We've tested 40 of the best laptop backpacks over the last 11 years. This update features 11 of the market's best contenders that we've tested side-by-side. As remote workers, we've traveled across the United States and the globe, using each on our adventures. We tested these while commuting to work and school, stuffing them with everything from books to clothes to lunches and more! We take them on our bike commutes, on the bus, in the car, and on airplanes. We even put each under the shower head to see how they'll perform in a rainstorm. After putting each to the test, we offer our recommendations to help you on your quest to find the best backpack.
If you already have a backpack you love and just need some extra protection for your laptop, consider a laptop sleeve. Also, check out our budget backpack picks to see which affordable packs we recommend. With remove work becoming more and more accessible, you may find yourself wanting to combing your work and travel bags. In this case, check out this list of our favorite travel backpacks.
The Incase Icon is a sleek and stylish laptop backpack with excellent organization and protection. It's no wonder it's our favorite among the competition. It holds 17 liters worth of stuff, while also keeping it padded and protected from daily abuse. Load up a laptop, tablets, lunch, books, binders, and your after-work clothing in one backpack. It has three main compartments for exceptional organizational capacity and easy access to all your items. Its urban style is a superb choice for work, school, or even travel.
The North Face Borealis pack offers spacious storage that holds oodles of books. We love it for its easy-to-use pockets, separate computer access, and voluminous interior. It has all the necessary organizational features with many add-ons that make it a stellar option for both the city and the trails. This is a versatile pack that's fantastic for work, school, travel, or running errands. It's durable and water-resistant, performing well through most weather.
The Peak Design Everyday is one of our favorites because of its combination of style and practicality. It has a massive main compartment with nifty adjustable velcro dividers that allow you to configure the storage in a variety of different ways for computers, chargers, camera equipment, and more. It also has a second slot at the back with multiple computer sleeves. What this all means is that this laptop bag can carry a lot of stuff. It looks great for the office or college classes and it has features like magnet closures and a host of smaller pockets to organize headphones, pens, and all of the miscellaneous stuff that just ends up in a bag.
There's not a whole lot for us to knock with this model. If we were forced to find a few things, we can't look away from the price. It is an expensive option. Though we think it is worth the money for heavy users, it's no doubt a limiting factor. Because of its size, we also noticed that it can look and feel quite large for people with smaller frames. With all of this in mind, we still think this is one of the best packs around for work, school, and play.
The Cotopaxi Tasra 16L is easily one of the most unique and 'coolest' laptop backpacks that we've tested thus far. It offers several features that make it an excellent travel bag, whether to your office or on a plane. Its organizational compartments make everything easy to see, including a zippered compartment for extra layers or items that you'd like to keep super secure. You can wear it as a backpack or tuck away the straps to carry it as a briefcase or messenger bag. What we love even more is that no bag out there in the world is the same. Each has the same architecture, but with different fabric colors and designs. So, when you buy it, you won't only be supporting a company that makes these bags with recycled materials, but you'll be getting a unique backpack.
Over the last 11 years, we've tested more than three dozen laptop packs. To test each backpack, we wore them everywhere we went. Using a 15-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air, we assessed which bags provide the best storage capacity and protection. We stuffed each with electronics, threw in our gym clothes, and loaded them with binders and textbooks to see which are more comfortable when weighed down. We wore each while riding a bike to see which fared best for cycling commuters, and we even threw them in the shower to test how they'd do in a downpour.
Our review team consists of three veteran GearLab review writers, with contributions from friends and family.Amber King taught elementary science for several years before starting up an educational non-profit. She works remotely, dropping into different co-working spaces while traveling and exploring the globe. Katherine Elliot bike commutes daily with a laptop in tow. Ben Applebaum-Bauch is also a regular bike commuter and student, using a backpack every day for work, school, and travel. In addition to our lead testers, we asked teachers, software engineers, and other commuting professionals to help us gather data for each product. In our latest round of testing, we used these will reviewing top folding electric bikes.
We tested a wide range of laptop backpacks to provide a great overview of the current market. Each was objectively scored across a few metrics to determine relative levels of performance. We compare each across the metrics to give you a glance at which bags are best for specific applications.
For many, the price will be a significant consideration when purchasing a laptop backpack. Some of us can't afford the fancy construction and features found in more expensive bags. Of our test group, two stand out above the rest in regards to value. The North Face Borealis offers the best quality for the best price. You can depend on it to last for many years, and it has exceptional storage and protection. The Matein Travel pack is an inexpensive option that functions well enough for most folks. Between the two, the Borealis is to be trusted for use for many years. However, the cost of the Matein pack truly can't be beaten. While it may not be as durable, it boasts a more stylish and sleek design than the Borealis, and for a much lower price. We recommend either bag if you're simply looking for the best value.
Laptops are fragile and expensive machines that need protection from knocks and blows that could cause damage. The laptop compartment architecture is critical in achieving knock-out protection. Protection in the form of foam pads or sheaths is common, yet the most protective system utilizes a well-padded suspension system or a separate, well-padded compartment. Some of these compartments are built-in, while others that seem to offer the best protection can be taken out of the backpack for effortless utility.
Other options might have suspension systems, like the Patagonia Black Hole 25, but have minimal padding around the laptop itself. To find the best protection, consider options with ample padding, separate compartments, and suspension systems that will keep your computer off the ground. When considering backpacks that are without structure, like the Cotopaxi Tasra 16L, know that adding items (like a jacket) inside of them will inherently make them more protective.
The size of the compartment that holds the laptop is critical because if it is too large, the computer will move around, exposing it to potential knocks and friction. Virtually every bag we tested is designed to fit a 15-inch laptop. The Jansport Right Pack has a huge amount of volume that would fit a thicker 15" laptop and its case.
Laptop backpacks are typically designed with some kind of sleeve or slot to accommodate an iPad or tablet. Though some compartments may seem too large for a small laptop, as you fill your pack with the day's essentials, your computer will have less room to shift around. Consider the size of your laptop and choose a pack that will provide the best options. The Peak Design Everyday has a secure laptop slot that holds a computer securely in place.
The securing system works hand-in-hand with the compartment design to hold the laptop in place, ensuring that it doesn't move. Adjustable Velcro straps work best. Other options don't have these securing systems but have a separate pocket for the laptop. Those that are more narrow will limit the range of motion, while wider slots will have your computer shifting around more. Some of the bags have no securing system at all, meaning you must take care to set your bag down upright and gently, or be prepared to pay the possible price.
In the end, none of these backpacks do a perfect job of protecting a laptop. Regardless of which bag you use, the best protection is a keen awareness of how you move with your pack on and how you set it down.
Equally important, as far as comfort goes, is the construction of the backplate. Some of the backpacks we tested have super stiff trays or plastic sheets to add rigidity and protection to the laptop. While these may do a better job of protecting your computer (a key factor), they are not as comfortable. Packs like the Incase Icon that incorporated soft padding in the backplate were the most comfortable in our tests, both for walking and bike riding. We also appreciate a backplate with good breathability, like The North Face Borealis.
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