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The 13 best college backpacks

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We love classic, sturdily-built backpacks from brands like North Face and Patagonia.

As any college student knows, a good backpack is a make-or-break item in your daily routine. The best college backpacks should be able to fit everything you need for your day neatly and securely while being stylish at the same time.

Our top pick for the best college backpack is the North Face Recon Backpack, for its ultra-supportive straps, chest and back clips to distribute its weight evenly, and defined compartments for everything you need. No wonder we've also named it our top choice for the best school backpacks. For something a little more fashionable yet still as functional, we love Dagne Dover's The Dakota, a backpack that will last you all four years and beyond.

Our top picks for the best college backpacks

Best overall: North Face Recon Backpack - See at Amazon
Fit everything you need, from a laptop to textbooks to two water bottles, in this North Face Recon Backpack built with college students in mind.

Best for travel: Jansport Main Campus FX - See at JanSport
The JanSport Main Campus FX is a backpack that works well on and off campus with its multiple full-size compartments and padded straps.

Best minimalist: Vera Bradley Campus Backpack - See at Amazon
The Vera Bradley Campus backpack is a top choice for something minimal yet chic, thanks to its simple and elegant design.

Best luxury: Dagne Dover The Dakota - See at Dagne Dover
If you're open to splurging, this neoprene bag from Dagne Dover fits everything you need, is water resistant, and looks luxe.

Best sustainable: Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L - See at Patagonia
This sustainable bag from Patagonia is made from 100% recycled polyester and has a removable, padded 15" laptop sleeve.

Most spacious: LL Bean Comfort Carry Pack - See at L.L. Bean
One of the larger backpacks on this list at 30-liter capacity, the L.L. Bean Comfort Carry Pack is an excellent choice for those looking to pack everything and more.

Best overall: North Face Recon Backpack

Side by side images of the The North Face Recon Backpack in yellow and black: one fully zipped and the other open to reveal the interior of the bag.

When searching for the best college backpacks, we look for durability, functionality, and style. Undoubtedly, The North Face Recon Backpack is the perfect combination of everything you need.

It features a medium-size main compartment with a laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket filled with practical separations for all of your smaller devices and writing utensils, and two water bottle pockets on the sides. One of the best features of this backpack is the chest and back clips meant to alleviate back pain when carrying heavier loads, and the shoulder straps are well padded as well for optimal support. In terms of style, its minimal design and array of colorways make this a versatile choice for those who use a backpack for work or when traveling in addition to on campus.

Best for travel: JanSport Main Campus FX

Jansport Main Campus FX backpack in beige on the floor.

Out of the best college backpacks, JanSport's Main Campus FX is a top-choice travel backpack. It's perfect for a student who's carrying a 15-inch laptop with a nice load of books and random accessories like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted highlighters. The padded straps make carrying its weight a bit breezier. Its dedicated laptop pocket is nicely padded, and there are two other full-size compartments, making room for anything and everything. It also has a keychain in the front pocket to keep your dorm or apartment keys handy. Jansport's Right Pack is also a helpful but downgraded option that's probably best for the techie who has gone paperless.

The Main Campus FX is great for students when they're in school and even after they graduate. Not only is it built perfectly for carrying books and laptops, but it's also versatile, making it easy to use for everything from classes to road trips to the gym.

Best minimalist: Vera Bradley Campus Backpack

Vera Bradley Campus Backpack in army green resting on a floor.

For the college student with a maturing style and an appreciation for a spacious bag, this may be a great stylistic and functional choice. It has a gently padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with two side pockets for a water bottle. It has a sizable 25-liter main compartment containing two mesh slip pockets and outer pockets to store smaller items. It zips smoothly, has comfortable straps ergonomically designed for women, and a luggage handle on the back.

This is one of the best college backpacks that combines utility with a minimalistic look. The small brand tag is monochromatic and located on the side, so it blends in with the rest of the backpack. Once you open its pockets, you get a pop of paisley pattern and personality.

Best luxury: Dagne Dover The Dakota

Dagne Dover The Dakota Large in blue on the floor.

If you like a minimalistic design with ample space and clever compartments, this neoprene bag will be your saving grace. It's water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and has sleek straps. Inside, there are pockets galore, and no space is wasted! The laptop compartment fits a 16-inch laptop which is bigger than the average college device. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and has a mesh tablet pocket, five medium-sized pockets, and a convenient detachable pouch. Two exterior pockets can carry your water bottle and a stash of snacks.

We can confidently say this luxury backpack fits everything we would ever need: my laptop, tablet, textbooks, water bottle, notebook, snacks, and a spare pair of shoes. On the outside, it looks chic and simple, but inside, it gives you all the power to be your most organized self. It even has a nearly-invisible slip pocket by the handle where you can keep small items like a snack or headphones.

One of our favorite features is the luggage handle sleeve that allows you to slide the backpack onto any suitcase you're wheeling around.

Best sustainable: Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L

Person holding a Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L in black with red Patagonia logo text up by the top handle.

Patagonia is never shy about where it stands on environmental issues, so it only makes sense that this wonderfully structured backpack is crafted with recycled nylon. Beyond the sustainability factor, it's a great candidate for the best college backpacks because of its high-quality feel, protectively padded laptop and tablet sleeve, and side pockets. It also has a small outer pocket that's in the perfect spot for quickly grabbing something like a sweater or snacks.

Most spacious: LL Bean Comfort Carry Pack

Person holding a LL Bean Comfort Carry Backpack with "L.L. Bean" embroidery by the top strap.

