5 Best The North Face Backpacks in 2025

Whether it’s on the bus commuting to work, passing through the airport, or on your Sunday stroll, the likelihood of seeing a North Face Backpack is big.

From technical apparel in the 1970s, The North Face is today a well-respected outdoor brand that produces durable and comfortable gear for technical activities and lifestyle needs too.

TNF backpacks are probably their most popular product. Although they cater to different needs, wants, and body sizes, they share many similar characteristics and styles that make The North Face backpacks the popular street product you see today, especially the Borealis and Jester bags.

Why Choose North Face Backpacks?

The common theme of TNF backpacks has to be their practicality. There’s a design value that makes these bags very versatile. Looking at the Borealis, it’s easy to see why this bag appeals to so many and why TNF keeps renewing the model–albeit with only slight aesthetic changes.

Borealis has also grown to include slings and fanny packs too.

Additionally, there are enough models with only slight design changes that allow for a choice that matches as close to the individual’s needs. The Vault and Jester demonstrate this clearly, with the only difference being daisy chains on the former instead of the Jester’s cargo cords.

Iconic Features of TNF Backpacks

Comfort 

The most important characteristic of any backpack is comfort—even if you find a bag you love but just isn’t comfortable to carry, chances are you won’t. The North Face excels at comfort since almost all its EDC backpacks feature its FlexVent™ suspension system.

The North Face FlexVent™ suspension system, certified by the American Chiropractic Association, is generally characterized by curved and padded back panels. These panels separate to allow ventilation and comfort in the natural curve of your back. The padding is similar in feel to memory foam, and the fabric is soft.

For most of The North Face backpacks, the shoulder straps are the same style and design. They are lightly padded and curved to better fit under your arms. Many of their competitor brands have shoulder straps attached directly to the backpack and use load-bearing straps. However, TNF has used a nylon webbing, which is approximately 1.5” in length, similar to a seatbelt. This extra section means the main backpack straps can move freely without compromising comfort or support. 

The majority will also feature a sternum strap and a removable waistband. The sternum strap is placed on a rigid railing so that you can easily shift it into just the right position. We like that the waistband is removable since it can be redundant for most daily activities.

Storage

The North Face backpack bestsellers—the Borealis, the Jester, and the Recon, among others—range from 28 to 31L, and the women’s versions are a few liters smaller. These backpacks have external bottle pockets and three compartments: one padded laptop dedicated pocket, one main large compartment, and a smaller organizational front pocket.

If you like to carry your fashionable water bottle on the outside, then you’ll be happy to know that most backpacks have two decent bottle pockets. They can easily fit a slim 24oz like this Corkcircle or even a large 32oz Nalgene. These pockets are reasonably deep so they are useful for stowing away other items, such as a microfiber towel, a small umbrella, or a pair of gloves.

When it comes to laptop storage, the majority of these backpacks have a dedicated compartment, and if not, then a sleeve in the main compartment (like in the Jester). All of these compartments are padded and have a “false bottom”. The laptop pocket stops a few inches from the bottom, and this buffer zone protects your electronics whenever you place your backpack on the ground.

A distinctively different feature are their external/additional storage options. For the Borealis and the Jester this is a bungee cord, for the Recon it’s an elasticated mesh pocket, and for the Surge there are two long pockets. Since these are the most striking features, in both usability and external look, it’ll probably help you determine which model to choose.

Durability 

North Face backpacks are generally up to the task for everyday use and traveling. The backpacks’ exterior fabrics are a mix of 210D recycled nylon ripstop and 300D recycled polyester. Nylon Ripstop and Polyester are both lightweight and durable materials, good for resisting everyday wear and tear.

Regarding water resistance, most of us don’t deliberately cycle home in the rain or leave the hotel just as a downpour hits, so needing a 100% waterproof bag for everyday use isn’t necessary.

The denier count, their fabrics, and their water-repellent finish all mean that these backpacks can handle mild weather and showers well. Their resistance to water means that dirt doesn’t permeate through the fabric, so you can easily wipe off any spillage or mud.

Guarantee

All of The North Face products (excluding shoes) are covered by what they refer to as a “Limited Lifetime Warranty.” This means that should your backpack start to have manufacturing defects, then The North Face will either repair or replace the product without charge, “at their discretion”. 

“At their discretion” is a bit of a loose term, but the way we understand it is if, for example, your buckle breaks or the backpack straps start to tear unexpectedly or the pack is still relatively new, you’ll be able to viable for the warranty. However, any damage caused accidentally or by normal wear and tear isn’t covered.

Colorways

All of these backpacks, like many of North Face products, have multiple colorways that change seasonally or annually. There are a few colorways, such as solid black, that always seem to be available. Some other colors, like blue or green, are usually available but maybe their tone will change. For example, blue might be a dark navy or a light sky.

Iconic to North Face is their black panels that contrast against the main color, which is seen across the brand’s catalog. The black aesthetically breaks up the solid color of the pack, giving it contrast. Practicality-wise, using black polyester panels (eg on the base) hides any scratches and marks, giving the backpacks a fresher and sleeker look.

Conclusion 

So there you have it, our breakdown of some of The North Face backpacks we have tested and some others we will soon test. Although these packs do have a lot of similarities, there are minor differences that might make or break them for you.

That being said, North Face is known for using high-quality materials and smart design choices, and their backpacks are widely recognized for their sturdiness and durability. So whichever you choose to go with, you will not be disappointed.

Most of these backpacks have similar storage compartments and organizational pockets, so which one you choose will most likely depend on which look you prefer. Either way, as we can see from our curated guide to the best backpacks, the North Face presents a favorable brand–among the best in terms of durability, sustainability and practicality.