The North Face Surge with my Sager 2090 (compared to Targus Feren)

I will be showing users what a 15.4 inch laptop with a 9 cell battery would look like inside the North Face Surge (IT DOES FIT) and comparing it to the Targus Feren. My sager np2090 will be used to compare these two bags.

The North Face Surge:


Targus Feren:


Both bags together:



You can see that the Feren is much bulkier looking than the Surge.


TARGUS FEREN
This bag is big. Even if you don't have anything inside it still looks big.
However this bag has very good padding and will protect your laptop well.
This bag has 3 compartments:
1. An insulated pocket
2. A pocket for CD, cellphone, glasses, keys, (folders?)
3. And a pocket for your laptop with some space for notebooks. (The laptop pocket takes up at least 1/3 of the bag.
The rest of the bag is padding.

PICTURES:
The three compartments:




The Feren holding my Sager NP2090: It fits well.


PROS: Well padded. Great protection for laptop.
CONS: BIG and Bulky. Is only meant to hold a laptop. No room for books. (not recommended for students.)





The North Face Surge
Awesome bag. A lot of features and space. However its expensive and with a little bit of work, will fit a 15.4 inch w/ a 9 cell battery.
This bag has 4 compartments.
1. Pocket for MP3 (No CD Pocket), cellphone, calculator, cards, pens, and keys.
2. Pocket for notebooks, folders, etc.
3. Pocket for textbooks
4. Laptop compartment.

Pictures:

(below, compartment for notebooks/folders)

(below, compartment for textbooks)

(below, the pocket closest to my hand is for the laptop.)


Surge with the sager NP2090:
Many people have said that this bag won't fit a 15.4 inch with a 9 cell battery. However, I already ordered mine before I saw what these people were saying. So I decided to wait until the bag arrives and test it out myself. When it arrived, first thing was to put my Sager Np2090 inside the bag. IT FITS. Yes, it fits BUT with a little bit of effort. The sides of the laptop pocket are attached with elastic bands used to help hold the laptop. With a little bit of work, you can fit the 9 cell into the pocket. I have to say, it is a pretty tight fit for the sager np2090. It also takes a little bit of work taking it out of the bag too. (THIS BAG WILL FIT A 15.4 with a 6 cell)

In these two pictures you can see that the battery cannot fit through the sides.



However with a little bit of effort you can get it through (Because the sides are attached with elastic bands)


Here you can see my Sager 2090 fit into the North Face Surge


This is what it looks like with the laptop inside the bag. You can notice that the battery stretches the elastic bands where the 9 cell battery is (left).


Using a deck of cards, you can see that the laptop compartment never touches the bottom of the bag.



PROS: Very roomy, a lot of features, (RECOMMENDED FOR STUDENTS) good protection for laptop, and very sleek looking.
CONS: EXPENSIVE ($109), Tight fit for 15.4 laptops with 9 cell.

Thanks all. This is my first review of anything lol.






EDIT: I JUST NOTICED THIS LOL. Theres a little pocket on the bottom of the bag. I thought this would be a good pocket for some locks lol.

 

Great review and pictures! I'm going to have to look into the Surge. +Rep!

 

Thanks! Remember if you don't mind having your 15.4 inch w/ a 9 cell laptop in a tight space, the Surge is a great backpack.

 

Hmm.. does having a laptop in a tight space potentially damage it?

I have both a 6-cell and 9-cell so I can just use a 6-cell when having my backpack around.

 

I just bought the Surge today from Dicks sporting goods for $109 (before taxes). I must say it is a GREAT backpack, and I am using the Sager 2090 with it as well. If you aren't too keen on squeezing the 9cell battery with the Sager into the laptop compartment, then you could just put your laptop to hibernate, remove the battery, put it into the front compartment and then put the laptop in the laptop compartment easily. I tried that and it works fine. All you have to do is snap the battery back into place when you get to class and you're back to your OS in 10 seconds at the very longest.

Highly recommended backpack for the Sager 2090, and for any 15.4" laptop or smaller.

 

haven't made up my mind between the surge or the recon

 

Thanks for the review. I made up my mind. I'm getting the Surge.