The North Face Borealis and Jester are two popular choices if you are looking for a reliable backpack for school, travel or even outdoor activities. But which one is the better buy? In this updated Borealis vs Jester backpack comparison we dive deep and explore the differences.
This comparison is of the 2021 versions of both the Jester and Borealis. For an up to date comparison, visit our new North Face Borealis vs Jester article. The North Face is known for updating their backpack designs every so often and specific details may be different if you wish to compare older versions of either backpack.
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 The North Face Borealis |
 The North Face Jester |
|
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 28 Liters (Mens) 27 Liters (Womens) |
27.5 Liters (Mens) 27 Liters (Womens) |
| Material | Nylon, Nylon Ripstop, Polyester | Recycled Polyester |
| Laptop Storage | Laptop compartment (up to 15.6″ laptop) |
Laptop sleeve (up to 14″ laptop) |
| Tablet Pocket | Yes | No |
| Fleece Lined Pocket | Yes | No |
| Compression Straps | Yes | No |
| Sternum Strap | Yes | Yes |
| Waist Belt | Yes | No |
| Price | Check the latest price on Amazon | Check the latest price on Amazon |
Video Review
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North Face Borealis vs Jester Side-by-Side
Men’s Borealis (left), Women’s Borealis (center) and Women’s Jester (right)
Men’s vs Women’s North Face Backpacks
For this comparison we have both the men’s and women’s versions of the Borealis and the women’s version of the Jester. The differences between the men’s and women’s version of the Jester and Borealis are mostly with the dimensions and gender-specific back panels and shoulder straps.
Mens Borealis (left) vs Womens Borealis (right)
On the Borealis, the men’s version has a wider elastic bungee system on the front. And for both the Borealis and Jester the shoulder straps and back panels are different. The men’s versions can accommodate wider shoulders and a longer torso while the women’s version is better suited for narrow shoulders and a shorter torso.
Rest assured that all of the pockets and compartments are the same on both the men’s and women’s versions of the Borealis and Jester.
Carrying Capacity and Size
The North Face Borealis has an internal main compartment capacity of 28 liters for the men’s version and 27 liters for the women’s version while the Jester runs a bit smaller at 27.5 liters for the men’s version and 27 liters for the women’s version.
Although both the Jester and Borealis have a similar main compartment capacity, the Borealis is the larger of the two and has a bigger footprint. You can expect the Borealis to be wider and stick out more from the bottom when worn. In comparison, the Jester offers a slimmer fit that doesn’t stick out as much.
Materials and Construction Comparison
Materials and overall construction is where the Borealis and Jester really start to part ways. For their newest Jester design, the North Face has gone with recycled polyester.
Recycled polyester is a very lightweight material with very little stretch. It also feels very thin when handled.
The North Face Borealis sticks with their usual mix of nylon, nylon ripstop and polyester materials. When compared to recycled polyester, Nylon is much thicker and robust. It has a lot more weight to it and just feels tougher – like it can take a beating and not scratch or puncture as easily.
Another difference between the Borealis and Jester are the zippers used in each respective bag. The Borealis goes with YKK zippers while the Jester uses cheaper SBS zippers. This is one of the ways North Face is able to cut down the cost of the Jester when compared to the brand’s more expensive offerings.
The last difference in materials is the hardware used in each respective backpack. The North Face Borealis is filled with hefty plastic hardware for the sternum strap, waist belt and side compression straps while the Jester uses much less substantial hardware and is missing a lot of key features like the waist belt and side compression straps.
This leads us to the weight of each of these backpacks. The heavier nylon fabric plus the better hardware and more robust back panel all add to the weight of the Borealis making it almost a pound heavier.
Pockets and Compartments
Laptop Compartment
A major difference between the Borealis and Jester is the location of the laptop storage. The North Face Jester includes a padded laptop sleeve inside the main compartment that can accommodate a laptop up to 14-inches. We found that a 15.6” laptop is too large to fit inside the Jester laptop sleeve.
The Borealis includes a separate laptop compartment that can fit a laptop up to 15.6-inches with a little wiggle room to spare. Both the laptop sleeve in the Jester and laptop compartment in the Borealis feature false-bottoms. This means that there is a space between the bottom of the laptop and the bottom of the bag to prevent damage from drops.
Opening for a hydration bladder on the North Face Borealis
A low-key feature of the Borealis is the ability to turn the laptop compartment into a hydration pocket. If you look closely here at the top of the laptop compartment on the Borealis – you’ll see a small velcro hook with a small opening right above it. This is for attaching a hydration bladder. So if you ever want to go hiking you can attach a hydration bladder and port it to the outside of the bag. The Jester is missing this feature altogether.
Front Pockets
The Borealis includes a fleece-lined pocket on the front of the backpack to hold items like sunglasses or a phone. Unfortunately, the Jester is missing this pocket altogether.
Both the Jester and Borealis feature a front organizer compartment with slip pockets for smaller items. The front organizer compartment on the Borealis features a tablet sleeve, zippered pocket with a key leash and a fleece lined pocket for a phone.
The front organizer compartment on the Jester is missing the tablet pocket and fleece lined phone pocket but keeps the large zippered pocket with a key leash. The slip pockets for small items are made of mesh. It’s safe to say that this entire compartment is definitely a downgrade form the one found on the Borealis.
Side Water Bottle Pockets
Another difference are with the side water bottle pockets. The side pockets on the Jester are made of the same mesh as the front organizer compartment. This mesh has very little stretch and feels much cheaper than the material used on the Borealis.
The side pockets on the Borealis are made of a much nicer material. It’s soft to the touch and super stretchy. Both pockets can fit a 32oz water bottle just fine. But since the side pockets on the Borealis are stretchier they are much easier to use – especially when the backpack is full.
Elastic Bungee System
The Jester and men’s and women’s Borealis all feature different bungee system designs. The main difference between the Jester and Borealis bungee systems is that the Jester has less bungee cord than both versions of the Borealis. This means that items are less secure when cinched down.
Although narrower, the women’s Borealis still includes more elastic bungee and items feel much more secure when cinched down.
Where the Jester Wins
Many North Face backpacks notoriously have curved bottoms that don’t allow you to sit the bag down on the ground. Unfortunately this is the case for some of the most popular backpacks such as the Borealis, Recon and Surge.
One huge advantage that the North Face Jester has is that it includes a flat bottom. This means you can place the backpack down and it will actually stand in place.
Comfort and Fit
Since both backpacks use The North Face’s Flex Vent Suspension system for their shoulder straps and back panels both backpack feel about the same when worn. The biggest difference you’ll notice is with the materials used.
The Borealis features a breathable mesh material throughout their back panel and shoulder straps while the Jester uses a less breathable fabric.
Which Backpack Should You Buy?
The North Face Borealis
The North Face Jester
Choose the North Face Jester if… you want a lightweight yet reliable backpack on a budget. The Jester is good for anyone who wants a basic North Face backpack without the higher price tag. The flat bottom is also a huge plus when it comes to daily carry.
Choose the North Face Borealis if… you want the full North Face backpack experience with better materials, fleece lined pockets and a separate laptop compartment. The inclusion of the removable waist belt and side compression straps also allow for more control of how you carry which can come in handy when the backpack is full.
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