18 Best Laptop Backpacks: How to Find the Right One For You

Osprey demonstrates that you can absolutely find a quality bag without breaking the bank, with their all-around solid Flare laptop backpack. Best-suited for college and day trips, the Flare is a medium backpack sporting a sizable padded laptop compartment and a collection of smaller pockets, zippered components, and mesh bags to organize your essential tech. Its cooling, foam-cushioned back panel and lightweight design make for a comfortable backpack, and the Flare’s generous 27L of organized storage space shows that impressive models are out there for less than you’d expect.

Cotopaxi’s Tasra Backpacks already stand out from the competition because each bag is stitched together with a random collection of colors, so each one is completely unique. But Tasra also delivers for their value-packed laptop protection. These water-resistant backpacks sport a padded 15” laptop sleeve and a surprising number of pockets and pouches, so packing all of your travel tech is a breeze. Some of a vibrant Tasra’s other key points include flexible straps to comfortably carry it like a briefcase, the handy ability to unzip the backpack in halves like a suitcase, and a large amount of storage space for its relatively low price.

Spacious laptop backpacks are easy to find, but ones that place your personal comfort at the top of the list are worth going out of your way for. The North Face’s Surge features a cozy, ergonomic style built to support your shoulders and cushion your back, and a cool chemise fabric that feels nice against your skin. We were also impressed by its ability to easily stand upright, its array of organizational compartments, and durable, water-resistant design, as it feels like a particularly sturdy option when compared to many of the other models we tested.

When you’re going on a longer trip, the ability to pack everything you need and a bit more is essential, so with a 36L capacity and a rugged exterior, the PKG Aurora is sure to get your gear from point A to B safely. Unlike many larger backpacks that tend to sacrifice comfort for storage space, the PKG Aurora is lightweight, features plush, breathable back padding, and its adjustable chest strap makes it easy to wear, no matter how tall or short the wearer is. Between its water-resistant design, huge storage space, and genuinely cozy fit, it’s a must-have for those cross-country journeys.

Each of Tucano’s Ring backpacks includes an eye-catching surprise, as its interior color is the polar opposite of its exterior, a slick design choice that’s sure to turn heads at the airport or the office. The Ring’s well-cushioned shoulder straps, large, padded laptop compartment with room for an additional tablet, and featherweight construction show that its beauty isn’t skin deep, however. It’s worth noting, too, that Tucano’s is the only backpack to make our list that notes that it will easily fit a 16 inch MacBook Pro, making it a prime pick for traveling Apple fans.

There’s a good reason that JanSport has been going strong since 1967; they know how to make an all-around great backpack. Their rainbow of attractive color and design options will grab your attention, but once you’ve comfortably organized the interior of one with everything you need for school or work, you’ll understand the value of these timeless bags. At this price point, it’s impressive to find a backpack this cozy, rugged, and spacious, making JanSport a top pick for students who need a bookbag to easily last a few years.

Whether you have a 13-inch laptop or need a smaller fit for your body type, it’s worth seeking out a little backpack that’s every bit as solid as pricier extra-large options. Patagonia’s Atom Tote Pack was specifically designed with a shorter 17-inch torso length to accommodate less tall wearers, while ensuring that its shoulder straps and mesh back cushioning are comfy. Perfect fit aside, its 20L capacity and convenient array of pockets makes it easy to travel with all of your essential laptop accessories, with room to spare.

Sure, every backpack on this guide is at least fairly durable, but for anyone who needs a genuinely rock-solid model to shield their precious gadgets from the weather (or the grizzly bear hired to throw your bag onto the plane), UAG has you covered. The 24L capacity and premium foam back cushioning are excellent, while its tough clamshell exterior is surprisingly sturdy. The soft interior pockets, meanwhile, will gently cradle your sensitive electronics throughout your adventures. Most wouldn’t expect such a tough backpack to be so comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, but this rhino-tough beast of a bag is likely to surprise you.

Price: $119.95

If money is no object and you’re a globetrotter in need of a premium laptop backpack with a gigantic capacity, this is easily your best bet. With its massive 40L capacity and an array of convenient storage compartments, you’ll have plenty of well-padded space to store your 16” laptop, shoes, clothes, water bottle, and a handy laundry bag to keep your dirty clothes separated from your fresh threads. Nomatic’s titanic backpack is also easily carried about like a duffle bag, sports a wide butterfly opening so you can cruise through security checkpoints, and an overall rugged design that was made to last.

