College Backpacks That Will Get You Ready for the Real World

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A backpack is a classic college staple that every student needs for carrying their books, papers, and laptop. Nowadays, a quality backpack can also double as a gym bag and carry-on for trips back home. That’s why it’s essential you find one that’s durable and large enough to carry what you need. Of course, it’s not enough for a backpack to hold your stuff. Our favorite picks are also stylish, allowing you to make a lasting first impression on the first day of class.

Above all, the best backpacks for college should be comfortable. Students experience enough stress, so it’s crucial the backpack they wear doesn’t put extra pressure on their neck or back. That means your backpack should have ample padding, adjustable shoulder straps, and a contoured design that doesn’t feel like it’s weighing you down. Whether it’s a classic pick from North Face or an organizational powerhouse from Bellroy, these are the best backpacks for college.

The Best Backpacks for College

• Best Overall: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack

• Best Budget: Amazon Basics Laptop Bag

• Most Popular: The North Face Men's Borealis Backpack

• Great Nordic Style: Kanken Classic Backpack for Everyday

• Best Laptop Bag: Timbuk2 Division Deluxe Laptop Bag

• Best Large Capacity: Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0 23L

What to Consider

A backpack is something you’ll use every day, so it’s crucial you pick one that fits your needs. Think about how you will use it. What are some things you’ll carry? And if you already have big dreams of joining the corporate world, consider how this backpack might fit your professional career. Here are the things we recommend before buying a backpack for college.

Interior Space and Organization

As we mentioned, backpacks carry more than books—they hold gym clothes, gear, and even emergency makeup. You’ll want something with ample interior space if you use it for multiple things. If you're into sports, theater, or dance — anything where you might need changes of clothing and shoes, you want a bag with a compartment just for that so that the rest of your bag doesn't smell like sweat and feet. (I played soccer, and I was in theater — and I can promise you that those dreadful olfactory memories never leave you.)

In addition to ensuring the backpack you choose is spacious enough for your needs, consider its organizational features, including a secure laptop compartment. Your bag should have enough pockets to hold your cables, portable batteries, makeup, and stationary. Considering the importance of staying hydrated, it’s also convenient when a bag has a compartment to store your reusable water bottle or shaker cup.

Comfort and Durability

An uncomfortable backpack can put strain on your neck and back. The one you choose should have adjustable padded shoulder straps and a padded back panel. The most comfortable bags also feature an adjustable sternum strap (the strap that clips across your chest), which can help distribute weight more evenly. These features make a heavy bag more comfortable to wear, whether you’re trekking across campus or going next door to the library.

Beyond comfort, the best backpacks should also be durable enough to survive being dropped, tugged, and thrown. High-quality backpacks are often made from nylon and polyester, which can withstand regular wear and tear. Some bags feature a water-resistant coating or treatment on the fabric, allowing your bag to keep its contents dry in light rain.

Style

The bag you choose should reflect your style, so consider factors such as design, color, and materials. A backpack with a minimal, modern design may look good in a more professional setting, like an internship. Meanwhile, something with brighter, bolder colors can showcase your unique style and creativity. Luckily, backpacks come in all different shapes, styles, and colors, whether you like a modern design or something more vintage.

How We Chose

I spoke with college students, professors, and students who are about to start their freshman year. I watched all of the TikTok videos on what's popular, what's getting trashed, and what has staying power. I have tested some of these bags myself, and I curated a list that I think has a bag for every kind of student. Check out our top college backpacks below that are great for every type of student.

Dakota Neoprene Backpack

The Dakota is sized just right to fit your 16-inch laptop in its padded tech sleeve, your books, your pens and notecards, and an extra pair of shoes that go right in the shoe bag that they provide.

It's made of neoprene and other vegan materials and feels a bit like a swimmer's wetsuit. That material is extremely easy to clean, doesn't show dirt easily to begin with, and holy moly, is it durable.

Rarely have I ever seen a backpack that is chic, stylish, rugged, and utilitarian. Usually, you're lucky to get two on that list. Dagne Dover's Dakota is the rare exception.

More: Check Out These Dorm Essentials

Laptop Bag

It’s not the most stylish backpack around, but for the price, it gets the job done. The Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack features several compartments, organizational pockets, and a dedicated laptop sleeve for models up to 17 inches. The backpack also offers mesh water bottle pockets on each side, so you can stay hydrated between classes.

