Borealis Mini Backpack, Blue Flax/Twilight Galaxy, One Size

This mini backpack is made just as well as its big sisters. It is small .. just as I wanted .. but can hold more than a sling bag and is more comfortable to wear. A Water bottle will fit better inside than in the tiny outside holder and that tiny holder is why this pack gets a 4.

For a recent trip to Paris, I wanted a small lightweight backpack to wear during my long walking excursions throughout the city. The backpack needed to be lightweight and hold a water bottle, light jacket or sweater, umbrella, extra iPhone battery, other small items, and anything else I might need to spend the day away from my hotel. It also needed to be "packable" (which typically means folding into a small pouch that comes with it and may or may not be attached)—or at least not take up a lot of space or weigh a lot. Thus, I embarked on a 3-month long search for exactly the right backpack, spending hours and hours online. However, I kept coming back to this one. This backpack comes in a variety of very nice colors. I considered black—so neutral and goes with everything. But I was really attracted to the “gardenia white” one. Since most of my travels will be, if not during summer, in milder temperatures, the light color appealed to me. It’s actually a warm off-white, rather than a stark white color. The black trim and zipper pulls give it some sophistication, and the total look is very appealing. Having decided on the color range, I then looked at hundreds of backpacks in white, off-white, and beige. Once again, I kept coming back to this one. While I was willing to pay more, this one met most of my needs and just happened to also be very reasonably priced. It has a small, but sufficiently sized, front pocket with an almost invisible zipper (which I like, in case of pick pockets). On the exterior, one side has a stretch pocket that holds a bottle of water or smaller umbrella. The other side is claimed to be a second water bottle holder. However, it is actually a very tiny pocket, which (as others have noted) has such a narrow opening that it is almost impossible to get into and thus useless as a practical matter (and I have very small hands). Ultimately, I used it as a place to store clean, loose tissues that I could quickly access if I needed to blow my nose, because of spring pollen, or needed to wipe something up. The padded top handle is useful and comfortable if one needs or wants to carry it that way (such as on a crowded subway or bus). And internally there is an open pocket and a nice sized zipper pocket with a key clip I hadn’t initially considered it necessary but began to really like the idea of the front bungee system. I could use it for compression. However, I found that the most practical use for it in my case was as another place to store a sweater or jacket. This way, if I acquired items along the way that I put into the backpack, the bungee system could be used to make way for them internally by attaching my jacket to it. Finally, the padded straps and back panel make this backpack very comfortable for all day use. This means that it isn’t foldable, but it’s small and thin enough to simply store flat in the bottom of your luggage. The slight amount of bulk the back panel padding adds is worth it. Backpacks without it means that items inside can protrude and bump against your back as you walk. The only downside is the lack of a true second outside pocket. I do miss this as exterior pocket for an umbrella that can be quickly accessed (always useful when travelling to Europe). But this meets all of my other needs so well that it was worth the trade-off. I’m back from Paris and truly love this backpack. I used it every day, all day. I found it more useful and comfortable than a sling bag would be, especially since I could put a lot in it-- from fruit purchased at a stand to souvenirs to everything needs to stay out for 8 or more hours at a time. Its light weight, along with padded straps and back panel, made it very comfortable. It looked great, with enough of a put together and appealing style that I never wished I’d brought a handbag. For all that it does, it is a terrific value.

Let me start by saying this bag is definitely small. Please make sure you really consider the size before buying. I’m personally super happy with it, but I can imagine that even people who expect it to be small might still find it smaller than they thought. (For reference, I’m 5’3” and it still looks small on me — that says a lot!) You really shouldn’t expect it to carry a ton. It’s more like a backup bag, or something to replace your smallest eco bag. If that’s the mindset you go in with, you might actually be pleasantly surprised at how much it holds. (Though honestly, if your smallest eco bag is already tiny, this one might still be even smaller — sorry in advance!) Also, one thing to note: if you overstuff the front pocket right under the bungee cords, it will eat into the space of the main compartment. So it’s best to keep smaller, flatter items there unless you want to lose precious room inside. To give you an idea, I’ve packed mine pretty efficiently — the photo of the fully packed bag contains everything I usually carry day-to-day plus a birthday gift for a friend. I tend to carry a lot of little things and always end up stuffing whatever bag I’m using to the brim. That’s actually why I intentionally chose a small bag — to force myself to carry less. And honestly? I love it. The internal digital device pocket? It fits my 11” iPad Pro with the official Apple keyboard folio case snugly. Like, really snugly — it’s a perfect fit with no room to spare, but it works! As for features, I’ve found the outside bungee cords handy for stashing a thin jacket or slim sneakers (I use Nike Metcons — anything bulkier probably won’t work). The side water bottle pockets? Let’s talk. Only one side has an elastic top, and to be honest, even kid-sized water bottles don’t fit well in either. I just keep my bottle inside the main compartment, and use the side pockets for smaller items like a sunscreen stick or bug repellent stick — much more practical. Oh, and inside, there’s a little mesh pocket with a key hook — super useful!

