The North Face 10L Mini Borealis Every Day Backpack - PFAS Free, Mystic Haze Dark Heather/Estate Blue, One Size

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 clipI 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.

A purchase that fits my EDC needs. In terms of size: I can fit my iPad 11 Pro with the Magic Keyboard into the compartment sleeve inside with the pencil (the weight is comfortable because of the nice contoured shoulder straps). I can also fit my Owala 24 oz bottle inside next to 2 Fjallraven Kanken Gear pockets to separate smaller items like medications, small emergency kit with some bandaids, alcohol wipes, anti bac ointment in one bag and a small sunscreen, oil blotter, toothpicks, chapstick, eye glass cleaner wipes in the other. As for the mesh pocket inside I have my keys leashed to it then keep my passport/wallet/portable charger in there. The outside front pocket I like to keep my multi-tool, edc mini flashlight, hydration packets, hand sanitizer, and snack bars. I keep a small bottle of bug repellant on the “small bottle pocket” on the outside and I keep a packet of Kleenex tissues on the other small outside pocket. The quality of the bag feels great to touch, the appearance is clean with no extra dangling straps, and I have been an owner of the North Face (discontinued) Pandora backpack that I originally bought back in 2008! So this is a great replacement!

I love this little backpack from The North Face. It is much roomier than I imagined. I suggest watching YouTube videos on this product, to see all of it's features and pros and cons, before purchasing. The so-called water bottle side pockets are too small for most water bottles. However, the main compartment of the pack has a tablet sleeve and I put my water bottle in there (since I don't carry a tablet). If you are taller (say 5' 10" or more) or wide-chested, be aware that you may need to open up the shoulder straps to their full capacity and that this may result in the plastic strap length adjusters digging into your arm or armpit area. I like using this pack for short walks in the summer, because it covers less area over my back, which reduces back sweating. However, I highly recommend the super lightweight Salomon Trail Blazer 10L or 20L (depending on your needs). I also recommend the Deuter Speed Lite series of daypacks.