The 12 Best Laptop Backpacks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Herschel’s Tech Backpack earned top scores across all of our testing categories making it our top pick. Our tester immediately noted that the bag has four separate compartments for maximum organization while traveling or commuting. There is a padded, zippered laptop pocket in the back, a spacious main compartment with several slip pockets, a designated shoe compartment at the bottom, and a large exterior pocket in the front. According to our tester, the bag has room for “up to four laptops or iPads, [or] you can add clothes and maybe a camera,” so this backpack might be a little too big for someone who travels to work with just a laptop. Despite the larger size, we thought the bag had ample padding on the straps and back that made it comfy to carry.

After tossing the backpack off of a countertop, we found that the padded and fleece-lined laptop sleeve safeguarded the laptop and prevented any damage from occurring. On top of that, the outer ballistic nylon material didn’t scuff or get scratched, and we love that it comes with a trolley sleeve on the back so you can easily place the pack on your suitcase. “There are a perfect number of pockets, making it easy to organize everything you shove in there and you can find everything super easily,” another tester said after regularly traveling with this backpack for two months. “There are tons of compartments but none of them eat into the others spaces. They all shrink down and stretch around so you can maximize the space.”

Price at time of publish: $159

Laptop Size Capacity: 16 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: No

The Peak Design Everyday Backpack will give you peace of mind when it comes to protecting your camera or video equipment while traveling. Its structured design adds extra protection and the backpack comes with four stiff velcro separators to further protect fragile technology. Plus, the padded laptop sleeve in the back will ensure that your laptop travels safely. The icing on the cake of this backpack is how lightweight it feels to wear with our tester saying, “if I could give this backpack a 10 for comfort I would. It’s so lightweight that it blew my mind.”

The weatherproof nylon exterior didn’t scuff or get scratched when we threw the backpack onto the floor and best of all, the laptop and iPad remained unharmed. Since the bag is designed for photographers, it comes with three separators that velcro to the side of the backpack to protect and organize camera gear. The magnetic top latch was slightly finicky to open at first, but once done, it gets easier to use. “The chest strap helps allow it to securely fasten to your body during long walks,” another tester said after regularly using the bag for two months. “I also really love how your laptop can be separated from the rest of the bag area.”

Price at time of publish: $297

Laptop Size Capacity: 15 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: Yes

Rivaling higher-priced backpacks we tried, this option from Bagsmart proves that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for a budget-friendly price. During our tests, we found that this bag is spacious enough to fit a laptop, an iPad, a notebook, and a sweatshirt with plenty of room left over to add more. The backpack is made with a cushioned polyester fabric and foam padded straps that had our tester raving about comfort when wearing. However, because the bag is made out of fabric, it may get dirtier than a nylon pack but it didn’t show any signs of damage during our durability tests.

With four separate zippered compartments and over 10 interior pockets, travelers will also appreciate the variety of spots to organize everything. The pack also has anti-theft zippers, a USB charging port, a side water bottle pocket, and a trolley sleeve making this one of the best-designed laptop backpacks we tried.

Price at time of publish: $43

Laptop Size Capacity: 15.6 inches | Smart: Yes | Made with recycled materials: No

Monos recently released a newer version of their Metro backpack, but for this test, we tried out the older version. While we love both versions, the newer design addressed one key flaw that we noticed during our first test of the older model. During our initial test, we found that the removable pouch in the front had buttons that were visible when we removed the pouch. This certainly wasn’t a deal breaker by any means, but in the new model, Monos fixed that issue and now the pouch has a trolley-like sleeve that attaches to a discrete piece of fabric on the front of the backpack. Now, when you take the pouch off of the bag, there aren’t noticeable buttons on the front. Besides the key upgrade in the newer backpack, we still love the soft vegan leather look of the pack and found the materials to provide protection against laptop damage when we dropped it. There are several pockets inside the main compartment and the laptop pocket is in the back, separated from the rest of the bag.

