north face backpack travel bag

Pack Hacker is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

The North Face Router Backpack Review

The North Face Router Backpack is a large 40-liter travel backpack that can compress well enough to be used as a daypack.

Our Verdict

Save time. Get access to brief summaries of our reviews so you can browse and make decisions more efficiently.

Join Pack Hacker Pro or, Sign In

• Compresses enough to look and feel like a daypack
• Shoulder straps articulate and move easily
• Just the right balance of organization and spaciousness
• Water bottle pockets don’t grip slender bottles well
• Hip belt doesn’t add a lot of support
• Inverted access to front top pocket unintuitive

Technical Details

Carry-on compliance.

View 93/145 Airlines

Disclaimer: We take the measurements of the bag provided by the manufacturer and compare them to the allowance listed on airline websites. This should be used as a guideline rather than a rule. Bags can change size as you pack them out, and every airline's interpretation of compliance is different. Just because a bag is listed as carry-on compliant here doesn't mean that the airline will interpret it that way.

Like the Look

Polled on Instagram

Weight (lb)

2.94 lb (1.3 kg)

21 in x 12.5 in x 9 in (53.3 x 31.8 x 22.9 cm)

Notable Materials

Ripstop Nylon, YKK Zippers, Duraflex Hardware, ITW Hardware

Manufacturing Country

Laptop Compartment Size

Warranty Information

Return & Warranty Policy

Buying Options

Join the Co-op and earn a lifetime of benefits.

Full Review

Large travel backpacks typically have the unfortunate Achilles’ heel of being well-sized for the occasional vacation but too large for everyday use. Sure, some users actually need the large capacity of a travel backpack because they’re packing a lot of gear, but for those who pack light most of the time, it makes more sense to go with a daypack. Luckily, travel backpacks like The North Face Router Backpack can pull double duty as daypacks without being too cumbersome to carry around.

All of that said, The North Face didn’t do anything too drastic to make the Router act more like a daypack. They just added a few compression straps here and there to an aesthetic oddly reminiscent of their other prominent daypacks, and voila! You have a 40-liter travel backpack that doesn’t look out of place in an office full of daypacks.

External Components

The first thing that stands out about the Router Backpack is its scale. It’s a large backpack, yet it still looks like a daypack. It kind of plays this mind trick that makes you think it’s smaller by closely resembling other smaller daypacks like the 28-liter Borealis or 31-liter Surge . Perhaps it’s because the large logo immediately focuses your attention and blurs the rest of the bag, but that’s just a theory. Regardless of how it pulls this off, it’s a positive thing. Let’s put it this way: It’s a 40-liter backpack that doesn’t look intimidating for day-to-day use. It’s not boxy, and it’s not sack-like; it’s just a big-ified daypack.

The front handle is one of the more obvious clues that denote the Router’s larger-than-daypack size. Most daypacks settle for a top handle, usually a plain thin piece of nylon between the shoulder straps. Meanwhile, travel backpacks throw some at the sides, the front, and maybe even the back for good measure. Here, the Router has a beefy front grab handle, so you can pull it fairly easily from a car trunk or the floor if you set it lying on its back panel. There’s also one at the top that’s just as reassuringly thick as the one on the front.

Unfortunately, there are no side handles, but there are water bottle pockets. The Router has two, so you can double up on insulated bottles if you want to drink plenty of water while traveling. However, both are so big that they don’t really hold slender bottles (like an 18-ounce Hydro Flask) in place. You’ll either have to use a larger bottle that fits snugly in place or utilize the side compression straps with a carabiner to lock your bottle’s handle.

We’re a bit puzzled at the tarpaulin-like material on the water bottle pockets. Based on other bags we’ve tested, elasticated fabric or stretchy mesh usually do a better job of holding bottles in place. We think that The North Face went with tarp for better water resistance. Either that or it’s an aesthetic design choice; the matte black’s slick texture is arguably appealing.

Speaking of materials, the main fabric on the Router is a 210-denier recycled ripstop nylon with a DWR-coating of water resistance. That’s almost as puzzling as the decision to go with tarp for the water bottle pockets. It’s a notably light fabric, denier-wise, for a travel backpack. For example, you’ll see ballistic nylon on bags like the Aer Travel Pack 3 or ALPAKA Elements Travel Backpack with deniers north of 800. Rest assured, though, that the Router feels well built, as expected of a backpack from a reputable brand like The North Face. Plus, a lighter fabric undoubtedly helps keep the weight down on this 40-liter backpack.

A key factor in taming the Router’s 40-liter size is compression straps. As mentioned, there are some on the sides near the water bottle pockets and an additional two at the bottom. Cinch these down, and the Router slims much closer to daypack-like proportions. As a bonus, the bottom straps have elastic strap keepers, which minimize the strap-dangly look of the Router.

Now let’s check out the harness system, which The North Face calls the FlexVent suspension system. It’s certified by the American Chiropractic Association, so make of that what you please. Since we’ve made a big deal about the Router’s size being tameable, you’d expect this harness system to be fairly robust and comfortable—and that’s exactly how it is.

