The North Face Backpacks Resale Value

The North Face backpacks: price by condition

Seller-declared grades, sterling with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). What each grade means.

What holds its value across The North Face

• The 1996 Retro Nuptse jacket, which is the single most searched item the brand makes and sells largely as streetwear rather than mountain kit
• Purple Label, the Japan-only line made with Nanamica, which is a genuine collectors’ market and sells for multiples of the mainline
• Summit Series and Steep Tech pieces, the technical and archive lines, which were made in much smaller numbers
• Denali and retro fleece in the older colourblocked designs, which are bought for the look rather than the warmth

What pulls The North Face resale value down

• Delaminating waterproof membranes, where the inner face peels away in sheets, which cannot be repaired and ends a shell
• Flat or clumped down in the puffers, which is the entire function of the garment and is what a buyer is paying for
• Faded and pilled fleece, very visible on the colourblocked pieces where the panels no longer match
• Mainline outlet-spec jackets, which are made specifically for discount channels and are frequently listed as if they were the technical line

Identifying and dating yours

1. The interior neck label names the line — Summit Series, Purple Label, Steep Tech or mainline — and the difference in value is substantial
2. Down pieces state the fill power on the label, and buyers use that number to compare the jacket against anything else
3. Turn a shell inside out and photograph the seam tape; lifting or peeling tape is the fault that most often makes a jacket unsellable

What lifts any backpack, whatever the label

Technical and heritage packs hold value well; everyday backpacks sell for very little, and the difference is mostly construction.

• Recognised outdoor and heritage makers
• Intact zips, which are the usual failure point
• Undamaged straps, buckles and hip belt
• Waterproof coatings that have not delaminated

And what pulls one down

• Failed or sticky zips
• Delaminated waterproof lining flaking inside
• Frayed shoulder straps and worn stitching at the anchor points
• Generic school and promotional bags

Working out what yours is worth

1. Run every zip fully open and closed
2. Turn it inside out and check for lining delamination
3. Inspect the stitching where the straps meet the body

What to state in the listing

• Capacity in litres, and external dimensions
• Whether it has a padded laptop sleeve, and what size it takes
• Condition of every zip, buckle and strap anchor
• Whether it is cabin approved, and whether a rain cover or hip belt is included

Brand, capacity and purpose: “Osprey Farpoint 40L Travel Backpack, Cabin Size”. Litre capacity is the primary search. Say whether it is cabin sized, laptop compatible or hiking specific, because those are separate searches with different buyers.

Preparing and photographing it

1. Find or estimate the capacity in litres, which is often printed on a label inside or on the back panel.
2. Run every zip along its full length, and check the pulls, the buckles and the stitching at the strap anchors.
3. Empty every pocket, clean the base and shoulder straps, and check for fraying at the seams.

1. The backpack from the front, standing, straps visible
2. The main compartment open, showing capacity and lining
3. The shoulder straps and back panel, showing wear
4. The zips and buckles, plus the base and any fraying or stain

When it sells best, and handing it over

Steady with lifts in spring, in late summer for travel, and in September for school and university. Recognised outdoor and travel brands sell fastest.

Packs down and posts cheaply. Compress it with the straps and use a large mailing bag rather than a box.

What buyers ask

Which North Face jacket is worth the most?

The 1996 Retro Nuptse in the mainline, and anything from the Japan-only Purple Label, which sells for multiples of ordinary stock. Summit Series and Steep Tech also sit well above the standard range.

Is a delaminating North Face jacket worth selling?

Not as a waterproof. Once the membrane is peeling it cannot be repaired, and a buyer will find out on the first wet day. Say so plainly and price it as a casual jacket, or the sale will come back.

How much is a The North Face backpack worth?

Roughly £20 to £91 depending on condition, against £15 to £70 for backpacks generally. The identification points above are what move a listing to the top of that range.

What the fees would take elsewhere

At the mid-range £55 for a The North Face backpack, against what the commission marketplaces would deduct:

Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026, percentages only — the per-order and processing charges those platforms add are excluded, so the real gap is wider.

Listing is free and there is no commission — read how to sell a backpack for the title, handover and timing, or the general backpack value guide if yours is not a The North Face.

See also: all The North Face value guides · value guides by brand · buying a backpack · Bags & Handbags · condition grades.