I love this bag and have it on another color but was disappointed this time as the string on one of the zippers came off on my first use of it

The North Face Borealis Mini Backpack in Space/Anthracite Grey is a really solid compact bag that feels well-built and practical for everyday use. The quality is exactly what you’d expect from The North Face—durable fabric, strong stitching, and smooth zippers. It doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy at all, and the materials feel like they’ll hold up well over time. The structured design also helps it keep its shape even when it’s not fully packed. In terms of size, it’s perfect for light daily carry. It’s small enough to be comfortable and not bulky, but still has enough space for essentials like a phone, wallet, keys, small water bottle, and a few extras. It’s great for errands, walking around the city, travel days, or even as a compact gym or school bag if you pack light. The strap comfort is good, and it sits nicely on the back without feeling heavy. The color (Space/Anthracite Grey) also looks clean and modern—easy to match with almost anything. One thing to note is that it’s definitely a mini backpack, so it’s not meant for large loads or bulky items. But for what it’s designed for, it performs really well. Pros: -Excellent build quality and materials -Compact but still useful storage space -Comfortable to wear for long periods -Clean, stylish colorway -Durable zippers and stitching Cons: -Small capacity (not for heavy or bulky carry) -Side pockets are limited for larger bottles -Not ideal if you need to carry a lot daily Overall: A high-quality mini backpack that’s perfect for light everyday use. Great size, great build, and very reliable for quick outings or minimalist carry.

I love this bag. It’s a great size and perfect as a daypack when traveling. I took It to Asia and used It nearly every day for going around. My only gripe is i wish It had a chest strap, but i just like chest straps. It’s deceivingly spacious, durable, and lightweight. I also like that you can put a jacket in the bungee part of the front.

The good: Quality made, durable, comfortable, and comes in a wide variety of colors. I chose purple. I love it. I've had to wash it (don't ask, but it involved eggs...it was dumb but what a disaster) and it went through the washer without losing any color. . . which is a bit of a duh because it's nylon and the color is built into the plasticized fibers. The water resistance didn't take a hit either, though, and I was relieved about that. I wouldn't put it through the washer often though. Hand cleaning, had it been an option, would have been a much better idea. Should have hosed it off outside, now that I think about it. I digress. Straps are comfortable to wear, elastic stays elasticky. Interior pockets and exterior elastic web will easily hold my e-reader and a composition sized notebook as well as a light sport jacket for those inevitably *super cold* AC environments one finds in Texas in the summer. There's a nice mesh pocket for keys and a wallet and a key strap to keep track of those hidey little things. I can even fit a re-usable Kleen Kanteen 27 oz water bottle inside with all this business. Which brings me to the bad... The Bad: No, this does NOT hold a reusable water bottle no matter what the rhetoric says in the marketing blah blah. MAYBE a 10-oz disposable bottle. MAYBE. But only on one side. The other alleged bottle pocket on the exterior holds . . . a small travel pack of tissues, which is exactly what I use it for. So limited pockets - a flat pocket in the back to hold a reader or a tablet, a bigger interior pocket for whatever else, which also has the mesh pocket for wallet and keys and whatever other small items you don't want to get lost in the interior, and a large-ish exterior pocket that also has the elastic bands to hold stuff like a jacket or a hat. The end of the usable pockets. Exterior pockets are basically kind of useless for me except for the Kleenex travel pack and the lip balm I carry there. The Ugly: There is no ugly. This bag is cute as hell.

High quality, small and versatile, and light but sturdy. Good value that will likely last a long time. I also really liked the Slate Moss color - the advertised images were accurate.

En persona es como un tono lila grisaceo precioso, habia visto algunas reseñas sobre que las costuras estaban mal, pero en mi caso todo perfecto, esta super padre, le cabe mi ipad y varias cosillas mas…

Super !

Ero titubante per via del prezzo. Ma li vale tutti. Esteticamente molto bello, robusto e pieno di dettagli e tasche dove poter organizzare gli spazi. Prodotto di qualità. Lo ricomprerei.

Günlük kullanımda harika , kurtaricim oldu . North face kalitesine diyecek yok zaten . Alın aldırın 🫶🫶

cogen mas cosas de lo que parece muy buena calidad