That said, we think the most notable feature of the harness system is how the shoulder straps are mounted. Instead of being continuously thickly padded, there’s a narrow segment of fabric bridging the shoulder straps to the top edge of the bag. It’s a small detail, but it allows the straps to flex and fall more freely depending on the shape of the users’ shoulders. We’ve seen other backpacks do this, like Bellroy’s 16-liter Oslo , but it’s arguably more impactful on large backpacks, like the Router.

The shoulder straps themselves are thickly padded for comfort and naturally curve to match the body’s shape. If you want to attach a carabiner or other small accessories, there are reflective loops on each shoulder strap, plus one on each side of the bag itself. As you might expect, there’s also a sternum strap, and it’s on a rail that lets it slide, granting you very granular adjustments. The buckle also has a built-in whistle, by the way, in case you need to call attention to yourself. Sadly, there are no strap keepers to accompany the adjusters, so you’ll either have to fashion some yourself or let them dangle as is.

Should you need additional support, the Router also sports a simple hip belt. There’s nothing fancy about this belt, like thick padding, pockets, or magnets. It can’t shift a ton of weight away from the shoulder straps, but it can help keep the Router’s lower section close to you since it’s also a fairly tall bag.

Last but not least is the back panel. It has many padded sections with breaks in between that act as air channels. The Router can carry a ton of weight, and this amount of padding suffices to cushion a lot of it when the going gets tough for lengthy periods of time, like waiting in an airport, for example.

As expected, the Router is very easy to carry despite being a large 40-liter backpack. Once we had the compression straps cinched down, the shoulder straps were more than up to the task of cushioning the load onto the shoulders. That said, we still wish the hip belt provided more support beyond just keeping the bag’s lower portion close to us. However, moving around, walking, and reaching for gear is not bad since the fabric bridging the shoulder straps to the bag lets them flex as freely as your arms.

More so than freedom of movement, the Router doesn’t make us self-conscious when using it as a daily backpack. Other travel backpacks, as functional as they are, often come across as too boxy and imposing, and they definitely stand out when you’re carrying them to a local coffee shop or park. The Router disguises itself well as just another The North Face daypack—it’s pretty lowkey.

Inside The Backpack

Make no mistake, the Router is a full-fledged travel backpack, and it’s hard not to ignore that fact once you start looking at the finer details. Secondary pockets include a large front fold-out compartment with two large interior mesh pockets. This pocket alone was enough to eliminate an entire packing cube we would’ve dedicated to socks and gloves. Dirty ones go in one, clean ones in the other; it’s that simple. And yes, the pockets are spacious enough to spread compressed socks to prevent them from bulging out the front.

A neat little detail is how the compartment’s zipper resides in a triangular garage up in the corner. As reliable as the #5 YKK zippers are, it never hurts to add another layer of protection and seal to prevent debris from sneaking in.

Above is another zippered pocket lined with very soft fleece to prevent damage to easily scratched items, primarily sunglasses, and smartphones with particularly scratch-prone chassis. However, it’s very strange that it’s oriented upside down, so the space goes up the curve instead of down toward the base of the bag when you reach inside. You would usually expect a pocket to flow down since that’s where gravity pulls objects towards, but not in this case, it seems. There is a shallow bottom lip that can catch gear as it falls down, but it’s not an ideal layout overall.

Next up is the Router’s admin panel. This compartment handles a more granular organization of smaller gear. Inside are two side-by-side mesh pockets, two wide pen pockets next to a liner pocket, a zippered pocket, and, at the very back, a tablet sleeve. Overall, we like the variation in pocket sizes since we can store anywhere from a small tablet to an AirTag if we want to. If we were to nitpick, it’s that the pen pockets are too wide for pens but too narrow for anything beefier we tried to fit. Still, the organization level is just right for our use case, as it can accommodate most everyday carry items.

Laptops get their own separate compartment all the way at the back, where such compartments typically are found on travel backpacks. The compartment opens up horseshoe-style with gussets at the sides to prevent it from opening too wide. You can fit up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro inside with enough space left for a false bottom. It’s not the biggest false bottom we’ve seen on a travel backpack, but it’s enough to absorb an impact if you set the bag down a bit too hard. The back panel’s rigidity also helps absorb some of that impact. You can fit a tablet in the pocket in front of the laptop sleeve, too, along with extra accessories in the open space.

With all of those compartments and pockets out of the way, what is left in the main compartment? As expected, it’s an open space where you can pack all of your main gear. There are no dividers or pockets, so it’s an ideal space to use packing cubes and pouches to keep clothing and accessories grouped together. The pockets adjacent to it at the front can cut into this space, but it’s fairly easy to squeeze them out and make everything fit.

Usage Timeline

Condition: Excellent

• Dig that this can really cinch down and maybe passes as an everyday bag along with a travel bag due to detailing and shape
• Like that the straps have a nylon piece that attaches them to the bag for more flexibility, though the straps themselves seem a little thin
• Overall dig the look of the bag
• Really enjoyed the look & feel of this bag being close to a daily carry bag
• Main compartment is great for packing cubes, but some may want a little organization
• We appreciate that the front top pocket is fleece-lined, but it’s a bit odd that the majority of the pocket space is above the zipper
• Overall this is a great, affordable, travel bag

Get your questions about the The North Face Router Backpack answered from our team and the Pro Community right here on the page. Plus, join discussions with other members about gear, guides, and more.

