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The Spruce / Lecia Landis
Every college student needs a backpack—ideally, one that’s spacious, durable, and useful enough to get you through the next four years.
We researched the best choices from top brands, considering the comfort, stability, and organization of each one.
Here, the best backpacks for college.
Best Overall
Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack
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Has a padded laptop sleeve
Has a fleece-lined pocket for sunglasses
Available in various colors and patterns
Lifetime warranty
Expensive
Herschel is widely beloved in the backpack space, and the brand’s Pop Quiz Backpack doesn’t disappoint. This option is spacious, durable, and lightweight—and it offers just enough compartments to keep your must-haves organized, earning the top spot in this roundup.
The bag comes equipped with a padded laptop sleeve, a fleece-lined sunglasses pocket, and a few other compartments you can use to store your go-tos. The base of the bag is lined with a water-resistant, faux leather panel that promises to keep your stuff safe when you encounter spills and puddles.
Herschel has a lifetime warranty so if anything happens to your bag, you can swap it out for a new one, which is a huge plus. There are 16 colors and designs to choose from, so you can guarantee it looks trendy and stylish along with being durable and practical. Users also loved how comfortable the backpack feels during the day, while some wished there were a few more organizational pockets.
Price at time of publish: $80
Size: 11.75 x 6 x 17.5 inches | Materials: Fabric, fleece lining, faux leather base | Compartments: 1 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 1 zippered pocket | Capacity: 22 L
Best Budget
Modoker 15.6-Inch Vintage Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Durable
Built-in USB port
Available in various colors
May feel bulky
Searching for a solid backpack that won’t break the bank? Modoker’s Vintage Laptop Backpack may be exactly what you’re looking for. The backpack is crafted from a durable nylon material, and its faux leather details lend it plenty of sleek style. The backpack boasts six different compartments: a laptop sleeve, a spacious main compartment, two water bottle pockets, and two compact pockets fit for smaller must-haves. Even better: It comes with a built-in USB port you can use to recharge your phone while you're on the go.
Price at time of publish: $47
Size: 11.8 x 6.8 x 15.8 inches | Material: Nylon | Compartments: 2 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 3 zippered pockets + 2 water bottle holders | Capacity: 25 L
Best for Laptop
Moleskine Metro Backpack
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Sleek and compact
Water-repellent material
Fits laptops up to 15 inches
Available in various colors
Not as spacious as other bags
No small pockets
If you’re looking for a sleek, compact backpack that can help keep your laptop safe from the elements, Moleskine’s Metro Backpack is an excellent pick. This backpack is crafted from water-repellent nylon material, and it boasts a protective polyurethane base that promises to keep your electronics safe from spills and puddles. The simple backpack comes with two streamlined compartments: one for your laptop and one for everything else. And since it boasts such a low-profile silhouette, it’s an excellent pick for commuting, traveling, and day-to-day use.
Price at time of publish: $169
Size: 12.25 x 5.25 x 18.5 inches | Material: Polyamide, PU | Compartments: 2 | Pockets: 2 zippered pockets | Capacity: 15 L
Best Waterproof
United By Blue 15L Commuter Pack
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United By Blue
Waterproof
Lightweight
Made from recycled materials
Has a padded laptop sleeve
Expensive
Many backpacks claim to be water-resistant, but United By Blue's 15L Commuter Pack is complete with a durable water repellant finish for resisting both water and stains. The bag is crafted from a coated polyester, which promises to keep your must-haves safe—even if you get caught in the rain. On the interior of the bag, you’ll find a padded laptop sleeve to secure your favorite devices. And on the outside of the bag, you’ll find a smaller pocket for valuables. The best part is that for every product purchased, United By Blue removes a pound of trash from oceans and waterways.
Price at time of publish: $78
Size: 19 x 14 x 5 inches | Material: Recycled Polyester | Compartments: 1 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 2 zippered pockets | Capacity: 15 L
Best Lightweight
Paravel Fold-Up Backpack
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Bloomingdale's
Foldable
Easy to clean
Crafted from recycled water bottles
Available in various colors
Buckles may be uncomfortable
Not a lot of padding
Paravel’s Fold-Up Backpack is not your average backpack. The bag is crafted from durable nylon, so it’s incredibly easy to clean—and when empty, it can fold down to a fraction of its size. This makes the bag a particularly useful pick for hikes, picnics, and other day trips. Its spacious interior can hold snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and other necessities you might use up on the go. And once you’re finished using the bag to store stuff, you can fold it inside one of its pockets and carry it around like a wallet, which is great news for tiny dorms.
