You’ve seen it. That sagging, shapeless blob sitting on the floor of the lecture hall or the subway. It's one of the most popular backpacks in the world, yet the North Face Borealis has no shape the second you take the cardboard out. It’s frustrating. You spend over a hundred dollars on a bag that looks crisp, structured, and rugged in the professional studio photos, but in reality, it flops over like a wet noodle.
Honestly, it’s the number one complaint from owners.
The Borealis is a legend in the outdoor and student world. It’s got the FlexVent suspension system, the iconic bungee cords, and that beefy 210D recycled nylon ripstop that feels like it could survive a tumble down a mountain. But none of that helps it stand up on its own. If you’re tired of your gear slumping into a pile of fabric every time you set it down, you aren't alone. It’s a design "feature," or maybe a flaw, depending on who you ask at the trailhead.
The Anatomy of the Slump
Why does this happen? It’s basically physics and material choice. The North Face Borealis is designed to be a "daypack," which in gear-speak means it needs to be lightweight. To keep the weight down, the designers use a flexible back panel rather than a rigid internal frame. While the FlexVent system is great for your spine—it’s actually certified by the American Chiropractic Association—it lacks vertical rigidity.
The bottom of the bag is also a culprit. It’s tapered. It isn’t flat like a traditional "bookbag" or a rucksack. Because the base is narrow and angled, the center of gravity is almost always off-balance. If you put a heavy laptop in the back sleeve and a light sweatshirt in the main compartment, the bag is going to tip forward. Every. Single. Time.
Then there’s the fabric. While the 600D polyester or 210D nylon is durable, it’s thin. It’s meant to compress. That’s why those side compression straps exist. If the bag isn't stuffed to the gills, the fabric has no internal tension to keep it upright. It just folds.
The Problem with the "Organized" Front Pocket
One specific reason the North Face Borealis has no shape is the heavy organization panel in the front. Have you noticed how much stuff is packed into that secondary compartment? You’ve got fleece-lined tablet sleeves, pen slots, and zippered pockets. When you load those up with a phone, a battery bank, and some keys, the front of the bag becomes significantly heavier than the empty space in the middle.
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This creates a "top-heavy" effect. The bag doesn't just lose its shape; it actively tries to dive-bomb off your desk.
How to Give Your Borealis Some Backbone
If you’re ready to stop the flop, you have a few options. Some are cheap hacks, others involve actually buying more gear.
The Kydex Sheet Method
Go to a hobby shop or look online for a thin sheet of Kydex or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). You can cut this to the shape of the laptop compartment and slide it in. It adds virtually no weight but provides a massive amount of structural integrity. It turns the back of the bag into a literal wall.
Internal Organizers
A lot of people are turning to "bag-in-bag" inserts. These are felt or nylon structures with their own pockets that you slide into the main compartment. It’s a bit redundant since the Borealis already has pockets, but it solves the shape issue instantly. It gives the fabric something to wrap around.
The "Vertical Packing" Strategy
Stop throwing things in horizontally. If you’re packing for the day, put your heaviest, flattest items (like a tablet or a large notebook) against the back panel. Put your bulky items, like a lunch box or a puffed jacket, at the very bottom. This creates a "base" that forces the tapered bottom to expand, which helps the bag stay upright.
Is the Borealis "Classic" Any Better?
You might hear people talk about the "Borealis Classic" versus the updated 2021/2022/2023 versions. The Classic is often cited as having a slightly more "boxy" feel, but the truth is, the North Face Borealis has no shape across almost all its iterations. The newer models actually tried to address this with a "stand-up" design on some specific women's fits, but the success has been mixed.
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The reality is that North Face prioritizes "carry comfort" over "stationary aesthetics." When the bag is on your back, it looks great. The straps contour, the back panel breathes, and the weight distributes perfectly across your hips and shoulders. It only looks "bad" when you aren't wearing it.
Why the Bungee Cords are Your Secret Weapon
Most people think the bungees on the front are just for holding a rain jacket. They’re actually structural tools. If your bag is looking saggy, pull those bungees tight. It pulls the front panel toward the back, compressing the empty volume and creating tension in the fabric. This is the easiest way to make the bag look like it has a shape when it's only half-full.
Comparing the Borealis to the Recon and Jester
If the lack of structure is a dealbreaker, you might be looking at other bags in the North Face lineup.
The Recon has a very similar silhouette, but it features a large mesh "shove-it" pocket on the front. Surprisingly, this often makes the shape issue worse because the mesh stretches and sags even more than the solid fabric of the Borealis.
The Jester is the budget sibling. It’s simpler. Because it has fewer internal pockets and layers of fabric, it actually tends to hold its shape a bit better when empty—there’s just less "stuff" to weigh it down and cause folds. However, it lacks the premium suspension that makes the Borealis worth the extra money.
Real World Fixes: What Users Are Saying
On forums like r/backpacks or various EDC (Everyday Carry) groups, the "Borealis Lean" is a constant meme. One user, a college student named Sarah, shared a trick that sounds ridiculous but works: she uses a plastic file folder. By placing a rigid plastic accordion folder in the main compartment, she gives the bag a permanent internal skeleton.
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Another frequent traveler, Mark, suggests using "packing cubes" even for daily use. By putting your gym clothes or tech cables into structured cubes, you create "bricks" that fill the voids.
It’s worth noting that the Borealis is a 28-liter bag. That’s actually quite large for a daily commute. Most of the "shapeless" complaints come from people who are only using 10-15 liters of that space. If you don't need the full 28 liters, the bag will always look a bit deflated.
Actionable Steps to Fix Your Bag Today
If you are staring at your slumped bag right now, do these three things:
- Cinch the Side Straps: Locate the plastic buckles on the sides. Pull them until the bag is as thin as possible. This forces the fabric to stay taut.
- Reposition the Heavy Stuff: Take your laptop out of the very back sleeve and try putting it in the main compartment if you have a protective sleeve for it. Sometimes moving the weight just two inches forward changes the center of gravity enough to stop the tip-over.
- The Bottom Fill: Keep a lightweight, bulky item—like a rolled-up rain shell or a microfiber towel—at the very bottom of the bag at all times. This fills the tapered "void" and gives the bag a floor to sit on.
The North Face Borealis is a fantastic piece of engineering for your back, but it's a terrible piece of furniture. Accepting that it’s a "soft" bag is part of the experience. If you want a bag that stands like a soldier, you might need to look at "work-site" bags or hardshell commutes. But if you want the comfort, you just have to learn how to pack it with intent.
Invest in a rigid insert if the aesthetic bothers you, or simply embrace the "mountain-casual" slump that has defined the Borealis for decades. It's not broken; it's just flexible.