North face recon review

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The Recon was among the highest-rated laptop backpacks we tested but scored just a little lower in a few of the significant tested ratings. It scored highly in the six categories we used to evaluate these backpacks: storage, ease of use, and water resistance. Our testers also thought it was one of the most comfortable packs to wear, both while walking or riding a bike. If you need a contender that can also be used out in the woods, this contender is an excellent choice, with water bladder compatibility and plenty of extra external pockets for clothing. The Recon scored very well in laptop protection just like its cousin The North Face Borealis , which is the second highest score we awarded, with an 8 out of a possible Still, there is much room for improvement. What we did like was that it had two pockets, a bigger one in the main compartment that holds a inch laptop, and a smaller one which can hold either a tablet or an 11" Chromebook.

North face recon review

At any given moment, I probably own around six backpacks — and not a single one of them functions perfectly the way I need it to. The promise of a do-it-all pack seemed far-off and ripe for concessions, but when I was given the opportunity to test the Recon 30L Backpack from The North Face, an everyday carry backpack with almost all of the bells and whistles, I was intrigued. It certainly ticked several boxes right off the bat. For a solid week, I used this backpack for all of my side jobs, adventures, and countless errands. Just its capacity to fit my inch laptop alone reduced the number of bags I needed to carry with me. Could this pack actually live up to the hype and do it all? My favorite feature is the extra padding that gave me peace of mind when carrying delicate items like my camera gear. I also enjoyed all of the pockets, which made staying organized pretty easy. It carries far more than I expected. Most of these packs fashion themselves as lifestyle or college packs, which the Recon certainly does, but I quickly found its utility stretched far off campus. From the onset, the Recon impressed me with its separate and smart compartment layout, which allowed me to carry my things in a single bag without worrying about my gear smacking against each other. I particularly enjoyed that the Another feature of this pack that I liked was its comfort. But it turned out that the width of the straps made it super durable and comfortable, especially over long distances, because it distributed the weight so well.

Email Name Website. The features that made the Recon a good choice for storage also made it a versatile pack.

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Pack Hacker is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. The North Face Recon has lots of cohesive compartments and features, making it a well-balanced backpack at a competitive price. Save time.

North face recon review

The Recon is best suited for both school and daily tech carry thanks to its organizer panel pocket that can fit everything from pens and calculators to external hard drives and a tablet. The main difference is in the size and shape of the shoulder straps and back panel but all of the pockets and compartments are the same between the two versions. See our North Face Recon vs Borealis comparison for more in-depth info. Side compression straps run across the water bottle pockets. It takes a moment to adjust the straps to accommodate different size bottles. Tablet sleeve is small. Anything larger than a Dimensions: Material : Mix of recycled and non-recycled materials D recycled nylon ripstop, D heathered polyester ripstop, D polyester, DWR finish. We recommend it to students who need a lot of organization for smaller school items and also have ample space for larger items like folders, binders, and lunch.

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But it turned out that the width of the straps made it super durable and comfortable, especially over long distances, because it distributed the weight so well. Technical Details. The Recon comes in a wide variety of colorways that cater to different tastes. The sections are broken up by horizontal seams and a central air channel running vertically across. The North Face Recon has lots of cohesive compartments and features, making it a well-balanced backpack at a competitive price. A neat small detail about these straps is that their front-facing portion is reflective like the loops of the shoulder straps. All of the materials and hardware we just mentioned do perform well. Like the majority of the bags tested, the Recon has a durable water resistant DWR coating applied, which caused water to bead up and fall off almost immediately after contact. Both straps are well-padded with dense foam that feels supportive and cushioned. It certainly ticked several boxes right off the bat. On the outside of the pack, there is a small zippered pocket that can hold things like modest electronics or a phone. Facebook Twitter Instagram Feed. A few stand-out features include the front mesh pocket, flexible shoulder straps, and generally well-balanced space and organization.

I have two of these packs, one for everyday and a back up in case something happens to the 1st.

The highly adjustable sternum and hip belt of the Recon made it a good choice for walking, bike commuting, and day hiking. At the bottom of the Recon is a pair of accessory straps. The overall experience of carrying the Recon is a comfortable one. Your mileage may vary depending on how worn out or pristine your passport is. Some of the smaller bags didn't allow for such space taking luxuries with all of our other gear. Our testers also thought it was one of the most comfortable packs to wear, both while walking or riding a bike. The Recon was one of the top performers when it came to water resistance. Best Laptop Backpack of It does come in over ten different color schemes so it's probable that you can find one to your liking. From front to back, there are two mesh pockets, two liner pockets and a pen pocket, a wide zippered pocket, and a tablet pocket at the very back—a nice variety to have for different tech accessories.