The Best Laptop Backpacks to Take Everywhere
For those of us on the go, backpacks often do double—or even quadruple—duty. They go from commute to cocktails, school to gym, sightseeing to backpacking, weekend trip to monthlong sabbatical. So naturally, you need it to accommodate the other thing you never leave home without: your computer. Laptop backpacks are specifically designed to protect your gadget via a padded sleeve or special compartment, making them perfect for toting around your favorite traveling companion (and whatever else you need). Wondering which one to choose? We’ve got your back. These laptop backpacks are all spacious, stylish, and, most importantly, durable.
Best All-Around Laptop Backpack
Fjallraven Raven 28
The roomy Raven 28 from cult-classic outdoor brand Fjallraven has everything you want in a laptop bag and nothing else. Tough enough for a day trip but polished enough for the office (look at that leather handle!), it’s smart and streamlined, with a 15-inch laptop compartment, a fleece-lined pocket to protect smaller items, and two side pockets for easy access. We love the versatility of this spacious 28-liter version, but if you’re looking for something smaller, there’s a 20-liter option too.
Best "Leather" Laptop Backpack
Calpak Kaya Laptop Backpack
This sleek, vegan leather laptop bag may be one of our tinier picks, but it still gets our travel seal of approval. It slides easily over the pull handle of your carry-on for max tote-ability and features two main compartments: one for all your stuff and one for a 15-inch laptop. And with a slew of on-trend hues (mint, blush, pale yellow), it’s practically made for Insta vacay pics.
Best Budget Laptop Backpack
Mancro Anti-Theft Backpack With USB Port
If you want the most backpack for your buck, this $20 pick is surprisingly versatile. Slim and lightweight, the bag has travel-friendly features such as locking zippers on the main compartment and a USB charging port. Tear- and water-resistant fabric means it can take a beating, while tons of pockets and slots, including a padded 15.6-inch laptop section, keep you organized (even if you’re not). No wonder over 6,000 customers on Amazon have given it five stars.
Best Stylish Women’s Laptop Backpack
Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack
Whether you’re racking up the air miles or going from work to gym to an overnight, Everlane’s ReNew Transit Backpack is a chic yet roomy option. A cool side pocket makes it a cinch to whip out your 15-inch laptop at TSA, and a subtle pass-through strap slips easily over rolling luggage. If you typically lug around your entire life, you’ll love the two exterior zippered pockets, two interior slip pockets, and two water-bottle pockets (one inside, one out). The water-resistant, recycled material doesn’t hurt either.
Best Stylish Men’s Laptop Backpack
Herschel Retreat Backpack
A throwback to camping backpacks of yore, this charming Retreat Backpack from Herschel Supply Co. is dude (and dudette, for that matter) friendly. At 19.5 liters, it’s spacious enough for all your stuff but not too big to take on the road. Standout features include super-padded shoulder straps; a fleece-lined, 15-inch laptop sleeve; and a headphone port (so you can slip your headphones out from inside). No need to worry about fiddling with the buckled straps—they’re secretly magnetic. And with 35 different colors and patterns (denim, floral, camo, basic black), there’s one to suit every style.
Best Lightweight Laptop Backpack
The North Face Daypack
Light packers, rejoice! The North Face Daypack weighs in at a mere 1.4 pounds and features only the essentials: a 13-inch laptop sleeve, padded shoulder straps, and side pockets made for water bottles. Smart details include a secure top pocket, a bike-light loop, and snaps on the side pockets so they don’t stick out. The classic design is trademark North Face, as is the Lifetime Guarantee.
Best Laptop Backpack With Lots of Compartments
Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack
If you’re an everything-has-its-place type of person, consider the Dakota Backpack from Dagne Dover. The large (20-liter) version has a top pocket for your phone, exterior and interior zippered pockets, mesh slip pockets, and a dedicated laptop compartment, It even comes with a removable shoe bag and zippered pouch (they thought of everything!). Customers rave about its functionality (“SO. MANY. POCKETS,” said one) and say the water-resistant neoprene exterior is sleek yet durable.
Best Laptop Backpack for College Students
Osprey Nebula 34L Backpack
Whether backpacking through Europe or lugging textbooks between classes, college students have a lot to haul around, which is why we saved one of our biggest picks (34 liters!) for this category. Large backpacks are best left to pros like Osprey, a trusted outdoor bag brand. The Nebula has all the pockets and sleeves you expect from a standard laptop backpack, plus a padded, breathable back and compression straps to help lighten the load.
Best Laptop Backpack for 17-inch Laptops and Larger
Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Work Backpack With 17-inch Laptop Compartment
Carhartt is definitely having a moment (just ask Kanye). But the classic workwear brand has actually been making super-durable gear for more than 100 years, and this heavy-duty, water-repellent, 17-inch laptop backpack is no exception. It has a reinforced bottom, a padded back and straps, a separate 17-inch laptop compartment, and a slew of pockets for smaller essentials like cords, pens, passports, and travel documents.
Best Laptop Backpack With a USB Charger
eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack With USB Port
Designed especially for techies, this slim, structured laptop backpack from eBags looks just as good at the office as it does under the seat in front of you. With padded laptop and tablet sleeves and a side-mounted USB port, this bag is ideal for globetrotting executives, digital nomads, or anyone who needs to stay fully charged at all times. A zippered front panel fits tiny extras, and there’s even a separate compartment for your laptop charger.
Best Laptop Backpack With Wheels
High Sierra Powerglide Rolling Laptop Backpack
With over 1,000 positive reviews, the Powerglide from High Sierra is one of the top-rated rolling backpacks on eBags. Like other spinners, this one is fairly big (just over 38 liters), so it’s more of a carry-on than a personal item. In addition to a cushioned, 17-inch laptop sleeve, there’s a spacious main compartment and easy-access exterior pockets. The backpack straps tuck away when not in use, and—lest you think wearing a rollie on your back sounds uncomfortable—it has flaps to protect you from the wheels.
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