Customer Reviews The North Face Recon

Got this backpack as a replacement for an old Borealis that had a good life. I like this design a little more than the old/new Borealis because the lack of bungies made it less likely to get snagged on stuff. Lots of good pocket space for everything but I do miss the small hidden pocket at the the very top of the previous North Face bags for wallet/keys/etc. Overall excellent though.

This backpack is better than what I'd thought if would be already. Very spacious and felt very premium. Everything felt as it fit perfectly and thought was put into it. Perfect for school

Very durable. Practical pockets.

This backpack is sturdy, well made and i love that it has the laptop compartment!

Excellent product

This backpack is well made with quality materials. I especially like the padded, false bottom compartment for a laptop. The zippers are smooth to operate too. I am soooo happy with this backpack!

I work in tech and I use the Recon to haul my laptop and tools. Holds the laptop separately and securely. It has plenty of compartments to divide tools and personal items. It's great in the morning when I'm bringing things into the office to start my day. No fumbling with items while I get my keys out. It feels well constructed so I hope to get some mileage out of it. It looks good too.

My husband loves this backpack perfect for travel and fits his daily needs also!

Backpack for college use. Love the colors and design. Perfect pockets and very roomy. I was worried would be too small but is perfect.

Great improvements over the recon that i purchased in 2012. Great storage options, improved netting and pockets.

This is our second purchase of the recon backpack. My daughter has been using her's for junior high school for two years. Now, we have purchased one for our son. Very well constructed and works well for all of their needs.

I bought this bag mostly for school use. I read my bike most days and this bag has worked great so far.

Fits everything I put it in for work and comfortable

After buying this bag for myself, I bought one for my son. He's going into middle school and basically carries a locker worth of stuff on his back. This bag makes that more comfortable for him. He also likes the built in whistle.

Wanted a NF backpack for some time, I am satisfied with the bag but would have preferred some more organization options in the main compartment. Also the shoulder and cross strap could have elastic loop keepers, in absence of these the long straps are hanging which neither good to look or comes in your way. Had a previous version of Recon, this design is different and like the front stretchable mesh. So far have only used it to store small items for quick access. Soon will try to see if it can take a light vest or jacket.

I recently used this backpack for traveling. It was great at keeping my things organized and easy to access while trying to get through security.

New travel backpacks, works great for my needs. Fits and keeps my thing organized and secure.

Fits everything I could fit in absolute lots of pockets and every person that's a fan of TNF is loving the Book Bag.

I bought a used Recon- probably from the mid 00s- in a thrift shop for 15 bucks and used it constantly for 7 or 8 years until I finally put a hole in the bottom (pro tip: don't poke holes in stuff you like and don't put sharp-edged stuff in your backpack). I was so fond of the old one that the updated version was the only option I considered, and it doesn't disappoint. I like the slight redesigns- the separate compartment for the laptop makes sense, the padding/lining in the outer pocket is nicer, and the handle on top is much better. I just don't really feel a need for the waist and sternum straps and compression straps, but maybe they'll grow on me. The general quality of materials and assembly is at least as good as the old one and in many ways better. Considering that the last one was good for someone else for a long time before I had it, I think I'll be lugging this thing around for many years. It works perfectly for going to and from work or gigs, and just as well for overnighters or weekends, if you don't bring everything you own. As for the old one, I'll patch it up and drop it off at the same thrift store where I bought it, and maybe someone else will get another decade out of it.

I love it and it's very durable. There was a tiny spot on the mesh band that wasn't sewed into the seem but nothing major. I can fix that. I love the double water bottle pockets. Plenty of room in the bag!

I didn't doubt getting this backpack it was like love at first sight.

Needed a new work bag, and going from several high-end messenger bags, I wanted to get back into a backpack... but the RIGHT backpack. This was the perfect choice for me, for size, comfort and volume. Very comfortable to carry over one shoulder, or using both straps. Not too bulky, and can fit more than expected. One minor drawback is if you fill the top compartment, the main interior compartment gets tough to fill, since the weight is above and pushing down into that area...

I like the material and the size is perfect for camping in summer. Thank you for make this backpack.

Great material! Excellent quality and design. No need to second guess yourself with this back pack. Recommend it to anyone!

High quality. Great design. Fits perfectly under the seat for air travel.