Morgan Scott September 1, 2020 School, Outdoor & Tactical, Travel

11 Backpacks Like North Face You Should Check Out

Morgan Scott September 1, 2020 School, Outdoor & Tactical, Travel

North Face backpacks are popular with students and travelers alike thanks to their outdoor inspired design and versatile functionality. But for those who love the look of North Face but want to opt-in for something different – you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of other backpack brands that offer similar designs.

These backpacks offer a nice mix of everyday urban carry as well the outdoor design elements that we have come to love about North Face’s popular Recon, Jester and Borealis backpack designs. Whether you are looking for a cheaper alternative to North Face backpacks or a better quality bag, we have you covered.

Patagonia Chacabuco

Patagonia

Patagonia offers a truly versatile backpack that can be used for school, travel or outdoor activities with their popular Chacabuco backpack. The Patagonia Chacabuco includes a spacious 30 liter main compartment and tons of smaller pockets for things like a laptop, sunglasses and water bottles. This backpack is a great option for anyone looking for great quality backpacks like the North Face Borealis or Jester.

Features at a glance:

• Volume: 30L (Available in women’s 28L fit)

• Water repellent DWR finish

• Separate 15” laptop pocket

• Stash pockets for sunglasses or small tech

Osprey Nebula Backpack

Osprey

Made for urban commutes and smart travel, the Osprey Nebula is one of the best North Face backpack alternatives available right now. If you are looking for a backpack like the North Face Recon then you’ll love the Nebula’s large 34 liter capacity, serious organization pockets and front quick stash pocket that offers instant access to items like a face mask or hand sanitizer. Add a quality construction and Osprey’s All Might Guarantee free repair warranty and you have a serious North Face alternative that lives up to the hype.

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 34 liters (Available in 32L women’s fit)

• Full panel organizer pocket for things like keys, tech accessories and pens

• Great for school, work or light travel.

United By Blue Transit Pack

United By Blue

United By Blue offers a stylish and environmentally friendly everyday backpack with their 25-liter Transit Pack. This backpack is made recycled materials with a DWR coating for a water and stain resistant finish. What we love about the Transit Pack is its original design and smart organization features that make daily carry a breeze. The United By Blue Transit Pack is a great option for anyone looking for backpacks like North Face from a socially responsible brand that gives back. 

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 25 liters

• Unisex design

• 17” laptop sleeve

• Made of 100% recycled materials with a water resistant finish

EAGLE CREEK WAYFINDER

Buy on Amazon

The Eagle Creek Wayfinder is a large backpack for anyone who is serious about carry. At a whopping 41 liters it has enough compartments for tech, books and personal items. The padded laptop compartment can fit up to a 17-inch laptop while the organizer pockets are perfect for things like charging cables and other small tech. Add in a water resistant TPU coating and extra comfortable shoulder straps and you have the perfect bag for anyone looking for backpacks like the North Face Transit.

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 40L

• Available in men’s fit and women’s fit 

• Padded sleeve for laptop up to 17” with waterproof zipper

• Lots of special pockets for storage of smaller items

Jansport Agave

Buy on Amazon

The JanSport Agave is feature-packed daypack that includes everything you need for a long day out in the city or the trail. The bag includes two large main compartments, lined pockets for a laptop and tablet and even a deluxe organizer that can fit everything from charging cables to pens and keys. We recommend this backpack to anyone who is looking for similar backpacks to North Face but at a cheaper price point.

Features at a glance

• Volume: 32L 

• Available in men’s fit (Amazon) and women’s fit (Amazon)

• Curved shoulder straps and adjustable sternum strap for a perfect fit

• Tricot lined pockets for tech

• Padded sleeve for a laptop up to 15”

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Mystery Ranch Prizefighter

Mystery Ranch

If you want a tough and functional backpack then look no further than the Mystery Ranch Prizefighter. This backpack was made for daily carry of essentials like tech, sunglasses and documents. At a 20 liter capacity we think this is a good North Face alternative to bags like the Kaban and Kabyte. Made with 500D Cordura and YKK zippers – you can rely on the Mystery Ranch Prizefighter to weather the storm in style no matter how busy your lifestyle.

Features at a glance:

• Volume: 20L

• Separate laptop and tablet sleeves

• Zippered top glasses pocket

• Organizer panel for small items like pens and phone

Osprey Quasar Daypack

Osprey

When it comes to brands like North Face, few come as close in quality and design as Osprey. And you can see this in the look and feel of the Quasar – daily carry backpack built from the ground up for school, work and daily commuting. Made with a robust nylon body and super tough nylon packcloth bottom, the Osprey Quasar is ready for a busy lifestyle with pockets for everything from a laptop to pens and phones. The main compartment is also pretty roomy without the backpack being overwhelmingly large. At 28 liters we think it’s the perfect backpack for everyday carry on campus or work commutes.