Sign up to get our 5 Minimalist Travel Hacks Guide. Plus, a weekly digest of our newest content in the newsletter.

Connect in a new country with an eSIM. Check it out →

The Best North Face Backpacks

Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.

North Face is a legend in the outdoor adventure world - the core of its business is consumer-focused gear for anyone from casual hikers to hard-core athletes. That said, years of gear development has left the brand with a glut of designs and a ton of choices for someone looking for the best pack for any type of expedition. 

And there's a lot to consider when choosing one, too, from material and capacity to special features. But generally, with North Face, you know what you're going to get: synthetic fabric packs that are often lightweight and useful in a variety of different conditions. The brand doesn't necessarily prioritize style - though some of its backpacks look fine in everyday use - but are more so designed with utility in mind for those who are outside and offline. 

What the Experts Say

To learn more about the best North Face backpacks, SPY sat down with someone who knows them the best: professional skier and North Face athlete Griffin Post . Post has used North Face gear in pretty much every adventure setting there is, from heliskiing the biggest slopes in the world to hiking gear up to backcountry routes that few people ever get the chance to see. "Quality is so important," Post says. "A backpack has so many small pieces that if one fails, it can really ruin your trip." (Hip buckles, for instance, can get slammed in car doors or crushed underfoot. Ties can snap. Zippers can break.)

"The money you invest into a backpack is going to pay dividends in the long run," Post adds.

One thing that Post says might not be obvious is that a larger capacity isn't always a good thing. The biggest bags will hold more, but that means more weight. Plus, some space constraints space can make packing more focused and intentional. (Sure, there will be times when you need every liter of volume in a certain pack, but adapting your kit to a smaller-size one can be easier than having the biggest bag on the trail.)

BEST OVERALL

North Face Cobra 65

For a pack that performs, no matter the terrain, Post recommends the Cobra 65. This is where the size constraints really come into play, he says. Sure, there are bags that go up to 80 and 90 liters of space, but after years of trekking and exploration, Post has found he just doesn't need that much. "However big my bag is, I end up filling it," Post says. "So having that smaller capacity forces you to choose what you really need."

The Cobra 65 has gotten Post through dozens of expeditions. It's comfortable enough to wear all day and feels balanced, which can help a hiker remain agile on tricky terrain. (Pro tip: To test how a bag distributes weight, Post recommends weighing it down in the store and trying it on. This will give a better idea of the fit and function of any pack - and is, in Post's opinion, where the Cobra excels in particular.)

BEST FOR SKIERS

Snowmad 34 Series

Made For: What it sounds like. This is the backcountry and groomed run pack for skiers and snowboarders who have specific needs - it features waterproofing, helmet and gear carry, and supreme balance to stay locked in during tricky maneuvers. 

Coolest Feature: Its waterproof wet gear storage area. This one flies under the radar as opposed to flashier features like ice ax storage, but Post says it's invaluable if you've got a soaked piece of kit.

BEST FOR EVERYDAY CARRY

North Face Borealis

Made For: Casual commuters, day hikers, and office workers who want to show off their adventurous side. 

Pro Tip: The interior pockets allow for organizing gear by category, Post says, which makes it ideal for compulsive organizers.

MOST VERSATILE

Base Camp Duffle XXL

Made For: Frequent fliers. Post says this is best for air travel, when the situation requires packing tons of gear (and even other bags) inside one massive carry-all. 

ROI: This is pricey but it can fit everything - and it's much more portable than a comparably-sized traditional suitcase. It's great for an ambitious packer on the move, provided you've got a big frame to carry the weight.

Frequently Asked Questions About North Face Backpacks

What's the point of the hip straps.

 On any bag that's carrying a decent amount of weight - something other than a commuter, for instance - hip straps are your best friend. They set much of the bag's mass on the hips, rather than the shoulders, easing the strain on the upper back and allowing for much more freedom of movement. 

More pockets, or fewer?

This is personal preference, but fewer pockets generally means more open space to work with, while more pockets means a more organized arrangement inside the bag. If you know you're going to be working with a lot of larger gear, like shoes or jackets, you might not want a pocket-dense interior. If you have a lot of smaller items - keys, flashlights, tech ‚ then go for something pocket-heavy to have everything easily accessible without having to dig around. 

Why do these all look like space backpacks?

You want another canvas thing trying to look like a WWII rucksack? Go buy one. They're everywhere. You want to look like a hiker despite the fact that the only walking you do is between your office and Sweetgreen? Then these are the packs for you. 

• iRobot Vacuums Are Up To 35% Off - Save Nearly $100 On The Roomba 694
• Calphalon's Kitchen Knife Set is $40 Off
• Feeling Stressed? This Portable Back Massager Is 23% Off