Price at time of publish: $200

Laptop Size Capacity: 15 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: Yes

The Samsonite Just Right Standard Backpack is thoughtfully designed with business travelers in mind. Equally professional and functional, the backpack is outfitted with a sleek nylon material, silver zippers, and a silky, purple patterned fabric lining. “It has just the right amount of pockets to stay organized and fit it all in without becoming bulky,” one tester said after owning the backpack for two months. “I love that it has a variety of little pockets and sleeves so I always know where my valuables are. It also came with extras like a cute removable clutch that I like to put my makeup in. It goes with everything, and I get compliments on the sleek look and mauve lining all the time.”

When we packed the backpack with a laptop, an iPad, a sweatshirt, and a few more small items, we were impressed with the capacity, but it likely can’t fit too much more in the main compartment. However, we love that there are pockets throughout the backpack that makes it easy to pack smaller items and stay organized between the two main compartments. The zippered laptop sleeve in the back is padded and provided enough protection to keep it safe when we dropped it from a tabletop. The padding on the back and on the straps made the backpack noticeably comfortable to wear even when it was packed with another tester sharing that, “it felt lightweight and well-balanced on my back.”

Price at time of publish: $170

Laptop Size Capacity: 15.6 inches | Smart: Yes | Made with recycled materials: No

The Incase Icon Pack thoroughly impressed us with its thick padding throughout the backpack which adds an abundance of protection and comfort. The back has a padded laptop sleeve that was noticeably thick when we first opened up the backpack. When we dropped the bag onto the floor to test for durability, none of the contents were damaged and our tester shared, “I would feel really confident that my laptop and other valuables would be protected even after very rough handling.” The thick padding in the back and on the straps provides comfort while wearing the pack, and we love that the adjustable strap is lined with a soft fabric. Although we wish this backpack came with more features like a water bottle holder or trolley sleeve, the pack has two spacious compartments, a front pocket, and a variety of smaller pockets for exceptional organization on the inside making it well worth the investment for impressively comfortable and durable backpack.

Price at time of publish: $200

Laptop Size Capacity: 15 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: No

While this backpack impressed us during testing, it also won us over thanks to Solgaard’s sustainability mission where all of their products are made with ocean-bound recycled materials. The brand uses its patented Shore-tex material to create this backpack with recycled plastic water bottles found on beaches or river banks. In addition, the backpack includes a solar-powered USB charging port so you can charge on the go without having to worry about the life of your power bank. “The different plugs and wires in the bag are extremely discreet yet accessible,” our tester said after two months with the backpack. “The bag is lightweight and the sturdy handle at the top makes for a great handheld alternative when carrying.”

In the lab, we were able to fit all of the items on our packing list, including a sweatshirt, a laptop, an iPad, a notebook, and a water bottle, but there wasn’t a lot of space left over. The laptop sleeve is in the back of the bag and although it’s just a slip pocket, it wasn’t damaged during our durability tests. The backpack is outfitted with padding and our tester found it comfortable to wear with the adjustable, supportive chest strap.

Price at time of publish: $336

Laptop Size Capacity: Not listed | Smart: Yes | Made with recycled materials: Yes

We love that the Aer Flight Pack 3 can be used as a daily commuter’s backpack or it can be converted into a duffel bag or briefcase for a business trip or weekend getaway. Our tester noted that there are plenty of pockets for organization with a designated laptop sleeve in the main compartment, another compartment with more than seven smaller pockets, and a small zippered pouch in the front. The laptop sleeve is only a slip pocket and, while it kept the laptop in place during our durability test, it isn’t as secure as it could be if it was a zippered pocket. We also found that there is tons of space for clothes for a quick weekend getaway or if you’re traveling for work, there is no shortage of space for a laptop, iPad, and other office essentials. Because the pack is made with abrasion and tear-resistant ballistic nylon, it feels sturdy and durable, sustaining no damages after we dropped it off a tabletop. Our tester noticed that the backpack, top handle, and duffel straps were equally comfortable when carrying the bag in all three ways.

