CarryFacts published 2026-10-15 · Sources checked 2026-10-15
External reports concern historical samples. Current SKU equivalence remains unverified; this is not a CarryFacts hands-on test.
Reviewed sample: The North Face · Borealis Tote · Reviewed production revision unconfirmed · Reviewed capacity not separately established in this analysis. Historical publisher sample only; current production equivalence, stock and individual fit remain unverified. A complete CarryFacts specification record is not yet linked.
The back carry handle can flip down and catch against the wearer’s back in backpack mode, although it can be moved aside. The reviewer finds the shoulder straps easy to grab, comfortable to hold, and generally secure while walking, though slippery jackets can cause sliding. Although unpadded, the backpack straps remain comfortable for more than an hour of continuous use, especially when carrying the bag as a backpack.
Using only the back carry handle while the tote is unzipped can let the strap slide through its rings and spill contents. The two large side pockets can hold water bottles, umbrellas, tripods, or footwear, though filling them reduces available interior capacity.
Reported strengths
- The reviewer reports that dirt and pet hair brush off easily, while the non-PFC DWR coating keeps belongings dry during rain.
- The Borealis Tote converts between tote and backpack carrying modes, with its strap arrangement determining how the bag is carried.
- The reviewer finds the shoulder straps easy to grab, comfortable to hold, and generally secure while walking, though slippery jackets can cause sliding.
Reported trade-offs
- The reviewer says the interior handles purchases and leaves room for a helmet during bike errands, though its cavernous layout encourages rummaging.
- The back carry handle can flip down and catch against the wearer’s back in backpack mode, although it can be moved aside.
- Using only the back carry handle while the tote is unzipped can let the strap slide through its rings and spill contents.
Scope and limits
- Historical publisher sample only; current production equivalence, stock and individual fit remain unverified.
- Attributed analysis of one original publisher review; CarryFacts has not performed a hands-on test.
- Commercial relationships have not been separately established. Read the original review for its full disclosures.
Original sources
- Pack Hacker — original source ↗
Kristyne Defever · Published: 2022-05-25 · Updated: 2026-07-02 · Checked: 2026-10-15
The North Face Borealis Tote Review | Pack Hacker; reviewed identity: The North Face Borealis Tote; Reviewed production revision unconfirmed; Reviewed capacity not separately established in this analysis
Affiliate links: unknown; Sample: unknown; Sponsorship: unknown