North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L Review
The first in our series of packs you can try on in a store. How does the household name do when it comes to a more affordable travel pack?
North Face Base Camp Voyager Review Introduction
The North Face - it might be surprising to hear but we’ve never reviewed a piece of kit from them. I know, I was surprised too when I thought about it. This is probably the most well known outdoor gear/backpack brand out there when it comes to the regular folks. By that, I mean the people that don’t have time to be complete backpack nerds. And in fact, that’s part of the reason I’m looking at it today. In 2025, I wanted to take a look at more bags that people could walk into a store and try, and that wouldn’t cost $300.00 to purchase. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be attacking the boutique bag maker reviews, too. But this way people have some options at different budgets and maybe easier to get.
The Base Camp series from North Face is a classic. Typically, it refers to the lineup of duffel bags and those are very well regarded out there. They are similar in style to the Black Hole bags from Patagonia. This time however, they’ve come out with a Voyager travel pack to go in the lineup. It comes in 35L and 26L. As I’m testing for pure travel, I’ve got the 35L.
This is my North Face Base Camp Voyager 35L travel pack review. I was lucky enough to take this bag to paradise during the northeast US winter (Anguilla) so I had ample flights (4) and packing needs to test it with (4 days but needing to pack more linen shirts than normal!).
For full transparency, I had no interaction with The North Face for this review and I purchased this bag with my own money. This is not a sponsored article. That said, I do use affiliate links to help support the site if you choose to use them to make a purchase - but there is no additional cost to you. Thanks for stopping by!
-Need travel insurance? As an American, our health care system is complicated and your regular insurance might not cover you abroad. For international travel, I’ve been using World Nomads for years. They have adventure packages that cover most hiking and even ice hockey. Be sure to read all the coverage information (it’s laid out very well on the site) to make sure it’s right for you, but be sure to give them a look. I find their rates quite competitive and the quotes are free! -
Base Camp Voyager 35L Overview
Rearview.
The Base Camp Voyager is the carry-on friendly version of a travel pack from The North Face. It’s meant as an “every person” bag and not meant to be too niche. You don’t need to be a mountain climbing explorer to make use of this bag. It’s made for the rest of us and targets a solid entry point for those looking to get a quality pack.
At 35L, it’s attempting to be a sweet spot for experienced and new onebaggers alike. I tend to find this one of the best volumes for one bag travel. It’s a great balance between “I can fit all my stuff” and “I don’t look like I’m moving permanently as a tortoise”.
It’s got a lot of organization which we’ll detail in the features section, and it’s made of decent materials. But, North Face is utilizing its economy of scale on this one and also coming in at what’s a pretty low price point for this space.
Much of the bag is made of water resistant and recycled fabrics. Here’s the details from the site:
Body:300D recycled polyester tarpaulin with TPU laminate
Volume:2136 in³ (35 liters)
Avg Weight:3 lbs 7 oz (1570 g)
Sizes:One size
Dimensions:12'' x 6.3'' x 19.3'' (30.5 cm x 16 cm x 49 cm)
Laptop Sleeve:12'' x 19.3'' (30.5 cm x 49 cm)
Boot:840D recycled nylon with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish
This bag retails for only $170 USD at the time of writing in Feb 2025. This is really a solid value point. It comes in multiple colors: black, navy, midnight mauve, and the one we have today, smokey brown. I went for something a little different as I saw the color in person while in REI and thought it looked pretty cool. Let’s jump to the features.
Base Camp Voyager 35L Features
The North Face’s fabric up close.
While coming in at a lower price point, the North Face is not trying to skimp on the features, and they put quite a few in here with a running theme being that they are going to try and get in most of the stuff that you need, even if they don’t have the higher end bells and whistles that a lot of expensive boutique bags have.
Let’s cover off on the baseline stuff that any bag in this category should have. It’s got water bottle pockets on both sides (which is good for many people), lash points all over if you want to attach things, reflective loops, a laptop sleeve with nice felt liner but comes a little short on the false bottom, and a sternum strap. All things you should expect in some form or another.
The bag does have YKK zippers, which is always good to see. Looks like a mix of 10, 8, and 5.
The front of the bag has two very nice pockets that both have their own volume. Think similar to the Aer travel pack set up. The top pocket has your admin which gives you options, plus a nice padded pocket for phones or Kindles or small tablets. The bottom pocket has a nice felt material for some reason, and a slight reinforced padding, but it feels nice. I would imagine this is designed to keep headphones nice and safe from a scratch perspective.
Inside the bag there isn’t a whole lot going on but we’ve got two things to note. One zippered flat pocket on the flap of the bag. Kind of a classic internal space that you could put small loose items in, or turn it into like, a t-shirt or underwear cube.
The second feature inside which is kind of clever even if I didn’t use it, is a little “shelf” that folds down out of the way or can be used to make the inside into two separate compartments. Options are good, so I like this move.
There’s a luggage pass through which is handy if Player 2 likes a roller.
Oh lastly, there are grab handles on three sides (all except the bottom).
The Wandering Loadout
I was a bit more “maximalist” than I normally would be here because we had some nice dinners planned at the resort we went to, and I didn’t want to wear the same shirt every night. Even though this was a resort and was chilled-luxury. Wasn’t snooty. So, that’s why I had so many shirts.
Western Rise Small Compression Cube (this had all my t-shirts in it; Capilene Cool Daily, a sleeping shirt, and my rashguard)
Tortuga Compression Cube (this had 4 shirts in it - 3 linen and one Western Rise Outbound Camp Collar shirt which seems to be gone for the season but you can see my review here)
Eagle Creek Compression Cube (this had the ol’ seersucker pants, Western Rise Evolution shorts, and my swim trunks).
