The North Face
Jester Backpack
The North Face Jester is a lightweight, rugged fabric backpack designed for daily school, work, and light travel. Features include a two-way zip main compartment, a padded laptop sleeve (noted by users to fit 14-inch laptops), front elastic bungee cord, side mesh pockets, and adjustable padded shoulder straps. Dimensions: 18.5 x 10 x 6.75 inches; long-term user reviews report strong durability, though some newer models have thinner materials and zipper pull covers that may detach.
- Material
- Rugged fabric
- Style
- modern, utilitarian
- Category
- Luggage & Bags > Backpacks
Color
Size
Specifications
Urban monochrome backpack with technical outdoor elements, rugged fabric, dedicated laptop compartment, and adjustable padded straps.
Main compartment with two-way zip closure, external drawcord, side mesh pockets, grab handle.
- Material
- Rugged fabric
- Style
- modern, utilitarian
- Occasion
- everyday, travel
- Gender
- male
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Dimensions
- 10 x 6.75 x 18.5 in
- Category
- Luggage & Bags > Backpacks
Additional Attributes
- rugged fabric
- urban monochrome design
- technical outdoor elements
- two-way zip main compartment
- 15-inch laptop compartment
- external drawcord
- side mesh pockets
- grab handle
- adjustable padded straps
Product Insights
The North Face Jester Backpack (110 CAD) is a student-informed, campus-optimized daypack with a padded false-bottom laptop sleeve integrated into the main compartment, reflective webbing and a bike light loop for night visibility, and a self-standing base with dual grab handles. Its 100% recycled polyester shell (600D solid, 300D heather) and non-PFC DWR coating shed light rain, while the 740g weight and 28L volume (which may feel smaller) make it travel-friendly. However, it lacks a waist strap for heavy loads, buyers report rubber zipper pull covers detaching (zipper remains functional) and front pocket spillage (mitigated by third-party pouches), and longevity caution exists for the current generation despite pre-2015 models lasting 16+ years. Covered by The North Face's limited lifetime warranty, it undercuts competitors like Borealis/Recon by $30–50.
Verified claims
- Laptop protection
- Padded false-bottom sleeve integrated into main compartment; not a separate compartment.
- Hardware
- Buyers report that rubber zipper pull covers detach, but the zipper itself remains functional.
- Longevity
- Users document pre-2015 Jesters lasting 16+ years, but express caution about the current generation.
- Warranty
- Covered by The North Face's limited lifetime warranty, same as premium packs.
- Fabric spec
- 100% recycled polyester shell: 600D in solid (same as Recon), 300D in heather
- Water resistance
- Non-PFC DWR coating sheds light rain but not heavy rain
- Zipper pulls
- Rubberized zipper pulls can detach; zipper tracks stay functional
- Reflective webbing
- Front daisy chain webbing has reflective threads for nighttime visibility
- Weight
- At 740 g it's lighter than competitors; 28 L volume may feel smaller.
- Value & Competitors
- Priced at 110 CAD, cheaper than Borealis/Recon by $30–50; alternatives include Osprey Nebula.
- Student consultation
- The North Face directly consulted students when redesigning the Jester.
- Campus design
- Features a self-standing base, dual grab handles, and a slim 6.75-inch profile.
- Cycling safety
- Includes a bike light loop and reflective daisy chain webbing for night visibility.
- Spill issue
- Buyers report front pocket spill; many still recommend the bag.
- Pouch workaround
- Mystery Ranch Mission Control pouch fits front pocket, prevents spills.
- Travel capacity
- Slides under seats, weighs 740g, fits like 20-22L; front pocket spills.
- Stability
- At 1 lb 10 oz, the pack is lightweight but lacks a waist strap for heavy load support.
- Build details
- 600D recycled polyester shell, with buyer reports of front pocket spillage and zipper pull detachment.
- Night visibility
- Bike light loop and reflective webbing on front daisy chain enhance nighttime visibility.
