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The North Face Recon Pack
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The North Face Recon Pack

Item # 770396

$89.00

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This high-performance technical daypack will take you from summits to everyday work and school commutes.

  • Panel-loading main compartment offers plenty of room for gear and clothing, or books and binders
  • Rear padded compartment protects laptop during the commute; it doubles as a hydration pocket with drinking tube exit port (reservoir sold separately)
  • Front compartment with organizer helps keep track of pens, pencils, wallet, cell phone, electronics and other daily essentials
  • Front stash pocket with water-resistant zipper stows small necessities handy
  • Front mesh pocket closes with a buckle to securely hold a bike helmet or jacket; reflective stripe on front enhances visibility
  • Dual side mesh water bottle pockets with cordlocks keep bottles from bouncing around (water bottles sold separately)
  • Adjustable, S-curved padded shoulder straps, sternum strap with integrated whistle, and padded backpanel offer load-carrying comfort
  • Using BackSaver technology, the angled front lifts up contents, helping to position pack's load higher on your back for ideal carrying
  • Removable webbing waistbelt, side compression straps and bottom cargo straps let you stabilize and control the load
  • Each pack features destination and summit elevation embroidery on pack front and woven flag patch on shoulder strap

Please note: The North Face products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Imported.

Item 770396

The North Face Recon Pack Specs

Specification

Description

GenderUnisex
Frame typeFrameless
Approximate volume2,015 cubic inches
Approximate volume - metric33 liters
Average weight2 lbs. 2 oz.
Average weight - metric0.96 kilogram
Adjustable torsoNo
Dimensions19 x 13 x 8 inches
MaterialNylon/ballistics nylon
Number of pockets2 + main compartment
Hydration compatibleYes
Access / LoadingPanel

The North Face Recon Pack Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
The North Face Recon Pack
 
4.3

(based on 26 reviews)

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Easy to load (23)
  • Good padding (22)
  • Comfortable (21)
  • Highly adjustable (14)
  • Large capacity / good size (12)

Cons

  • Weak seams (3)

Best Uses

  • Day trip (20)
  • Hiking (17)
  • Backpacking (8)
  • School (7)
  • Car camping (6)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Casual adventurer (15), Avid adventurer (9)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Comfort driven (12), Survivalist / minimalist (12)

Reviewed by 26 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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(14 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Great pack for small trips

By gf1987

from Dallas, TX

About Me Casual/ Recreational

Site Member

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Easy To Load
  • Highly Adjustable
  • Lightweight

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Day Hikes
    • Light Loads
    • Travel

    Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

    I have gone on a few 3 day long camping/climbing trips in Austin, with no more than 3 mile hiking each day. This pack worked great for me. I did over pack a little and this pack held up just fine! I also use this for school and works great!

    • What Is Your Gear Style:
    • Comfort Driven

    (10 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    This thing is awesome!!

    By Truman

    from San Luis Obispo, CA

    About Me Casual Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Good padding
    • Large capacity
    • Very adjustable

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Day trip
      • Hiking

      Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

      For warm overnighters, it doesn't get much better than this pack! Plenty of room for sleeping bag, pad, fleece jacket, stove, and hot-chocolate pot! I use it on campus every day too, and it stays comfortable no matter what I put in it. The BackSaver technology really works, (I didn't know what it meant and when discovered the angled lower-back panel myself, I thought "wow that's smart!") The only reason you'd be sorry if you bought this pack is if you never get a chance to use it!

      • Gift:
      • No
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Comfort Driven

      (8 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Best Backpack Ever

      By rwcastillo

      from Austin, TX

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Comfortable
      • Easy To Load
      • Good padding
      • Highly Adjustable
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Car Camping
        • Day trip
        • Hiking
        • School

        Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

        This is by far the greatest backpack I could ever hope to own. It is incredibly versatile and super-durable. I bought the previous version three years ago and have used it virtually daily since. I initially bought it for school and it is great in that respect. I am an engineer so my usual school load includes a 15" laptop, 2 or 3 textbooks, a few notebooks, a calculator, water bottle, pens, pencils, mp3 player, even a change of clothes. It fits great. Needless to say it's heavy, but it's still comfortable plus there are pockets for everything.

        I've also used it for camping, travel, biking, virtually anything that requires storage of anything. It adjusts to whatever I need to carry. Even though I've been incredibly rough on it daily for 3 years, there are no tears or problems with it. The zippers, buckles, and straps still work like new. In fact, it still looks like new (I bough the black version.) It's the greatest thing ever and I don't anticipate needing to buy another backpack anytime in the future. If you need a backpack for anything, buy this one.

        • Gift:
        • No
        • What Is Your Gear Style:
        • Comfort Driven

        (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Great backpack for all occasions

        By Paul the Enabler

        from San Diego, CA

        About Me Casual Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Comfortable
        • Easy To Load
        • Good padding
        • Highly Adjustable
        • Lightweight

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Day trip

          Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

          This is a solid backpack from North Face. Provides ample storage for a day trip while you're on vacation with the ease of use and security of a backpack. The side pouches are great to hold bottles of water or snacks and can be cinched tight. The main compartment has plenty of room to carry a bicycle helmet and a pair of shoes (bike) while the secondary compartments are are divided to carry items like cell phones or ipods. THe main compartment also offers an area to hold a camelback style bladder with an access hole to thread the bite valve/hose through adding to the versatility of this bag.

