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The 14 best backpacks for college students, tested and reviewed
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As any college student knows, your backpack is the most important accessory you'll wear all year. We tested the best backpacks for college students on their ability to carry a day's worth class essentials neatly and comfortably. Naturally, we also looked for the best-looking ergonomic designs — our favorites look sleek and polished, even when filled to their brim.
We found the overall best backpack for college students to be The North Face Recon Backpack. Men's style editor Amir Ismael especially liked its ultra-supportive straps, chest and back clips that distribute weight evenly, as well as its defined pockets for your laptop, books, water bottle, and phone. For something a little more fashionable yet still as functional, I love the popular Dagne Dover Dakota for the plush straps, luxe look, and neat removable compartments.
If you like the convenience of a backpack with the practicality of a tote, you can save 30% off our favorite convertible bag during Lo & Sons' Summer Sale.
The top 5 best backpacks for college students we tested:
The legendary North Face Recon is comfortable, durable, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Beyond the sustainability factor, it’s a great college bag because of its padded laptop and tablet sleeves and side pockets. It also has an outer, small pocket that’s at the perfect spot to quickly grab something like a sweater or snacks.
It’s perfect for a student who’s carrying a 15-inch laptop with a nice load of books and random accessories, like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted highlighters.
The easily recognizable neoprene bag has a stylish, luxe look on the outside and clever compartments on the inside. It comes in three sizes and nine colors.
Students can utilize this bag's padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with its two side pockets. It has a 25 liter main compartment, containing two mesh slots and extra outer pockets for storing smaller items.
When searching for the best backpacks for college students, we look for durability, functionality, and style. Undoubtedly, The North Face Recon Backpack is the perfect combination of all three.
It has a posture-correcting design. The suspension system consists of a sternum strap, back clips, and removable waist belt that help balance weight evenly, which alleviates back pain when carrying heavier loads. The back is padded with a ventilated cushion, and its wide shoulder straps won't dig into your skin.
The pockets are intuitively placed. Its medium-size main compartment has a laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket filled with practical separations for all of charging cords, smaller devices, and writing utensils, plus two water bottle pockets on the sides.
Safety features are a bonus. The chest buckle has a whistle, and the backpack has a reflective outer layer that stays illuminated in low light. Plus, the sleeves are plush enough to protect your tech from breaking on impact.
We also include the Recon in our guide to the best backpacks for students, as it makes a great confidence-boosting gift for pupils heading off to a new school. In terms of style, its minimal design and array of colorways make this a versatile choice for those who use a backpack for work or when traveling in addition to on campus.
Patagonia is one of our favorite B-corp retail companies and we appreciate it's eco-conscious approach to outdoor gear. It also has a small outer pocket that's in the perfect spot for quickly grabbing something like a sweater or snacks.
The shoulder straps are supremely comfortable. The lightweight padding feels plush on the shoulders and its sternum strap relieves extra pressure from your spine.
It stays dry in the rain. The Refugio's recycled nylon exterior is coated with a water repellent finish that wicks moisture.
It comes with a removable laptop sleeve. If you need to lighten your load, you can slide out the sleeve so it effectively functions as a daypack.
JanSport's Main Campus FX is a top rated travel backpack, so it's great for students when they're in school and even after they graduate. Not only is it built perfectly for carrying books and laptops, but it's also versatile, making it easy to use for everything from classes to road trips to the gym.
It's a classic design. The Main Campus FX carries a 15-inch laptop with a heavy load of books and random accessories like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted writing utensils. The padded straps make carrying its weight a bit breezier.
It's spacious and has neat organizational features. The dedicated laptop pocket is nicely padded, and there are two other full-size compartments, making room for anything and everything. It also has a keychain in the front pocket to keep your dorm or apartment keys handy. JanSport's Right Pack is also a helpful but downgraded option that's better suited for the techie who has gone paperless.
If you like a minimalistic design with ample space and clever compartments, the Dakota neoprene backpack will be your saving grace.
It comes in three sizes. All of which are water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and complete with sleek straps. Inside, there are pockets galore, so no space is wasted. The laptop compartment in the large version fits a 16-inch laptop, which is bigger than the average college device. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and has a mesh tablet pocket, five medium-sized pockets, and a convenient detachable pouch. Two exterior pockets can carry your water bottle and a stash of snacks.
It has a trendy, minimalistic design. Despite its simple exterior, e can confidently say this luxury backpack fits everything you'd ever need: a laptop, tablet, textbooks, water bottle, notebook, snacks, and a spare pair of shoes. On the outside, it looks chic and simple, but inside, it gives you all the power to be your most organized self. It even has a nearly-invisible slip pocket by the handle where you can keep small items like a snack or headphones.
One of our favorite features is the luggage handle sleeve that allows you to slide the backpack onto any carry-on you're wheeling around.
Read more in our full Dagne Dover Dakota backpack review.
For the college student with a maturing style and an appreciation for a spacious bag, this Vera Bradley backpack is both a great stylistic and functional choice.
It has a luggage handle and smooth-pull zippers. Inside is a padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with two side pockets for a water bottle. It has a sizable 25-liter main compartment containing two mesh slip pockets and outer pockets to store smaller items.
It comes in dozens of colorways. This is one of the best college backpacks that combines utility with a minimalistic look. The small brand tag is monochromatic and located on the side, so it blends in with the rest of the backpack. Once you open its pockets, you get a pop of paisley pattern and personality.
This backpack is all about functionality, protecting your laptop, and basic storage.
It has a big main compartment with little extra. The Comfort Carry Pack has a spacious 30-liter capacity, but not an extravagance of pockets. There's a main compartment with a laptop pocket as well as a second compartment with an organizer for pencils.
