Customer Reviews The North Face Borealis

I use this backpack for college. While the material quality and construction are very good, the design of the backpack is super annoying. Non-stop annoying. It's designed like a hiking backpack. As in, load up 50 lbs of gear in the morning, hike all day long, then unpack everything at night. So the pack is intentionally designed to create a high center of mass, close to your back. It tapers down the bottom. The external organizational pocket, which is too small, is located high up on the back. It has an complicated system of straps and elastic and cinch straps that are meant to pull the load tight together, pull it in towards your back, and keep it high. What this means is that the compartment you put your wallet, phone, pencils/pens, calculator, etc in flops around all over the place (and again, it's too small). Then, if you put anything smaller than a book in the main compartment, it drops down to the bottom. Your access to the bottom of the main compartment, however, is pinched off by the bottom of the external org compartment, which is pulled in tight against the back w/ straps, elastic, etc. Basically, you have to fight against the backpack to get anything out of the bottom. Another annoying thing - the organizational compartment, being so high and being constrained at the bottom, is constantly flopping around when you're trying to get stuff out of it. It's like a triangle sitting up on one edge. It wants to tip forward, pivoting on the over-strapped bottom edge. If you're packing and unpacking once a day, this might not be an issue. But when you're constantly getting things out all day long (calculator, pens, phone, wallet, keys, watch, etc) it's very annoying. Then, because of the tapered bottom, the high weight distribution, and the flopping organizational compartment, it's easy for the COG to get out past the bottom edge of the bag, and the whole thing tips over. Bottom-line, this backpack is designed for all-day hiking, which results in a backpack that is very annoying as a school-work backpack. Choose accordingly.

The backpack is quite nice, the problem is space, it has 2 pockets that practically nothing fits. I think the space could be optimized better since smaller backpacks fit more things than this one.

The backpack is quite nice, the problem is space, it has 2 pockets that practically nothing fits. I think the space could be optimized better since smaller backpacks fit more things than this one.

Got this for daughter starting high school. She loves it. Says it will be the right size. It really does look cool. Haven't actually used it yet though

Got this for daughter starting high school. She loves it. Says it will be the right size. It really does look cool. Haven't actually used it yet though

Great size. Light weight. Love all the pockets. Fits my computer.

I use the backpack for school although its original intent is for hiking trails. It fits everything I need and has a surprising amount of pockets. Overall good, the dark oak is just like the picture

It's a nice backpack

I wish it wasn't so stiff in the back. If I could take out whatever it is that's in there I would.

My son uses this bookbag for school. He loves it!

I bought this for myself and my teenage daughter has now taken it over for school - she loves it so much. Now I need to get another one!

I like the old version better in terms of both the side water bottle holders and the expandable loop clasp versus the new tightening mechanism.

I use this as my school backpack. It holds all my books and has a padded pouch for my laptop. Color is awesome!

I did my due research before purchasing the Borealis, comparing the Borealis with Osprey, Gregory, 5.11, and Mystery Ranch products. This one had the features I was after: bungee for shell storage on the outside of the back, water bottle holders, organizer, laptop pouch, and plenty of storage space. It also doesn't look "tactical," which is what I wanted for this pack.

Great product worth the money

Love this backpack. Durable. Great space and comfortable on my back.

Great for campus! Plenty of room. Not worried about my computer.. well protected!

the bungees on the side water bottle pockets were unadjustable, and too tight on top/too loose on bottom. the shoulder straps were also uncomfortable and rubbed against my neck.

i haven't used it yet but looks good

Use the backpack for work and misc. errands, quickly it has become my favorite backpack I've owned. The "stand up" design leaves something to be desired, though

This is very good

Picks up dirst faster than I anticipated

not as many small pockets inside the big ones but still very nice

I gave this to my 17 year old grandson. He loved it and started using it immediately.

Lots of space, very sturdy.