The North Face Surge vs. Recon vs. Router: Differences & Reviews 2025

The North Face Surge vs. Recon vs. Router: Overview

1. The North Face Surge

Official Price: $139

Colors: TNF Black - TNF Black, Asphalt Grey Light Heather - TNF Black, Dark Sage/TNF Black, Tin Grey Dark Heather/TNF Black, Meld Grey Dark Heather - TNF Black, Coal Brown/Fiery Red, Gravel - TNF Black

User reviews: 4.5/5.0

With a 31-liter capacity, the Surge Backpack is a spacious, streamlined pack you can take almost anywhere. It is made from durable recycled nylon ripstop so doesn't need to be handled with care. The Surge Backpack is available in both a men’s and women’s version. The main difference between the two is that the women’s version has a slightly shorter profile making it more ideal for the shorter folks amongst us. The shoulder straps also have a slightly more curved design that’s tailored more towards a woman’s body. The other internal and external features are the same.

The Surge Backpack has got a FlexVent suspension system, a sternum strap and a removable waist belt. With these features, you’re guaranteed to stay comfortable even when it’s on your back for hours at a time. The back panel is breathable, allowing air to pass through and keep your back cool, because no one wants the dreaded sweaty back that often comes with carry a rucksack.The 31-litre volume is made up of a large main compartment, a front compartment with a padded tablet sleeve and zipped pockets, and a laptop sleeve. Plus, an external pocket lined with fleece to prevent scratching. Both sides of the bag are equipped with Teksever water bottle pockets. It weighs a little over 3 lbs, which isn’t too bad but it is a bit heavier than some other bags around the same size. Still, if you wanted to take it hiking you definitely could.

2. The North Face Recon

Official Price: $109

Colors: Asphalt Grey Light Heather - TNF Black, Tin Grey Dark Heather - Asphalt Grey - TNF Black, TNF Black - TNF Black, TNF Navy - TNF Black, Mandarin/TNF Black, Coal Brown/Fiery Red, TNF Blue/Mandarin, Summit Navy/Dusty Periwinkle, Sulphur Moss/TNF Black, Dark Sage/TNF Black

User reviews: 4.7/5.0

The North Face Recon  Backpack is perfect for carrying your laptop and all of your everyday essentials. It offers both a Men’s Recon and Women’s Recon. The main difference is in the size and shape of the shoulder straps and back panel but all of the pockets and compartments are the same between the two versions. The 30-litre volume is made up of three main compartments: the front organizer compartment, the main compartment, and the rear laptop compartment. You get an 18-inch laptop sleeve in the internal pocket, and this one properly fits your full-sized laptop with room to spare. The laptop compartment is well padded and protected, so there’s no risk of any damage to your laptop.The small external pockets are large enough for a few water bottles, your smartphone, or other quick-access items such as sunglasses.

Also included on the Recon are a ventilating mesh back panel and ergonomic shoulder straps for carrying comfort. Available in over 20 different color and style options, this backpack is crafted of ultra-durable 2100 Cordura nylon mini-ripstop material. It stands out thanks to its external mesh stretch pocket, dual daisy chains, and side compression straps, all handy features which I think make for a nicer aesthetic as well. Plus, the FlexVent suspension system, as well as a sternum strap and removable waist belt, make this bag really comfortable to carry around. The North Face Recon is one of the most versatile backpacks of its type on the market.

3. The North Face Router

Official Price: $159

Colors: TNF Navy - TNF Black, TNF Black - TNF Black, Asphalt Grey Light Heather - TNF Black, Meld Grey - TNF Black

User reviews: 4.6/5.0

North Face's largest backpack at 40 liters, the durable Router hauls more gear then ever while remaining travel-friendly during local commutes and weekend excursions.  This lightweight bag is designed with a 210D recycled nylon ripstop with a non-PFC DWR finish for durability and protection against the elements.The 40-litre volume is made up of a large main compartment, a front compartment with a padded tablet sleeve and zipped pockets, and a laptop sleeve. It is water-repellent, and can fit laptops up to 17''.

The North Face Router features adjustable J-shaped shoulder straps, a sternum strap with a whistle buckle, a removable waist belt, U-pull zippers, a fleece-lined pocket for sunglasses and keys, a large D-zip pocket for organization, a padded tablet sleeve, and two grab handles. Featuring a FlexVent suspension system, the Router backpack can reduce strain on your back and shoulders and provides support with its padded shoulder straps, padded mesh back panel, and breathable lumbar panel for all day comfort. It also has a sought-after endorsement from the American Chiropractic Association.

Where to Buy the North Face Surge, Recon and Router Backpacks?

thenorthface.com (1.5-2% cashback)

thenorthface.co.nz (4-5% cashback)

dickssportinggoods.com (1.5-2% cashback)

moosejaw.com (5-6% cashback)

zappos.com (9.5-11.5% cashback)

scheels.com (8-10% cashback)

backcountry.com (3-4% cashback)

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The North Face Surge vs. Recon vs. Router Backpacks: Full Comparison

Materials

The main fabric of The North Face Surge Backpack is ripstop nylon. The unique grid pattern is sophisticated and adds to the bag's practicality and outdoor style. The main compartment is lined with polyester, but some of the other pockets and compartments on the bag are lined with fleece. This soft, furry material comes in handy to protect items like sunglasses and phone screens. YKK zippers are used throughout, and most compartments feature reverse coil zipper tracks. This helps prevent moisture and dust from entering.

