The North Face and Patagonia have been competing companies for several decades. They are both known for their high-quality designs and versatile product selections. They have been creating their products and perfecting them for a long time.
Many people like to compare their products to each other because several of them are very similar. In this The North Face Borealis vs Patagonia Refugio comparison, we will let you in on what the differences are between two very similar designs. We hope that you can decide which of these products is the best for your daily commute.
Related: The North Face Borealis vs Recon: Two Laptop Bags
The North Face Borealis vs Patagonia Refugio
You may like to read: Osprey Women’s Backpack Comparison + Buyer’s Guide
Things They Have In Common
It would not be right to talk about what sets the Borealis and the Refugio apart without talking about their similarities. We have listed the features of a have in common below that you can see what you would be getting apart from the differences.
- Gear capacity: The gear capacity in both of these backpacks is 28 liters.
- Two main compartments: Both these backpacks have two main compartments alongside each other. These provide you with two very large pockets in which you can separate your gear.
- Front organizational pocket: The front pocket of these backpacks allow you to organize your electronics. There are special pockets for different types of electronics, as well as fleece lined areas for your sunglasses or iPod.
- Laptop sleeve: These backpacks have padded laptop sleeves inside of the main compartments.
- Tablet sleeve: There are also tablet sleeves with scratch resistant inner liners.
- Large water bottle pockets: These backpacks have large water bottle pockets on the sides. These stretch mesh pockets can accommodate for many different types of items.
Comparing The North Face Borealis and the Patagonia Refugio
As promised, we have compared both these backpacks give you the feature list below.
Unique Features Of The North Face Borealis
- Bungee cords: This backpack has bungee cords along the front panel. This allows you to attach some extra gear onto it such as a bicycle helmet.
- Sternum strap: There is a sternum strap that is equipped with a whistle buckle for your safety and comfort.
- Waist belt: The waist belt on this backpack is removable in case you are not using it.
- Reflective bike light loop: If you’re going to be cycling during your commute, you can put on a bike light inside of the reflective loop.
- Top compression straps: We prefer the compression straps on The North Face Borealis because they’re strategically placed at the top where it has to be less gear.
Unique Features Of the Patagonia Refugio
The Refugio seems to have less features than the Borealis. However, it does come with its own unique qualities.
- Tapered look: Some people prefer the tapered look of the Refusio over other backpacks that look rather straight. The tapered look has become pretty stylish in the recent years, and gives it a modern look.
- Quality materials: Some people feel that the Refusio comes with higher quality materials than the Borealis.
- Larger side pockets: The side pockets on the Refugio are larger than those of the Borealis.
- Daisychain: The Refusio has a daisychain along the front panel. While the Borealis has a bungee ford for extra gear, the daisychain of the Refusio gives up more stability to the items that you attached to it. They will not bounce around as much as with a bungee cord.
Comparing The Prices
If you’d like to compare the prices between The North Face Borealis and the Patagonia Refugio, please see below:
The North Face Borealis vs Patagonia Refugio: The Verdict
We like both of these backpacks for different reasons. The Refugio looks the most modern, but is the most simplistic. It has less features than the Borealis, although it does have larger side pockets. We like the side pockets because it allows you to put more of your auxiliary items inside.
It is really a matter of comparing and contrasting the two backpacks to find out which of the features you prefer the most.