zipper on that pocket a bit farther down, perhaps with gussets so stuff doesn't fall out but you can accordion it open. 3) I would suggest a hidden zip somewhere for valuables. 4) Wouldn't hurt to have a rain fly option (maybe with dedicated pocket). 5) The current lineup of colors is not great for people who work in sunny, dusty areas: dark/vibrant colors fade or show dust, and white is terrible. Try for some tans and medium greys. 6) Thank you for high quality zipper pulls & hardware. Thanks!

I remeber when it first came out i was starting high school till this day i still have it and use it on my daily commute to work great sack!

The best thing I love about the TNF Recon is it's made of codura. The bag is straight to the point and durable. Having had 6 of them and watching how they evolved as a product over the years tells me it's a backpack That is reliable for everything going on life! Plus being 30% off also help sweeten the decision. Happy Hunting, I wish everyone please be safe, and thank you again TNF for everything you as company does for people.

I am a college student, I have to walk at least 2 to 3 miles daily. This bookbag was pretty expensive for me and it took me a year to decide to buy it. I think it was worth it because of how much back structure it has and how much it has helped me with my back pain! I love how it fits me, and it has a really pretty color. I love it a lot. I do wish there was a little bit more space for clothes for sports but I think the space given gives me the limitation to not hurt my back.

I bought this for my husband birthday gift! She was using old Jan sport so long time as his work backpack. This bag pack is great and fit for pc! I love it!

Use it daily for commuting to and from school, its compact, roomy, and fits everything I need. Only downside is that the 3rd pocket used for pencil storage extends into the main compartment making it difficult to take out or remove things from the main pocket.

I use this product for work/school.

I purchased this for my daughter. She is an artist in school and carries with her art supplies, large sketch books, and a laptop. She loves the pack because her sketch books and laptop fit well in the pack but it is still comfortable. The shape of the bag and support are wonderful. She loves the colors and the sturdy side pockets.

Bought this for my third grade son and he loves it. It fits everything he needs for school including chromebook etc. My older daughter has the older version of this backpack and has brought it to school every day for the past 7 years and it has held up extremely well. Some people thought I was stupid for spending this much on a backpack for a kid, but those same people have ended up buying their kids a new $30 backpack every year for the past 7 years so I actually ended up saving a ton of money in the long run.

I take it to work everyday. It's perfect fit for my laptop and documents. It's super lightweight, very comfortable and stylish.

Just bought it for my daughter right before the school shutdowns but it is great quality and she will use it if and when school goes back!

Arrived quickly. Lots of pockets.

Very durable and stylish.

I use my recon bag for commuting to and from work on my motorcycle also camping and hiking and I love it

I love my backpack so much. I'm a college student and decided to risk spending the extra money so I could maybe use it for hiking/backpacking too. Best decision! I use it for school, going home from college, and short backpacking/hiking trips. I have two TNF backpacks (Recon & Berkley). Never had any major issues with either and I can assure you I use them for everything, every single day.

I use the Recon backpack for work. I LOVE all the pockets that it has.

I am a college student so I tend to carry a lot of things with me. This backpack helps me stay organized and makes sure I am carrying everything that I need. I love the comfort of it and how stylish it looks.

I take this to nursing school everyday with lots of books and a computer. It is perfect!

I bought this bag for my daughter and she fell in love with it immediately. It's a perfect fit for laptop and has many great compartments for all her other items.

I love this backpack. I keep my journal in the front which makes it easy to get. Love it for school...not to bulky.

I use this backpack not only for work but also on the weekends when out with my family. Perfect for kids all of the kids misc. items and water bottles. Comfortable to wear for hours on end.

stylish, light weight, excellent for commuting, and work.

I'm using this backpack for school and it's the best one I've ever had. I couldn't tell if it looked big enough online but when I got it in the mail I could tell it would hold all of my books easily. It's not too big on my back or hard to carry and it holds everything I need. 100% recommend.