While most slimmer backpacks generally feature less storage and aren’t quite as durable as their bigger counterparts, Pacsafe’s Vibe bucks that trend. Its slender and featherweight design hides a remarkable collection of anti-theft features, including interconnecting zipper pulls to discourage pickpockets, extremely tough cut-resistant materials, and a reinforced security clip that allows wearers to bolt it in place like a bike lock. With 20L of storage space for a 13” laptop and plenty of room to spare, the Vibe is easily the most secure slim backpack available.

Price: $139.95

The Carhartt 27L Single-Compartment Backpack isn’t flashy, but beneath its simple exterior is the most durable bag you can get in its budget-friendly price range. It has ample room for both a 15” laptop and a tablet, with plenty of space for tech accessories, and unlike many other bags, it actively protects gear from moisture as water effortlessly beads up and slides off this bag like rain off a duck’s back. This particularly tough bag includes many smaller compartments for easy organization, while the mesh padding running along the straps and back cushions make it comfortable to wear while avoiding skin contact with its admittedly rough-to-the-touch rainproof materials. Carhartt’s lightweight laptop backpack is a resilient top pick for high-tech travelers who need the peace of mind that a weather-resistant bag brings.

Between its sturdy fabrics and large capacity, the Daypack Classic is a budget-friendly, yet reliably functional laptop backpack, best suited for the average daily routine. Great for school, work, and even taking on a trip to the great outdoors, this model features a soft laptop sleeve, many easily accessible pockets, and is available in an array of attractive colors. If you’re searching for a laptop backpack that is as versatile as it is rugged, the Daypack Classic is a strong contender.

Price: $99

If you’re shopping around for an extravagant backpack, Novello’s Roll-Top is a chic model with a padded RFID-protecting laptop pocket, cozy, breathable padding for the upper and lower back, and a secure buckle to keep its water-resistant fabric flap in place. Some of this premier bag’s other standout features include a convenient trolley sleeve to wheel it around the airport over your luggage’s handle, a heavy-duty exterior with multiple zippered pockets for storing smaller items, and a roomy interior to comfortably store your travel essentials. The Roll-Top is a beautiful backpack to be sure, but it’s easily the least budget-friendly model on our list.

With ample storage space in its padded pockets for both a laptop and tablet, a durable design, and an array of interior pockets, Thule’s EnRoute sports a versatile design that students can rely on. This laptop backpack also features plush fabric to protect sensitive electronics, a breathable mesh back cushion and straps for lasting comfort, and a large capacity to minimize trips to and from their locker between classes. High school and college students searching for a durable, yet affordable backpack to last more than a few years won’t be disappointed by the sleek and roomy EnRoute.

If you have to reorganize multiple times per trip, or consistently dig out items from the bottom of poorly placed pockets, it’s worth upgrading to a backpack optimized for organization, like the extremely customizable Division from Timbuk2. The Division’s brilliantly designed plush, padded rear-access sleeve not only effectively protects your laptop, but its flat position provides a surprising amount of extra storage space for your other travel gear. Its internal organizer makes sorting smaller tech and retrieving your mouse, stylus, or earbuds a far easier task. On top of the Division being a prime pick for arranging your essentials, the range of material and color customization options offered is particularly impressive as well.

Although many of the impressive backpacks that made our list are fairly pricey, the Targus Groove shows that there are some truly great deals out there. For just under $50, the Groove sports a lightweight and water-resistant design with a substantial capacity, optimized for organizing all of your mobile tech. This cushioned backpack and its variety of pockets easily stores a 16” laptop and mobile devices, and even features a tiny porthole for listening to the music player in your bag via wired headphones. Sure, it’s not the most attractive backpack on the market, but good luck finding anything more durable and practical for under 50 bucks.

Gaming laptops are simply a different breed—they tend to be built bulkier and heavier to house a bigger fan, battery, and a wider display, but the average backpack isn’t designed to accommodate these hulking PCs. Razer’s Concourse Pro caters to PC gamers with its extra-large padded compartment to store 18-inch laptops and a plush interior to keep pricey gaming accessories supported and safe throughout the journey. We were especially fond of this backpack’s plush, cushioned back and matching straps to keep us comfortable as we carried around a pack full of gaming tech.