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The North Face Recon Review

High capacity, smart organization, reliable structure, and a large laptop compartment make this bag a great tool for commuters and travelers
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The North Face Recon Review (The Recon has great functionality and features that make it a great option for many laptop travelers.)
The Recon has great functionality and features that make it a great option for many laptop travelers.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Price:  $109 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By Maggie Nichols and Jason Wanlass  ⋅  Mar 31, 2025
76
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 17
  • Laptop Protection - 30% 7.5
  • Comfort and Fit - 20% 8.0
  • Storage - 20% 8.5
  • Ease of Use - 20% 7.0
  • Versatility - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

The latest version of The North Face Recon features many changes — mostly improvements — that make it an excellent companion for travelers looking for a great under-seat bag. With an expanded laptop compartment, larger front stretch pocket, and stiffer back panel, we found it easy to stay organized and comfortable on the go. The Recon has more durable water bottle pockets than most other similarly styled laptop backpacks and fits well on longer torsos and against the handle of your carry-on roller bag. Though the main compartment and laptop compartments have no additional organizational pockets, the smaller zippered compartments still offer a plethora of small-item storage options. The substantial back panel helps the bag stand upright but isn't our favorite for bike rides. Overall, we like the value this reasonably priced bag brings for most fair-weather travelers and commuters.
REASONS TO BUY
Fits large laptops
Great organization for small items
Durable water bottle pockets
Fits long torsos
Stands up well
Lots of external gear loops
Comfortable
Extensive padding
REASONS TO AVOID
Rigid back is less comfortable for biking
Water bottle pockets more difficult to access
Smaller pockets are awkward when full
Less professional

Compare to Similar Products

 
the north face recon
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Value for a Great Laptop Backpack
Top Pick Award
Best for High Capacity
Best Buy Award
Best Laptop Backpack on a Tight Budget
  
Price $65.40 at Backcountry
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Bottom Line Large volume, top-notch organization, good structure, and a massive laptop compartment ensure this pack is well loved by travelers and daily commutersA pack with a lot of storage capacity and enough pockets for all kinds of tech and accessoriesAn inexpensive and versatile backpack with unique features and a touch of styleMassive volume and tons of pockets are what make it appealingSimple style and a friendly price tag make this pack appealing to a broad range of buyers
Rating Categories The North Face Recon Yorepek Travel Extr... Matein Travel Shrradoo Extra Larg... Lenovo Laptop B210
Laptop Protection (30%)
7.5
6.0
6.0
6.0
2.5
Comfort and Fit (20%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
Storage (20%)
8.5
9.0
7.0
7.5
3.0
Ease of Use (20%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.5
7.0
Versatility (10%)
6.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
Specifications The North Face Recon Yorepek Travel Extr... Matein Travel Shrradoo Extra Larg... Lenovo Laptop B210
Compatible Laptop Size 16.0" 17.0" 15.6" 17.0" 16.0"
Volume 30 L 50 L 28 L 50 L 17.5 L
Number of Main Compartments 3 3 3 3 1
Number of Large Pockets 2 3 3 5 1
Notable Large Pockets 1 exterior mesh drop-in pouch, 1 exterior fleece-lined top zippered, 1 exterior top zippered with multiple accessory pouches, 1 laptop sleeve 1 exterior zippered with multiple accessory sleeves, 3 interior drop-in, 1 laptop sleeve 1 exterior zippered with multiple accessory pouches, 1 laptop sleeve 1 exterior zippered with multiple accessory sleeves, 3 interior mesh drop-in, 1 laptop sleeve 1 exterior zippered, 1 laptop sleeve
Number of Small Pockets 7 4 2 12 4
Notable Small Pockets 1 interior top zippered, 1 pen sleeve, 5 interior accessory sleeves 1 top zippered, several accessory sleeves, 2 exterior zippered, 1 pen sleeve 3 exterior zippered, 1 zippered mesh, 2 pen sleeves, 2 drop-in pouches 1 top zippered, 1 coin zippered, 2 exterior zippered, 0 pen sleeves 3 interior pouches
External Side Pockets Yes Yes Yes Yes No
External Water Bottle Holder Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Additional Features Key clip, removable webbing hip belt, sternum strap, reflective material, daisy chains, mesh drop-in pouch Key clip Key clip Key clip, combo-lock main zipper, reinforced security handle, rear gear clip, USB charging port, eyewear loop, luggage stowe strap, Lightweight, quick-drying fabric
Weight 2.5 lb 2.2 lb 1.7 lb 2.9 lb 1.0 lb
Dimensions 19.5" x 13.0" x 7.0" 18.0" x 13.5" x 6.5" 18.0" x 12.0" x 7.8" 19.4" x 15.0" x 11.1" 18.9" x 12.5" x 2.5"

Our Analysis and Test Results

The 30-liter Recon is made of 210D ripstop polyester treated with PVC-free DWR coating. With three storage compartments, two water bottle pockets, a mesh pouch, and a micro-fleece-lined small pocket, it easily fits large, 16-inch laptops while keeping your small items organized.

