Best Backpacks for Work & College in 2025

The Jester backpack is North Face’s solution to the urban lifestyle, making it one of their most popular backpacks. Slightly simpler in design and look to the Borealis, the Jester is for those who want the same comfortable Borealis straps but a sleeker-looking backpack for every day.  It’s water-resistant and easily be used as a daypack for short hikes.

It is available for both men in 28L and women in 22L. Both variations come in numerous seasonal colors and its capacity provides plenty of room for books, a large laptop and everyday essentials. With its simpler design, chiropractic-approved carry, and large compartment, it is popular with university students and commuters alike.

Look up iconic backpacks in the dictionary; most likely, there will be the Fjallraven Kånken backpack. Going strong for over 40 years, the Kanken’s minimalistic design and countless colorways have made it a popular everyday backpack worldwide.

Iconic does come with a higher pricer tag, and you’ll be forgiven for not rushing straight to the shops to get one. With its durable canvas exterior, extra seat pad, and general versatility, the Kanken backpack is a great investment.

Its timeless design is what draws most people to the Herschel Little America Backpack, but its modern functionality and quality are very appealing elements.

Toggle closed the main compartment to protect the well cushioned, 15” laptop sleeve. The outer pocket has an additional zipper to protect items from falling out and uninvited hands on the train or street.

Inspired by a classic mountaineering style, this 25 liter backpack offers enough room to fit study or professional items and some clothing or groceries too.

The Borealis 28 is an affordable and well-rounded backpack, suitable for a range of activities. This Jack-of-all-trade features a generous laptop sleeve, several well-crafted storage options, and comfortable carry, all for a modest price tag.

Perhaps more popular with the urban crowd, like commuters and students, the Borealis can hold its own on the occasional hike. With all the bells and whistles expected of a capable backpack- it’s a great option for people looking for a reliable all-rounder.

This roll top backpack has been a favorite work-horse of our staff for its side-loading laptop sleeve and weatherproofing design. In particular, the Stubble and Co Roll Top bag has proven to be a great everyday backpack for biking to school and work.

It’s currently doing real-life testing by a high school student and has succeeded in surviving two years of frequent use in a colder, wet climate.

Expandable water bottle pockets and useful ones inside the main compartment provide a minimum of what’s needed on and off campus and to and fro the gym too.

The JanSport SuperBreak is about as simple as it gets, with just one main compartment and one front pocket. Loved by school kids and gym rats alike, this Jansport is a reliable backpack that can be used for a range of activities and needs. 

Even though it is simple in design, there are countless colorways and prints to make it personal. There isn’t a laptop sleeve or even an outside pocket for your bottle, so for some, this just be too minimal and the Patagonia Refugio is a practical step up.

Ultimately, its simple design in an inexpensive (around $40) yet ultra-reliable bookbag that sticks out on the SuperBreak One.

The Rains Rolltop Rucksack 13L is a favorite backpack among the Rains series. This stylish backpack comes in 10 different matte colors. It is soft to the touch and has enough pockets for a minimalist collection of useful items.

There’s a single main compartment with no internal pockets, a signature carabiner and water-resistant zippers on both the front and the laptop pockets.

Regardless of the higher price tag, it is a bag built to last long and the company is committed to environmental responsibility. It features an expandable roll top, designed to keep the water out.

A dominant name in the backpack and outdoor gear industry, Patagonia is always a sustainable and quality product.

Their 26L Refugio is a great backpack that can be used for all kinds of scenarios and activities. With one dominant compartment and padded shoulders, it is very good for carrying large or heavy items that need a lot of space. This could be schoolbooks, sleeping bags or even your grocery shopping.

Its back-to-basics design does mean some might find it too simplistic and prefer a backpack like the North Face Borealis, which has features.

This pack is comfortable, lightweight, and convenient for commuting and outdoor activities. The removable padded sleeve makes it easy to swap from trains to trails!

The Harbor London Classic Rucksack has a premium feel to it, one that compliments the elegant aesthetic. It’s a sustainable backpack for the urban commute. One that brings an outback or cowboy design into a modern setting.

It’s a bag that projects a professional style, and it’s size and top handle means that it can also be used as a valise.

But beyond the appearance of this higher-end backpack for everyday use, does it also provide a functional quality that the price tag demands?

Read our review to find out for yourself.

If you love the design, comfort, and reliability of the North Face backpacks but aren’t too keen on the bungee cords then Vault is the way to go. Very, very similar to the Jester, the Vault has the same two main compartments and an internal 15″ laptop sleeve. The Vault features The North Face’s iconic FlexVent™ carrying system, which has flexible and molded shoulder straps and a padded yet still breathable back panel. In the North Face Vault, you will find a practical and high-value everyday backpack for all urban outings, whether it’s commuting to work or hauling heavy books to class.

With its striped-back look, it is one of the cheaper options within The North Face series and a popular choice for young adults or students looking for a long-lasting and reliable backpack for everyday carry.

Well-organized, lightweight and comfortable, the Timbuk2 Spire 2.0 laptop backpack has been updated for even more convenient commuting.

This bag features its signature tactical design, particularly practical for those often on a bike.

It has several pockets for tech and small items used on a daily basis around the city and at the office or campus.

This bag has some interesting design highlights that are great, but there’s a quality issue that should keep some buyers away from this.

With the Heimplanet Travel Pack 34, you’re truly paying for quality and style. The clamshell design makes storing and organizing your items simple, quick and intuitive. There’s enough space for a weekend trip while the pack itself is compact enough to use commuting to work.

This premium backpack is made of high quality and sustainable materials and has a sleek and stylish appearance. The thickness of the padding and the quality of the material will definitely protect your belongings in most situations. This makes it the perfect backpack for business trips or a work backpack where it’s exterior matches your professional environment.

The Able Carry Daily Backpack is an interesting bag that has an urban tactical feel to it.

This sleek 20-liter work backpack is a compact storage ideal for your everyday use. You might see it as plain, simple, and boring, but that’ll change as soon as you open it up.

Figuring out the right bag for your style, purpose and needs is beset by too many options. After testing this bag for a couple of weeks it seems this one is intended for commuting, for students, for bikers, for low-profile activities and for speed.

We’ll get to how well it functioned for us, but it was refreshing to see such a streamlined product in a crowded field.

Looks like a good gambit for your daily shenanigans, right?

But does it live up to its promises? Let’s dive into it.

This sleek streamlined pack is the perfect combination of sport and elegance. It brings you the best of both worlds whether you need a professional mini backpack during the week at work or a day trip hiking backpack over the weekend this bag has got you covered.

The Motion Arc 20L will appeal to hikers that demand quality and expect comfort to be foremost on the offing. Trail runners, including orienteering athletes will be satisfied too. Though it’s marketed as a daypack, it works very well as a backpack for work too.

The Venture Pal 40L combines versatility, functionality and water-repellent properties in a packable and exceptionally lightweight bag.

To be truthful, it’s virtues are balanced by it being a budget bag with less durability than others.

It may lack supreme padding as most packables would, but it is comfortable and a suitable candidate for everyday use. It can double as a daypack pack and can follow along on longer trips, tucked away in the corner of your luggage.

It has many compartments and pockets, plus the attachment loops add to its capacity.

The incorporated wet pocket certainly comes in handy.

It comes with a one-year warranty and it is easy to fold up and tuck away in its small pouch.

This is a packable bag at a very affordable price.