The North Face Borealis Commuter Laptop Backpack - Water Repellent, Laptop Sleeve, Large Main Compartment, TNF Black/TNF Black-NPF, One Size

MokiUnited States

Minimalist’s perspective, Its good!

I dont buy many things, and am a self proclaimed minimalist. With that being said my last and only backpack was not cutting it and causing me pain even after properly adjusting it and was admittedly poorly made, so I decided enough’s enough and I’m gonna buy something that will last me a lifetime, and this was my pick based off of extensive research both from reading reviews, and watching them as well. I have not yet regretted my purchase. * Very comfortable backpack to wear ONCE ADJUSTED: I initially did not know that there’s a proper way to adjust a backpack,once I did, any pain that the backpack was causing me went away. (Pro tip: you want your sternum strap about 3 inches below your collarbone, you want your shoulder straps adjusted so that they’re SNUG and not pinching your underarms, nor should they be as tight as you can get them, and lastly, if you’re gonna use the hip belt make sure you have the hip belt resting right on your hip bones). * The backpack is very padded, more so than any other backpack i have had experience with other than my Vanquest backpack, by which I mean the shoulder straps have a type of semi-rigid foam? perhaps in them, they remind me of a lot of anti-fatigue mat foam, whereas they do give, but only if you really try to squish them. The backpack also features a very dense feeling foam that feels great on the back part of the backpack and has a channel going down the middle to improve circulation. * All the zippers, hardware and fabrics used are of a high quality, and differ depending on location and intended use of said area of the backpack, for example, there’s a fleece lined pocket for delicate stuff, like glasses or your phone, whereas the bottom of the bag has a much beefier nylon, akin to that of toolbags. * There are reflective spots all over the backpack, so far I’ve found a spot on the shoulder staps, one of the water bottle pouches, and the loops for retaining the bungee cord all feature reflective material. * There is a pig-snout on the bottom front of the bag intended for bike lights for commuting, but the possibilites to a creative mind are endless. * There are 2 water bottle holders, both of which seem to fit up to a 32 oz bottle,and feature a hidden use slit on one of them intended for pulling your phone out if you were to store it in there and grab it without pulling the bag off but rather reaching through this slit and pulling the phone through. * Has compression straps. * The loops that retain the bungee cord has a piece of strapping that goes over it that also serves as additional loops that you can tie down stuff with, as demonstrated with the picture included with the black bungee being what comes with the bag, and the red paracord showcasing the additional spots that can be also used for lashing. * The bag has 3 main compartments: * One being for laptops, tablets or similar shaped items or alternatively can be used for a water bladder and has a hose hanger in it plus a pass though slit on the top of the bag that is in normal use concealed(demonstrated in pictures with orange gear tie),and is located to the back of the bag,and is lightly padded. * The next being a cavernous void for stuffing whatever you want in and omits any pockets or organization of any kind. * Then lastly the admin pouch close to the outside front of the backpack that you guessed it, is for smaller items and contains pockets for organizing stuff, and features a fleece-lined pocket about big enough for a phone,a few other mesh/nylon pockets, then a zipped pocket that has a key holder in it that fits my iPad mini just fine.(picture included to show how huge the pouch can expand to) * There also is a small compartment that is lined with fleece which I think is intended for sunglasses / other small items, located near the top and front of the bag. * The bag does include a hip belt that measures 35.5 inches long, and I’d reckon that it will fit anyone up to about a 3x shirt size. * The shoulder straps to feature loops incase you wanted to hang something off of them. * Sternum strap is adjustable up and down along fabric rails of sorts on both sides, and has a built in whistle. In closing, the bags great, I’ll update my review incase anything new develops, and lastly if my review has helped you, please make sure to upvote it , thank you.