Performance Comparison


the north face recon - the recon is built like a backpack, so it's made to be on the go.
The Recon is built like a backpack, so it's made to be on the go.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Laptop Protection


The laptop compartment of The North Face Recon is tall and spacious, spanning the full 19-inch torso length. “I had no issues sliding my 15-inch Macbook and 15-inch Microsoft Surface Pro into this pack,” said one tester. “It even has plenty of room to spare, and could accommodate many larger, wider laptops.”


Daul-direction zippers can be tucked under small arches of webbing on either side of the opening, allowing you to sort of “lock” this compartment during travel. The backside of this compartment is lined with soft material, while the back panel is both padded and filled with a rigid protective material that helps to keep your laptop safer. A thin layer of padding separates this compartment from the main compartment and lines the bottom of the bag — though there's no suspension strap to keep your laptop from bottoming out. When directly compared against other models in our lineup, the Recon was outperformed in this metric by the Incase Icon, Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe, Peak Design Everyday, and Patagonia Refugio Daypack 30L. In particular, we really liked the shell density of both the Timbuk2 and Incase models.

A 15-inch Macbook looks positively small in the Recon's enormous...
A 15-inch Macbook looks positively small in the Recon's enormous laptop compartment.
Padding all around this separated laptop compartment helps to keep...
Padding all around this separated laptop compartment helps to keep your laptop safe wherever you roam.
Reflective loops can be used on either side of the laptop...
Reflective loops can be used on either side of the laptop compartment to provide an added layer of anti-theft deterrent for your computer.
The Recon has plenty of space for large laptops in its separate laptop compartment, while dual-direction zippers and security loops help to deter would-be thieves while you're on the go.

Made of burly, ripstop 210D (300D, for certain colors) polyester with strongly reinforced stitching, corners, and components, the Recon is designed to keep your laptop protected for a long time. However, when it comes to water protection, this isn't the bag we'd recommend in a downpour. The fabric comes treated with a PVC-free DWR (durable water resistant) coating, which helps in light precipitation.


But in our shower test, the zipper and very small interior flap proved to be no match for the spray, allowing the interior to take on water quickly. On a drizzly day exploring the corners of Prague's parks, the Recon stayed dry inside, offering enough protection against average precip. “But, when I subjected my pack to 30 seconds of moderate garden hose spray, the water pooled at the bottom of the pack — right where our laptop would sit,” said a recent product tester.

Testing the Recon's water resistance under 30 seconds of the same...
Testing the Recon's water resistance under 30 seconds of the same spray intensity we give our garden plants.
After 30 seconds of garden hose spray, water was pooled in the...
After 30 seconds of garden hose spray, water was pooled in the bottom of the Recon.
We sprayed every laptop backpack we tested with a garden hose using the same level of intensity we give to our gardens. After 30 seconds, the Recon proved not so water-resistant, with a small pool collected in the bottom.

Comfort and Fit


If you've been searching for a laptop backpack with a longer torso, The North Face Recon is for you. This bag has 19.5 inches of torso length. And with its stiff back panel, weight is more evenly distributed against your spine, making long days much more comfortable.


The strategically placed back padding is thick and fits well on all our testers. The only downside to this design is that the unpadded center strip digs into our spines when we're bent forward on a bike. Unless you're an avid bike commuter or someone with a rather protruding spine, we think you'll find this bag comfortable to wear.

the north face recon - the interesting partially-rigid back panel of the recon provides...
The interesting partially-rigid back panel of the Recon provides comfortable support and structure, though isn't the most comfortable for biking.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

A removable webbing hip belt would provide lateral stability while biking (if you don't mind that back panel!), but it's not weight-bearing to help with heavy loads on commutes or day hikes. The shoulder straps are well-padded and flexible without being too thick or stiff, giving them both comfort and convenience. “I feel this pack is comfortable enough to wear for longer time frames associated with commuting, traveling, or walking across campus,” noted one of our testers, who is always on the go.

We liked how the Recon offered the support of a regular backpack, especially on the days when we were on the move.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

While The North Face also offers this bag in a very similar-looking women's version, our female testers never felt this unisex bag was a poor fit. A fully adjustable sternum strap slides easily up and down on rails or can be removed completely if you prefer your backpack without.

the north face recon - even loaded up as an airline personal item for a month abroad, the...
Even loaded up as an airline personal item for a month abroad, the unisex version of the Recon is comfortable to carry and fits our 5'3" tester well.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Storage


With 30 liters of storage space and a cavernous main compartment, the Recon feels large. It packs well, even for our main tester, a self-identified chronic over-packer. With lots of pockets, plenty of room, and extra external attachment points, we never felt like we had to leave things behind with the Recon in tow.


