Industry standard material for an Urban Hiker backpack. For running, triathlon, nutritional and fitness tips check out her website. More fine backpacks in our best backpacks. Water bottle exterior pockets and a bungee strap system allows you store items in an easy-to-reach way, and the back panel is vented for breathability and comfort. I usually put my keys, phone, and glasses in there. Dual external mesh water bottle pockets can easily double as multi-use pockets with quick-draw smartphone access on one side, while a sternum strap with whistle buckle keeps you connected even when youre off-trail. As much as I liked the features of this pack, the back padding doesrequire an adjustment period. It endured a lot of commuting, tossing, throwing, and generalmisuse. When fabric and bags are tightly snug against our bodies they usually end up soaked, as well as the contents of our bags. Unbiased, No B.S. And being half the length of the main compartment it helps make sure that you find the things you need all the much faster. Due to the versatility of uses, quality materials, and moderateprice, The North Face Borealis is our Classic Pick for the Urban Hiker. Thats our promise and our commitment.. Christen and Rex [Founders of Gadget Review], Copyright 2022, All Rights Reserved | Gadget Review. Dimensions: 12'' x 6.5'' x 19.5'' (30.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 49.5 cm), Laptop Sleeve: 13.75'' x 11.25'' (34.9 cm x 28.6 cm), Solid: 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish, 201, 20Y, 2KQ, 4C6, 4D0, 4M0, KX7, KZ3, R81, Y7C, YLM, ZU3: 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish, Heather: 300D heathered recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, 21H, 4C7, 4L9: 300D heathered recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, Print: 600D recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, 5E8: 600D recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, 1AP, 1V5, 1X2, 20Y, 210, GCC, KX7, R81, YQR: 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish, 201, 21H, YLM: 300D heathered polyester with non-PFC DWR finish. Its our classic Borealis Backpack reimagined with more bungee storage options and simplified internal organization. reviews and buyers guides. These are perfect for your coffee and water HydroFlask both of my Hydro Flasks hold32 ounces of waterand fit perfectly. Unfortunately if a bag Im carrying is made of cheap material, after a long walk to multiple stores and home, I usually find the back of my pack is quite sweaty. It comes with a great amount of space to store all the supplies you need, and on the other hand you can also compress it down with straps to easily tuck away. The North Face Borealis Backpack is a 28-liter pack built to withstand all of the urban adventures that take you from class to class. His work remains primarily in technology, from video game journalism to consumer technology. The North Face also updates the colors of these packs every year, and youll see a wide range for both men and women to choose from. If The North Facereduced the volume or density of these pads or maybe even made them out of a different material, the padding could seem more comfortable at first. Moreover being made from 210 Denier Cordura Ripstop Nylon, the North Face Borealis Backpack Black doesnt tear as easily and also features a gap behind the back of the main compartment for a water bladder tube which you can use if you need one. 201, 20Y, 2KQ, 4C6, 4D0, 4M0, KX7, KZ3, R81, Y7C, YLM, ZU3: 300D heathered recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, 600D recycled polyester with non-PFC DWR finish. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. The other two pockets are on either side, and being made of mesh they are flexible enough to store your water bottle or even an umbrella. All that said, its a bit of a dorky shape, so if youre looking for ultra-smooth, this may not be the right fit for you. Offering a good amount of durability, a great amount of padding for comfortability and a number of straps throughout the backpack, the North Face Borealis Backpack wont disappoint you whether youre hiking up the trail or just to high school. In my vest, on the table, on the work bench, basically anywhere my coworkers can mess with them. Sometimes the contents papers and books tend to become victims of this incident. Required fields are marked *. The outer section is great for folders, notebooks, jackets, and your favorite Hydro Flask in my case three. It has two large zippered compartments, one with a laptop sleeve, the other with micro-fleece lined pockets. With an added laptop compartment as well you can use it for classes, work, or a trip out to gain inspiration for writing. Even in your inbox. Learn more about our services, Show all categories in Clothing & Accessories. Back in the day of ramen noodles, cheap coffee, and staying up until 3 a.m. (aka college circa 2004) my Walmart-purchased Jansport backpack was my faithful companion. No sweaty grocery lists! However, over time they breathed a little, broke in, and seemed to become a bit more flexible with my Muppet like movement. Click here to compare these specs against similar backpacks, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Borealis 27L, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Jester 27L, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Borealis Laptop Tote, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Sunder, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Everyday Tote Pack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Groundwork, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Field Bag, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Daypack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Women's Aurora, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Top