The North Face Recon Backpack features 100% recycled nylon and polyester construction. Interestingly, the nylon has a subtle mesh pattern, suggesting it may be of the ripstop variety. There are other materials scattered around. For example, side bottle pockets are made from a tarp-like fabric. Hardware (i.e. buckles, clips, adjusters, etc.) is from ITW and Duraflex, both well-known brands. The zippers are YKK.

The main fabric on the Router is a 210-denier recycled ripstop nylon with a DWR-coating of water resistance. What does this mean? The backpack is water-resistant to some extent. Water will roll off of the ripstop nylon but unfortunately the zippers are not water resistant and are an entry point for moisture to sneak in. Plus, same to the Surge and the Recon backpack, the Router also use YKK Zippers, Duraflex Hardware, ITW Hardware.

External Components

The North Face Surge bag has two rows of daisy chains on the front, and you can use carabiners to clip on other accessories. There are compression straps underneath that you can use to compress the bottom of the bag for everyday carrying. There is a stretch water bottle pocket on each side of the bag. They come with elastic bands and stretch mesh panels that allow them to stretch quite wide. These aren’t just for water bottles. You can also conveniently store your phone, face mask, keys, and anything else you want quick access to without having to unzip the pockets. The elastic band also helps the water bottle pocket stay snug when not in use.

The North Face Recon bag also has a pair of daisy chain rings on the front for attaching accessories – four on the left and four on the right. Each loop is separated by reinforced stitching, making it look and feel sturdy. There is a pair of accessory straps on the bottom that you can use as compression straps. Tightening them causes the bottom of the front to drop so neatly that the Recon logo is hidden in the process. In addition, it can also be used as a tool to hang large items such as travel tripods, yoga mats, dirty football shoes, etc. The Recon also comes with two external water bottle pockets. They fold flat when not in use, but they're gusseted with mesh and elastic for stretch. The pockets have enough grip to hold bottles in place on their own.

The first thing that stands out about the Router Backpack is its size. It's a big backpack but still looks like a backpack.The front handle is one of the more obvious clues that denote the Router’s larger-than-daypack size. Most backpacks feature a top handle, which is usually a piece of plain thin nylon between the shoulder straps. The Router also has two water bottle pockets, so you can double up on a thermos if you like to drink lots of water while traveling. Plus, the Router bag has several compression straps, some on the sides near the water bottle pocket, and two more on the bottom. Tighten them up and the Router becomes closer to backpack proportions. As a bonus, the bottom strap has elastic strap retainers that minimize the appearance of the router's straps wobbling.

Inside The Pack

On the front of the Surge backpack, you'll notice two long, vertical pockets. The two pockets are wide and deep. One is completely open, while the other has some organization for smaller items. Behind it is a horizontal fleece-lined pocket, perfect for sunglasses or a cell phone. There is another pocket at the back. Inside there are several mesh pockets, pen slots, and a padded pocket for fun. It's a great place to put your tech and other small items like charging cables and headphones. There is also a key clip inside. Next is the main compartment with a large zipper. There's no organization or extra pockets inside - it's just a completely open space. It has enough space to hold some packing cubes and pouches. Finally, there’s a laptop compartment at the back. The compartment is padded with thick fleece lining to accommodate a laptop and tablet. You can also place magazines, small notebooks or any flat items here.

The most obvious difference between the Recon and its siblings is its front mesh pocket. The pockets themselves are relatively spacious and can fit your compression hoodie, gloves, etc. The Recon bag also has a dedicated quick-grab pocket. It's the first of four zippered pockets on the Recon, located behind the mesh pocket and partially covered by fabric. The lining is made of very soft fleece, perfect for items that can easily scratch, such as sunglasses and smartphones. Next is the front compartment, where the finer organization is found. From front to back, there are two mesh pockets, two lined pockets and a pen pocket, a wide zippered pocket, and finally a tablet pocket at the very back – perfect for different tech accessories. As for the laptop, it is placed in a dedicated compartment at the very end of the bag.

The Router Backpack's secondary pockets include a large front fold-down compartment and two large interior mesh pockets.  This pocket can be used to store an entire packing cube of socks and gloves. Above is another zippered pocket lined with very soft fleece to prevent damage to easily scratched items, mainly sunglasses and smartphones whose chassis are particularly prone to scratches. Next is the router’s management panel. This compartment allows for more granular organization of smaller gear. The interior features two side-by-side mesh pockets, two wide pen pockets next to the lined pockets, a zippered pocket, and a tablet sleeve on the back. Laptops have their own separate compartment on the back, which is often found on travel backpacks. The compartment opens in a horseshoe shape with gussets on the sides to prevent it from opening too wide. With all of those compartments and pockets out of the way, the main compartment also has an open space where you can store all your major gear. There are no dividers or pockets, so it's the ideal space to group clothes and accessories together using packing boxes and pouches.

Verdict

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