The 11+ best backpacks for college students, according to experts
These bags have plenty of pockets, zippers, sleeves and more to ensure a smooth start to college.
Calpak Laptop Backpack
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$138.00
There are several factors to consider when looking for a backpack if you’re a college student. Here’s everything our experts told me to keep in mind when curating this list:
All of the backpacks on this list are either direct recommendations from our experts, ones NBC Select have tried themselves or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.
Adidas’ prime 6 backpack, which has a 4.7-star average rating from 835 reviews on Amazon, is incredibly spacious, thanks to the five large zippered pockets on the front of the bag. On the inside, there’s even more individual pockets to further help organize your school supplies, including small notebooks, a laptop, headphones and more. It’s also great if you’re an athlete and have to carry things like tennis shoes or other types of small athletic gear. The small front pocket has sleeves for carrying essentials such as a wallet, cards, pens and notepads.
This 45-liter backpack is ideal for taking with you on trips, especially short weekend adventures or trips out of town. It has plenty of room for clothing, which is easy to fold and place inside given the rectangular shape of the backpack. The inside has a compression strap, a subtle laptop sleeve on the back and the lid has a pocket for flat personal items, like a book or passport. There’s a handle on the side making it easier to maneuver and lift up to an overhead compartment and it has buckles on the side to compress the backpack from the outside.
My brother got me this backpack last year for Christmas, since I started purchasing more apparel from Lululemon. I love the simple design of the bag and that the logo is subtle. The straps have a decent amount of padding, and it doesn’t hurt my shoulders or back even when I’m carrying a lot in. It has a small front pocket, where I keep my keys, lip balm and earbud charging case. The best part is the trolley sleeve (which is more of a strap) on the back. This means I can use it for everyday tasks, as well as when I’m traveling.
This slender backpack from Calpak is ideal for college students who only have to carry a laptop and not much else. It’s available in a ton of different shades and is square shaped, so you can carry a laptop that is 15 inches long or smaller, in addition to small textbooks and notebooks. NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown received a courtesy sample of this bag from the brand a while ago, and she’s been using it consistently ever since. “I think the structure is just gorgeous,” she says. “I especially love the stitching along the front edge and the personalized initials (optional) in the middle.” While she uses the back primarily for her work commute, she says it’s also perfect for short weekend trips, since you can fit a few toiletries and a single outfit in it in addition to a laptop.
Simply called “The Backpack” this bag from Béis comes in eight muted earthy tones, including maple, olive and beige, which are perfect shades for fall. With a 4.8-star average rating from 4,623 reviews at Béis, the backpack has two water bottle pockets (one on each side), a small pocket on the front and one large pocket toward the back. It has a thin laptop sleeve on the back and adjustable padded straps for easy, pain-free commuting. You can also get matching carry-on suitcases to go with the backpack since it has a sturdy trolley sleeve.
This backpack from Athleta has a simple overall design, with two overall pockets — one small one in the front and one large pocket for carrying most of your belongings. The inside has both a padded laptop sleeve (to prevent potential damage) and an interior water bottle pocket, ideal for holding reusable water bottles. The bag is made from a durable water-repellent polyester material, according to the brand, so if you accidentally spill something, it’s easy to wipe away.
If you prefer a sleek bag that has more of a square shape, consider this backpack from Rains. It has a sleeve that can fit a 15-inch laptop, a subtle interior phone pocket, and thin adjustable straps. It’s made of a waterproof polyester material that is good for light rain, according to the brand. The flap on the top has a magnetic fastener and a clip that you can attach to a buckle for extra security. NBC Select commerce editor Jordan Bowman uses this backpack and he loves how minimal it is. “I've had the Rains backpack for about 5 or 6 years now. I even bought one for my fiancé who also uses one during her daily commutes,” he says. It's a sleek bag and it doesn't hold much but if all you need is a laptop, a notebook, pen, some other knick knacks and keys, you're all set.”
The Luka backpack from Calpak, which has around a 4.8-star average rating from 1,530 reviews on Calpak, won the NBC Select Travel Award for best overall backpack. You can get the medium backpack, which fits a 15-inch laptop, or go up a size and get the bag that fits a 17-inch laptop. It has multiple pockets, sleeves and compartments for transporting books, clothes, equipment, small personal items and more. It has a pocket on one side for holding a small bottle and a hidden compartment on the other side for carrying shoes or an umbrella.
The Advanced Laptop Backpack from apparel brand Carhartt has a 4.8-star average rating from 5,926 reviews on Amazon. It also has lots of zippered pockets, ideal for carrying everything from a laptop, notebooks, pens, over-ear headphones, water bottles and more. There are two flexible mesh water bottle sleeves on the side so you can carry multiple bottles of water.
This backpack from Orvis, was an NBC Select Travel Award winner for best outdoor bag, could be a good fit if you like spending time outdoors since it’s lightweight (2.4 pounds when empty) and water-repellent, so it keeps your belongings dry if you find yourself in an unexpected rainstorm. “I've been using this backpack for the last couple of months as my everything bag,” says Josh Rios, NBC Select video producer. “It's my work bag, my travel bag and my gaming bag. The bag has so much space for everything from a laptop, handheld gaming system, a couple of textbooks and an extra shirt.” It’s also easy on the back and shoulders, according to Rios, since the straps help to evenly distribute the weight of the bag when it’s full.
While The North Face is a go-to brand when it comes to outdoors apparel such as fleece jackets and quarter-zip sweaters, the Jester backpack is also versatile. It has a spacious main compartment for carrying textbooks, folders, binders, notepads and much more. Plus, there is a laptop sleeve and multiple mesh pockets on the inside and one on the outside for a water bottle. The two padded shoulder straps also have a sternum strap that connects in the middle, which provides extra support to the body when carrying the bag.
There aren’t many backpack brands that are as recognizable as JanSport. The brand’s bags have a standard design that hasn’t changed much over time but works well for all sorts of college students. I’ve owned many JanSport backpacks and love how durable they are, and how many different colorways they’re available in. They’re ideal for students transitioning from high school to college because they aren’t too small or large, so no matter what your major or hobbies are, you’ll have enough space to carry books, footwear, a laptop, headphones or other accessories.
This large backpack from Beckmann has a modern look and utility. It has a monochromatic beige design, with both sternum straps that connect the two shoulder straps to provide more support to the body — this helps distribute weight evenly around the upper body. The back has substantial padding and the inside compartment has plenty of room for books and a laptop. There’s also a space for a power bank, a water bottle pocket and a buckle on the side to secure your belongings. The bag also has a water-repellent coating. NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson uses this bag and loves how spacious it is. “The Beckmann Street FLX backpack might be a little too big for everyone, but I like how much it can hold — especially if you have a bunch of large books that you're lugging around,” she says. “I love a backpack that keeps your aforementioned large books dry when it rains, too."
One of the first backpacks I had in college was a version of this popular one from Herschel. The brand’s probably most recognized for its flap-top design, which allows you to adjust the straps with a belt-style fastener rather than a zipper. This bag is spacious and stylish. It can fit a 17-inch laptop, a reusable water bottle on the side sleeve and multiple textbooks. It also has magnetic metal pins that help further fasten the backpack close and ensure you don’t lose anything.
As a college student, there are a couple of aspects to consider when shopping for a backpack for the school year. Here is what our experts recommend factoring in before shopping:
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about ergonomics, home, kitchen and lifestyle. I’ve written guides on the best lumbar support pillows, how to treat “tech neck” and the best reusable water bottles. I spoke with multiple ergonomics experts for their guidance for this story.
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