Loader Daypack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Flyweight Pack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Tote Pack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Women's Surge, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Cryptic, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Women's Isabella, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Large Explore Fusebox Daypack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Small Explore Fusebox Daypack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Women's Pivoter, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Router, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Bozer, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Youth Recon Squash, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Women's Terra 55 ing, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Explore Fusebox Daypack, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Base Camp Small Duffel, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Electra, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Recon, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Vault, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Borealis, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Recon, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Womens Jester, The North Face Borealis vs The North Face Jester, Backpacks with Laptop Sleeve And Water Bottle Holder, Backpacks with Lots Of Pockets for School, College Backpacks with Laptop Compartment, 600D Polyester Toile, 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420D Nylon, 210D Cordura Nylon Ripstop, Polyester Jacquard Camo, Flexible yoke built from custom injection-molded shoulder straps, Front elastic bungee system, fleece-lined pocket for sunglasses, Dedicated, highly protective laptop compartment, Padded mesh back and breathable lumbar panel. Im not the type of girl that likes to have multiple bags, yetI carry a lot with me. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, and to analyse our traffic. Lastly, the externalbungee cord is great for holding in smaller items that either dont fit perfectly in the bag or are at needed at an arms reach. Check out our comprehensive backpack guide, and read on for the full North Face Borealis review, and see why it may just fit you and your needs like Cinderellas shoe. 1AP, 1V5, 1X2, 20Y, 210, GCC, KX7, R81, YQR: 300D heathered polyester with non-PFC DWR finish, The FlexVent suspension system, certified by the American Chiropractic Association, has articulated shoulder straps, a rounded back panel, comfortable stitch lines and soft-touch chemise fabric, The updated FlexVent suspension system, certified by the American Chiropractic Association, has articulated shoulder straps, a rounded back panel, comfortable stitch lines and soft-touch chemise fabric, External bungee-compression system with clips offers several options for organization, External bungee-compression system with clips offers more options for organization, Dedicated, highly protective laptop compartment, Large main compartment for books and binders, Front compartment has internal organization with secure-zip pockets and a padded tablet sleeve, External, fleece-lined pocket for sunglasses, phone or keys, Two durable, external water bottle pockets can easily double as multi-use pockets with quick-draw smartphone access on one side, Side bungee cords allow for more compression. Our mission is to empower all walks of life to be ambassadors of the outdoors. The North Face has heard the cry of more functionality, more pockets, more comfortable! and created theBorealis backpackto answer that call. Sign up now. you should be able to pack no problem. It was a bit odd and slightly bulky at first. Your email address will not be published. The North Face Borealis is a standout backpack for urban trekkers. They can hold other smaller items like writing utensils, headphones, note cards, etc. Backpack, 10L, Recycled Material, Nylon, Polyester, Backpack, Women's Fit, 23L, Polyester, Nylon, Recycled Material, Compare prices and products from your favourite online stores. Weighing just 2 pounds and 12.45 ounces and comes in one size, The North Face Borealis Backpack is not the most lightweight, but still light enough backpack. Its a little stiff for some, but its way more padding than most urban hiking backpacks have. The zippers on the backpack are all easy to pull and are all covered by flap covers on the outside, which keeps them pretty safe from debris or rain. Were on a mission to fix the broken user review system. If youre not keen on reading lists, I basically carry more than a purse can contain. Read our About page for more information, and check out our gear reviews and outdoor guides. The FlexVent padding is a great feature to keep from feelinglike youre getting stabbed in the back as you walk. It is mostly compatible for someone who needs the greater space in their backpacks, something that can be used for both work and hiking or camping trips and it is definitely worth the price even if you only go off the review helpful with its good number of pockets and straps, all of which are extremely durable this should be the backpack for you. You get a lifetime warranty with The North Face Borealis Backpack Black ensuring you could have and use the same backpack when you look back on pictures taken years ago. Your email address will not be published. While it isnt the most compact backpack out there, or the most affordable, the North Face Borealis Backpack Black does come with its own share of benefits such as the unique tnf black color. Theres even a nozzle hole between in the backpack so your hose can slip onto your shoulders. Fits 15-inch laptops and has a port for a hydration