North Face Jester Backpack Review

Pros

Stylish

Featuring a slim profile, this bag is available in a wide range of colors to suit a wide range of tastes.

Durable

This backpack is built from durable materials, which means it should last you a long time.

Comfortable

It sits comfortably on the shoulders and provides incredible support for the back no matter how much weight you carry.

Laptop Sleeve

The padded laptop sleeve makes any backpack more comfortable.

Great Organizational Capacity

With multiple compartments and pockets, this bag can hold everything you need, from clothing to a computer.

Great Value

The Jester is a budget-friendly bag with excellent quality and features normally found in high-end bags.

Warranty

The product is covered by a lifetime warranty. You can get a replacement or a refund if your backpack develops faults over time.

Cons

Small Size

The bag is not big enough to pack lots of items or for day trips.

Front Pocket is Constricted

There is no extension to the front pocket and it can only fit small items.

North Face Jester Backpack Review 2022

Selecting the best backpack from your favorite brand is quite challenging.

It gets even harder when two or more models share similar features and functions!

North Face has so many options and you may not know which one you want.

But…

If you’re considering the North Face Jester Backpack…

Then you’re in the right place.

Use this North Face Jester Backpack review as a guide to help you determine if this bag is the best choice for you!

North Face in a Snapshot

The North Face is widely regarded as one of the top outdoor recreation product brands on the market.

The American brand began its journey in 1966 as a small mountaineering retail store in San Francisco. 

Founded by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins, the company started by designing and producing hiking apparel and equipment.

50 years later, they have created an extensive line of clothing, outdoor equipment, and footwear. 

The North Face Borealis backpack is a versatile and durable option for anyone in need of a reliable bag. Check out our review to see if it’s the right fit for you.

The North Face is headquartered in Denver, Colorado along with its sister brand, JanSport.

In this North Face Jester Backpack review, we will detail the features this bag offers to help you determine if it’s the right bag for you.

Design & Quality

The North Face line of backpacks has been around for decades. The Jester is a popular and less expensive bag when compared to their everyday carry lineup like the Borealis.   

At the time of this North Face Jester Backpack Review, North Face has made modifications to the Jester bag, but they are minor. You may hardly notice the difference! (You don’t have to buy this new version if you already have the older version.)

The biggest upgrade to the Jester bag is its new construction made of recyclable materials. It can also now stand on its own, unsupported.

With a 27.5-liter capacity, this is a great bag if you want something streamlined, super comfortable, and durable.

It’s light too. At 1.6 lbs, the only weight you’ll be carrying is what you pack inside the bag.  

The exterior of the Jester bag has nice features, with two great water bottle pockets, a loop to attach a bike light, and bungee cords.

In terms of branding, there’s a stitched North Face logo on top and branding on the zippers as well. On the side of the bag, you’ll see its name – Jester.

To make it more interesting, North Face has a specific women’s version.  This version of the Jester bag has the same great features, but it has been tailored to be more comfortable for females. Check it here.   

Materials & Construction

The Jester pack is one of the best options from North Face. The brand continues to upgrade and refine its backpacks to reflect customers’ needs and comfort.

The North Face Jester Backpack is constructed from a recycled 600D polyester material that limits the effects of daily abuse while staying lightweight at only 1.6 lbs. 

It sports high-quality SBS zippers that feature a nice pull handle. Although SBS is lower quality than YZZ, they work fine.

The Jester backpack is also water-resistant. The exterior polyester material offers optimum resilience so your items inside will stay dry. The bag isn’t waterproof though, so heavy rain would eventually seep through without the use of a rain cover.

The front of the bag features a bungee cord system meant for lashing external gear on. However, it can’t take the weight of heavy times like a yoga mat.

At the base, you’ll see a bike light loop with reflective detailing. Other areas of the bag also sport reflective details, so you can rest assured that you’ll have extra visibility at night.  

I like that the laptop compartment is suspended away from the bottom so you won’t have to worry about potential dropping damage.  

Other extras include an adjustable sternum strap which doubles as a whistle for emergencies. The top of the bag features two reinforced handles for extra durability.  

The back of the bag includes the sophisticated North Face FlexVent suspension system. A heavily padded back panel and mesh shoulder straps with custom injection molded foam provide extra comfort and ventilation.  

 Also, it comes with an endorsement from the American Chiropractic Association certifying that it’s been engineered to carry heavy loads whilst providing maximum ergonomic support.

In terms of comfort and according to this North Face Jester Backpack review, this bag is a great choice!

Fit & Comfort

The Jester bag features the FlexVent™ suspension system designed to provide maximum comfort.

