Customer Reviews The North Face Borealis Backpack

Use everyday for work, nice zip section with lots of pockets to keep my personal stuff in so I dont need to carry a purse. But: It does not stand up, even difficult to prop leaning backward against something, always falls over--the only option seems to be laying it flat, which is super inconvenient. The stiff back makes it awkward and clumsy to maneuver on and off, too. Straps are comfortable, easy to wear. My last backpack had the stiff plastic in the back but there was a slot which made removal fast and easy. Going to be looking for a replacement without the stiff plastic insert.

Quality, deep grey color and style is exceptional! Would order again no question!

I use this bag for school primarily, or on weekend trips. I am a law student and carry many heavy books on a daily basis along with a laptop. This bag is great for that! The back is very well supported and padded- similar to the backpack I use for rustic camping. If you're not used to a structured and well supported back, with the padding and venting, I can see where this would be weird at first but it really is better for your back in the long run and helps to better distribute the weight you are carrying. I also like the design of the shoulder straps and pads of this bag. They curve inward and I find that they fit my shoulders better. I find that on gender-neutral bags the straps are sometimes wider set, which results in the straps sliding off of one shoulder or the other. I have not found that to be the case with this bag. I chose the heathered grey an magenta bag and while the grey is spot on to the picture, the magenta is a little darker and not a "pink" as the picture on the website. It's still a pretty color and looks great so I wasn't bothered, but if someone was very set on getting a brighter magenta, you might want to see if there is a store by you to view the colors first. Overall, it's a great bag and I find that my shoulders and back are not as sore at the end of a long week compared to your regualr school bag without the structured support of this bag.

This backpack has lasted me about 3 years now and I use it almost every day! I love it and am going to buy another one! I have used it for everything from traveling across the world to hiking to school books and it works for it all!

I love this backpack because it can fit everything I need for work and school in it. It is very comfortable if you need to wear it for a long period of time. In my school so many people have this backpack and we would all recommend this product.

This packback is amazing . I have used it for work, traveling and school . It's big enough for a few notebooks and a laptop. It can hold a decent amount of clothes if you are traveling . If you have heavy books I don't reccomend it it won't hold all of them. I've had this backpack for almost two years and so far it hasn't ripped or anything. I have the coral green one and had to wash it by ha d a few times .

I got this bag 6 years ago for school and travel before switching bags. It is still in great quality after years and years of use. I have used it for easy hikes, but I overall do not recommend this product for hiking use. Many zippers, good for computers and books, and it is well made. I would highly recommend this product for school or office use!

i got this backpack in the middle of the school year since my jansport backpack broke after the first 6 months. it's great for carrying your laptop with protection and other items too. super stylish

High school student using bag. Bag held up all school year (Feb now) still looks new, great Northface quality. Good spot to put a computer, albeit it needs to be a smaller computer (Chromebook barely fits). Good support for back and lots of pockets for things like pens or snacks.

I am about to order my 4th Borealis Backpack. Love it for travel because it allows me to carry a lot of stuff, but still stay organized so I can find it. Bottom line....best backpack ever!!!

Best out there. I have actually thought about purchasing another just for a change in color but I love mine!!

I have been using this backpack from 4th grade until my senior year of college (16th grade). I have nothing but good things to say about this bag! I also use this as my "adventure backpack". So far, there is not a single rip/tear on the bag, and all of the original zippers, buckles, and straps are still in working order. I have taken this bag mountain biking, snow skiing, traveling in and outside of the US, and it has been used for school 200+ days a year. That is a lot of abuse, and the borealis bag doesn't show it at all! Invest in a quality piece like this, and it'll outlast 10 of the cheap alternatives! I would absolutely recommend this bag, I have gotten a dozen years of use and I plan to get a dozen more. Thanks North Face!