Product record
- Title
- Jester Backpack
- Brand
- The North Face
- Price
- 110 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Deep Research
What changed in the latest Jester update
- The North Face directly consulted students when re-imagining the Jester, yielding design choices that address real, daily struggles like bags collapsing off desks, awkward hooks in crowded halls, and bulky shapes catching in doorways.
- The pack offers both a padded top haul handle and a secondary front webbing grab loop, enabling a quick, secure grab from multiple angles; the front loop excels for snagging the bag out of a packed trunk or off a crowded hook.
- A flat-reinforced bottom allows the Jester to stand upright unattended on any flat surface, a feature that turns the often-annoying 'bag floor flop' into stable, easy access during rushed transitions between classes.
- A distinctly slim 6.75-inch profile keeps the Jester close to the body and reduces the 'turtle shell' bulk of many campus packs, making it substantially easier to shoulder through tight aisles, sit in auditorium seats, and stash under tables.
Reflector and light attachment for cycling commutes
- A small loop located at the bottom front of the pack is sized to accept standard clip-on bike lights, keeping them securely positioned and preventing the light from swinging or falling off — a dedicated attachment that turns a standard daypack into a more visible commute pack without compromising its streamlined shape.
- The webbing on the front daisy chain is woven with reflective threads that light up when struck by headlights, providing a noticeable passive visibility boost for after-dark cycling without any extra weight or strap-on accessories.
How recycled polyester holds up over time
- Recycled polyester (rPET) is chemically identical to virgin polyester at the polymer level, so it does not suffer from accelerated degradation or reduced tensile strength due to its recycled origin—the long-term durability of the pack will depend far more on the tightness of the weave, the quality of the stitching, and the DWR coating's lifespan than on the recycled content.
- The Jester's 600D recycled polyester body fabric is the same material spec used on The North Face's Recon daypack, a model that costs $30–50 more, meaning the shell fabric's toughness is not a point of material downgrade—the price difference comes from additional features, not a weaker pack cloth.
- The '600D' label denotes a yarn weighing 600 denier—a mid-to-heavy weight standard for daypack shells—and because denier measures physical thickness, the recycled yarn in the Jester's solid colors delivers the same heft and puncture resistance as an equivalent virgin 600D polyester, so the pack starts from a durable baseline.
- The North Face covers this backpack under its standard limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, identical to coverage for their premium packs—if recycled polyester were inherently less durable, the brand's warranty liability would increase, which is a strong market signal that they consider the material's longevity on par with virgin equivalents.
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Front-facing green fabric backpack with black embroidered logo, crossed elastic bungee cord on the front, mesh side pockets, top carry handle, and visible zipper pulls.
- Overall silhouetteRounded-rectangle backpack viewed from the front, upright and centered in the frame.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.03 · w 0.88 · h 0.94 (high) - Main materialTextured woven fabric exterior covering the entire visible face of the bag.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.06 · w 0.76 · h 0.88 (high) - Top carry handlePadded fabric top handle emerging from the pack crown, covered in the same green fabric as the body.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.01 · w 0.24 · h 0.12 (high) - Front bungee systemCrisscrossed black elastic cord threaded through four metal-reinforced fabric loops, forming an X pattern down the front panel with a black plastic cord lock at the bottom center.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.18 · w 0.72 · h 0.72 (high) - Embroidered logoBlack embroidered 'THE NORTH FACE' wordmark with the curved three-arc emblem positioned on the upper front panel.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.12 · w 0.34 · h 0.16 (high) - Lower front text“Small black text reading 'JESTER' centered near the bottom front panel.”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.78 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Zipper and pullsTwo visible black zipper sliders on the left side of the front compartment with green fabric ribbon pulls attached.
1 region
x 0.04 · y 0.16 · w 0.18 · h 0.28 (high) - Side mesh pocketsElastic-top mesh pocket visible on the right side (viewer left is symmetric) made from green mesh fabric.
