The North Face Borealis

I’ve had an Eastpak backpack for 10 years. The model I used was discontinued, so I had to find a new one when it finally tore in August. After some research, I’ve decided to go with a The North Face Borealis.

I am very happy with this bag and strongly recommend it for people with similar needs

Why I got it

I always carry a laptop and electronics (various chargers, external disk, ebook reader, photography gear…, etc.) with me. I need a waterproof backpack with a well-padded laptop pocket and a large main pocket.

Since I like to travel light for conferences, I don’t need a large bag. I can use it for both my every day and conference travel.

I also care much more about durability than I care about fashion. I try to avoid the “sysadmin look” cliché, but I’d rather get gear that is unnoticeable and timeless than a fancy bag that will quickly fall out of fashion.

The North Face’s Borealis model seemed like a perfect match for me. It has a suspended laptop pocket, a wide main pocket, and an “organizer” pocket where I can keep my electronics organized. It’s a 28L waterproof bag, the ideal size for me.

What I like

The Borealis is very unnoticeable. The black model looks like a particularly unremarkable, functional bag. Everything is adjustable. You can adjust the shoulder, chest, and belt straps.

The laptop pocket is large but not too large for a 13-inch 2020 MacBook Pro M1. It is both padded and suspended, keeping my laptop safe from crashes. I didn’t put it to the test because I don’t have a spare laptop I wouldn’t care about, but I’m confident it can protect the computer from impacts from a 30cm drop. I’m not sure it will protect the computer much above that height.

The main pocket is large, with a wide opening. I can easily fit my ZV-E10 camera, an additional lens, a DJI Mic Mini, a pair of spare batteries (I will review those in /gear), and clothes for 5 days easily in it.

Thanks to laces on the sides and straps below, the bag can also be flattened when empty, keeping the content secure and in place. Also, notice the bottle pockets on the sides of the bag. It’s not a must-have for me, but it’s still nice to have.

I love the organizer pocket. It has plenty of room for my MacBook Pro charger, several USB-C cables, my external drive, my Kobo Clara 2E, two pencils, and tissues. The pocket also has a zipped sleeve with a key chain. I keep my meds and, of course, my keys in there.

This bag also comes with elastic cords. I’ve always thought those were to keep the bag secure. They’re actually (external) storage space! I use them to store my foldable jacket when I don’t need it. I can fill my bag completely and still carry my jacket when it’s warm. More space!

Finally, the face against my back is not abrasive and lets my back breathe even when riding my bike. The straps are very comfortable, and the bag is generally a joy to carry.

What I don’t like

There are some minor inconveniences with this bag. They’re definitely not dealbreakers, but I’d like to see quality-of-life improvements in the next version of the bag.

The Borealis doesn’t have a “safe” pocket against my back. This pocket would be handy for storing my wallet and other sensitive items.

The key “chain” is oddly placed in the organizer pocket sleeve: you need to open the zipper entirely to access it. Attaching the chain on the opening side of the zipper would have made more sense to me.

I never use the belt strap, and I can’t remove it. It’s a minor nuisance. I forget about it most of the time.

Conclusion

The Borealis is a very functional and “timeless” bag. I tested it under heavy rain against my will, and it is indeed waterproof.

I can use it in my daily life and for short travel. Only time will tell if it’s durable but it looks as good as new 3 months in.