Customer Reviews The North Face Borealis

I bought this backpack because my last North Face backpack lasted me a WHILE (I upgraded cause the bottle holder pockets had a hole in it. I bought this backpack, and I regret it. The side pickets don't hold anything. My 32 fl oz watter bottle always slips out. The back pack started ripping from one of the zippers. I pulled the cord on the bottle holder pocket to tighten it so the bottle won't fall out, the cord snapped and peeled. Also for some context, I had this bag only for 3 months. My last one that lasted way longer, I had for 4 years. Do yourself a favor, save your money and find a better quality backpack. NOT. WORTH. IT.

I use this product for college and everyday life. While inside portions do the job, I am disappointed with the bottle holders that don't work and straps that broke after minimal usage.

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.

This is a very ugly gray color. It looks white in the picture, but it is not.

Cheaply made. Straps giving way already after 3 weeks. Don't know what the extra piece is that's suppose to be holding/connecting the strap to the bag but it's just a nightmare. Bag is big and awkward for no good reason. Can hardly fit anything. This bag just a big bulky oval thingy that can only fit paper comfortably. It has a strange look, strange shape and very bizarre feeling when you put more than something very flat in it. Would like a refund asap. Terrible cheaply made overpriced product! Stop it

Can't stand this bad. So slippery and awkward. The back part is too hard and the shape is very bizarre like long and wide at the same time. The bag does not stand up it's constantly sliding everywhere. Strange item. Will never buy again

Has none of the interior pockets and features shown in product description. So called "asphalt grey/black" is nothing but black on black, looks totally different from the pictures. Very disappointing

I am a college student and received this bag as a recent Christmas gift. Within the first two weeks of the semester, both straps began to tear from the bag. I was distraught because I do not carry extraneous loads daily. For a product of this price, I expect it to last longer than 2 weeks. I was also told when purchasing that there is little to no difference between the women's and men's bags. THAT IS FALSE. If you have a large chest, the straps on this bag do not contour and will pinch your arms. I'm upset that I have to sacrifice the color and spacious capacity I wanted in the men's bag for the comfort of the women's bag.

It's too big and bulky, so returned it for a jester!

Second day of light usage and one of the straps is already coming apart. I can't imagine what it will be like after a couple of years.

Bag is a cheap and jumbled mess. Need to find its identity. Trying to be to many things yet lacking in all ways at the same time. Also flimsy and cheaply made. Also bad does not stand up as advertised unless completely stuffed.

I used it once, and most of it was on an airplane or sitting on the floor. The side pocket bungee busted on the airplane, the North Face stitching started coming undone, gave me bruises on both shoulders. Sending back.

I love the backpack but the string on the back broke after the second day. Everything about is great except I'm not sure how it broke so quickly especially since the backpack is supposed to be able to last a long time.

Stitching on strap came away after 2 weeks of use. North Face would not replace and backpack had to be sent out for repair, was then told repair would not be covered. After calling North Face to complain I was sent a gift card.

Bought for school. Elastic connecting shoulder straps to bag dissolved like a cheap swimsuit.

My daughter wanted for middle school and was highly recommended even on goodmorning america but has no room for anything just a lot of sections that are very well insulted. She can't even but her lunch in but tries everyday smuching it it in. My daughter really wanted because it is the cool thing but completely impractical made for any child or teenager that has to bring anything but a computer to and from school. Forget about packing a nice lunch.

The lining at the top is fraying and the company needs it back to see if they can fix or replace. I don't have another backpack so my grandmother tried to order me another one but they were out of stock. I want the same backpack and same color. I wish they could get this resolved before October 4th so I can send this back and get a new bag.

I purchased this for my middle schooler to use at school. I was so disappointed when the outer straps broke (twice!) in less than two months. The first time one came untied. I was able to tie it again, but even that should not have happened. The second time it simpy snapped in two. These are not used excessively, and really only to slide a shirt in to wear to cross country practice. SO disappointed.

The outer strap broke within a month. It was not often used, just broke. I have always been a North Face advocate. This is the worst North Face product I have ever purchased.

Bought for my daughter going to college. The backpack was very stiff when we received it. Thought it would get better with uses. Instead, it tore within one week while still very stiff. Returning it

This is the first negative product review I've ever been compelled to leave. Do NOT buy this bag. The shoulder strap will rip off and won't be covered under warranty. Mine broke in under two months.

My 17 year old son used this backpack for just 3 months of high school before the shoulder strap began to tear. It is clear that the seam was too short and the shoulder strap pulled away under the average weight of high school backpack. I paid $20+ for shipping to send the bag back to North Face under warranty, but they refused to fix or replace it offering to give me either gift card for half the value of the 3 month old backpack or just send the bag back. Very disappointed. Definitely not worth the price and customer service was disappointing.

This backpack lasted my son 2 months for school before the strap broke. Then the warranty is to send it back and wait 6-8 weeks to see if they might repair it.

Shoulder strap separated from the bag before I even got it out of the house. Warranty department declined repair/replace stating "improper use, care or accident". So disappointed in this company now.

Purchase backpack to hold school supplies it broke I. Less than 50 days and when I tried to exchange it company refuses to do even after I mailed it back . I would never purchase a backpack from this company because of the horrible customer experienc.