This daypack has got everything I need for biking, hiking, and going to class. It's external net pocket is perfect for wet clothes or things you'd want to access quickly. It will fit my helmet or my shell jacket. The laptop compartment is a great plus and will also double as a reservoir pocket for hydration on the trails. Many small pockets inside the stash pocket, some with separate zippers. The breast clip and waist-belt keep everything still on your body. Durable material that cleans easily. I recommend this pack for any use.

My son is on his second Northface backpack and only because the first one had an accident with white out and white out comes out of nothing! Otherwise these backpacks last forever. My boys use these for everything but the backpack will probably outlast their years in school. My older son has his for 5 years already. It is definetly the best backpack you can buy. He also loves the whistle that comes with the Recon...the dog hears him coming home from school from up the block.

This is my third gen Recon pack. My first gen I still use for mountain biking, second gen for school and the third one (this current one) my nephew uses for class. I can fit a laptop and 3 large law books. It's a stout beast.

Got my backpack for college and could not imagine using anything else! Super comfortable with space for my laptop and plenty or books. Abosolutely love it and would highly recommend it to anyone!

I bought this pack when I began taking the commuter train to this past summer. I have also used it cycling and plan to use it as a day pack for hiking. The mesh breathes very well in the summer heat, and I didn't get too warm with it on while cycling. There is plenty of space for additional books or binders with a laptop in the bag. The inside organizer is great and I love the outer mesh pocket as it can expand to hold very large and bulky items such as a bicycle helmet, clothes, etc. I was worried about the mesh breaking apart, but it has held up very well. I use the water bottle pockets for my gloves and hat in the winter. I just found out that the laptop pocket also functions as a pocket for a water bladder, with a hole for the tube coming through the top of the pack, this is a great feature. This pack is great to ride on a bike with, the breast clip and waist belt keep it from sliding.

My only complaints with this pack are that the reflective foam on the back of it is very delicate and scratches and cracks easily. Secondly, there is no where to tuck away the waist strap when you aren't using it, I just buckle it and do my best to wrap the loose ends around something. When the belt is being used, the loose ends are so long that they dangle. This is especially a problem on a bicycle.

I'm not that tidy of a guy, so this pack helps me organize my life! There is just about a pocket for everything and then some. Be creative, I'm sure you'll come up with a use for the storage. I no longer loose my phone or keys and I can carry quite a bit in this thing. I did once attempt to use it as a commuter pack while biking to work, it was just too hot for that (mind you that was in the middle of the summer). Attach a few carabiners to this pack and you'll be set!

Perfect for around campus or during a hike. Outside mesh pocket can stow wet stuff (rain jacket, gym clothes) while the large inside compartment can hold a laptop (seems to be 15.4" and smaller in the lightly padded laptop pocket) and a few books. The straps are very comfortable, as is the back panel, and the waist belt comes in handy. The smallest pocket can be used for pens/pencils and other smaller items. The trendy Nalgene bottles fit perfectly in the mesh water bottle pockets.

Good backpack. Tough, rugged and have had no problems whatsoever even after 4 consecutive years of hauling high school and college level books to school every day. Climbed my first 14teener using this pack, as well as for biking, skiing (before getting the Dakine blade), climbing and airsoft. nice pack

Great backpack! It has plenty of room for everything I need. Lots of pockets. Its really durable and has been with me through some rough times. This is a great backpack for whatever you need.

I bought this backpack for carrying my books around campus. I like the overall look of the pack and the functionality. The pockets are very well placed, which puts everything you need easily accessible. I also like the front mesh pocket, which provides many different uses. It can expand to hold large items, but is not in the way when it isn't needed. The ability to put a hydration bladder in it was also a strong reason for me buying this pack. The pack can hold several big college text books, binders, and calculators with out a problem. But when you aren't carrying much, the pack doesn't feel huge. It can carry a lot of stuff without being bulky and in the way.

i have the previous gen of this and it's still a good pack.
altho i don't like the new design which is why i gave it 4 stars

it is very good. i got it in 3 days with the free shipping!
backcountry.com is the best!

My daughter is enjoying it and it handles her school items very well. It arrived quickly once the order was placed.

I purchased 1 of these for my son and had to turn around and purchase another for my daughter. Both of them love the pack for schoool purposes. Hold books, notebooks and laptops with room to spare. The price was right.

I love this backpack. I use it both for work and fun. For work, my 15" MacBook Pro just barely fits in the special laptop pocket (no way a 17" MBP is going to fit), and there is plenty of room to store other stuff. For fun, I frequently use this backpack while alpine skiing. I don't think this backpack is technically water resistant (or waterproof), but so far, I have not had a problem with items inside getting wet when it is snowing like crazy. Not sure I would trust my MacBook Pro inside during a downpour.

After owning some of the other so-called-great back packs NorthFace has them all beat in overall workmanship is top notch, they maybe more costly then other packs but you get what you pay for and when my pack does wear out I will buy another Northface brand.