Level8 Small cube (this had all my underwear and Airism undershirts in it)
Bellroy Toiletry Kit (Bellroy Toiletry kit review)
And, Pioneer Carry Global Tech pouch (Review)
Also worth noting, I did also have a pair of loafers in the bag, and my running shoes were packed in when I came back as I wore the loafers on the trip home. Both fit fine, I’m a size US 7, which I know matters.
The Good
Frankly, the North Face Base Camp Voyager has a lot going for it and a lot to like at this price point. You’ve got a lot of water resistant materials, YKK zippers, value add stuff like a luggage pass through, etc. There really is a lot to like on that front.
Lots of lash points and good reinforcing bartacking all over. This isn’t going to be the most durable bag in history but it’s still built pretty solidly.
I REALLY like the front pockets. I’m a pouch guy, so I loved the top pocket for my tech pouch. But, it was also good for quick grab items, my Airtag, and to hold my passport for when I’d need it. The bottom pouch, which was tighter than I originally thought, was still perfectly fine to hold my toiletry pouch. I liked that I could keep all the internal volume to just my clothing (plus belt and sunglasses case). So, high marks on those.
Carry comfort was solid if not remarkable. I did not experience any discomfort, even after experiencing Mr Toad’s Wild Ride when we connected through Miami airport. My god that place needs an update. I found the back padding to be pretty solid and had nice air channels.
In a classic AW “tale of two cities” - the grab handles were mostly good and I liked that there were three of them. Second side of that coin in a bit.
Great use of space and I was able to pack any number of ways with cube tetris. But it was very easy to work with, and the internal divider is a nice touch that I think a lot of organizational freaks will enjoy.
I was really into this particular color, but I like that they have black, too. They used to have this kind of orangy color, that I think they should bring back. But they might rotate the options over time.
Double your pleasure on the water bottle front. I don’t use them, but having two is good if you do. Then you can be lefty or righty.
And look I’d be remiss if I did not mention the price point and availability as a “good” point. You can walk into any REI and grab this, test it out, and walk out with it. That’s a benefit these days. It’s a much more palatable price, and I think most folks will be very happy with it based on that alone.
The Bad
Most of the knocks you’re going to see on this bag are kind of depending on your perspective and where you’re coming from prior to checking this out. If you’re a Code of Bell nerd, or Black Emberfreak, then this bag just isn’t going to do it for you. It’s targeted at the mainstream who need the basics but in a good construction and a good brand. That said, here’s what I mean vs. the high end boutique bags.
The zippers are YKK, but not aquaguard. Which also hurts the water resistance overall. They also are not locking zippers.
The backpack straps are solid, but don’t pack away and there are no load lifters.
The grab handles are mostly high quality, but have a hard edge that can affect comfort (small detail but details matter as you go up in price point).
Outer materials are fairly durable nylon and polyester, but not the higher-end, higher durability stuff the premium bags are made out of.
Laptop compartment doesn’t have much of a false bottom.
There’s no optional hip belt.
There’s no high-vis interior or additional pockets inside.
This might sound like a lot - but it’s not. What I want to do is highlight the difference in a bag like this vs. the super premium ones we often cover and the ones that the online enthusiasts love to chat about. You can’t expect that on a bag at this price point, and the above is exactly why it doesn’t cost what those other bags do.
I’m not quite sure how durable the tarpaulin on the outside is. Now don’t worry, it’s going to be fine in most cases. But I can say that it picked up a decent scuff in my one trip - looked like it brushed against something sharp either in storage or in a cab trunk, can’t be sure. Could also just be a major outlier and just happened to have found the one sharp object to slide against. Sometimes, that just happens folks.
Final Thoughts On My North Face Base Camp Voyager Review
So, I’m glad I jumped into this price point and I plan to do more of these in the coming year or two because I think it’s important to have a range of viewpoints on offer. People might like to nerd out on the high end stuff, but it might not always be the best choice for them to actually purchase. I can love me some Leica cameras and watch the reviews, doesn’t mean that’s the right choice for me to own from a financial perspective. And that’s where bags like the North Face Base Camp Voyager travel pack comes in.
I’m going to compare this one to popular music. Popular music is called that for a reason - it’s what’s most popular among the mainstream consumer. These are people that don’t have the free time, or the interest, in crawling around Spotify for 2 hours a day to find that Boygenius bootleg or some rare B-side from Brian Jonestown Massacre or dig into a psychedelic rock band from Tokyo. That’s just not everyone’s bag, you know? (See what I did there?)
The North Face Base Camp Voyager is like that. I highlighted how it might not have all the top end nerdy fabrics or features, but it’s got more than enough features that you might need, and certainly it’s got more than enough for the average traveler just getting into onebagging or that likes onebagging and would rather spend money at the destination and not on the kit that gets you there.
With those compromises, I do think you MAY lose out on some of the longevity if you’re hard on your gear. You might need a rain cover to cover off on some of the lack of waterproofing on the zippers, etc. If you’re not that hard on your gear though? Man you’ll be totally fine with this.
But overall, my experience with it was pretty solid and I liked how it looked! It fit all I needed, had very convenient front storage which I love, and was comfortable enough walking around with the load out through airports.
And like popular music - I think this bag will most likely please most folks and you’ll enjoy it, without having to think about it too much. Think about the trip instead.
In this case, here’s a link to REI if you want to pick this one up.
Wander more - and wander smarter everyone.
Like My Content? Feel Free To Buy Me A Coffee!
Head on over to our Travel Bag reviews page for more like this as well as the Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC review or the Paravel Aviator Carry On review.
Please be sure to subscribe below, and follow us on Instagram @alwayswanderofficial for photos from our wanderings, and updates for when we post new articles and reviews!