1 region
x 0.78 · y 0.48 · w 0.16 · h 0.34 (high) - Bottom base detailSlightly darker reinforced base panel visible at the bottom edge with a narrow black seam or trim near the front-center lower edge.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.88 · w 0.64 · h 0.08 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot with neutral light grey background, subtle shadow below the backpack, and even frontal lighting.
- BackgroundPlain light grey background filling the frame.
- Shadow and lightingSoft drop shadow is visible beneath the bag indicating top-front lighting; overall lighting is even with minimal specular highlights.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.92 · w 0.40 · h 0.06 (medium) - Shot compositionProduct centered, full-front view, crop includes full bag and small margin of background.
Colors
muted forest green· main body fabric#5C8B7Bblack· elastic bungee and logomatching green· zipper pulls and trim- Overall silhouetteRounded-rectangle backpack viewed from the front, upright and centered in the frame.
- 02
Product
Rear view of a green fabric backpack showing padded back panel, dual shoulder straps with sternum strap, side mesh water pocket, top haul loop, and multiple adjustment buckles. A small black fabric brand tag with white text is visible on the right shoulder strap.
- Overall rear geometryBack of a rectangular-profile backpack with a slightly rounded top, two vertical padded back panels separated by a central channel, and an integrated top haul loop.
1 region
x 0.14 · y 0.02 · w 0.72 · h 0.94 (high) - Shoulder strapsTwo padded shoulder straps extending from the top of the pack down past the bottom edge; straps have a textured triangular pattern on the visible outer face and stitched reinforcement near attachment points.
1 region
x 0.35 · y 0.05 · w 0.42 · h 0.85 (high) - Sternum strap and buckleAdjustable sternum strap crossing the right shoulder strap with a black plastic quick-release buckle visible on the right-side strap.
1 region
x 0.58 · y 0.56 · w 0.22 · h 0.18 (high) - Lower strap adjustments and bucklesWebbing adjustment straps and rectangular plastic ladder-style buckles located at the bottom ends of the shoulder straps.
1 region
x 0.53 · y 0.80 · w 0.36 · h 0.18 (high) - Side mesh pocketStretch mesh water bottle pocket on the left side (viewer right) with a reinforced fabric rim and visible mesh texture.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.50 · w 0.26 · h 0.39 (high) - Back paddingHorizontal padded lumbar sections on the back panel with visible topstitching forming rectangular padded zones.
1 region
x 0.38 · y 0.28 · w 0.38 · h 0.50 (high) - Top haul loopPadded haul loop at the top center of the pack integrated into the top seam.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.01 · w 0.14 · h 0.10 (high) - Left-side toggleA cord toggle and short cord visible at the left edge of the pack near the mid-height, attached to a side zipper or loop.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.48 · w 0.10 · h 0.18 (medium) - Brand tag text“THE NORTH FACE”
1 region
x 0.68 · y 0.31 · w 0.09 · h 0.07 (high)
Other
Studio product shot with even diffuse lighting on a light gray seamless background, slight soft shadow beneath the pack, and the product centered and slightly angled to show the rear and left side.
- Shot compositionPack centered in frame, photographed on a light neutral background with visible soft shadow beneath and slight perspective showing left side thickness.
- Lighting and reflectionsEven diffuse studio lighting with minimal specular highlights and soft shadows; no harsh reflections on fabric or plastic parts.
- Image qualitySharp, high-resolution image with visible fabric texture and stitching; no motion blur.
Colors
medium green· main fabric#4C7364light green mesh· mesh side pocket#6B9483forest green webbing· webbing and strap trim#5D8373matte black· plastic buckles and toggleblack with white text· brand tag- Overall rear geometryBack of a rectangular-profile backpack with a slightly rounded top, two vertical padded back panels separated by a central channel, and an integrated top haul loop.
- 03
Product
Close-up of a green fabric backpack showing two open main compartments, padded shoulder straps and interior organizer pockets including a zippered pocket and a mesh sleeve.