This backpack is all about functionality, protecting your laptop, and basic storage. It has a spacious 30-liter capacity but not an extravagance of pockets. There's a main compartment with a laptop pocket as well as a second compartment with an organizer for pencils. Made with a chest belt, hip belt, and padded straps, this is a great choice for going between school and other activities. The bungee cords on the front are also a perfect place to hold one last thing, like a light jacket or shirt.

Best gym bag: Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0

Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0 in black set upright on a floor.

Lululemon's lightweight Everyday Backpack does exactly what a college backpack needs to do without too many frills. The wider-set bag has a 23-liter capacity and a padded laptop pocket that fits a 16-inch device. It's made with a water-repellent fabric, two side pockets for water bottles, inner mesh pockets, and a small outer pocket. It has a luggage sleeve and the minimalistic logo doesn't scream "I love Lululemon." While not made of the thickest material, the popular fitness brand's Everyday Backpack is designed with exactly what a college student needs. The sleek shape and neutral colorways also mean it can go with lots of different looks, making this one of the best college backpacks for toting around anything from gym clothes to textbooks.

Best storage: Carhartt Medium Pack + 3 Can Insulated Cooler

Carhartt Medium Backpack in Brown with 3 Can Insulated Cooler resting on the floor.

The Carhartt Medium Pack, bundled with the three-can insulated cooler, might be one of the best college backpacks for hauling books and lunch. The backpack is made from Cordura, an incredibly durable ripstop material that's also been treated to be water-repellent. The outside of the bag features a mesh pocket for a water bottle, a Hook-n-Haul system for adding extra items like the insulated cooler, and air-mesh shoulder padding. The inside of the bag has plenty of practical storage compartments. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to the fleece-lined eyewear compartment, you can keep all of your belongings organized and easily accessible.

"My favorite feature is the attached cooler. It can fit up to three 12-ounce cans, but it's also the perfect spot to keep snacks or a lunch for days when you have a packed schedule of classes. And when you're not on campus, it's perfect for hiking, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you'd want to enjoy a cold drink while on the go. It's also easily removable if you prefer to carry the backpack without it." — Amir Ismael, senior reporter

Best for taller students: Herschel Little America Backpack

Herschel Little America in navy blue with brown belt straps resting on the floor.

The Herschel Little America backpack is a classic carryall with a deceiving name. With its spacious 25 liters and nicely padded laptop compartment, the pack is made to help you carry everything you need for school while sporting a timeless style. The main compartment is like a huge pit where you can fit a lot of things: books, snacks, tech, and more. It also has two small side pockets on the inside. Little America is easily expandable and easily collapsible. The single outer pocket is perfect for storing quick things you may need throughout your day.

The backside is thoroughly padded for comfortable carrying. Though, personally, we think this backpack works best on taller people since it's 19.25 inches long. On an average-height woman, the bag is a bit overwhelming on a shorter back.

Best budget: Carhartt 25L Classic Laptop Backpack

A model wears the Carhartt 25L Classic Laptop Backpack.

We've tested the now discontinued Carhartt Classic Work Pack, but thankfully, the 25 L Classic Laptop Backpack is an excellent replacement. It is water-repellent, durable, and accommodates a medium-size load. Thanks to its front zippered pocket with keyring clip and separated mesh slots for your phone, notebooks, or pens, you won't lose any of your smaller items at the bottom of the bag. There is a dedicated 15-inch laptop sleeve at the back of the main compartment, and this new model even comes with side pockets of water bottle storage.

Plus, if you're a Carhartt fan, this is one of the best college backpacks for you because it comes in the classic brown colorway that the Michigan-made workwear brand is recognized for.

Best sporty: The North Face Borealis Backpack

The North Face Borealis Backpack in green with orange straps resting on a floor.

The North Face is known for making durable and high-quality gear and the Borealis Backpack, one of the brand's most classic styles, is no different.

The 28-liter size fits just about everything you need for class and then some. It has the standard features: a nicely padded laptop pocket, a spacious main compartment, side pockets for water bottles, a small fleece-lined outer pocket, and a bigger outer pocket with pockets and places for pens. It's built with a chest and hip belt, making it useful for hikes too.

There's also a small but thoughtful feature to appreciate: U-pull zippers that make unzipping any of its pockets 10 times easier. The Borealis Backpack may not have a bunch of hidden compartments in the niftiest spaces, but it does what it needs to with quality materials made to last a long while. And for the same price, the Women's Borealis is specifically designed to fit a woman's body.

Best expandable: Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15"

Person's hand holding a Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 15” backpack in black with a red and white Fjällräven Kånken logo patch up by the top strap.

I see this backpack all the time on my college campus, and here's why: The compact rectangular design can be expanded, making it especially versatile. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit. It has three pockets: a laptop pocket, main compartment, and outer pouch. The laptop pocket is well padded and the zipper is tucked away in the back. The straps are nice and soft, though oriented differently than the typical backpack, and it has two side pouches that can be used to store a water bottle and possibly even an umbrella.

Best for outdoors: Eddie Bauer Adventurer Backpack 2.0

A model wears the Eddie Bauer Adventurer Backpack 2.0.

We tested Eddie Bauer's previous Adventurer backpack, but their 2.0 version is even better. It stands out as one of the best college backpacks because of its versatility and durability. They aren't kidding when they say this backpack is for adventures — it has a hydration-compatible compartment and two water bottle pockets for your next hike to campus. As for its functionality, this backpack has a unique side access 17" laptop pocket and small fleece-lined front pockets for your smaller items. This water-repellent bag is built to battle with you all through college and after.

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By: [email protected] (Andrea Bossi,Maiya Pascouche)
Title: The 13 best college backpacks
Sourced From: www.insider.com/guides/style/best-college-backpacks
Published Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:30:32 +0000