Best North Face Backpack for Travel – Expert Reviews

Are you looking for the best North Face backpack for travel? You’ve come to the right place. We have a list of expert reviews for the best backpacks from The North Face that will help you find the perfect backpack for your next trip.

Whether it’s a well-deserved beach vacation, backpacking excursion, a day trip, or if you’re looking for the best carry-on backpack – we will tell you which North Face backpacks are the best on the market today!

Our experts have done the reviews for you and we share tour detailed reviews below. Once we do that, all that’s left is deciding which one is right for YOU! Before we get started, we want to share about The North Face company.

What Is The North Face?

Founded in San Francisco by two outdoor enthusiasts in 1968, The North Face has grown into one of the top outdoor brands that specializes in high-performance outerwear and premium quality backpacks. You will find their products on people from all walks of life – kids to adults, professionals, athletes, businessmen. The North Face has become one of the most popular outdoor brands that is known for quality and craftsmanship.

Their mission statement, “Never Stop Exploring” rings true with their products. For instance, you will find many of their backpacks to be water-resistant. This feature comes in handy during those unexpected downpours on your adventures! The North Face is a company that holds a very high standard in product quality, design, and innovation.

These North Face backpacks are the best in their class – they’re incredibly durable and built to last with special features designed for travel.

What Types Of Backpacks Does The North Face Offer?

The North Face offers a wide variety of backpacks for different uses and functions whether it’s intended for travel, commuting, or for around-town use. They also offer hiking backpacks that are divided into their own categories according to size. We focus on the ones that are great options for traveling.

Best North Face Backpacks For Travel – Our Top Choices By Category

Here are our top choices and expert reviews for the top North Face backpacks that you can use for traveling.

1. The North Face Surge Backpack – Best Carry-On Backpack

The North Face Surge Backpack is a versatile backpack for traveling, especially when you want to use it as a carry-on. With its above-average 31 liter volume, it is even spacious enough to use it as your only luggage item (hey there, minimalist traveler!).

It features custom injection-molded and shoulder straps, a padded mesh back, and a lumbar panel for ventilated support. It’s known as an everyday backpack for professionals who are always on the move but we think it’s actually the best North Face backpack for travel – no matter if you are traveling for business or pleasure. It easily fits under the seat in front of you and the handle on the back face is convenient in many travel situations.

This TNF Surge backpack features a huge main compartment that can fit many different things, two pockets in the front and multi-use pockets on the side. Compared to many other backpacks, the side pockets are made out of mesh, so that you can easily fit a water bottle even if your backpack is full.

Furthermore, it features a quick draw smartphone access, allowing you to use your phone whenever you need to. The dedicated 14″ laptop compartment makes going through TSA much easier – something that every traveler loves.

The internal organization could be better – we would like to see more zippered pockets in the main compartment, but you can always use packing cubes for an extra layer of organization.

We found the sternum strap with a whistle buckle very comfortable and loved that the waist belt is removable.

It comes in 14 colors and overall, we think that it’s the best North Face backpack for travel and is worth its price. It can be hard to find a perfect mix between size, comfort, and organization; but we think that The North Face has nailed it with this model.

 

2. The North Face Flyweight Packable Travel Backpack – Best Packable Backpack

The North Face Flyweight Packable Travel Backpack is the perfect packable backpack. It’s super light yet durable, easy to compress, and has lots of pockets for storage. When you don’t need it, it takes up hardly any space in your suitcase, but when you do need to use it, it’s spacious enough to carry everything you need for an adventurous day.

It has breathable mesh shoulder straps and a comfortable carry making it perfect for hiking, picking up some groceries during your trip, or carrying everything you need on a long day of exploring. With a volume of 17 liters, it’s big enough to fit all the essentials but small enough that it doesn’t become a nuisance.

We love that it has a durable water-repellent finish (oh hello beach!) and two water bottle pockets made out of stretchable mesh. We love external mesh pockets because they are an easy way to get easy access to water bottles or other items that need to be quickly stashed.

It doesn’t come with a padded laptop sleeve or tablet sleeve but if you really need to, you could buy a laptop sleeve (in case you have a small device) and easily fit it. It also doesn’t have a hip belt or sternum strap but we don’t find that to be an issue at all.

It’s currently available in four colors, has a limited lifetime warranty and the North Face Flyweight Packable Travel Backpack is our pick for the best packable backpack.

The North Face Flyweight Packable Travel Backpack comes in three colors – asphalt grey/black, bomber blue/navy, tin grey /black, and Monterey blue but that last color was unfortunately out of stock at the time of this review.