bladderhose. Explore a retail store or outlet near you. It was heavy, bulky, and unless you loaded it just right something was always jabbing you in the back. The outside of the bag features two stretch meshbottle holders. Although it doesnt have padding at the back panel, the panel itself is strong enough to protect your laptop and other belongings from any accidental damage. As for the shoulder straps, they come with a built-in venting and suspension system which with the flexible foam makes it easy on your shoulders with a better weight distribution across the entire backpack. You can fit a huge amount of stuff in it for your daily commute, and with specific slots for a laptop, pens, etc. I think my navy down jacket and Mickey Mouse go great with this pack. Our reviews and buyers guides are always either based on reviews weve done ourselves, or aggregated from trusted sources. City commuters rely on walking, busses, subways, and bikes to get from point A to point B (and often C, D, and E). She's passionate about the National Parks and Forests and loves to spend her free time hiking, backpacking, traveling, or camping. While Im not extremely fond of the burnt orange color, other people will be. What? It can be used for a laptop (up to 15 inches) or, if youre commuting for longer period of time, a water bladder. When you look at the padding onthe Borealis you can seetheyre in a square shape. Brady Klinger-Meyers is a writer based in Pennsylvania. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Our mission is to empower you to find the product youre looking for and get exactly the information you need to make the right buying decision. I felt a little like Frankenstein at first wear due to its stiff padding. Join XPLR Pass & get 10% off your first online order. Beyond the sweat-factor, the back padding alsoallows me to put multiple items in the big zipper compartment without getting poked in the back throughout my walk. Apart from that, when it comes to comfortability and the overall durability of the backpack, The North Face Borealis Backpack Black stands up to par with the more stylish looking Matein Travel Laptop Backpack, and even surpasses the AmazonBasics Laptop Backpack. Shocking, Im sure. The maincompartment of the North Face Borealis is divided into two sections. I realized my huge heap of stuff wasnt floating around in a single, big compartment like an 80s lava lamp. Its less than a mile and I love soaking up the sunshine before I commit to eight hours of florescent shade. We are always transparent about where our information comes from so that you dont have to waste time and money buying the wrong thing. Withmultiple commutes this bag shows no wear or tear, no matter how many bagged potatoes, oranges, and nuts I push to the bottom. My beautiful bag is stained and worse, smelly. It may seem odd to look at, but the first time your tablet or glasses slide in youll realize just how protected they are. Lori Sharp is a marathon runner (just recently received a bib for the 2017 Boston Marathon! As for hanging the backpack, you get a bike light loop which you can rotate 360 degrees for better flexibility. You even get the added benefit of great durability paired with a certain amount of water resistance. First, I love a pack that has a smaller, outer pocket for quick accessibility. (Hint: Thats a lot for a little backpack.). This pack also features a removable waist belt and reinforced grab handles for easy carrying. These pockets can also accommodate the big Smart Water bottles, Bottle Blenders, or a Camelback bike bottle. The pockets are amazing, no questions asked. This is a great feature for when youre racing to catch the bus before the doors close on you. Decent padding, but still a small backpack. Its the first thing I get into as soon as I get to work. Every pocket and section of the Borealis hada purpose and was functional for items I needed to carry. Its even big enough for your tiny purse dog. Apart from that you also get built in support inside The North Face Borealis which makes sure your belongings are protected from any potential damage even during rough use. For any city dweller that must have a home for all their items, The North Face Borealis backpack is a standout. When I picked up the North Face Borealis backpack, I remember thinking, Theres so many pockets! The revelatory moment came the next morning when I packedmy items for work. To make things cozier, three ofthe pockets have a fleece lining. And with a fleece lined design you can now easily fit in a 15Inch laptop as well a bunch of other clothes or books without worrying about a tear. Im thirsty. He regularly contributes to websites such as Hardcore Droid, Gamepur, and Homebli. Its also important to note that the Borealis side straps are a perfect height to wrap around the bottles, which means they wontslip out. The FlexVent suspension system in the shoulder pads and back paneling provides a support system that makes carrying any load an easy feat. It also means you wont be jabbed in the back byany sharp corners or unruly objects. Then I leave them there, which means I either have to walk back to work or go an entire night without said objects (who can do that?). (I can hear my husband say, Now, dont pick that particular one just because its pink.) There areover 17 different color options, so Im sure a color combination exists that will match your personality. Both are available below, and we believe both packs work excellently for either gender, as there is no substantial difference. Do keep in mind that if you need a more compact travel backpack, the Matein Travel Backpack is a pretty great option, too with a good amount of functionality. If I have to remove the entire bags contents to reach down into the bottom for my glasses, the bag instantly loses my