Whilst traveling, be it for a day or a few weeks, your backpack is home to your beloved belongings, so you want it to be strong and protective. It also helps to have different sections, pockets and dividers if you want to keep organised whilst on the go.
But as well as looking after your belongings, your travel backpack needs to look after you. What I mean by this is, you want a backpack that makes carrying heavy items easier, without hurting your back. A good travel backpack will make your adventures easier.
North Face is a top brand for outdoor gear, and several of their backpacks have been made with hiking, climbing and mountaineering in mind. So North Face backpacks can handle an adventure.
But to help you find the best North Face backpack, here’s a buyers guide and a list of the top choices.
What is The North Face?
The North Face is a brand that specialises in outdoor clothing and gear for adventurous campers and travellers.
They sell fleeces, coats, tents, sleeping bags, travel and camping accessories, and of course backpacks.
North Face gear is designed to help you venture off the grid, and take on more challenging adventures. The name ‘The North Face’ refers to the north face of a mountain, which is the coldest and hardest route to the peak, and their gear has been designed to be suitable for even the hardest of journeys.
Why choose a North Face Backpack?
The North Face designs backpacks that are suitable for all kinds of adventures. So whatever corner of the world you’re heading to, whatever climate or adventure you’re tackling, a North Face backpack is going to protect your gear.
North Face backpacks are also comfortable and they make carrying a heavy pack easier on your back.
The Best North Face Backpacks
1: North Face Borealis
The Borealis is one of the most popular North Face backpacks, because it’s the classic day bag. It’s fairly small in size, and it’s lightweight too, so it’s great for day trips, or shorter getaways.
It’s also water-resistant, so there’s no need to worry about your belongings being damaged by bad weather or damp ground.
The Borealis’s interior is also designed for those who like to keep organised. It has different compartments, and some padding to keep your belongings from becoming squashed, damaged or bashed.
Pros
- It comes with a lifetime warranty
- It’s a popular backpack model
- Water resistant so little risk of water damage to your belongings
- Organised interior with different compartments
- Mesh compartments on the sides for extra storage, or for a water bottle
- It’s the perfect size for a day bag
- It’s a unisex design
Cons
- It’s too small for anyone wanting a large capacity backpack for bigger trips
2: North Face Surge
The North Face Surge is an elegant day bag that doubles as a laptop bag. It has a dedicated space for a laptop up to 15″.
The Surge is also one of the most comfortable North Face backpacks to wear on long journeys. It’s padded, and features North Face’s FlexVent suspension system which makes the bag easier on the shoulders and back.
The back panel is breathable, allowing air to pass through and keep your back cool, because no one wants the dreaded sweaty back that often comes with carry a rucksack.
One thing to note with this backpack though is that it’s designed for women. There are several colourful design options, and the bag is designed for a woman’s smaller build.
Pros
- Very comfortable for a woman as it’s specifically designed for a female body
- Laptop compartment with soft lining to prevent scratches and bashes
- FlexVent suspension for comfortable carrying
- Perfect for those who like to work on the go
Cons
- It’s not a backpack for men
- It’s not waterproof, which may cause a problem if you’re using it to carry your laptop a long way
- It’s not as lightweight as other models
3: North Face Recon
Another women’s North Face backpack, the North Face Recon. This backpack has a classic design, and it’s a popular choice for travel addicts because it’s got a larger capacity than other North Face day bags.
Much like the Surge, this also has a dedicated laptop compartment, which makes it ideal for digital nomads. The laptop compartment is well padded and protected, so there’s no risk of any damage to your laptop.
It also has a FlexVent suspension system and a sternum and waist straps to make it more comfortable to carry.
Pros
- 31 litre capacity makes it a better option for traveling on short trips
- Very comfortable for a woman as it was designed for the female form
- FlexVent suspension system
- Sternum and waist straps
- Laptop compartment makes it perfect for digital nomads. It can also be used as a work bag.
- Different colours to choose from
Cons
- Only suitable for women
- Can’t be stood up on a flat surface, so needs to be carefully placed down if it contains valuables
4: North Face Router
The North Face Router is another laptop day bag, but this is one for the gents. It comes in red or black, so there’s a couple of different style options.
The guys out there will be pleased to hear it’s designed to be just as comfortable as the ladies’ Surge and Recon, with the same FlexVent suspension system and padded straps providing ultimate comfort.
This laptop day bag is bigger than the women’s alternatives, being 17″ rather than 15″. So it fits much more than just a laptop.
The larger capacity and durable material make it a perfect backpack for traveling. As long as you don’t mind packing light, this can easily cope with larger and longer adventures.
Pros
- It’s large capacity means it can fit more than just a laptop
- Flexvent suspension system and padded straps make it super comfortable
- You can choose between red or black
- Specifically designed to suit male bodies
Cons
- Not a great choice for women
5: North Face Terra
The North Face Terra is a unisex backpack that comes in different sizes, so you can find one that fits you and your belongings perfectly. You can choose a 50, 55 or 65 litre rucksack, so it’s definitely a rucksack designed for travel.
You can also use it with a hydration bladder, and it has a compartment for a laptop too, making it one of the most versatile backpacks.
It’s got a vertical channel that gives the backpack good ventilation and a padded shoulder harness and hip belt for comfort.
It also has a sleeping bag compartment, making it a great bag for outdoors and adventure travel.
