THE NORTH FACESurge Commuter Laptop Backpack

This bag replaced an old, workhorse backpack that I wore daily and put to many uses, from carrying a laptop and meeting materials, to farmers market and grocery items on weekends, to carrying water bottles, cameras and trail mix on hiking trips. The North Face Surge has the functionality I was looking for in a replacement: a padded pocket for my laptop, an adequately sized middle pocket, two external side pockets for water bottles, and three, smaller zippered pockets (one on top, two on the front) providing generous storage space for pens, iPad, notebook(s), etc. The shoulder straps and back of the pack are well-padded making for a comfortable carry. The pack also has a sturdy, convenient handle at the top for those times when accessibility is required.

Perfect for college with laptop sleeve, organizer smaller compartments, and padded straps.

Padding on the shoulder is extra nice. Large enough to comfortably carry books and a laptop. Worth the money and durable.

Perfect for carrying all of my Tech equipment. Tons of pockets and chest strap makes it great for travel. Easy to get to everything with many zippered pockets.

This backpack is made very well and durable. The first time my daughter used it, It was packed it to the brim with no issues. Even when trying to zip a very full back pack, the zippers closed smoothly. There are plenty of pockets for storage and internal compartments for organization. The laptop portion is padded which is so comforting knowing it’ll keep her Chromebook safe. She is in 8th a this will be her bag till graduation!

Love this thing. Use it every day to bring my laptop and other things to and from work. Looks great, high quality, great pockets and organization. Would recommend.

I use my Surge for daily commuting on public transportation, with a decent amount of walking.The outer material is pretty durable, and can hold up to some light drizzles. You'll want a rain cover for anything else.The suspended laptop compartment fits a 15.6" comfortably, and I haven't had any damage to my work laptop so far. The compartments are intuitive, and I can fit contents of an IFAK (tourniquet, pressure dressing, gauze, etc.) in a front pocket without it being noticeable. On the down side, it would have been nice if all zippers were the same size. (They use smaller zippers and pulls on the smaller compartments, making it harder to use with gloves.) Attachment points are located in well-thought locations--I added a clip for my water bottle cap so it doesn't slide out of the bottle pocket.That being said, the biggest issue I have with the Surge is the shoulder straps. While they have reinforced stitching, the top portion does not have adjustment points for a better custom fit. (This is a feature some backpacks in this price range have.) Further, the straps are made with a slick fabric, so the backpack will inconveniently slide off your shoulder if you only use a one arm carry. This is super annoying, especially if you are carrying other things. On the plus side, there's less chaffing.The back's Flex Vent system is ok to reduce sweating in cooler weather. In the summer, your back is going to get soaked for longer walks (~1 mile). While a bit bulky, the backpack wears comfortably, and I'm about 6' 200lbs with a ~44" chest.With all that in consideration, the Surge is a great choice for urban commuting or school given its durable construction, and decent storage. Competitors like Osprey offer lighter options, with better breathability and strap adjustments. But, they have less storage organization, and the laptop compartments are usually smaller with less protection. IMO the Surge is a better option for urban commutes as you trade off bulk for protection in crowded buses and trains.

Love this backpack. Very durable, lots of room. Well worth the price