Customer Reviews The North Face Router

Smaller, more compact that I imagined. There are lots of pockets, but does not expand out, so very compact. Side pockets will hold the Stanley Ice Flow water bottle, but not my RTIC 40oz. water bottle. It is doing the job so far. I do like that the back tech compartment can hold my 15" MacBook Air and 13" iPad in their respective protective cases and not feel like thy are going to get crushed.

Not easy to open wide. Tall but skinny.

Great for me

Using for graduate school classes! Fits my computer and IPad easily!

its big enough to hold my stuff

I use the pack as my everyday work bag. I needed a supportive backpack for my shoulder per doctor's orders. It is very supportive and fits everything I need for work. The only thing I don't like is that it is a little stiff.

This is a solid backpack. I use it for work and it holds everything I need (lunch, jacket, iPad/laptop, and has great organizers pockets). I do wish the large main compared 1 or 2 pockets to offer organization in this compartment but overall, really great backpack

Great pack, middle big pocket could be easier to use. Rest is all good.

Love this backpack! Great size for travel and school. Fits big textbooks and all the other things one might need without weighing you down. My only complaint is that when the upper outside pocket is full the rest of the bag is hard to get stuff in and out of.

I bought a new blue North Face Router backpack to replace an old red Surge backpack by North Face that I had since January 2008. I have grown attached to my old backpack since I travelled the world with it. I found in many ways the old backpack had much superior construction and better features than the new one. The zippers were tucked under a flap hidden from view. The pull cords were much thicker and terminated with an easy to grip tab. The side pockets were made of a strong mesh and had a pull cord that could tighten to prevent smaller items from falling out. The strap that goes around your waist could be tucked into hidden pockets built into the back padding. Thick loops on the back of the backpack and rings on the front shoulder straps could be used to tie or clip it to additional carry items. I did not find any of these features on the new Surge that my daughter has or the new Router that I got. I didn't find the layout of the pockets of either new backpack to be as good as my old backpack, but maybe I was just used to the older layout. The new Router is slightly bigger than the new surge, so that is why I chose the Surge this time. The Router is still a well constructed back pack, but North Face decided to to pinch pennies on its construction and it seems more geared to city slickers than the outdoor. So I'm a bit disappointed that I got a run of the mill item and not the quality that North Face built it's reputation on. The reputation that used to symbolize the rugged outdoor.

I bought this bag looking for TNF's largest casual style bag, which tops out at 40L. It has a bigger shape and silhouette versus the more popular recon and surge, and has the benefit of being able to be tightened down to maintain a slim look. Pros: My everyday bag was actually my work Tumi backpack but I found its lack of capacity and comfort lacking; although it's professional looking. The router is clean enough on the outside to still pass as professional without all the pockets, straps and webbing of the surge and recon. The padding and comfort are great and I appreciate that I can also pack for a weekend trip in this bag along with my work items. The laptop and tablet sections are well padded and secure, and the large front size zipper section allows for a variety of large items for each access. Like an iPad mini. Cons: I wish that admin pocket extended more - maybe even halfway down. Also wish the pockets there were deeper or had zipper enclosures. On the front, once you open the flap there are open mesh pockets which I also wish were zipper because stuff slides out easily.

Bought this for my daughter for school. Very good size but straps could be stronger.

Pretty good

The backpack is durable but the zipper pulls are made out of cord and can be ripped or snapped off, compared to previous iterations of this product for which the zipper pulls were sturdy metal. Also I wish the backpack came in more color patterns. A previous iteration was in red and black and I don't know why they got rid of that awesome color scheme

Great school bag to use everyday (and carry on bag for traveling) for a 13 year old boy, 5'9 tall. He says the bag is roomy and keeps him organized (many pockets). He particularly like the pocket to store lab top (keep him super organized) As a mom, I feel the bag itself is super heavy (3 pounds). For my boy, he says it's fine and does not complain about the weight. The bag is super comfortable to use. Quality/ fabric of material is solid and comfortable to say it won't tear (5 stars), zipper does not seem thus (4 stars), functionality /useful of bag (5 stars). Comfort to use ( 5 stars). 2 pockets on the side to store water bottles (5 stars), definitely deep and roomy. Hope the bag will last (due to its weaker zipper).

good space. durable.

I'd have given it 5 stars if the laptop pocket was a smidgen less tightbut the largest pocket makes up for it. It works well for my camera, compact tripod, and maybe even a laptop and a couple flashlights or flash unit, the outer pocket is good for a water bottle and hand sanitizer, napkins, etc. it's well laid out and roomy enough for what I need to to,

This bag is very comfortable and roomy, there is adequate space for anything you need, I can. fit a 13in laptop, tablet, lunch bag, and jacket with ease with still lots of space left. I really enjoy the 2 dedicated laptop compartments in the back of the bag and the straps that run along the bottom of the bag to reduce the depth volume. I can say this bag takes weight very well, I have a Recon and once loaded that bag kills my back, but this large bag distributes the weight nice and evenly. This bag is nearly perfect expect 2 things that I dislike. First is that the fleece lined sunglasses zip pocket behind the logo in the front of the bag as an opening that can allow items to fall out if not properly zipped up. I almost lost my AirPods in that pocket since I didn't have it zipped properly. Another issue I have with the bag is the water bottle holders on the side of the bags. Terrible design as they only properly work if the bag is full like shown in the product photos. If not, there are super loose with no elastic band to keep them tight to the bag. Good luck keeping a water bottle on the ease for easy access, won't happen, I don't know why they couldn't make the water bottle holders deeper and made out of elastic mesh so that you can ACTUALLY use them in 99% of the time. Those are my only gripes with the bag, other than that it is pretty awesome, I have no desire to reach for another bag unless I am looking for reliable, easy and quick water bottle access on the outside of my bag in which I reach for my TNF Recon bag.

It's comfortabl and good quality and I like how u have space to put your book and school supplies and I like how there is space for laptops

The bag is a good size, a little bigger than I expected. It is also a little too heavy for my liking. The quality of the bag is great. It is very spacious and comfortably fits all my son's things for school.

The North Face router backpack is very popular. However, there should be more color options, such as blue, pink, green, etc. In my opinion, the main compartment is not very wide. It should be wider or should at least have another pocket just as big. I need to put a lot of stuff in my backpack and utilize a lot of room.

I've had an older version of this bag for a few years now and the straps are still as stiff as when it arrived in the mail. They actually bruise my shoulders. It's unfortunate because it holds so much.

Purchased for a daily use/travel bag. Overally decent quality backpack, knocked it for goofy layout (main sections are difficult to access and don't unzip fully down the sides), and not external/open pouch to store things on the pack like many other backpacks.

It was heavier and bigger than I expected.

I use the Router backpack everyday. BUT Im not that happy with it: I kind of like the design but the side pockets should have a zippers so my stuff doesn't come out. I love the material was made except for the TNF logo that gets dirty easily. It says its a 40 L backpack but honestly doesnt fells like it. I have a 40 L Oakley back pack and the room insode the back pack its way better. The padding on the back may be great for students but for me its just in the way. I do can say that the backpack its very light and very comfortable to have on. And I wish the front pockets had a better design the L shape zipper its not that great. And the tiny front pocket can be use just for pen or pencils because its so small. The uppper front pocket its good. And to be honest I would rather buy another oakley backpack before buying another TNF. Most of the TNF backpack are just too small.