Backpacks: Reviews

Updated July 2008
 

Best backpack, teens and adults

The North Face Borealis *Est. $70 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: The North Face Borealis is one of the top five (out of 29) backpacks recommended here, and the only one of the five for which no ...

EBags.com: More than 500 owners rate and review The North Face Borealis, with 95 percent saying they'd buy it again. Some say they use the ...

EMS.com: Roughly 35 owners rate and review The North Face Borealis, praising its capacity, padding and adjustability. Criticisms are minor ...

Backcountry.com: The North Face Borealis is one of the top-rated backpacks at this camping gear retailer. About 20 owners give the pack ...

Epinions.com: Fewer than a dozen owners review The North Face Borealis over several years (which means they may not be discussing the latest ...

 

Budget backpack for teens and adults

JanSport Super Break *Est. $30 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: The reviews of backpacks are especially thorough here. The JanSport SuperBreak isn't among the 29 daypacks tested, but testers ...

EBags.com: More than 4,500 owners review the JanSport SuperBreak backpack here, giving it higher than average ratings on all counts except ...

Zappos.com: Owner reviews of the JanSport SuperBreak give it mostly positive ratings. A lot of the praise goes to the choice of colors and ...

Amazon.com: Some of the roughly 55 owners who rate and review the JanSport SuperBreak backpack find the fabric thin and weak. Users also ...

Backcountry.com: Only a handful of owners review the JanSport SuperBreak at this camping gear retailer, where it earns praise for its simplicity. ...

USA Today Magazine: This article doesn't include backpack comparison tests but it does mention the JanSport SuperBreak as the most popular school ...

 

Kids' school backpack (4 to 7 years)

Lands End Ergo Junior *Est. $40 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

Prevention.com: The Lands End Ergo Junior is recommended for kids aged four to seven, based on comparison tests of 30 backpacks. The tests focus ...

Real Simple: This review of backpacks for kids of various ages recommends Lands End as a brand, based on tests of more than 100 backpacks.

Good Housekeeping: The Lands' End Ergo Junior isn't among the 29 backpacks tested here, but another Lands End backpack does well on tests of ...

 

Rolling backpack

L.L.Bean Rolling Deluxe *Est. $70 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: This Consumer Reports review of school backpacks is a short buyers' guide, but tests and ratings from 2001 cover eight rolling ...

LLBean.com: Nearly two dozen owners review the L.L.Bean Rolling Deluxe, praising its quality, durability and convenience. One owner reports a ...

About.com: The L.L.Bean Rolling Deluxe backpack is one of five rolling backpacks recommended and praised for its strong frame, sturdy fabric ...

 

Hiking daypack

Osprey Talon 22 *Est. $100 Compare Prices
 
Expert & User Review Sources:

BackpackGearTest.org: Based on seven hiking trips, the reviewer reports that the hip belt and back ventilation work extremely well, as do the ...

Vegetarian Times: A sports rehabilitation specialist recommends the Osprey Talon 22 as one of three backpacks with especially good ergonomics. The ...

REI.com: More than a dozen owners give the Osprey Talon 22 backpack lots of praise for its adjustable torso length and good padding. All ...

 

Backpacks Runners Up:

North Face Jester *Est. $50

4 picks by top review sites.

North Face Isabella *Est. $65

4 picks by top review sites.

North Face Recon II *Est. $80

4 picks by top review sites.

JanSport Driver 8 *Est. $75

3 picks by top review sites.

JanSport Big Student *Est. $40

3 picks by top review sites.

North Face Hot Shot *Est. $80

2 picks by top review sites.

L.L.Bean Bigelow *Est. $80

2 picks by top review sites.

North Face Vault *Est. $40

2 picks by top review sites.

BackTpack *Est. $65

2 picks by top review sites.

North Face Surge *Est. $110

2 picks by top review sites.

Osprey Talon 33 *Est. $130

2 picks by top review sites.

     
 
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The North Face Jester Backpack - 1850 cu in
Buy from Amazon.com
from Amazon.com
New: $55.00   
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
 
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JanSport Driver 8 Wheeled Backpack, Black
Buy from Amazon.com
from Amazon.com
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 

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