Despite its low price and basic design, Amazon’s bag offers a large amount of space and excellent functionality. We only wish it came in colors other than black. Still, for students on a budget, this bag will serve you well thanks to its ample storage and durable, simple design.

Men's Borealis Backpack

The North Face is famously known for being durable and useful, and that's where this backpack shines. It's oversized, has tons of pockets and compartments, a tech sleeve, rip-stop fabric exterior, a bungee section for shoes or sports equipment, and dedicated water bottle space.

This is hands-down the most popular backpack for incoming freshmen and rising sophomores. On the campus of Brooklyn College, you could not turn around without seeing one. College students love it because it's trendy and popular, sure, but more because it's hard to damage and keeps their books and electronics safely and securely tucked away.

Kanken Classic Backpack for Everyday

In-between classes, you may feel like hiking some Nordic fjords or, should we say, heading to the lake near campus. This bag is designed to excel at both.

Light, rugged, and with plenty of cargo space, Fjallraven is a workhorse of a bag with Swedish style. The material, called Vinyon F, is unique in its stain resistance and easy cleanability. It has 16 liters of storage space spread across two primary pockets, alongside an easy top-handle for quick, on-the-go carrying.

Kanken Classic Backpack for Everyday

In-between classes, you may feel like hiking some Nordic fjords or, should we say, heading to the lake near campus. This bag is designed to excel at both.

Light, rugged, and with plenty of cargo space, Fjallraven is a workhorse of a bag with Swedish style. The material, called Vinyon F, is unique in its stain resistance and easy cleanability. It has 16 liters of storage space spread across two primary pockets, alongside an easy top-handle for quick, on-the-go carrying.

Division Deluxe Laptop Bag

Timbuk2 is a well-known brand in tech circles, so it’s no surprise it offers our favorite laptop bag. The Division Deluxe features a dedicated rear-access laptop sleeve (up to 15 inches), giving you more room in the main compartment for your books and gym clothes. Of course, it features various other pockets and sleeves to store pencils and cables.

The rear panel offers extra padding and ventilated air mesh, keeping your back sweat-free. The bottom boot is also water-resistant in case you absent-mindedly set it down in a puddle. As a bonus, the Division Deluxe features a luggage pass-through for travel and a side-stretch pocket for your water bottle.

Everyday Backpack 2.0 23L

I get it — Lululemon? The legging store? How could they make a good backpack? I promise you they have, and it's even more spacious than it looks.

The design is pretty basic, but where it stands out is that it not only fits a 16-inch laptop with tons of room to spare, it has a trolley-compatible sleeve for easy transport when you're traveling. That means that there's a strap on the back of the bag that slings over the handle of your luggage.

It has two primary compartments with several interior pockets to keep your chargers, pens, and other stuff from getting all jumbled.

Users love this backpack because of how it looks but also how spacious it is — it has a whopping 23 liters of storage. One student told me that this backpack holds everything: “It holds my tap shoes, three leotards, my comp lit textbook, computer, iPad, and the weight of my parent’s expectations.”

I think we can all agree that’s a lot of stuff — so if you’re in need of a lot of space, this is the college backpack for you.

Everyday Backpack 2.0 23L

I get it — Lululemon? The legging store? How could they make a good backpack? I promise you they have, and it's even more spacious than it looks.

The design is pretty basic, but where it stands out is that it not only fits a 16-inch laptop with tons of room to spare, it has a trolley-compatible sleeve for easy transport when you're traveling. That means that there's a strap on the back of the bag that slings over the handle of your luggage.

It has two primary compartments with several interior pockets to keep your chargers, pens, and other stuff from getting all jumbled.

Users love this backpack because of how it looks but also how spacious it is — it has whopping 23 liters of storage. One student told me that this backpack holds everything: “It holds my tap shoes, three leotards, my comp lit textbook, computer, iPad, and the weight of my parent’s expectations.”

I think we can all agree that’s a lot of stuff — so if you’re in need of a lot of space, this is the college backpack for you.

Main Campus Fx Black

Jansport backpacks are an industry standard. They're not the prettiest flower in the garden, but a solid perennial all the same.

