North Face Vault Backpack Review (A Seriously Affordable Pack)

If you are on the prowl for a simple backpack that you can use every day, then the North Face Vault might be the best choice for you. It is sleek, spacious (but also fits a laptop) and most important of all, very affordable!

It is the ultimate backpack for students. But they aren’t the only ones that will love it – it is also great for work, gym, and casual outings. So, whether you need something to carry around your workout gear or just notebooks, the Vault would work really well for you.

Is it really functional though? I will dive into that more below, but let’s just say it has more than enough features to keep most people happy.

Now, let’s get started with the detailed review…

Specs Of The Vault Backpack

In general, the Vault is a pretty average backpack. But in a good way; it is not the lightest backpack you can buy, but it is not too heavy either. It is just the right size for your everyday activities and carrying it everywhere should feel natural. The pack has a 28-liter capacity, which is more than enough for your books or work files.

I would say that the Vault is a great backpack for students who are looking for an everyday pack. It has a very simple design, which is perfect if you like to blend in with the crowd. And it has two different compartments that will allow you to organize all your school stuff easily. But there is something else that makes it a great student backpack – the affordable price.

Whether you go for the men’s version or the women’s version, the backpack will cost you about $50-60. That is a great deal – there are so many high-end packs out there that have pretty much every feature imaginable, but they tend to be pretty expensive.

And as far as I can remember, student life and luxurious life are far from being synonymous! The Vault is a practical and useful pack with just enough added features – and it’s time to talk about what those are.

Features Of The Vault Backpack

So, you know how big the pack is and how much stuff you can fit inside it. But, there is a lot more to find out about the Vault – what kind of material is it made of? How good is its organizational aspect? And we are going to talk about all those features in this section, so just sit back and enjoy!

The Vault Materials (Durability)

All the Vault packs are made from a few different types of polyester

• 600D polyester
• 1200D polyester
• 450D x 300D heather polyester
• 600D geo emboss polyester

The exact material type depends on the color you choose, as is usually the case.

The thing to know about polyester is that is used in backpack very often. It and nylon are the two most used materials in backpacks – the main difference is that polyester is the cheaper, and a little bit less durable material. Hence the price.

So, the Vault probably won’t be as durable as the North Face Surge. But then again, it won’t go through the same torture that a travel pack has to go through, so you might not notice the wear and tear. Polyester is still a sturdy material, just not as sturdy as nylon. And it doesn’t have the added benefit of being water-resistant, so you might want to consider getting a rain cover for the Vault.

The Front Compartment

For me, the most important feature of a school pack is organization. I truly hated it when I had to put my pens in the same compartment as my books because everything would get jumbled around. But with the Vault that won’t be the case – you even get a little pen organizer in the front compartment!

This compartment is also equipped with separate sleeves for your tablet and smartphone. And that is not useful just for school – you could take advantage of that feature if you take the pack on a trip or a sleepover at a friend’s place.

You’ll also get a keychain clip, a large zippered pocket, and a smaller slip pocket. And even with all of those, there is still space in this compartment for a book or a jacket!

The Main Compartment

This is arguably the most important part of the pack since it is the part that you are going to be using the most.

The main compartment of the Vault backpack is top-loading, which is great for school. Front-loading packs are great for traveling, but they are very impractical for your everyday items.

This part of the pack is mostly empty, except for the laptop sleeve. You will be able to fit your 15.6″ (and smaller) laptop inside the pack easily, and there will be plenty of space left for your other belongings.

There are no other pockets inside the main compartment, but I wouldn’t consider that a downside due to the functionality of the front compartment.

The Harness And Shoulder Straps (Comfort And Ventilation)

You need to make sure an everyday pack like this is going to be comfortable.

The good news is that the Vault pack is equipped with the same FlexVent suspension system that we saw on the Borealis and Jester packs. Actually, this type of harness is often seen in all kinds of North Face backpacks, because it is very functional.

The ventilation of the FlexVent is great, so you won’t get too sweaty on a hot day. And, even if you do get a little bit sweaty, you at least don’t have to worry about the smell. The back panel is made of air mesh, which is very breathable, and doesn’t retain any odors.

This pack was endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association which speaks for to its design and comfort. The harness features a spine channel for maximum support and comfort of your back.

The shoulder straps are nothing special – they are compression molded, padded, and completely adjustable. Just make sure you make them fit you right before you wear the pack – there should be no space between your back and the back panel. Otherwise, you could get sore in your upper torso.

The Sternum Strap

The sternum strap is the part of the pack that some people use religiously and another disregard. It really depends on your personal preference whether you are going to get the most of it, but you generally should use it to get the optimum wearing comfort.

A sternum strap is a buckle that connects the two shoulder straps when you are wearing the pack so that one of them will not accidentally fall off your shoulder. And it also helps distribute a load of your pack evenly across your upper torso, so that your upper back isn’t carrying all the weight. That in turn helps you feel comfortable even when you have 30+ lbs on your shoulders.

The fun thing about the sternum strap of the Vault is that it doubles as an emergency whistle. So, in case you feel someone tampering with your pack or see a wild mountain lion in the middle of your classroom, you can use the strap to attract attention to yourself.

Side Stretch Pockets

There are two side pockets on the Vault backpack, and both are made of stretch mesh. They are the perfect size for water bottles, but you can use them for whatever you want – a small umbrella could fit here pretty well, for example!

One thing to note is that the presence of these pockets makes the backpack a little bit more functional. You would use those not only when you are going to school or work, but also when you are out in nature, maybe on a hike.

And, even though this is not an outdoorsy pack, no one said you couldn’t bring it in the mountains. Especially if it means that you won’t have to carry the water bottle in your hands all the time.

Other Useful Features

There are a few more convenient things included in the design of this pack, so I’ll just briefly tell you about them.

• A reflective bike-light loop. For one thing, the loop is reflective on its own, which helps you stay visible in the dark. But it also means that you can attach a bike light to the pack, which is perfect for you if you often ride your bike in low visibility.
• More reflective materials. The tabs on the stretch pockets are also reflective, which helps keep you visible in the night even more.
• Comfortable carry handle. I don’t think this is a very important feature, as you rarely carry the pack in your hand. But, it is certainly good to know, and even adds to the value of the Vault, if you ask me.
• Shoulder strap webbing. Fun fact, the webbing is also reflective. But, its functionality is more important – you can use it to attach pretty much anything to the pack, as long as you use a carabiner. Just keep in mind that whatever you attach to it is going to be bumping your chest and stomach as you walk. :>

Is The North Face Vault Backpack Worth It?

Let’s be clear – the affordability of this pack trumps most of its downsides. And there aren’t a lot of those, to begin with.

The Vault is a great everyday backpack equipped with two separate compartments. The main compartment is very spacious and large enough to fit your notebooks, files, gym clothes, and pretty much anything you would need for school, work, or a hobby.

You also get the laptop sleeve inside it, which can fit your average 15.6″ laptop. And there is also the front compartment with sleeves for your phone and tablet and an organization panel. 

The pack features a FlexVent suspension system, which will keep you cool and comfortable throughout the year. And everything about it is adjustable, so you can be sure that the backpack will fit you perfectly. But, what is even better is that it is available in separate versions for men and women. Each of those was designed to fit the (fe)male body perfectly and ensure the carrying comfort of the wearer.

As if all of that is not enough, the Vault backpack also boasts plenty of color variety. If you want to check if the pack is available in your favorite color head over to Amazon – you’ll get the best deal there.