Pros
- The best North Face backpack for travel
- Designed with hiking in mind
- Large capacity makes it perfect for backpacking and longer trips
- Sleeping bag compartment makes it a good adventure bag
- Laptop compartment useful for digital nomads
- Can be used with a hydration bladder
- Super comfortable and ventilated
Cons
- Not suitable for cabin baggage or smaller trips
6: North Face Fovero 85
The North Face Fovero 85 is THE backpack for long term, adventurous travellers. It has even more room than the North Face Terra, and it has a separate sleeping bag compartment that can be attached/detached.
The lid also doubles as a day bag, and can be attached and detached from the bag so you don’t have to worry about carrying two bags at once.
The suspension systems makes carrying heavy weight easier, which is especially useful if you plan on hiking with a lot of gear.
It also comes with a waterproof cover that can be easily pulled over the bag, so there’s no need to worry about traveling in bad weather.
Pros
- Perfect for carrying lots of gear
- Sleeping bag compartment
- Detachable day bag
- Great suspension system
- Padded straps for comfort
- Waterproof cover
Cons
- It’s massive, which means it’s not suitable for small trips
7: North Face Banchee 50
This is a great backpack for anyone who likes to travel on shorter trips, as well as big adventures. It can hold up to 50 litres worth of kit, but it can be adjusted to become a smaller backpack for smaller trips.
It’s suitable for both men and women, and it’s one of the most comfortable North Face backpacks. The straps have some really cushy padding, and you can use the front straps to spread the weight of your bag.
It also comes in two colours, red and green, so you can choose the style that suits you best.
Pros
- Great for all kinds of travel – short trips and long adventures
- Super comfortable to wear, thanks to the cushy padding
- Suitable for both men and women
- Size of the bag can be adjusted
- Two colours to choose from
Cons
- No laptop compartment
What to look for in a North Face backpack?
Different backpacks suit different people, mainly because we all lead different lifestyles. So before rushing out and buying a backpack for your next trip, here are some things to look for and consider
Capacity: how much can it hold?
Depending on where you’re traveling and for how long, you might need a smaller or larger backpack.
You can get some really massive backpacks for bigger trips, some even hold up to 120L. But these will be heavy to carry, even with comfortable straps, and if you’re traveling by plane these will need to be checked in.
North Face also do a huge range of smaller backpacks, up to 40L, and most of these can be carried comfortably, and can be used as a cabin bag when flying.
Padding: is it comfortable?
If you’re traveling with a backpack, you need to be able to carry it for a while without the straps cutting into your shoulders or the weight hurting your back.
So for your backpack to be comfortable and safe to wear, you need it to have cushy straps that are soft on the shoulders. And a padded back will stop the backpack from feeling lumpy and bumpy to wear.
Protection: how much protection does it offer your belongings?
Some bags will have internal padding that gives your belongings extra protection. So if you’re carrying valuables like cameras or a laptop with you on your travels, you’ll definitely want to make sure your bag keeps them safe from bumps and bashes.
Another way to make sure your bag offers enough protection is to get a waterproof bag. This way if you’re venturing somewhere with bad weather, or you’re hiking and get caught in the rain, water isn’t going to dampen your possessions or ruin your electricals.
Ventilation: how good is the air flow?
If you’re used to wearing a backpack you’ll know the ever-embarrassing problem of back sweat. Some backpacks can make you sweat like crazy. I’m not talking like a little bit of moisture, I’m talking dripping wet t-shirt back sweat.
It’s embarrassing and uncomfortable, but it can be so easily avoided with a good backpack! All you need is good ventilation.
Lots of North Face backpacks will have ventilated backs, allowing air to flow, keeping your back cool and significantly non-sweaty.
Internal features: what’s it like inside?
Having one big open interior will allow you to fit more in your backpack, but it means your things are probably going to be quite unorganised. You’ll have to just throw everything in, without having any sort of structure.
If you want to organise your backpack a bit more, you might want to look for a backpack with internal features and dividers.
Some North Face backpacks will have laptop compartments, and smaller phone or money pockets. This makes for convenient packing.
Quality: will it go the distance?
North Face is a top outdoors brand, so they always make quality backpacks. Choosing a North Face backpack means you won’t have to worry about your rucksack breaking under pressure or ripping when carrying a heavy load.
Straps: does it have supportive straps?
Whether you’re heading out for the day, or for a long term travel trip, you need your backpack to be comfortable to wear. Supportive and padded straps make carrying a heavy bag easier. You won’t have to put up with straps cutting into your shoulders.
If you’re traveling long distance with your backpack, and you plan on carrying it around for longer than an hour or two, you might want to consider a rucksack with chest and sternum straps. This helps you spread the weight of your bag, making long walks easier.
Size: will it double as cabin luggage?
If you’re going to be traveling with your bag, you’ll need to think about size. Choosing a massive backpack will allow you to take all the gear you need for several weeks or even several months. But you will have to check it in when you fly.
Choosing a smaller backpack will mean you’ll have less capacity but you can take it on smaller trips, and use it as your cabin bag.
You need to think about what size is right for you, or if you want different backpacks for multiple occasions, why not think about buying two north face backpacks?
I live in the UK, in the country’s most uneventful city, where the most interesting story in the local paper is about banning dressing gowns in supermarkets.
I travel and I write, because surely there are more interesting stories than that to write about and share.