interest. Im also the type of person that is usually in a rush, so knowing where my items are and where they live is very important. With a 4.7 in customer reviews this is a backpack that you can use for both going to school, work and hiking, The North Face Borealis Backpack Black comes with a design that is reliable and durable. Why We Like It North Face Borealis Backpack Black, North Face Borealis Backpack Black Wrap Up. Its rare to find a bag that that can hold all the items, plus more (as if I could have more). But considering the amount of space and functionality it offers it may be worth the price for you. Pay in 4 interest-free payments of $24.75. We reviewed the Mens version of The North Face Borealis pack, despite the reviewer being a woman. There is a Womens specific version as well. Three fleece-lined pockets to reduce scratches. ), outdoor educator and enthusiast, and a triathlete. They take money from brands to skew results. Though this may not seem to have a lot of use for work or class, for a hiking trip this might just be just the thing you need. Then theres a bigger pocket that holds my Asus keyboard tablet perfectly in place. Costing you $89, the North Face Borealis Backpack Black falls in the slightly expensive category of backpacks. Little do companies in Colorado or New York realize there is heat here in Southern California all year. Once saddled up on my walk to work I noticed the back paneling. Yes, I admit it: I sweat. 2022 Backpackers.com All Rights Reserved. With further investigation I found a turquoise and pink womens option, which is right up my alley. Covered for manufacturing defects, only eligible for original owner. I realized it felt this way because I wasnt used to the amount ofpadding this pack offers. Its highly protective 15-inch laptop compartment is designed to fit a variety of devices, and a dedicated tablet sleeve ensures your iPad or Kindle Fire will be safe from bumps. The first body pocket is full of little pockets and zippers. Too many are simply trying to capitalize on affiliate revenue. When I was given The North Face Borealis to review, I instantly remembered my college Jansport and wished I had something like this back in theday.. You get a good amount of space and many pockets, more than May Tree Clear Backpack or the Nike Hayward 2.0, and being of a completely different type, the North Face Borealis Backpack Black stands out as one of the best backpacks with a number of functional features, which include adjustable compression straps and a bungee cord, to give you the most efficient storage space whilst also being comfortable with a good amount of padding throughout its body. Overall we would recommend its a great backpack with a great price and fantastic customer service, that is if you ever have a problem. The shoulder straps are padded too, which is nice. No one likes to pull out half soggy grocery lists out of their bags and have to think Now, what was I supposed to get?. The North Face Borealis is afunctional backpack that will amuse the most organized of all urban hikers, whether running late to class or fighting traffic on a bike to get to the library. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners, who may combine it with other information that youve provided to them. 12'' x 6.5'' x 19.5'' (30.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 49.5 cm), 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish. Moving further on, we have a small pocket upfront which can be used to store small objects that you may need quick access to and you also get a bungee cord which can be great for holding smaller objects that dont really fit into the backpack. Dueits enhanced features the North Face Borealis features two columns of padding, opposite of each other to allow ventilation through the spine as well as mesh shoulder straps for breathability. The padding also runs directly against your spine offering greater airflow and support which paired with the synthetic material of it makes it easier and more comfortable to wear. Compare The North Face Borealis prices below. Adventure is everywhere. In fact,without a specific place to live my daily itemsare usually spread out everywhere. And often they review only the products that provide the most kickbacks when you buy. The laptop compartment is also the main pocket, giving you all the space you need, while also being capable of being compressed with the two straps on the side that can be tightened when you dont need the extra space. The inner section compartment is multifunctional. 2018 Update: The North Face Borealis got an update in 2017/2018 to have a slightly new suspension system, though its still called Flex Vent and the panels are largely the same. Most small backpackswe carry have either little or no support, and are tailored to fit snug to our backs. Fast forward to the present due to my familys current one car situation, I have the luxury of commuting to work by foot. Pockets are one thing, but there ismore to a backpack than storage. Moreover, the front compartment of The North Face Borealis Backpack comes with pretty good organizational features, including inner zipped and mesh pockets making it much easier for you to store small accessories or even an added tablet for extra functionality. The outer top zipper pocket is great for those smaller, easy to access items. The main difference is size the Mens is three liters bigger. As mentioned, this bag packs incredibly well. With 28 Litre of space throughout the bag giving more space then the nike hayward 2.0 backpack, the North Face Borealis Black Backpack can store all your essentials including your laptop in the first compartment from the back, thanks to the added laptop sleeve. Two stretch mesh water bottle pockets on the outside, three separate zippered pockets to main pack.