- Exterior fabricCoarse woven green outer fabric visible across straps, front panel edges and pocket trim.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.02 · w 0.58 · h 0.90 (high) - Shoulder strapsTwo padded shoulder straps with top grab-like extension; straps covered in same green fabric and show a central lighter webbing strip stitched on top.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.02 · w 0.40 · h 0.40 (high) - Top grab handlePadded top grab handle formed by the strap material visible at the upper right of the image.
1 region
x 0.64 · y 0.02 · w 0.28 · h 0.14 (medium) - Main compartments openTwo main zippered compartments are open, showing the interior cavities and linings; zippers run along the compartment mouths with visible black zipper teeth and pulls.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.18 · w 0.98 · h 0.77 (high) - Interior liningSmooth light gray interior lining visible inside both open compartments.
2 regions
x 0.46 · y 0.14 · w 0.34 · h 0.60 (high); x 0.02 · y 0.28 · w 0.36 · h 0.56 (high) - Mesh organizer pocketVertical black mesh sleeve pocket on the interior wall with a textured knit appearance and a horizontal fabric trim at its top.
1 region
x 0.16 · y 0.34 · w 0.40 · h 0.44 (high) - Zippered interior pocketSmall horizontal zippered pocket above the mesh sleeve with a visible black zipper and dark gray pocket fabric.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.24 · w 0.40 · h 0.12 (high) - Interior clipSmall dark clip or key hook attached along the inner seam near the left zippered pocket, partially visible.Partial
1 region
x 0.07 · y 0.28 · w 0.06 · h 0.10 (medium) - Front bungee cordBlack elastic bungee cord and cord channel visible at lower left front of the bag, feeding through a small oval grommet.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.74 · w 0.28 · h 0.18 (high) - Zipper pullsTwo black zipper pulls visible at the lower center area where the compartments open; pulls appear to be matte plastic or coated metal.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.78 · w 0.30 · h 0.14 (high) - Seam and stitch detailsDouble stitching and folded binding visible along compartment openings and strap edges, matching the green outer fabric.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.06 · w 0.50 · h 0.40 (high)
Other
Studio product shot showing only the backpack on a neutral light gray background with even lighting and soft shadows; image is tightly cropped to the top and front of the bag.
- Shot compositionClose-up studio shot cropped to show the top and front interior of the backpack; background is uniform light gray.
- LightingEven diffuse lighting with minimal harsh shadows and soft highlights on fabric texture.
- Image qualityHigh resolution and focused on fabric texture and interior details; no visible motion blur.
Colors
sage green· outer fabric#5B8375light gray· interior liningdark charcoal· mesh organizer#323335black· zippers and pulls#121215- Exterior fabricCoarse woven green outer fabric visible across straps, front panel edges and pocket trim.
Documents & Data
Q&A
9 answered- What is the specific denier or fabric weight of the rugged fabric, and has it changed compared to older Jester models?
- The rugged fabric is 600D recycled polyester for solid colors and 300D polyester heather for heather styles [1][2]. Older models used different materials; newer versions have increased recycled content but some users report thinner material compared to older models [1].
- Is the laptop compartment padded on all sides or just the bottom, and does it offer sufficient protection for daily commuting?
- The laptop compartment is a padded sleeve with a false bottom for protection [1][4]. It is part of the main compartment, not a separate zip-away section, which offers less isolation than some premium models. For daily commuting with a laptop in a protective case, it works well.
- Does the fabric have any water-repellent treatment, and how does the backpack perform in light rain?
- Yes, the fabric has a non-PFC Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish [1][4]. It handles light rain well, but heavier rain may eventually wet through due to the DWR coating being less durable than a waterproof membrane.
- Is there a way to secure the front pocket contents to prevent them from spilling out when the main compartment is unzipped, or is this a design limitation?
