The North Face Vault Everyday Laptop Backpack Boasts 27 Liters That Stand Ready

North Face priced the Vault Everyday Laptop Backpack in the mid-range ($52.50 [was $70]), and still packed it with the FlexVent harness, a padded 15-inch laptop sleeve, and a frame that lets the bag sit upright on a table or floor. Measuring 11 inches wide, 8.5 inches deep, and 18 inches tall, the 27-liter pack weighs 1 pound 11 ounces and uses 600-denier recycled polyester with a non-PFC water-repellent coating. Two webbing grab handles sit on top so you can lift it without the bag swinging into your hip. A sternum strap slides on a rail for height adjustment, and daisy-chain loops run down the front for clipping extra gear.

FlexVent packs have injection-molded shoulder straps, a padded mesh back panel, and a breathable lumbar part that has received approval from the American Chiropractic Association. Even when the main compartment is stuffed with a laptop, a couple of books, and a light jacket, you can still feel relatively comfortable using this item on the daily commute or while wandering around campus.

The laptop sleeve measures 11.5 by 11 inches and sits off the floor of the bag, ensuring that your computer does not end up on the floor as soon as you set the pack down. The front organization is also quite useful, with a tablet sleeve measuring 11.8 by 6.3 inches, zip pockets, pen slots, and a key hook to keep everything in order.

The side mesh pockets are also decent and can hold a regular one-liter bottle; however, they are a little loose, so they tend to become slack, and if you lean the pack at all, the bottle may slip out. To keep costs down, they use recycled fabric and SBS zippers, as evidenced by the thinner liner and zippers, which can occasionally sneak up if left slightly unzipped at the top. The bottle compartments, in particular, lack the added hold that gives you confidence that your drinks will not spill when you set the bag down.

If you’re looking for a basic, self-standing pack that won’t break the bank, the Vault is the way to go. It has laptop protection, it stands up on its own, and the FlexVent straps all help give it an advantage over other packs at the same price, but it’s clear that you’re having to make a few trade-offs in the mesh pockets department, as well as the zippers being a little dodgy. For the school run, the office, or a brief trip out of town, it’s a good all-arounder with no added heft.