Price at time of publish: $65
Size: 9 x 13 x 16 inches | Material: Nylon | Compartments: 1 | Pockets: 2 zippered pockets | Capacity: Not listed
Best for Travel
Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Backpack
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Amazon
Slash-resistant material
Zippers come equipped with locks
Interior has RFID-blocking pockets
Available in various colors
Smaller than other options
Not as breathable as other backpacks
Whether you’re taking a vacation or spending a semester abroad, you need a bag that can hold up to a little wear and tear—and that can keep your stuff safe. Travelon’s Anti-Theft Classic Backpack promises to do both of those things masterfully. The durable bag is crafted from a slash-resistant material, and since all of its exterior zip-up pockets come with built-in locks, you can rest assured knowing your stuff will stay safe and secure. Even better? The interior of the bag is lined with RFID-blocking pockets that make it easy to keep your cards and your passport out of harm’s way.
Price at time of publish: $85
Size: 12 x 6 x 16 inches | Material: Polyester | Compartments: 1 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 2 zippered pockets + water bottle holder | Capacity: 11 L
Best Rolling
JanSport Drive 8 Backpack
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Walmart
Water-resistant
Has a padded laptop sleeve
Available in various colors
Lifetime warranty
May tip over when weighted too heavily
Don’t feel like carrying your stuff around all day? JanSport has you covered. The brand’s Driver 8 rolling backpack is a classic backpack that doubles as a rolling bag, making it easy for you to transport your stuff exactly how you want to. The bag is crafted from a durable, water-resistant fabric, and its spacious interior will give you plenty of room to store your stuff. Take advantage of the bag’s two main compartments and its padded laptop sleeve, and use the extra exterior pockets to keep your smaller must-haves organized.
Price at time of publish: $140
Size: 17.5 x 13 x 10 inches | Material: Polyester, mesh | Compartments: 2 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 2 zippered pockets + 1 water bottle holder | Capacity: 36 L
Best Charging
Oscaurt Anti Theft 15.6" Travel Laptop Backpack
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Amazon
Anti-theft material
Water-resistant
Built-in USB port
Loaded with pockets and compartments
Not very large or spacious
Zippers may be tough to use
A dead battery is always a bummer. Thankfully, Oscaurt’s Laptop Backpack makes it easy to recharge your favorite devices on the go. The budget-friendly backpack is crafted from a water-resistant, anti-theft material, and it comes equipped with a USB port you can use to recharge your devices whenever you need to. On the interior of the bag, you’ll find a series of pockets and compartments. All these options make it easy to keep your must-haves organized and secure, whether you’re traveling with a laptop, a water bottle, or a handful of smaller must-haves.
Price at time of publish: $50
Size: 11 x 5 x 17 inches | Material: PVC polyester, fine twill polyester | Compartments: 1 + internal laptop sleeve | Pockets: 3 zippered pockets + water bottle holder | Capacity: Not listed
Our favorite college backpack is the Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack (view at Amazon) due to its spacious design with various compartments to hold your laptop, supplies, sunglasses, and more. As an added bonus, it's also water-resistant. Looking for something designed around your laptop? Try Moleskine's Backpack Metro Collection (view at Food52). It's water-repellent, durable, and will keep your electronics perfectly safe.
What to Look for in a College Backpack
Stability
In college, you aren’t just carrying a backpack around—you’re also setting it down in classrooms, coffee shops, and more. “This pack is your portable office,” Liana Delucca Johnson, co-founder and head of equipment at Agency Aspect, says. “There is nothing worse than a pack that falls face first in the dirt or on the classroom floor.” So look for a backpack that has a sturdy base and a durable, easy-to-grab top handle.
Organization
Your backpack should make it easy for you to store and organize your stuff, so look for something that has all the pockets and compartments you need. Keep an eye out for padded laptop sleeves, side panels for water bottles, and more. And make sure your backpack is adequately roomy. Most standard backpacks can fit a 15-inch laptop, but double-check that the one you’re looking at has space for other necessities, too.
Comfort
Since you’ll be walking all around campus with your backpack, you’ll want to invest in something comfortable. Look for options that are padded and breathable, and keep an eye out for weight, too. “Keep in mind how much the backpack weighs empty,” Delucca Johnson says. If your backpack is already uncomfortably heavy when empty, just imagine how it’ll feel when it’s full.
Why Trust The Spruce?
As a seasoned lifestyle writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands what a difference a great product recommendation can make. That’s why she makes sure to recommend products that are sleek, reliable, and well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. To write this article, she consulted experts and selected backpacks for their durability, size, and comfort.
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