- This is a known design limitation — when the main compartment is unzipped, the front pocket can spill open because it does not have a separate closure mechanism [community]. There is no built-in way to secure it; users sometimes use a carabiner or additional strap to keep it shut.
- What is the actual weight of the backpack?
- The actual weight is approximately 1 lb 10 oz (740 g or 0.74 kg) [1][4].
- Is the Jester durable enough for daily use?
- Older models (pre-2015) are renowned for lasting decades; newer models may have issues with zipper pulls and thinner materials, but with care they should last several years.
- Does it fit a 15-inch laptop?
- No, it comfortably fits up to 14-inch laptops only; the separate laptop compartment in Borealis/Recon is better for 15-16 inch.
- Is the Jester a good personal item for flights?
- Yes, it fits most airline personal item sizers, but its stated volume may be smaller in practice.
- Should I buy the Jester or spend more for Borealis/Recon?
- If you need a lightweight, budget pack for light use, the Jester is fine; for better laptop protection, durability, and features, the Borealis or Recon are worth the additional investment.
Reddit Insights
6 threads · r/BuyItForLife, r/onebag, r/backpacksReddit users praise the older North Face Jester models for exceptional durability, but note newer versions may have downgraded materials; overall it's a lightweight, affordable backpack suitable for daily school and light travel.
Long-term users report decades of daily use with minimal issues, while newer purchasers note thinner materials and cheaper zippers. The Jester is generally seen as a good value for the price, but the more premium Borealis/Recon are recommended if budget allows.
Themes
Use Cases
- Daily school/college
- Travel/one-bag
- Office/work
- Light hiking
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Borealis
The Borealis is seen as the premium version with better materials (YKK zippers, nylon fabric), separate laptop compartment, and waist strap, but heavier and bulkier. Jester is lighter and cheaper.
vs Recon
Similar to Borealis but with paracord rigging instead of mesh pocket; offers better laptop protection and waist strap than Jester.
vs Osprey Nebula
A comparable alternative from Osprey with different strap style; personal preference.
vs Lovevook
A cheaper alternative suggested by one user, though the Jester has more brand recognition.
Source Threads
2006 Jester still in daily use after years
I got a North Face Jester in 2006 and I eventually gave it to my brother. He still uses it daily.
u/ROBWBEARD1r/BuyItForLifeView thread →
Jester is a slept-on bag with a spill-prone front pocket
It's not perfect, but IMO it's a slept-on bag. I've used mine for the rare in-office days as well as travel as a personal item/one-bag for weekend driving trips. Not in love with the way the front pocket can spill out if you open the main compartment as well, but it perfectly fits a large Mystery Ranch Mission Control pouch that I use as a tech pouch - almost feels like that pocket was made for that pouch. Would highly recommend
u/VinnieTheGoochr/backpacksView thread →
Jester holds up well but rubber zipper parts fall off
i’ve had the jester since December 2022 and i’ve gone to school with it, travelled with it, hiked with it & honestly it’s as good as new. The rubber protection parts of the zipper can be a bit annoying because they fall off when you pull the zip but the zip itself has never given me any issues.
u/Happy-Piccolo-8796r/backpacksView thread →
Jester is smaller than stated 28L, fits as personal item
I have a NF Jester, I strongly suspect it’s significantly smaller than stated volume. It fits less than my Boardingblue backpack made specifically as a personal item. The dimensions (from NF website) are 11'' x 8.25'' x 18.13''. This should work, easily.
u/working-mama-r/onebagView thread →
Jester laptop sleeve only fits up to 14 inches, lacks features
The reason a lot of people advise these two over the **Jester** is, I think, mostly for the much better laptop compartment. Its larger (I don't think the jester comfortably fits a 15-16inch laptop, only 14s) and also a separate compartment instead of a main compartment sleeve which makes for better protection. Its also a little bit bigger (though not by much) and comes with detachable waist strap which makes it more suitable for other, nonschool related usecases like hikes, trips etc.
u/gorambrowncoatr/backpacksView thread →