The North Face Borealis Sling Bag Reviewed in 2025

Why the North Face Borealis Sling Bag?

The North Face started in the 1960s during a boom in outdoor exploration. Some of us might remember those daring explorers on our blurry TVs, sporting North Face gear. Today, the North Face’s iconic pieces have seeped into the every day, and the brand is no longer reserved for extreme hikers and jungle trekkers.

One of their most popular products is their 28L Borealis backpack, which has given birth to a collection of inspired siblings, such as the mini 10L Borealis backpack and the versatile 6L Borealis Sling bag. Chances you’ve seen this bag out and about in town, and for good reason.

Like many of The North Face’s products, this Borealis Sling encompasses its reputation for quality, durability, and adaptability, offering its consumers peace of mind.

Pockets in all the right places

Main compartment

Like most sling bags, this 6L has one main compartment and a few extra storage options. The main compartment has a double zipper, so you can access it from any angle and control how wide the opening is so nothing falls out.

Inside this main compartment are two more pockets – a small tablet sleeve and a small mesh. Although I didn’t have a small tablet, a quick cardboard cutout confirmed that an iPad mini would fit into a Borealis Sling.

Of course, this sleeve isn’t just for tablets and can be used for various items. Such as one of our e-readers, city maps, passports, to tuck away foreign currency, etc. This tablet sleeve is flat inside the bag, so when you’re not using it, it won’t get in your way.

The smaller mesh is on the opposite side of the tablet sleeve and is half the height of the bag. Good for those smaller items that you don’t want falling to the bottom, like earbuds or chapstick.

The pocket is designed is that when it starts to fill up, it expands outwards and doesn’t take away space inside this main compartment. And the same as the tablet sleeve, it sits flush inside the main compartment.

The mesh pocket has a key holder which, even if it’s not for you, is always nice. One annoyance I had was that I believed the zip would have been better constructed the other way around. So that if it closed on the same side as you access the main compartment, you’d only have to open it partially to get e.g your AirPods out. Considering how well thought out all the other details are in this sling, it’s a little confusing why this was overlooked.

Side pocket 

The sling is designed so that it sits on your right shoulder and swings comfortably over to your front. Since it’s located on the left side of the pack, when you swing the sling, this side pocket is easily accessible. The zip also opens down the bag so nothing accidentally falls out.

Also on the front pocket of the 28L Borealis backpack is the same fleece lining and I’m glad to see it here on the sling as well. I just love the idea that my phone, camera or sunglasses are now in this plush pocket. 

This pocket is also pretty roomy, spanning the entire width of the bag and around half its height. Similar to the internal pocket, this one also extends outwards, bulging away and not into the main compartment. North Face is known for their attention to detail and this pocket is a good example of that.

Strap pocket

The final pocket is the one on the strap itself. This is marketed as a phone pocket and has an elastically expandable mesh. It could just about fit an iPhone 13 Pro but it was a bit awkward and I wasn’t a fan of the boxy look. To be honest, I think the pocket is better suited to items like your travel card, your lip balm or maybe a trail snack.

On the strap itself, there is one reflective loop at the top and another canvas loop with a small logo just at the base of the strap pocket.

Side water bottle

There are some mixed thoughts on this bottle holder, and a reasonable amount of online reviews are frustrated with its tight fit. Bear in mind this is a small sling bag, and to expect its water bottle holder to fit something like a 32oz Nalgene is, in our opinion, a little unreasonable. And the weight of such a big bottle would probably be quite uncomfortable. A slimmer beverage like a Red Bull can is a good fit, and though a tighter fit, a 500ml flask or a regular can does go. The silver lining is that this tighter elasticated pocket is good for a phone or a small umbrella.

Comfort

When looking at the Borealis Sling, it looks like a minimized Borealis backpack, and North Face has ensured the same comfort choices Ire carried down to the sling.

Although not the full Flexvent™ Suspension System you see on most North Face backpacks, the back panel with its two padded sections, draws inspiration from it. The singular strap is nicely padded and wide, without being overly bulky. I found this made the pack very comfortable to carry, even when the load got a little heavy or worn for long periods.

The same as the Patagonia Black Hole 8L sling, the strap is anchored to the bottom left. When the bag is on your front, the zips can be opened with each hand. However, the strap isn’t ambidextrous and I understand that can be a deal breaker for some.

Design and Aesthetics 

As is the case with a lot of North Face bags, this sling is more functional than fashionable, and if you’re looking for something sexier, then Stubble & Co’s Crossbody is a good choice. That being said outdoor gear is becoming more and more commonplace in the everyday. This is mostly in part to just how versatile they can be, and the Borealis sling is no different. From walking the dog, shopping about town, cycling to work, or a long Sunday hike, this sling was at home.

Keeping in tune with the original Borealis backpack, there is a bungee cord and daisy chains across the from of the pack.  Although I wasn’t initially convinced, the more I used the sling, I more I began to realize the adaptability of these two features. I thought the bungee cord was good for carrying larger items, perhaps a scarf, a pair of gloves, or even a damp windbreaker. The lash points, along with a decent carabiner, meant I could attach smaller items, such as a small light when commuting on the bicycle. Also with a carabiner, I could “lock” the two zips, which may give you peace of mind when traveling.

The Borealis sling comes in a range of seasonal colors from a classic black, a vibrant purple, or a soothing blue, so you can find one that suits you. All are made from the same material, which is a durable 210D and 600D nylon ripstop which is also recycled. Nylon ripstop is water repellent so if you’re caught in a drizzle then the bag will be okay. A simple cloth and some dish soap will wipe off most dirt marks from the exterior of Borealis Sling.

Aesthetically in tune with the North Face, the sling has one main logo on the top front and the model name down on the base. Also, keeping with the TNF Borealis look, there is a bungee cord and lash points across the front.

Value for Money

Since some sling bags are glorified fanny packs, you could buy one relatively cheaply. There are cheap slings like the WATERFLY Crossbody that costs around $35. It’s not bad at all, but the experience of the Borealis, the feeling of it is just much nicer and justifies the extra $20 price tag.

Comparing the North Face Borealis sling with more worthy opponents, such as Patagonia Atom 8L, Stubble&Co 3L Crossbody, or Peak Design 6L, shows that TNF is much more reasonably priced than those. The Osprey Daylite 6L does cost less, but there are so many more features on the Borealis Sling that I think it’s worth spending that extra $15. 

Do I recommend the Borealis Sling?

If you want a minimal work bag and need to fit in a small laptop, a reasonable water bottle, and a lunch box, then a mini backpack is probably a better fit.

I used the Borealis Sling in a variety of urban adventures and Sunday strolls, and it went far. The attention to detail, such as a fleece-lined pocket, and iconic North Face features like a bungee cord and comfortable strap made this one of my favorite bags recently, and safe to say it’ll be used for daily excursions for a long time.