I use this pack for just about everything from day hikes to carrying around text books. I'm a small framed woman and it is very comfortable! The padding on the straps and back is a major plus. The only thing I don't like is the front zipper pocket. If the front pocket is full it's difficult to shove stuff down in the main area. But that is very minor. Overall I love this bag.

This is an excellent 2 compartment backpack. For those of you at school, it can nicely fit about 4-5 good size textbooks in the main compartment. The smaller compartment is excellent for calculators and small notebooks. In the smaller compartment is a nice organizer for pens and other small items. The best and most important thing about this pack is that it is very comfortable to wear on you back. Even with a full load. For hikers or backpackers, you may want a bigger pack.

i bought this bag about a week ago and i love it its super comftorable its a little stiff when u first get it but after two days its absolutely perfect nd the waist bel comes in handy if ur a mountain biker such as myself and ifyour walking around instead of having those annoying straps slapping around the whole just slide the through the little plastic bits and problem solved best bag for the money great features and built to last

Yeah it's nice to carry books but is more tough than just that. I use it to travel, camp, great for fishing and biking. It is light and the double-stiching protects each compartment when you have dirty and wet stuff that might make it's way into your bag.

Like most TNF products this backpack is well made and gets the job done. That said, in my opinion its more than worth the extra 30-40 bucks to pick up a pack like the recon or hotshot if you're set on a north face pack! Best piece of advice to consider when buying gear, spend the extra coin for something that is of better quality and you really like and will use for many, many years!

When I ordered the backpack, I didn't realize the cord was red so when it came it was a great surprise. I wanted a calm color, I chose light grey, something besides black. The red cord made it pop just a little.
I also was very happy with the sturdiness of the material and stitching. Can't go wrong with this bag.

Great backpack with lots of storage. Fits my three 1 1/2 binders and a textbook with room to spare. A great backpack for a high school student. Very durable.

This backpack gets the job done, and works well. I would only use it for school/commuting, though. It's just not built for the trails. It's got plenty of pockets for organization, and a large main pocket. I wouldn't recommend this backpack strictly for hiking purposes. You can pay a little extra for a much better daypack.

I bought this bag as a new school bag. I've had the same bookbag prior to this one for three years and thought it was time. Glad I ordered it, too, as my old one just broke a day ago on a hike. This bag's very comfortable on your shoulders, and has lots of space (as you'd expect for 1850 cubic inches). Plenty of space for a bunch of goods. I carried shoes, a fleece, two water bottles, camera, and other stuff with me today as I hiked. Again, this is a great bag.

I bought this bag because it was comfortable, was black (I use it for work) and because it did not have the 'mesh style' backs and straps that are fashionable now, but which cause some clothing fabrics to pill, scuff and tear. I do not overpack my bag, it has only been used in day-to-day city life and it is 6 months old. However it has split between the padded back and the base - and is now unusable. Because it was bought in a location outside of where I am living now it is difficult to get a replacement. I have not found North Face at all helpful as a company in this respect (i.e. in assisting me with a replacement or refund). Looking at the bag it is obvious that it needs a thicker fabric at the base and a more resilient method of stitching the base to the back. I have been looking at others' comments to see if I am the only one with this problem and I see I am not. Pity because other than this it is a good bag.

I mean, I'm not going to attempt to tell you that this bag isn't North Face quality. I've had one for about a year now, and I haven't noticed any serious wear or tear. However, I wouldn't really suggest this bag to anyone. The straps are not very padded, the waist strap is straight uncomfortable, and there is no strap across the upper chest. When filled up, it can really weight you down. I have other bags (Recon, Camelbak Wingman) that manage to carry the same amount without putting nearly the same amount of strain on my back. In short, cheap TNF option, but you get what you pay for.

Great backpack for a ski day. My husband wears it and the size is good. Not too big but small enough to be light and comfortable.

its very fashionable and i love it.

This is my second Jester backpack. My first one, I've had for about 3 years and finally sprung a hole. I've used it for school as well as travel. The waist strap on the latest Jesters do not detach like the old ones and rub against the lower back of the backpack as well as my lower back. I might just cut it off since I don't use it anyway.

good backpack, lots of storage and very comfortable

I like my new North Face Jester. I use it to take stuff to the office and to carry my clothes I change in to for my job at a ballpark in the evening. I like that it isn't too wide in the back so my arms don't bump into it when I turn around, and the shoulder straps are comfortable as they are wide and flat compared to many other pack's straps. This distributes the weight over a larger area so they don't dig in. The haul loop is wide and comfotable too.

