The North Face Recon vs Tom Bihn Synapse 25
274 facts in comparison
Based on 1,343 Reddit opinions. Close race—Synapse 25Tom Bihn Synapse 25 edges ahead.
1.3K opinions
Synapse 25 leads by 3pts
VS
87%
A-
Based on
1,602 Redditors
The North Face Recon
~$125
967 opinions
tldr; TNF's EDC workhorse. FlexVent back, good organization. Reliable mainstream choice.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
TB
Synapse 25
90%
A
Based on
632 Redditors
Winner
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
~$25.49
376 opinions
tldr; The original brain. Weird pockets that somehow work. Tom Bihn's gateway drug.
Check prices😌COM
⭐ORG
📦CAP
🔧BUI
⭐AES
80
Points
74
Points
Score by Category
Comfort & Carry
72%59%
Organization
70%90%
Capacity
77%88%
Build Quality
81%96%
Aesthetics
87%51%
Why is Bihn Synapse 25 better than North Face Recon?
- Higher Reddit score (90% vs 87%)
- Better organization (90% vs 70%)
- Better build quality (96% vs 81%)
- Better capacity (88% vs 77%)
- Clever design
- Unique pockets
- USA made
Based on 2,234 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Synapse 25Tom Bihn Synapse 25
Winning by 3 points (90% vs 87%)
Better organization
Better build quality
Better capacity
High confidence (2,234 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 2,234 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Face Recon
8.7/10
1,602 mentions
Synapse 25
9.0/10
632 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Face Recon8.1/10
Synapse 259.6/10
ORGANIZATION
Face Recon7.0/10
Synapse 259.0/10
CAPACITY
Face Recon7.7/10
Synapse 258.8/10
VALUE
Face Recon9.4/10
Synapse 255.7/10
COMFORT
Face Recon7.2/10
Synapse 255.9/10
AESTHETICS
Face Recon8.7/10
Synapse 255.1/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Face Recon | Synapse 25 |
|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 81% | 96% |
Organization | 70% | 90% |
Capacity | 77% | 88% |
Value | 94% | 57% |
Comfort | 72% | 59% |
Aesthetics | 87% | 51% |
Category Wins
Face Recon: 3|Synapse 25: 3
Head to Head
Face Recon: 3|Synapse 25: 3
Build QualitySynapse 25
Face Recon81%
Synapse 2596%
OrganizationSynapse 25
Face Recon70%
Synapse 2590%
CapacitySynapse 25
Face Recon77%
Synapse 2588%
ValueFace Recon
Face Recon94%
Synapse 2557%
ComfortFace Recon
Face Recon72%
Synapse 2559%
AestheticsFace Recon
Face Recon87%
Synapse 2551%
Face Recon
87%
90%
Synapse 25
Face Recon87%
Synapse 2590%
Close race - Synapse 25 edges ahead by 3 points
Key Specs
| Spec | The North Face Recon | Tom Bihn Synapse 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | The North Face | Tom Bihn |
| Manufacturer | The North Face | Tom Bihn |
| Color | Tnf Black/Tnf Black-npf | Various |
| Weight | 2.0 pounds | 0.9 kg (2 lbs) |
| Height | 19.3 inches | 20 inches |
Key Highlights
The North Face ReconWinner
🌬️ FlexVent back panel
💻 Laptop sleeve
🔧 Good pockets
💰 Fair price
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
🧠 Clever design
🔧 Unique pockets
🇺🇸 USA made
💪 Outlasts everything
Topic Battles
Face Recon: 2|Tied: 0|Synapse 25: 3
😌Comfort & Carry
Face Recon winsFace Recon
72%
Synapse 25
59%
⭐Organization
Synapse 25 winsFace Recon
70%
Synapse 25
90%
📦Capacity
Synapse 25 winsFace Recon
77%
Synapse 25
88%
🔧Build Quality
Synapse 25 winsFace Recon
81%
Synapse 25
96%
⭐Aesthetics
Face Recon winsFace Recon
87%
Synapse 25
51%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Tom Bihn Synapse 25
Top Criticism
+5 pts“They sit too low on my back. Tend to be “droopers” and I like mine up high. I tend to prefer Evergoods and GORUCK for backpacks. I have a Synapse 25 that I need to sell at some point but it just isn’t a fit for me personally. It’s a well made bag though.”
r/Backpacks
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for The North Face Recon
Top Criticism
+7 pts“Honestly not a fan of the Recon. The bag is very long and flat, which makes it less versatile. The material isn't very long lasting, ive had mine for two years and the straps are pilling like crazy. Also the bag will never stand upright because of how flat it is.”
r/Backpacks
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
The North Face Recon
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
📈Historical Price Data
The North Face Recon
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
The North Face Recon
All-time low: $78.01(2024-11)
Tom Bihn Synapse 25
Which is Better?
Tom Bihn Synapse 25 Wins
90%
25
vs
87%
Recon
Close race, but Tom Bihn Synapse 25 edges ahead by 3 points based on 2,234 Reddit opinions.
Why Synapse 25Winner
- 🧠 Clever design
- 🔧 Unique pockets
- 🇺🇸 USA made
Why Face Recon
- Better Value for Money (94% vs 57%)
- More discussed (1,602 vs 632)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
54%Positive
Positive
54%Neutral
41%Negative
5%Based on 632 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
53%Positive
Positive
53%Neutral
39%Negative
8%Based on 1,602 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Tom Bihn Synapse 25 or The North Face Recon?
Based on 2,234 Reddit comments, Tom Bihn Synapse 25 has a slight edge with 90% positive sentiment vs The North Face Recon's 87%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Tom Bihn Synapse 25 or The North Face Recon?
Both have similar approval ratings (90% vs 87%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Tom Bihn Synapse 25?
Reddit users highlight: Clever design. Unique pockets. USA made. With 632 mentions and 90% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about The North Face Recon?
Reddit users highlight: FlexVent back panel. Laptop sleeve. Good pockets. With 1,602 mentions and 87% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 2,234 Reddit comments: 632 about Tom Bihn Synapse 25 and 1,602 about The North Face Recon. Data was sourced from Backpacks community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
1,343 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/27/2026