You can strap shoes or a jacket to the front. Made with a chest belt, hip belt, and padded straps, this is a great choice for going between school and other activities. The bungee cords on the front are a perfect place to store one last bulky item, like a jacket or dust bag.
Lululemon's lightweight Everyday Backpack does exactly what a college backpack needs to do without too many frills.
It has room for sneakers, gym clothes, and a towel. The wider-set bag has a 23-liter capacity and a padded laptop pocket that fits a 16-inch device. It's made with a water-repellent fabric, two side pockets for water bottles, inner mesh pockets, and a small outer pocket. It has a luggage sleeve and the minimalistic logo doesn't scream "I love Lululemon."
It has a sleek silhouette. You can fill this with gym clothes and it won't look bulky. While not made of the thickest material, the popular fitness brand's Everyday Backpack is designed with exactly what a college student needs.
The Carhartt Medium Pack, bundled with the three-can insulated cooler, might be one of the best college backpacks for hauling books and lunch.
It's highly durable. The backpack is made from Cordura, an incredibly durable ripstop material that's also been treated to be water-repellent. The outside of the bag features a mesh pocket for a water bottle, a Hook-n-Haul system for adding extra items like the insulated cooler, and air-mesh shoulder padding. The inside of the bag has plenty of practical storage compartments. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to the fleece-lined eyewear compartment, you can keep all of your belongings organized and easily accessible.
The attached compartment can keep perishables refrigerated. "My favorite feature is the attached cooler. It can fit up to three 12-ounce cans, but it's also the perfect spot to keep snacks or a lunch for days when you have a packed schedule of classes. And when you're not on campus, it's perfect for hiking, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you'd want to enjoy a cold drink while on the go. It's also easily removable if you prefer to carry the backpack without it." — Amir Ismael, style editor
The Herschel Little America backpack is a classic carryall with a deceiving name. With its spacious 25 liters and nicely padded laptop compartment, the pack is made to help you carry everything you need for school while sporting a timeless style.
You can expand or collapse the bag easily. The main compartment is like a huge pit where you can fit a lot of things: books, snacks, tech, and more. It also has two small side pockets on the inside. Little America is easily expandable and easily collapsible. The single outer pocket is perfect for storing quick things you may need throughout your day.
It has extra long adjustable straps. The backside is thoroughly padded for comfortable carrying. Though, personally, we think this backpack works best on taller people since it's 19.25 inches long. For this reason, the bag is a bit overwhelming on a shorter back.
The North Face is known for making durable and high-quality gear and the Borealis Backpack, one of the brand's most classic styles, is no different.
It's great for hauling all sorts of gear. The 28-liter size fits just about everything you need for class and then some. It has the standard features: a nicely padded laptop pocket, a spacious main compartment, side pockets for water bottles, a small fleece-lined outer pocket, and a bigger outer pocket with pockets and places for pens. It's built with a chest and hip belt, making it useful for hikes too.
It's easy to open and close. There's also a small but thoughtful feature to appreciate: U-pull zippers that make unzipping any of its pockets 10 times easier. The Borealis Backpack may not have a bunch of hidden compartments in the niftiest spaces, but it does what it needs to with quality materials made to last a long while. And for the same price, the Women's Borealis is specifically designed to fit a slighter build.
We tested Eddie Bauer's previous Adventurer backpack, but their 2.0 version is even better. It stands out as one of the best backpacks for college students because of its versatility and durability.
It has extra space for staying hydrated. They aren't kidding when they say this backpack is for adventures — it has a hydration-compatible compartment and two water bottle pockets for your next hike to campus.
It keeps your valuables dry. This backpack has a unique side access 17" laptop pocket and small fleece-lined front pockets for your smaller items. This water-repellent bag is built to battle with you all through college and after.
We've tested the now-retired Carhartt Classic Work Pack, but thankfully, the 25 L Classic Laptop Backpack is an excellent upgrade.
It's made from a durable, water-repellent mateiral. On the inside, it accommodates a medium-size cargo load. Thanks to its front zippered pocket with key ring clip and separated mesh slots for your phone, notebooks, or pens, you won't lose any of your smaller items at the bottom of the bag.
It has a dedicated 15-inch laptop sleeve at the back of the main compartment, and this new model even comes with side pockets of water bottle storage. You can get it in the classic brown colorway that the Michigan-made workwear brand is recognized for.
You can customize its width to fit in small spaces. The compact rectangular design can be expanded, making it especially versatile. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit. It has three pockets: a laptop pocket, main compartment, and outer pouch. The laptop pocket is well padded and the zipper is tucked away in the back. The straps are nice and soft, though oriented differently than the typical backpack, and it has two side pouches that can be used to store a water bottle and possibly even an umbrella.
It's a popular eco-friendly brand. I see this backpack all the time on my college campus. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit.
Read more about its upgraded version in our full Fjällräven Tree Kånken review.
Sometimes a tote is more convenient to access your belongings at a moment's notice, but the one-shoulder design is bound to cause more discomfort than two straps.
It switchess seamlessly between a backpack and a tote. Instead of deciding between the two, the Rowledge combines them into one convertible laptop bag.
It's great for busy commutes. "I was successfully able to fit two bags worth of stuff into the Rowledge, and its convertible style came in handy on a crowded train. As more and more people filed in, I had to remove my bag from my back and hold it by my side. I was able to secure the backpack straps within the travel sleeve and firmly grip my bag via the handbag handles. The conversion was so easy that I didn't even realize I walked onto the train with a backpack and exited with a handbag," says Francesca Rea, former Story Production Manager.
Read more in our full Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack review.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected].
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