John ThaoUnited States

The North Face Borealis Commuter Laptop Backpack Review

Material and Build Quality The first thing you notice is how well made this backpack feels. The fabric is thick and durable without being stiff, and it has that solid, high quality feel you expect from The North Face. It holds its shape nicely even when it is not fully packed, and the water repellent material is great for everyday use. Light rain and splashes are not an issue, which is reassuring if you are commuting or walking across campus. Size and Fit The size is just right for daily use. It fits comfortably on the back without feeling bulky or oversized. The straps are padded and adjustable, and the back panel has enough cushioning to stay comfortable even when the bag is full. It works well for commuting, school, or travel, and it does not feel awkward or too large on a smaller frame. Capacity and Organization This backpack holds a lot without feeling messy. The main compartment easily fits books, folders, or extra clothing. The 16 inch laptop sleeve is well padded and keeps the laptop secure. There are plenty of pockets for chargers, notebooks, and smaller items, so everything has a place. It is easy to stay organized without having to dig around. Comfort and Feel Even when packed with a laptop and other gear, the backpack stays comfortable. The weight is distributed well, and the padding on the straps and back makes a noticeable difference. It feels balanced and supportive, which is important if you are carrying it for long periods of time. Price and Value While it is not the cheapest backpack, the quality makes it worth the price. You are paying for durability, comfort, and thoughtful design. This is the kind of backpack that should last for years with regular use, making it a solid investment rather than something you will need to replace quickly. Overall Impression This backpack is practical, comfortable, and very well made. It works equally well for commuting, school, or travel, and it looks clean and classic. If you want a reliable backpack that can handle daily use and keep everything organized, this one is a great choice.

Chanly DuongUnited States

my review of the north face borealis backpack

now i’ve been searching for good backpacks, even looking into bellroy and aer (although i feel like they’re too much just for my application— highschool) and i decided on this backpack. i would say that this is honestly a great option for college and high school. it’s very well made with quality YKK zips, comfortable breathable padding and a waterproof exterior for rainy weather. now there’s a separate sorta fleece lined 16 inch laptop sleeve, which coming from a north face jester was an amazing improvement (the jester had the laptop sleeve in the main compartment). and there’s a main compartment for books and binders, and lastly an admin pocket with a hidden compartment just above the bungee straps. the main compartment holds a decent amount although not too much (i personally put two 1 inch binders and a few books and journals) and the admin pocket is very organized and has a fleece lined tablet pouch to keep your belongings protected from scratches and whatnot. i could see people putting their kindles here or phones, etc. now there is a fleece lined “hidden” pocket that i previously mentioned and i use it as a snacks pocket or potentially a sunglass pouch. now, there are a lot of straps to hang stuff onto the backpack, even ones around the water bottle pocket to keep things secured, and you can tighten them to make the backpack more compact if needed. btw i suggest yall to remove the hip straps as it makes a bunch of straps hang and just looks messy. i think it looks kinda stylish and i like how it looks, the color is nice and i like the waterproofness and how it just looks like a good backpack. in conclusion, i think that this is honestly a solid option for anyone in school who wants a good backpack with a lot of functionality. it’s well made and has some fleece lined interiors, and very good zips that won’t break on you. it’s weatherproof and breathable and looks pretty good in my opinion. overall this is a good choice for highschool and college, and i recommend this backpack.

MalekoUnited States

Good bag overall

Asphalt gray looks more black in the picture but I like the contrast between the black straps and other areas that are reinforced with black fabric. The small details are what makes this backpack better then the cheaper ones you see. The felt like lining in the smaller pockets, the padding for the back and in turn helps protect your tablet or laptop. So back zippered area is thin for laptop. Middle area pocket largest for storing larger items, camera extra clothes, etc. Front half pocket has the pen slots zipped smaller pocket with a small clip inside that i usually put my keys on and slots for flight ticket, passport and things. The very front zipper is a felt like lined and great to put anything you need to grab quickly. Lots of straps to adjust size and the usual two back shoulder straps with belly belt and front strap clip so overall sturdy enough to go hiking with as it does have a water bottle slot on both sides. Built in top handle to hold easier say when youre in the tsa line. So overall its a nice travel bag for me. It is durable, but its not super thick ripstop like fabric so probably not the best in rain storms either. I will spray mine with scotchguard before my trips. Overall 5 for typical northface quality.