The North FaceWomen's Surge FlexVent™ Suspension Backpack

Much lower quality than the previous model

I have loved the Surge backpack I received for Christmas in either 2015 or 2016. It has been a total workhorse, accompanying me every day for both work and travel. I would easily give it ***** My mother and daughter decided 10 years was enough and gifted me a new one, which I have been using for the past 10 days of both work and travel. Until last night, it warranted ***. It has already green a tear in a seam by the grab handle, which reduces the rating to ** Positives *the water bottle pockets are much better USB the previous model *the straps on the bottom of the backpack, which are perfect for carrying a jacket on a commute or while sightseeing Changes that are not good *lack of a front grab handle *depth of the front organising panel - I don't have a place to store masks *fewer internal zipper pockets - my passport storage pocket no longer exists *new flex vent system less effective than before - it's winter, and my back is getting hot every tune I wear the pack for more than a few minutes. *external pocket zippers don't work well - I think this use because there is so much extra fabric *there were straps by ye water bottle pocket that I was annie to use to put through the loop of my umbrella for extra security/stability. The new pockets are deeper and stronger, so this may not be a problem Other changes *separate pockets for iPad and laptop are fine, though not necessary (I carry both daily) *more loops to use for hooking/lashing things *dimensions have changed so it fits under an airplane seat more easily I'm extremely disappointed that the pack already ripped when I picked it up by the grab handle last night. You can see in the photos that it is not overloaded. This is the way it is most days of the week. The previous version of the Surge is still completely intact after 10+ years, other than a little wear on one corner of the bottom. This is extremely disappointing. Unfortunately I can't switch back bc my ops surge is at my mother's house in Kentucky, and I am in Hong Kong.