I LOVE this backpack!! I use it for college and it's so great because there's a pocket for literally everything. I can safely put my laptop in the padded/lined pocket, my sunglasses and keys in another small outer pocket, all my books/notebooks in another massive pocket, and my water bottle in the side pocket. It's super comfortable and sits on my back nicely. You can tell that the material is awesome quality and I don't feel like it's going to rip anytime soon (the tragedy that befell my Herschel supply backpack of 3 years). It feels very durable and honestly just made well. I'm also super excited to use it for hiking and for traveling!

When I pick it up it's pretty heavy but when I put it on my back it's like a feather. I wish it would fit more, I probably just need stretch it out more with all my books lol, BUT it's a really good backpack, I love it a lot.

I've had an older version of this pack for over eight years. It's been in daily use from elementary school to college for school, travel, and hiking, and has helped me through an unrelated back injury. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants their bag to last for a decade of heavy abuse.

I used this backpack at the end of high school and into college and it is the perfect size to fit my laptop and any books I need. The backpack is able to hold everything I need without looking too bulky.

This is a great product, I bougth it for a trip to Costa Rica and performed excelent, after that I've been used it for about 1.5 years (without noticeable wearing) to carry my laptop and office/field staff in tough environments; it is very comfortable and roomy, I'd just add more pockets, but is excelent for me.

Lots of space, great quality, It has a nice design , it will defiantly last a long time .

I had this product before and I loved it! I wanted to buy another one for school this year unfortunately it is out of stock! Please restock the white and coral colored backpack. Thanks!

This backpack is great. I take a lot of time to consider and review bags before making a purchase and this one had good reviews. I like to go for versatile bags that are strong enough for outdoor activities because I know the quality is going to be there. Although this bag can hold a laptop, I personally did not buy it for that feature and find it to be perfectly spaced for textbooks and other items without looking bulky. It almost looks like nothings in it. I plan to use this for college. In the past I've carried messenger bags and large purses to carry my notebooks and school supplies. I am not a fan of backpacks due to the weight felt on the back, but I decided to give this one a try. I am very pleased with this purchase and knew the quality would justify the price. I carry a tall 40oz water bottle everywhere I go and the pocket on the side is large enough to hold it without it falling out. It even has a strap I can connect that will give additional support. I am 5'9 and have a thin frame and the bag does not look huge on me. It's a perfect fit. The front pockets are also quite deep and can hold a lot. I like that there are multiple compartments. It even has a keys clip. The best part about the bag is the straps and the back cushion. Its really comfortable and you don't feel books and other objects poking your back because there is a lot of padding and support.

I have had a north face backpack in the same style as this for around 7 years now and I have been using it everyday & i decided to get a new one just because it was getting old & worn down. This backpack is definitely worth the price and is EXTREMELY durable.

In texas some school start later in the year like mine i really want the heather sliver kind of cream and sliver colored one but the are out of stock and i would really love for it to be back in stock becuase its a couple of day before school and i would like to be able to purchase this item to know its on its way

I searched high and low for a backpack that would suit all of my needs. (I have many). I found this backpack one day and thought it was wonderful. I work at an outdoor retailer and have seen many many backpacks and packs in my time there but nothing stand still up to the North Face backpack. For my needs as a hiker, student, and long-term needs as an outdoor enthusiast this is a life time investment. I have come to truly appreciate this brand after this bag.

This is a great bag.So many colors.

After a year of trying to cram my textbooks/laptop/etc. into a purse I finally bought myself this backpack. I'm not a backpack person at all, (I'm going into my 2nd year of university and have not used a backpack since 8th grade) and after using the backpack for to/from work, I'm not sure how I survived without it. I'm a shorter (5'2) girl and I find a lot of backpacks don't fit my frame, but this one does wonders. The backpack fits everything, from my MacBook to my notebooks, water bottle, and a spare pair of shoes, it's definitely the first backpack I've ever seen that carries so much without looking extremely bulky. I got mine in the solid black and had it monogrammed to give it a little personal touch, all of my girlfriends love it and a few of them even ordered their own!