While many laptop backpacks claim they can stand upright, many fall short of that claim. The TNF Recon actually does a solid job standing upright under all but the most imbalanced loads. Both the Yorepek Travel Extra Large and the Shrradoo Extra Large 50L do a decent job of sitting on their own, and they also offer the most amount of storage of the entire bunch.


The rigid back panel and large, flat bottom help it fill up in a more balanced way without even trying, and we're rather impressed at how easily it stays upright even as we dig through it to find specific items. Straps along the bottom of the pack let you minimize its surface area when you're not carrying as much stuff, helping the Recon to be stable under diverse loads.

the north face recon - fully loaded, the recon maintains impressive balance and stability.
Fully loaded, the Recon maintains impressive balance and stability.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Ease of Use


The laptop compartment and the main compartment are each a single large space with dual-direction zippers running far down both sides of the bag — great for both right and left-handed users. The ability of this bag to stand upright makes it easy to balance on top of a roller bag when heading to your next destination.


The third compartment is just 10 inches deep, holding small belongings at the top of the bag. This dual-zippered space has many small organizational pockets, including a tablet sleeve, a zippered pouch with a key clip, a pen holder, and several smaller slip pockets.

All the small items we brought for a day working during train...
All the small items we brought for a day working during train travel, neatly organized in the Recon.
Staying organized during our standardized packing test, using the...
Staying organized during our standardized packing test, using the many pockets in the Recon's third compartment.
The third compartment of the TNF Recon is filled with useful pockets for staying organized no matter what items you like to travel with.

A surprisingly large, microfleece-lined, zippered pocket is tucked almost out of sight above the top of the external back mesh pocket, easily fitting a pair of sunglasses in a case, a large smartphone, and a snack. The external stretch pocket swallows up extra layers or a travel pillow in transit, while double daisy chains down either side give plenty of room to clip a hat or other oddly shaped extras.

The North Face Recon (right) easily fits a travel pillow and a large...
The North Face Recon (right) easily fits a travel pillow and a large scarf into its external stretchy mesh pocket.
A hidden microfleece-lined pocket offers an unexpected additional...
A hidden microfleece-lined pocket offers an unexpected additional storage spot for items on the go, like your sunglasses in their rigid case, as pictured here.
The external pockets of the Recon swallow up many extras and easily accessible items we want for going from A to B.

Two water bottle pockets adorn the sides of the bag, which are made of durable, unstretching material with an elastic panel to accommodate larger containers. Because of this design, they're not the easiest to access, but they fit all the one-liter bottles we use regularly and keep contents secure, even when running through an airport or sliding the bag under a train seat.

the north face recon - water bottles of several shapes and sizes up to one-liter fit into...
Water bottles of several shapes and sizes up to one-liter fit into the Recon's side pockets securely, employing a combination of stretchy panels to fit and durable fabric to protect.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Versatility


Given the color options and overall design of the Recon, it has a far more sporty aesthetic than any laptop bag we'd want to bring while wearing a suit or striding confidently into a board room. It's great for casual uses and commutes and comes in enough color combinations to match most people's styles.


The laptop compartment has a velcro loop and a water hose hole at the top to be compatible with a hydration reservoir you might be fond of carrying on a hike. The sternum strap also has an emergency whistle built in, and numerous reflective loops — on the shoulder straps, on the sides of the bag, and near the buckles of the bottom adjuster straps — to improve you being seen in low light. When directly compared against similarly styled packs in our grouping, we felt the Osprey Nebula 32 and the Patagonia Black Hole 25 showed more versatility than the Recon. One key factor is their sleeker, more generic-looking lines and overall style.

the north face recon - if you like a laptop backpack you can take hiking (or just some...
If you like a laptop backpack you can take hiking (or just some added security in a big city), the whistle on the sternum strap of the Recon is sure to be a fun little surprise.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Should You Buy The North Face Recon?


The Recon isn't the cheapest laptop backpack out there. Yet it presents itself as a high-value item in terms of quality protection in most everyday and travel scenarios, good capacity and organization to keep you moving efficiently, and a high level of comfort and stability through long days over many miles. If you need an effective, high-functioning laptop bag and the Recon fits your aesthetic, we think you'll be pleased with the performance you get for your money.

the north face recon - from working on the train to traveling across the world, the recon...
From working on the train to traveling across the world, the Recon has a lot to offer.
Credit: Maggie Nichols

What Other Laptop Backpacks Should You Consider?


Both the Osprey Nebula 32 and Patagonia Black Hole 25 have similar outdoorsy styles, but if you need something with better protection and a more professional design, the Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe is one of our favorite options. We also love the intense protection and sharp looks of the Incase Icon, which is pricey but performs impressively well. The North Face Borealis is another solid option with great value, though it scores slightly lower in our testing than the Recon. Or if you're all about high capacity for long trips, the Yorepek Travel Extra Large is an above-average option for a below-average price.

the north face recon - waiting for the train.
Waiting for the train.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Maggie Nichols and Jason Wanlass