The North FaceMen's Borealis Backpack

Good only if you don't want to access anything while wearing

Purchased on sale because it seemed to fit into what I wanted for a versatile backpack that could be used for some light day hiking and travel, but also be cute enough to tote around campus. Unfortunately, after using this on a short test hike this weekend, I realized how poorly suited it is to what I actually need it to do: (1) The water bottle pouches are very secure, but so high up that I literally have to take the backpack off to get my water bottle in/out of the pouch. Completely impractical for me because I want to easily drink water on the go - walking through the airport, on campus, or on a hike. Stems both from the water bottle pocket being tall and, because it is a hiking backpack meant to sit higher up on your frame for additional stability and less stress, the pocket "mouth" sits even higher. Furthermore, even without the shock cords tightening the pouch, the elastic is pretty strong. I was able to slide my 16oz bottle in and out with one hand, but my 32oz and 40oz Nalgene bottles would need both hands. (2) There are no pockets on the backpack straps or multiple loops for easy attachment points should I want to buy/make pockets. Women's clothing is notorious for not having enough pockets, so if I am hiking with pocketless shorts or walking around in a pocketless dress or slacks, I want a way to easily access my phone and small sundries (small snacks, keys, id card, passport, etc). As this backpack is currently designed, there's no easy access to pockets like that. Again, I have to take off the pack to awkwardly unzip the top pouch to grab any of those items. My current solution is to just wear another bag with this backpack. A cross-body purse or a waist fanny pack depending on the situation. Until I can figure out a way to modify the bag, I'll have to either hold my water bottle or plan on drinking only when I'm able to safely take off my backpack. But, if you don't want to access anything while wearing it, it is a good backpack. Looks like very solid construction, can accommodate larger water bottles although it requires more effort, and I do appreciate the built-in whistle and external shock cords for basic additional safety and storage. This might be a great bag for some, but it misses the mark for me. Unfortunately, I purchased it final sale so I will just keep experimenting with ways to make it work.