Very comfortable and well made. Better than JanSport.

I gave my son this backpack for highschool. He loves it. A lot of compartments and plenty of room.

I use mine for taking dirt bike gear with me when I go ride...it has a lot of room and seems to be built well for the price.

I took this bag with me to the Galapagos Islands and used it non stop for two weeks. THe first day one of the pulls started to fray and I couldn't get it back on. Another did the same a few days later. The stitching around the zipper compartments also frayed.. It did the job, but not as well as I had expected

I've had this backpack for a quite a while now and have been a bit disappointed by it. I will say that it does work great as a school backpack or for overnight traveling. Although it does not have a laptop sleeve built in, a 17 inch notebook will fit (a bit snug - but it will fit) and it does have ample room for a days coursework as well.

It is however far from being a good hiking pack. It lacks a sternum strap, hydration compatibility, the shoulder straps are not especially comfortable and the waist belt is practically worthless. The back of the pack is not well padded by any means as well so lugging books around campus on a hot day is made even less enjoyable by the back sweat that you will form.

All in all, this is a good school and travel backpack but far from being trail worthy in my opinion.

What can I say? My daughter is so happy with this bag. North Face is the bag of cool, but oh so expensive. But at backcoutry.com the price was a good deal. I bought one for my son, too.

Looks great and my daughter seems to love it for school. Have always loved North Face.

Great, simple, comfortable backpack. I've been using mine daily for 4 years and it's still in great shape.

I really liked this Back Pack a lot also. Will get a lot of use out of it. The color is nice and there is a lot of space for your stuff.

This is a great pack for school or work. I can go anywhere that you do. I love to use this for school I can hold about two book and a couple of binders and folder. Has a great second pouch for pencils, cell phone, iPod, and calculator. Great any use!

While this is another well built pack from The North Face, it does lack features. It has the one main compartment, and only one other zipped pocket. The water bottle pockets have no zippers, and are only a pouch really. The pack is a little small for school use, especially if you have lots of textbooks, and/or a laptop. As for hiking, it may do as a light daypack. I returned my Jester for a refund.

If you want a really great pack for school use, with a dedicated laptop pocket, along with many, many features, look for the packs by STM. They come with a lifetime warranty, and they rock!

Primary purpose for this pack was for commuting to/from work. Has plenty of space for u-lock, cable lock, pump, spare tube, levers, and lock keys (and extra room) just in front zipper. I always carry those on the front zipper area, then often carry a laptop, purse stuff (wallet, keys, phone, camera, zip bag with jewelry and hair stuff, gym stuff (socks, sports bra, shirt, shorts/pants), and sometimes shoes and sometimes raincoat. Durable and attractive. And, the FIRST backpack in my 30 years that has actually fit me (5' 2.5"), which is very important when riding.

After my Eddie Bauer backpack wore out after 6 years, I decided it was time to splurge on a new bag. This is my first North Face purchase, and I'm very happy with it. I'm a college student, and the Jester easily accomodates my books and binders. It also has plenty of pockets in the front pouch for organizing pens, pencils, keys, gum, calc, chapstick, notecards, personal items, etc. And the mesh pockets on the side are handy for drinks. At times, I have also been able to pack my laptop (in a sleeve), plus 2 books. It's very comfortable and easy to carry, even when the bag is packed to the max. I'm hoping this bag will last me through a few more years of college.

*Bonus* Backcountry is awesome! My bag was shipped to me within a few days even though I used the economy (free) shipping. Since my original purchase I have ordered more items. Thanks!!

Lots of Rool - looks great, too.

Bought for my daughter who's in 2nd grade cause her backpack is so heavy. The straps are comfy & padded & the waist strap is great. Last year straps broke on kid backpack cause bag was really heavy, not this time lots of room in compartments. She loves it cause it doesn't weight her down .

I just bought the Jester for school and though I have yet to use it as such, I have taken it several times to the pool (it fit towels and sunscreen and a change of clothes no problem) and have it waiting to go with four notebooks and folders and the front pocket with my calculator and iPOD pens and pens and it still zips easily and has space for more. I also love the whole look of it.

Very satisfied with my Jester Backpack. There is a lot of room and the zippers give a smooth open and close.

jester is good, but jansport was better set up.