Features at a glance:

• Volume: 28L (Available in 26L women’s fit)

• Multiple organization pockets for daily items

• Side stretch water bottle pockets

• Padded tablet and laptop sleeves

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Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 32 liters

• Full panel organizer pocket for things like keys, tech accessories and pens

• Includes sternum strap and removable waist belt

Dakine Wonder Pack

Buy on Amazon

At a 15 liter capacity, the Dakine Wonder Pack is the perfect low-volume backpack for everyday use. What we love the most about the Dakine Wonder Pack is its extra carrying capacity thanks to its front bungee storage, mesh side pockets and fleece lined sunglasses pocket. The backpack even features straps for skateboard carry. The Dakine Wonder Pack is perfect for those looking for a backpack like the North Face Jester in a slightly smaller package.

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 15L

• Fleece-lined top pocket for sunglasses

• Available in dozens of colors and patterns

OGIO Renegade RSS

Buy on Amazon

The OGIO Renegade RSS laptop backpack is an excellent choice for anyone serious about laptop protection and tech storage. This backpack features OGIO’s popular “Reactive Suspension System” laptop sleeve design that protects your laptop from impacts and drops through suspension. It’s a pretty clever design and great for those who have the habit of putting their backpacks through hell and back. Combine this feature with OGIO’s tough as nails build quality and you have a foolproof backpack for commuting and travel.

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 29.5L

• Includes a crush proof tech pocket

• Laptop sleeve fits 15-inch and thinner 17” laptops

• Lifetime warranty

Moosejaw x Mystery Ranch Steffan Backpack

Moosejaw

Moosejaw has teamed up with Mystery Ranch for a collab of epic proportions with their Steffen backpack. This rugged pack is made to take the abuse of outdoor adventures and daily life thanks to its 1000D Cordura construction that’s even coated with Teflon for an incredibly durable water resistant finish.

Designed as a daily driver, the Steffen backpack features a padded laptop sleeve and plenty of storage pockets for essentials like sunglasses, phones and water bottles. If you are looking for a high quality North Face alternative then the Moosejaw x Mystery Ranch Steffen backpack is worth a closer look.

Features at a glance:

• Capacity: 24.5L

• Padded sleeve fits up to 15.6” laptop

• Made super tough: 1000D Cordura nylon and Teflon water resistant finish

SwissGear 1186 Laptop Backpack

Buy on Amazon

Perfect for anyone looking for a cheaper North Face backpack alternative, the Swiss Gear 1186 is a great versatile backpack choice for commutes, travel or for lugging books around on campus. The generous 26 liter main compartment is roomy enough for most carry without making the backpack too bulky. We also like that Swiss Gear provides tons of small storage pockets and organizers for small items.

Features at a glance:

• Volume: 26L

• Comfortable padded airflow back panel

• 13” laptop pocket

• Reflective accents are perfect for night time commutes

Backpack Brands like North Face

We listed our favorite North Face alternatives in the list above but here are some more backpack brands worth checking out. These brands offer good quality backpacks and bags with a similar outdoor-inspired look and modern features.

Patagonia

Shop Patagonia

If you are looking for brands comparable to North Face with similar designs and quality then we recommend taking a closer look at Patagonia. Catering to the outdoor space, their backpacks are built tough and with versatile features for hiking, travel, school and work. You are bound to find one that fits your needs. 

Some of their most popular backpacks are the Patagonia Chacabuco and the Patagonia Refugio. Both make great commuter or school backpacks thanks to their generous main compartments and gendered fits. 

Burton

Shop Burton

Burton is mostly known for their outdoor sports gear but their bag line is actually pretty awesome. Their designs vary from outdoor heritage-inspired to more modern urban designs and most bags are equipped with must-have features like laptop sleeves, water bottle pockets and small item organizer. 

Osprey

Shop Osprey Packs

Osprey is a brand known for their outdoor and travel gear for hiking, backpacking and long-term travel. But they also offer an amazing line of everyday backpacks for school, work and commuting. 

When it comes to brands like North Face, Osprey offers some of the best competing selection at comparable prices. Osprey even offers men’s and women’s versions of popular backpack styles so that you know you are getting a bag with the right fit.

JanSport

Shop Jansport on Amazon

JanSport backpacks have been a carry staple for decades and although they are known for their popular school backpacks they have really been impressing us lately with all of the new modern designs currently being offered. If you are looking for a more affordable backpack brand like North Face then JanSport is worth considering.

Aer

Shop Aer

Aer is a brand perfect for anyone who likes the look of the North Face Kaban, Access or Resister but are ready to step up in quality and functionality. Aer bags are known for their use of high quality materials such as Cordura ballistic nylon, YKK zippers and DWR water resistant coatings. Plus each backpack is made for daily carry to work or school thanks to their amazing organization pockets and tech compartments.

If you are looking for a daily driver for work or school then we recommend you check out the Aer Day Pack 2 and for busy gym days there Aer offers a really great duffle backpack with shoe compartment that is as stylish as they are functional.

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