Customer Reviews The North Face Recon Backpack

I was really excited for this backpack to come in, but the color turnout was so disappointing! I don't know if anyone else got the hydro green/ snow cone red one, but it was a lot darker than what the picture showed. I didn't like that it was also so stiff. I felt really awkward carrying the backpack. But I loved the design and the compartments. I probably won't purchase one again though. :(

The colors are so attractive, but after adding ny school supplies inside. It lacks space and constantly fearing the straps will break off because they are not really well atached. With all the cushion added the straps it still causes your shoulders with SO MUCH PAIN!!!!! Last season straps were so much better!

Long story short: straps severely hurt shoulders, back support is stiff and uncomfortable despite padding, not nearly enough space for my books and supplies (as a graduate student). I really wanted to love this backpack. I considered giving it 2 stars because I like color, but that still doesn't outweigh the cons. I read another review stating that this backpack hurt their shoulders, and their shoulders were sore long after they had removed the backpack -- to my surprise and disappointment, this is true! The straps are NOT comfortable. The padding is stiff, almost as stiff as whatever material makes the back support of the backpack. It almost feels like it's rubbing a groove into my shoulders, like a rug burn, and while I only had it on for a minute to test out the weight of my school books/laptop inside of it, my shoulders continued to hurt for a few minutes after I took off the backpack (so I can only imagine what it's like after wearing this thing for half an hour or more). The part that goes up against your back is slightly more padded, but due to the inflexibility of it, it did not feel soft nor comfortable. I even tried adjusting the different straps/buckles, and nothing helped ease the heaviness/stiffness of the backpack. Just an added point, the buckles that go across the chest stick out funny and don't lie flat when unbuckled, which bothered me because they were basically right in my face when I look down. You can't fill the pockets in the extra compartment too much, because it dramatically reduces space in the main compartment of the backpack. After putting a few things in it, the pack became restrictive near the top, yet still roomy at the bottom. This made it difficult to fit a laptop, books, notebooks, planner, calculator, etc. because there was no more room at the top for stuff to go side-by-side, but at the bottom there's still plenty of space (maybe because it anticipates needing room for things to distribute when you put the pack on/take it off?).

Why did you guys change it??? The old design was so nice and stylish, this just looks too square :(((((

I love the new colors, but I am NOT happy with the new design. I as well wanted a new one for the next school year, and I am so upset that the old recon is now gone. This is much smaller than the old recon, and I wish y'all would bring back the old!!

PLEASE BRING BACK THE OLD MODEL OF THE RECON OR AT LEAST SELL BOTH MODELS BECAUSE I WANTED THIS FOR SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, BUT NOW I DON'T LIKE THE NEW 2015 MODEL

I still have my original Recon that I bought back in 2005! (When they were good quality products) I got it to go on my first hike in Yellowstone. It was perfect! A great backpack for hiking! I love that it has the straps on the bottom for sleeping bags or jackets!!! However I wanted a new one thinking it was still going to be great for hiking! Boy was I wrong. This new backpack is for someone stuck in a concrete jungle! Sorry but who needs a laptop pocket while hiking the backwoods of a national park?

I was a Recon evangelist having taken this backpack as my only form of luggage across the country, to Europe and South America. It was one of the most bombproof pieces of gear I had ever owned. Recently it was stolen from my vehicle and I ordered a new one with much excitement and anticipation. When it arrived I compared it to my sisters who had the same one I used to. This is where disappointed set in strong. No more drawstring side pocket, no more straps on the bottom to hold jackets or sleeping pads, no more zipper pocket on the inside of the big pocket, the laptop sleeve is not even across the top making it hard to get contents out if you??re not reaching in from the right direction, no more plastic d-rings or knife pocket on the front straps, the front stow pocket??s buckle is now affixed to the front of the backpack reducing capacity and making it harder to buckle. The only change that I see as an improvement is a zippered pocket in the second largest compartment. I immediately searched Recons on eBay and other sites to try and find one like I had bought years ago and it looks as if these changes have been gradual as there are many models between my original and the current, however it seems as though each version has become cheaper and has sacrificed the exact reasons, as small as they may be, that the Recon 5 years ago was a bombproof piece of outdoor or traveling gear that had huge value. I can only hope that this helps to generate discussions to build a better pack like before. Unfortunately, anyone that has bought this pack in the past few years doesn??t know what he or she is missing. If these changes were to be fixed I would certainly become an evangelist again, until then I will remain disappointed and return my new Recon.

My old recon was finally falling apart so I convinced my mom to buy me a new one for school. We sent it back because it was SO much smaller. It was also heavier when it was empty. Why fix it if it's not broken!! The new style/size didn't fit all of my books and lunch. I'll have to shop other brands now. Frustrating....