3. The North Face Borealis 28L Backpack – Best Backpack for Day Trips

The North Face Borealis backpack is a top-notch everyday pack for city trips. It’s comfortable, durable, made with recycled/repurposed materials, and has all the features a modern-day traveler needs.

As most North Face backpacks, the Borealis is certified by the American Chiropractic Association and we were really happy with the comfort level of the suspension system. Its adjustable straps make it easy to carry heavy items, the removable waist belt for a custom fit are a smart design choice and the sternum strap opens and closes easily.

The main compartment is spacious, the front compartment has internal organization with secure-zip pockets (no chance for pickpockets to get to your valuables!) and a padded tablet sleeve and you can keep your 13″ laptop safe in its dedicated laptop compartment.

The external fleece-lined pocket is ideal for storing your sunglasses or other small items.

There are 14 colors to choose from depending on your style preferences too. All of these features combined make it a great choice for a day on your next trip. So if you are looking for a North Face backpack for travel and want to use it for city trips – this is an ideal option.

4. The North Face Chimera 24 – Best Hiking Backpack (Day Hikes)

If you’re looking for the best backpack to use for a vacation where you take a lot of day hikes, then the North Face Chimera 24 is one of the best hiking backpacks you can take with you.

The North Face Chimera is a great all-around day hiking pack that weighs just 1.5 pounds and has plenty of room to carry your gear, food, water, first aid kit, and whatever else you need for each hike.

The pack itself is made from Ripstop material with DWR coating to help keep light rain away from your gear. The pack also features two external stretch mesh pockets that are perfect for water bottles, snacks, or even trekking poles.

The North Face Chimera 24 comes with a Dyno Cinch System that lets you quickly compress or expand this day pack as needed, and the Harness is padded for comfort and has four pockets for maximum storage.

We love the built-in hydration sleeve that you can pair with a reservoir for water (make sure it’s compatible before buying one).

If you’re looking for a simple yet versatile day hiking pack, then look no further than the North Face Chimera 24.

5. The North Face Terra 65 Backpacking Backpack – Best For Backpacking

We found that the North Face Terra 65 Backpacking Backpack is the best North Face Backpack for travel if you love to explore the great outdoors on foot. One of the most notable features of this backpack is its ultra-comfortable, cushioned back panel.

If you are going to be hiking for a long while, it’s going to make a difference when your back isn’t screaming at you after hours on end! You’ll also love that it has breathable mesh on the shoulder straps and on the back panel. You can hike for hours without feeling that you are wasting away in a sauna.

The Dyno Lifting System is adjustable, so you’ll be able to customize the backpack to your own comfort level. We were impressed with the comfort of the sleek padded shoulder straps and the load-spreading hip belt.

The North Face Terra 65 is lightweight, durable, and well-made. This versatile backpacking backpack will hold all of your gear while you’re exploring everything outdoors without weighing you down. With an easy-to-adjust system and plenty of compartments (extra points for the J-zip opening!), it’s a great backpack for trekkers.

The main compartment has a spacious zippered side entry and the access to the sleeping bag compartment is well designed.

We love that it has a water-resistant exterior because it will keep your belongings protected even in inclement weather – no need to worry about a little rain or a splash of mud.

It comes in two sizes and you can choose between four colors. If you’re heading out on a backpacking adventure, the North Face Terra 65 Backpacking Backpack is the best backpack for you.

What To Look for in a North Face Backpack?

There are many factors that influence what backpack you decide to take on your next trip. The first is how much space do you need for all your travel necessities? Will it be used as a carry-on? Will there be overhead storage on your flight? What about long trips where you may have luggage checked at the gate or even stowed away in the belly of the plane? This all depends on how much space you need.

The second thing to consider is what types of activities will your pack be used for? If you’re simply checking it at the airport or staying near your destination, then comfort may not be so important. But if you’re taking a long hike into the heart of a third-world country or across mountains and glaciers, then comfort is an essential part of your decision.

You’ll also want to consider extra features that your pack may or may not have. Do you want a rain cover? How about an internal frame for extra support and balance? And what about hydration compatibility? All of these questions and more can help determine which North Face backpack is the best choice for you!

If you’re looking for the best North Face backpack for travel, you’ll find that there are plenty of options out there. The key is learning about what makes a good pack and deciding on which features make the most sense for your lifestyle.

Bottom Line

We hope that our review and our buyer’s guide have helped you learn more about the best North Face backpack for travel. There are many factors to consider when choosing a pack, but we’re sure that after reading this article, you will know exactly what makes one great (and which features should be avoided).

If you are interested in considering other brands, check out our article about the best travel backpacks for women.

We also recommend that you check out our other reviews on the best checked luggage suitcases for women.