          The designers also took great care to weatherpoof this bag as much as they could, ensuring that the primary zippers are covered in an overhang of the bag itself. The only exposed zipper is weatherized with a rubber like coating.

          This is a fantastic multi-use day bag.

          • Gift:
          • No
          • What Is Your Gear Style:
          • Comfort Driven

          (7 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Best day pack

          By DonTom

          from South San Francisco, CA

          About Me Casual Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Very adjustable

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Day trip
            • Hiking

            Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

            The best day pack I have owned--and I own several others.

            • Gift:
            • No
            • What Is Your Gear Style:
            • Comfort Driven

            (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            Solid Performer

            By chetelodicofare

            from Glendale, AZ

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Easy To Load
            • Good padding
            • Highly Adjustable

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Day trip

              Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

              As a grad student, I needed to buy something tough enough to lug around all my books and papers, while being able to protect my ever present laptop and variety of accessories (cables, mouse, ethernet cords, cd's, ipod, etc). In short the Recon has done it all in 10 different countries in the past year and a half and never faltered. A solid performer for daily use for a student or a day pack for hiking.

              • Gift:
              • No
              • What Is Your Gear Style:
              • Comfort Driven

              (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              most versatile pack in my collection

              By lightweight backpacker

              from Japan

              About Me Casual Adventurer

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Comfortable
              • Easy To Load
              • Good padding
              • Highly Adjustable
              • Large capacity
              • Lightweight

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Backpacking
                • Campus
                • Day trip
                • Hiking

                Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

                I have had literally dozens of packs since college. But my Recon has been hands down the 'best'. By that I mean the most versatile.

                The main compartment can hold 30 liters of gear for a day-hike or mountain-lodge overnight, while the outer pocket can hold A4 size books and papers. Water bottles go in the side pockets, and a shell or helmet in the outermost net pocket. Four compression straps can reduce it down so its lays almost flat on your back, yet opens to devour the gear when it's time to load up. This is the only pack I have had which got spontaneous comments of admiration from my companions, usually that the pack looks small but can hold so much.
                The size is great as a carry on. I lost track of how many international trips I have done with this as my carry on/laptop carrier. It is so nice to have a real backpack and NOT a shoulder bag when marching long distances through terminals and on trips.

                There are a few pieces of TNF gear which are absolute classics; this is one of them. You must have one in your 'quiver' of packs.

                I really want to buy the Recon II, but my model I still has years of use left in it. Highly recommended.

                • Gift:
                • No
                • What Is Your Gear Style:
                • Minimalist

                (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                4.0

                nice day hiking bag

                By HelloShark

                from Dublin, CA

                About Me Avid Adventurer

                Site Member

                Pros

                • Comfortable
                • Easy To Load
                • Good padding
                • Highly Adjustable
                • Lightweight

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Hiking

                  Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

                  This is my third and probably last Recon. I had a Recon (I) and the dog decided to make it a chew toy. 4 stars. I bought a Recon II and still use that one, as it was the best Recon yet (5 stars). They added some badging to this model but deleted some features, like the cool mesh zipper pocket in the main compartment. Miss that, so this only gets 4 stars. Otherwise, a decent hiking bag, as it holds 2 water bottles and has good back support.

                  • Gift:
                  • No
                  • What Is Your Gear Style:
                  • Minimalist

                  (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Super Durable Daypack

                  By Derek the Ghost

                  from Sherman Oaks, CA

                  About Me Avid Adventurer

                  Site Member

                  Pros

                  • Comfortable
                  • Easy To Load
                  • Good padding

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                    • Day trip
                    • Hiking

                    Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

                    I purchased this backpack about 4 years ago from REI in Northridge. A couple days later, the pull string broke on one of the side mesh pockets, so I returned it for a new Recon. The second Recon has lasted ever since. I have used it for school, hiking, day trips, and even snowboarding.

                    I love the hydration pouch and the front mesh pocket is great for putting gloves or rain gear in. This is my everyday backpack and is big enough (and sturdy enough) to carry around a laptop. The added whistle to the sternum strap is a great addition and I think everyone should start using these! :)

                    I would recommend this backpack to anyone!

                    - Derek

                    • Gift:
                    • No
                    • What Is Your Gear Style:
                    • Minimalist

                    (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                     
                    4.0

                    Good Pack

                    By CM Padilla

                    from Bellevue, WA

                    About Me Casual Adventurer

                    Site Member

                    Pros

                    • Comfortable
                    • Easy To Load
                    • Good padding
                    • Lightweight

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                      • Day trip
                      • Hiking

                      Comments about The North Face Recon Pack:

                      I bought this pack to serve as a day pack for hiking and to carry my personal stuff day-to-day. It works great for both purposes. I wish it had just a bit more capacity, but no problems for an otherwise medium sized day-pack.

                      I did a hike/climb (The Tooth - Snoqualmie Pass area) that required a full change of clothes including a few layers and a jacket, some climbing gear, water and food...and it worked out just fine. It was able to fit REI Ultralite waterproof pants and jacket, North Face Hyvent Triclimate jacket (inner layer), Camelbak water bottle, trekking poles, radios, food, extra water bottles, camera, beanie, gaiters, extra socks, extra pants ...didn't quite fit my harness, so I hooked that to the outside of it.

                      • Gift:
                      • No

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