Price at time of publish: $179

Laptop Size Capacity: 16 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: No

“This bag was definitely designed by travel pros,” says our tester when giving insights on Beis’ The Backpack. Although this pack has a simple design to it, we found that it’s packed full of thoughtful features making it the perfect backpack for students, travelers, commuters, and more. We were impressed with the large capacity of the main compartment that could easily fit all of the items on our packing list, including tech items like a laptop and iPad on the inside and a water bottle in one of the two slip pockets on the sides. The main compartment has several smaller pockets and a designated padded laptop sleeve. “This bag opened up fully versus just a little with multiple pockets, so it’s easy to open and go through things without digging around or taking everything out,” another tester said after regularly using the backpack for two months. “For that reason alone, it was the easiest backpack I’ve ever traveled with because I was able to keep everything sorted with the bag’s built-in organization versus adding several pouches.”

After we did our drop test to evaluate the durability, the padding did a good job of protecting the laptop, but there isn’t padding at the bottom of the bag which had us questioning how much protection the backpack offers. Even when it was completely packed, the padded straps were comfortable to wear and the back had plenty of padding for added comfort, too.

Price at time of publish: $78

Laptop Size Capacity: 14.5 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: No

Lo & Sons’ The Rowledge laptop backpack is one of the most expensive bags we tested, but it seriously delivered in performance. The nylon exterior outfitted with leather accents makes this sleek and timeless bag a dream for travelers and office-goers. The bad remained fairly stiff even after two months of use, but our tester loved how sturdy the material felt. “It protects my laptop and has the perfect amount of storage solutions for staying organized while commuting or traveling,” they said. The backpack may look small from the outside, but we found that it was possible to fit a sweatshirt, a laptop, an iPad, a notebook, and a water bottle with ease. The adjustable straps and ample padding throughout the entire backpack add to the comfort and durability of the pack. After tossing the bag off of a tabletop, the laptop remained unharmed in the designated sleeve in the back of the bag and the exterior showed no signs of damage so we think this sturdy, well-made backpack is worth the splurge.

Price at time of publish: $465

Laptop Size Capacity: 13.5 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: No

For students walking across campus or between classes, the Fjällräven Räven 28 Backpack is the best option. We love how breathable the back padding is and that it provides plenty of cushioning and support for traveling far distances while wearing the backpack. Our tester raved that “as someone who runs hot, I also really appreciate the breathable back and strap fabric.” While the polyester fabric is sporty and breathable, we noticed that it easily collects dust or lint after it is tossed on the ground. Despite the slight dirtiness of the fabric, we found that the backpack does an excellent job of protecting a laptop in the designated padded sleeve in the back. “It’s never difficult to fit everything I need in there and more,” another tester said after using the backpack during her daily commute for two months. “It battles the elements really well, too, by keeping my laptop untouched from rain and anything else I might encounter on a long commute. The design is super nice because it’s not bulky, so while walking through crowded places I’m not worried about it brushing up against other people.” Plus, there are tons of pockets in the main compartment for classroom essentials, and each side of the backpack has a water bottle slip pocket.

Price at time of publish: $120

Laptop Size Capacity: 15 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: Yes

According to our tester, the Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe “has everything you’d need to travel by air or commute to work” thanks to its variety of interior and exterior pockets. There’s a designated spot for all of your travel must-haves from laptops to pencils with a padded laptop pocket in the back, a main compartment with slip and zippered pockets, and a spacious front pocket for items like a notebook. Plus, there’s a side slip pocket for your water bottle and a trolley sleeve for attaching the pack to a suitcase. We loved the ability to access your laptop from the back zipper or through the main compartment of the backpack. Additionally, we appreciated the sleek pack’s compression straps so you can adjust the capacity of the bag, but we still thought the main compartment could have held a bit more. The padded backpack straps are comfortable to wear with our tester saying, “I feel like I could wear this all day and not feel any pinching or immediate pain.” And if you live in a rainy climate, the durable recycled nylon exterior is also water-resistant.

Price at time of publish: $159

Laptop Size Capacity: 17 inches | Smart: No | Made with recycled materials: Yes

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should I put my laptop in a backpack without a case?

  During our tests, we placed the laptop directly into the pocket without a case on it and found that the top-performing bags had enough padding to protect the laptop from getting damaged. However, if you feel more comfortable keeping the laptop in a case and placing it in the backpack, feel free to do so if that all will fit.