The North Face Women’s Jester Review

Last Updated on August 29, 2026 by Tyler Morgan

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A daily backpack has to carry your laptop, water, chargers, and other essentials without becoming awkward or uncomfortable by midday. The The North Face Women’s Jester Everyday Backpack combines a 22-liter capacity with a padded 16-inch laptop sleeve, women-specific FlexVent suspension, and practical front organization. Its strongest points are comfort and everyday usability, while the main limitations are its modest capacity and water-repellent, rather than waterproof, construction. This review will help you decide if the Jester fits your commute, campus routine, travel needs, or occasional light outdoor use.

What Is the North Face Women’s Jester?

The Women’s Jester is an everyday laptop backpack designed around a compact 22-liter layout. At 11 x 6.75 x 17.25 inches and about 1.5 pounds, it is large enough for a computer and daily necessities without moving into full travel-pack territory.

The main compartment handles larger items, while the padded sleeve is designed for laptops up to 16 inches. Smaller items can go in the front organizational compartment, which includes secure zip storage, a tablet sleeve, and a key clip. Two external bottle pockets and a front bungee provide additional quick-access space.

Comfort is a major part of the design. The women-specific FlexVent suspension uses molded shoulder straps, a padded back panel, and a breathable lumbar panel. The system is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, making the carrying system one of the Jester’s clearest advantages over a basic unstructured backpack.

Who Should Buy It?

Detailed Features

FlexVent Carrying Comfort

The women-specific FlexVent suspension is more structured than the thin shoulder straps found on many casual backpacks. It combines a flexible yoke, molded shoulder straps, a padded back panel, and a breathable lumbar area. These features spread contact across your shoulders and back while allowing some airflow.

A sternum strap gives you another adjustment point when the pack is loaded. It can be especially useful during a longer walk from a train station, parking area, or across campus. Comfort still depends on how much weight you carry and how you adjust the straps, so good packing habits matter.

Laptop Storage and Main Capacity

The padded laptop sleeve accommodates devices up to 16 inches, correcting the older 15-inch description found in the original review. The sleeve itself measures about 12.75 x 11 inches. You should still compare your laptop’s actual width and thickness with the sleeve measurements, especially if you use a bulky protective case.

The 22L capacity is best viewed as everyday storage rather than luggage replacement. There is room for a laptop, charger, notebook, light layer, lunch, and similar essentials, but large shoes, thick jackets, camera kits, or several days of clothing can quickly fill the available space.

Organization and Quick Access

The front compartment helps prevent smaller items from disappearing into the main compartment. It includes zip pockets, a tablet sleeve, and a key clip, giving chargers, cables, cards, pens, earbuds, and similar items predictable places to stay.

Two external water bottle pockets keep drinks separate from electronics. The front bungee system can hold an item you want to reach quickly, such as a light layer, though anything stored outside the zipped compartments is naturally less secure than gear placed inside the pack.

Stand-Up Design and Everyday Convenience

The Jester is designed to stand upright when placed on a suitable surface. That sounds minor, but it can make loading the backpack at a desk, beside a classroom chair, or in a hotel room easier because you do not have to hold the bag open with one hand.

Top grab handles also make it easier to lift the pack from a car seat, floor, locker, or overhead area. For everyday commuting, these simple details often matter more than specialized outdoor features.

Water Repellency and Materials

The linked Amazon listing describes the backpack as water repellent and identifies polyester construction. Water repellency can help with brief exposure to drizzle or splashes, but it should not be treated as waterproof protection.

If you routinely walk through heavy rain with electronics inside, use additional protection such as a suitable pack cover or waterproof inner sleeve. Keeping a laptop in its padded compartment also helps protect it from normal bumps, but the sleeve does not make the computer waterproof.

How It Performs in Real Use

For Work and Commuting

The Jester’s strongest use case is a normal commute. A laptop can stay in the padded sleeve while the main compartment handles a notebook, charger, lunch, or light layer. Smaller work accessories fit more naturally in the organized front compartment than they would in a single-compartment daypack.

The 1.5-pound empty weight also keeps the bag itself from contributing excessive bulk before you add your gear.

For School and Campus

The backpack works well when your daily load consists of a laptop, notebooks, a few books, and personal items. The sternum strap and structured suspension become useful when you have a longer walk between buildings.

The limitation is volume. Students who routinely carry several large textbooks, sports equipment, or an entire day’s bulky gear may find 22L restrictive.

For Travel

For travel, the Jester makes more sense as a personal day bag than as your only luggage. It can hold electronics, travel documents, a bottle, a light layer, and other essentials you want nearby.

Because airline baggage policies and aircraft storage spaces vary, you should check your carrier’s current personal-item limits rather than assuming any backpack will qualify on every flight.

For Light Outdoor Use

The comfortable suspension, bottle pockets, bungee storage, and water-repellent finish make the Jester reasonable for casual walks and light outdoor outings. It is not, however, presented as a technical hiking pack with specialized load management or a dedicated hydration-reservoir setup.

For a short park walk or easy day outing, the everyday design is practical. For demanding hikes, heavier loads, or specialized hydration needs, a purpose-built hiking pack is a better choice.

Fit and Packing Tips

• Check the laptop itself, not just the screen size. A thick 16-inch laptop or large protective case may require more space than a slim device with the same advertised screen size.
• Keep heavy items near your back. This reduces the tendency for the backpack to pull backward when loaded.
• Use both shoulder straps. The FlexVent system is designed to distribute the load across both shoulders.
• Adjust the sternum strap when needed. It can help stabilize the shoulder straps during longer walks.
• Do not rely on the DWR-style protection as waterproofing. Protect electronics separately when prolonged rain is expected.
• Follow the product’s care instructions. The linked listing specifies hand washing rather than machine washing.

Pros and Cons

Is It Worth the Price?

The Women’s Jester is better suited to buyers who care about carrying comfort, laptop protection, and structured organization than those simply seeking the cheapest bag that can hold a computer. The FlexVent suspension, dedicated device storage, bottle pockets, sternum strap, and stand-up layout give you several practical benefits that basic backpacks may omit.

Its value is strongest when you use the same backpack for work, school, commuting, and casual travel. It is less compelling if you need significantly more than 22L, advanced hiking features, or true waterproof protection.

Since prices can change by seller, color, and availability, compare the current listing price with the features you actually need rather than judging it against a fixed price quoted in an older review.

How It Compares to Alternatives

If you want additional capacity and more trail-oriented organization within The North Face lineup, the Women’s Borealis 27L is worth comparing. It is larger and adds features such as a removable waist belt, but it is also heavier than the linked 22L Jester.

The Patagonia Refugio Daypack 26L is another option if you want a slightly larger everyday pack, while the Osprey Daylite Plus 20L is worth considering if lighter day use and compatibility with certain Osprey travel packs matter more. The Jester makes the most sense when you want women-specific FlexVent comfort, a dedicated 16-inch laptop sleeve, and straightforward daily organization in a compact package.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The North Face Women’s Jester is a strong everyday choice if you need a comfortable 22L backpack with organized storage and a padded sleeve for a laptop up to 16 inches. Its women-specific FlexVent suspension is the standout feature, while limited capacity and water-repellent rather than waterproof protection are the main tradeoffs. Choose a larger or more technical pack if you regularly carry bulky gear or need specialized hiking features.