It has several different compartments and pockets, including a 15-inch laptop sleeve and mesh water bottle carrier. It's made of a densely woven nylon blend that is truly hard to tear, even if you're filling your backpack to seam-busting levels every day.

The cushioned S-curve straps make for an easier carry, with nothing digging into your body too far.

Excel 6 Backpack

The adidas Excel 6 is so durable that it even has a lifetime warranty. Its spacious design has two primary compartments, each with multiple pockets. There's a 15-inch tech pocket, two mesh water bottle pockets on the sides, and load spring shoulder straps to ease the weight of the backpack, settling it more evenly.

Another TikTok favorite, adidas is known for its sporty look and overall usefulness. It's got plenty of storage for your books and your boots. It's a big bonus that the fabric wipes clean and doesn't retain smells easily.

TSA Large Backpack with USB Charger Port

This is the quintessential tech-friendly backpack. It has a USB charging port, space for a 17-inch laptop, multiple water-resistant, padded compartments, and a luggage strap to hold onto your carry-on or suitcase as you go through the airport.

The number of programming students that have this bag is astonishing. And that has as much to do with the price as it does the style, from what I've gathered. When you have the combination of utility, style, and price, it's going to be a winner every time.

Survey Backpack

Honestly, with how many Herschel bags I saw on campus between Brooklyn College and Columbia University, I really had to work to narrow it down to the best one. I chose the Survey because it has a more professional look to it while having all of the convenience of a traditional backpack.

It's weather-resistant with a large storage compartment that has a tech sleeve that fits up to a 16-inch laptop. There are also mesh compartments on the inside for organization. If you like multiple beverages, this bag has two different water bottle holders.

The Herschel Survey backpack is also a friend to the environment because the entire outer shell is made of post-consumer recycled materials.

Survey II Backpack

Honestly, with how many Herschel bags I saw on campus between Brooklyn College and Columbia University, I really had to work to narrow it down to the best one. I chose the Survey II because it has a more professional look to it while having all of the convenience of a traditional backpack.

It's weather-resistant with a large storage compartment that has a tech sleeve that fits up to a 16-inch laptop. There are also mesh compartments on the inside for organization. If you like multiple beverages, this bag has two different water bottle holders.

The Herschel Survey backpack is also a friend to the environment because the entire outer shell is made of post-consumer recycled materials.

Batac 24-Liter Backpack

Are you feeling bold, brave, and a little wild? Let me introduce you to the absolute chaos of the Cotopaxi backpack.

It’s 24 liters of storage, with a tech sleeve that fits most 15-inch laptops (my own MacBook Pro from 2017 fits easily inside). It’s made of ripstop nylon and has both an internal and external hydration sleeve. The straps are easy to adjust and well-padded.

When you think about college backpacks, you’re probably not thinking of something fun and colorful, but this bag is both and yet still quite grown up. One fun thing is that you can either choose your colors or hit “find random,” and it will come up with a unique color combination.

Tokyo Tote

Hear me out: A tote bag is a fantastic alternative to a backpack, offering similar storage and organizational options. The Bellroy Tokyo Tote features an internal laptop sleeve and a large main compartment to fit your books and other materials. And there’s a built-in key clip and pockets at each end that are large enough to store water bottles.

There are other internal pockets to store various cables and knickknacks and an exterior pocket to keep items within reach. The straps feature soft padding, and the main zipper has been redesigned from the previous version to be more durable. A tote bag isn’t as comfortable as a backpack, but it’s a quick, stylish option for short trips to the library.

Shadow Guide

The Tom Bihn Shadow Guide is a durable, stylish, and versatile option suitable for class during the week and weekend travel. It features an upper flap pocket and a bucket-style main compartment, giving you plenty of room for large items like books and clothing. It has no interior organization since it’s bucket-style. Still, it can fit plenty of organizational pouches for cables, chapstick, etc.

However, there is a laptop compartment, which offers two layers of foam for extra protection. The Shadow Guide also includes a rolling luggage handle pass-through, so you can easily take it with you on a trip back home. A top loader backpack is a design that always stays in style, and this bag from Tom Bihn is a shining example of style and functionality, making it the perfect option for students who are weekend adventurers.

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