The bag features a well-padded back panel with comfortable mesh pads for ventilation.

The mesh shoulder straps also have custom injection molded foam for comfort, even when you’re wearing the bag for a long time. 

With its 27.5-liter capacity and lightweight design, even when stuffed full, you shouldn’t have any problem carrying this bag comfortably.

The Jester can stand on its own, so you can take items in and out effortlessly.

Another great feature is the pair of sternum straps that distribute the bag’s weight. They also include a hidden whistle in case of emergency.   

This bag isn’t just comfortable to wear; it’s comfortable to carry too! There’s a double handle at the top so you can easily grab the bag if you’re in a hurry.  

Most importantly, the North Face Jester bag is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association certifying that these bags have been engineered to carry heavy loads whilst providing maximal ergonomic support to the carrier.

Storage & Organization

The Jester backpack provides practical storage for your daily essentials. In this North Face Jester backpack review, let’s examine each option.  

Bungee Cord System: Unlike the bungee cord in the Borealis, which is well designed to take the weight of items like a jacket or yoga mat, the Jester’s isn’t as hardy. It perhaps adds more to the bag’s aesthetics and less to its storage capacity.

External Attachment Points: The external attachment point for reflectors is great for visibility and attaching items like a carabiner.

Two Water Bottle Pockets:  The sides of the bag include mesh pockets where you can store water bottles, an umbrella, or even your phone for quick access. They are elasticated so you can fit different-sized water bottles or items easily.

Organization Compartment: A compartment for quick access organization of small items, featuring two pen pockets and two mesh pockets. You can put your phone, cords, wallet, or other small items. 

This area also features a zipper pocket and key fob where you can keep items you want more secure like your wallet, passport, tablet, etc. 

Main Compartment: This largest compartment has enough space to keep your binders, notebooks, jumpers, lunch boxes, or other important gear.

Laptop Compartment: A laptop sleeve is located in the main compartment where you can fit your 15-inch laptop or MacBook. It’s suspended and well-padded to protect your equipment.

With the compartments and easy-access pockets, you can comfortably use this bag for hiking, school, college, work, commuting, and travel.

Price

The Jester Backpack is the cheapest pack in the everyday carry lineup offered by The North Face.

Compared to the Borealis backpack, the Jester is cheaper but with equally amazing features.

At the time of this North Face Jester Backpack review, it goes for around $70.00, which is a little steep compared to less-renowned brands, but inexpensive compared to high-end brands like Tom Bihn backpacks.

Warranty

The Jester backpack comes with a lifetime warranty, which is a great way to ensure your bag will continue to serve you for many years to come.

The warranty covers defects in the manufacturing or workmanship of the bag for the entire life of the product. North Face also offers repair or replacement if repairs can’t be done.

Note that the warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, normal wear and tear, abuse of the backpack, or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use.

In this North Face Jester Backpack review, we have listed the great features of this backpack, and with this warranty, you can rest assured that this backpack will remain a staple in your life!

User’s Thoughts/Reviews

North Face continues improving the Jester bag to suit customer demand, so the bag doesn’t have many negative reviews.

The improved version now stands on its own, sports a slim profile, and is very comfortable.

A major con of the Jester bag, however, is that it has limited space. It is kind of small, but you can fit a decent number of things – a 15-inch laptop, a few books, and maybe a change of clothes. Sadly, it doesn’t have much space for more.

Another concern is with the front pocket. It’s small and does not extend the length of the backpack. Because of this, the backpack seems to have less space overall.

A simple fix to this issue would be to buy the Borealis backpack.

If you’re looking for a bag for a daily commute, hiking, or even travel, the Jester back is a great option, as detailed in this North Face Jester backpack review.

Alternative to consider: women’s Jester Backpack

As is typical with most North Face backpack collections, the Jester has a model tailored specifically for women.  

The major difference is that the straps are contoured to specifically fit a woman’s frame.

It also features a shortened back panel and a slim profile for a better fit. 

And at 1.4 lbs. with a 27-liter capacity, it’s lighter and comes in 25 exciting color varieties!

Final Thoughts

North Face is a great brand to add to your collection. Their backpacks stand out with their quality, durability, and overall awesomeness.

The North Face Jester Backpack is all these but at a more reasonable price tag.

As we’ve discovered in this North Face Jester Backpack review, this bag features a simplistic, practical, and stylish design. It’s easy to access the items in your bag and it offers great value for your investment.

It’s no wonder the overall rating for the North Face Jester Backpack is 4.5 out of 5 stars!