9 Best Laptop Backpacks Reviewed in 2025

With so many laptop backpacks out there, it can become hard to know which one you’re going to be happy with.

First and foremost, it needs to protect your computer in the type of motion in which you move.

Whether you are a digital nomad, a business traveler, a student going back and forth to campus or a professional that needs some elegance or sophistication, there’s a balance between quality and price that our team also goes through every single day.

In this buying guide, we’ve got some candidate laptop backpacks for different profiles. Read more about different features and comparisons further below.

Why Trust Us

Our authority rests on the shoulders of our experience. 10 different testers, exchanging packs to ensure sufficient exposure to these products in different scenarios. That includes as a carry on backpack, as a travel pack for weekends and as the daily driver to college and work.

For features and durability, our experience testing backpacks for everyday, hiking packs, daypacks, etc., has provided enough expertise to judge the success of a product’s design.

As for comfort, we’ve consulted an ergonomics therapist for guidelines that make or break a good harness system.

How We Assess the Best Laptop Backpack

We have put together a list of standards and features that we consider important and useful after a thorough testing that continues every day.

We have focused on durability and material quality, padding and comfort, capacity, size, storage and organization, cost, security, ease of use, versatility and bag style.

Our team of testers switches it up regularly and uses friends and acquaintances to get as much input to compliment the research our writers have performed.

This review includes a wide-array of different individuals with different profiles. The common thread is the need to carry a computer in a laptop backpack for whatever activity or lifestyle they have.

Price Range of Laptop Backpacks

Laptop backpacks can cost $30 to over $300. It depends on your budget, needs, and what kind of quality and materials you want your next bag to have. We recommend spending a bit more if it’s a bag that you’re going to use every day–it’s going to protect your computer.

The Troubadour Pioneer 23.5L for example, is priced toward the top of the category but it is an elegant, travel-friendly pack that offers great organization, soft internal lining and a durable trolley sleeve to justify its price.

Some affordable choices offer padded sleeves, good organization and overall comfort and protection from the elements. Some more expensive options will have elevated features for diversified use and that will be reflected in the price.

Some design features will make some bags stand out. A side-access sleeve is one example for someone on the go who takes out the computer for work or class and pops it in shortly after before getting on the move again.

We recommend diving deeper into the specs and features to ensure you are covered in terms of waterproofing, back paneling and shoulder strap padding, functional pockets and laptop protection.

Capacity and Size for Laptops and More

There is a great variety of sizes and capacities when it comes to laptop backpacks and as we always emphasize in our buying guides, needs differ.

Think of whether you will be taking your bag to the office or a business trip or packing it for a workout after work. To begin with, you must make sure the bag you choose has an appropriately sized sleeve to fit your device.

You can find smaller alternatives starting just over 13L or opt for a bag that offers more space and can be used for multiple purposes or as an everyday backpack.

If you use a larger laptop, then you must look for packs that match that size.

Consider what you need to carry, how and where you need to transport it, and how it can best be organized and protected. If you have to bring your keyboard and mouse for example, an additional compartment with padding might be handy.

The Rains Rolltop 13L Rucksack, for instance, is an everyday pack with a padded laptop sleeve but it is not designed strictly as a laptop bag. Nevertheless, it is an all-weather-capable pack with great waterproofing for those rainy days.

It’s one of the best backpack for women too, on account of its size and style. This is according to the sample of women we asked and from the female members of our testing team.

On the other hand, the Timbuk2 Spire 2.0 Backpack is designed with the laptop user profile in mind, is cycling-friendly and comes at 26L, which makes it a larger option. It also offers great organization for office utensils.

You might want to consider a carry-on size bag if you travel with your laptop and want to have it near. Having a trolley sleeve could be one of the criteria to add to your list.

The Pioneer, which is on this list and the Everyday backpack by Stubble & Co. (on our everyday pack guide) both have trolley sleeves for travel.

Laptop Backpacks for Women

As noted just above, the Rains Rolltop is a great option for women. Additionally, the Stubble and Co. proved popular with many of the females questioned during our research.

Other candidates for women include the Vault, the Refugio and the Able Carry Daily pack. These options combine size and practicality in a comfortable design.

Additional Storage, Pockets & Features

Traveling with a laptop and accessories requires good organization, and your next laptop pack should offer just that. Many brands invest a lot in designing functional bags for specific purposes and putting extra thought into the pockets, compartments and overall storage.

Some packs like The North Face Borealis, the Jester or the Vault offer external storage, additional straps or daisy chain webbing and padded compartments for tech and have an ergonomic support profile.

Having several pockets makes it easy to access your items and keep things organized. Some packs have mesh pockets for stationary like pens or smaller tech like SD cards and chargers. Take a look at these features to ensure ease of use and functionality.

Another thing to point out is that some packs come with safety features like lockable zippers or slash-resistant fabric that is very difficult to cut.

Some packs have additional features for differentiated uses, like the SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart, which features a lay-flat design and scan-smart technology that allows devices to be scanned through airport security without being removed from the bag. That adds up to a smoother traveling experience going through security checks.

Backpack Color and Texture

The color and texture of the laptop backpack depend a lot on personal preference and intended use. Some choose more stand-out colors and designs for commutes to the office and business trips but others go for a brand and color they like, regardless of the appearance.

Any bag we carry also becomes part of our wardrobe and personal style, especially if we end up using it every day. The texture or textile depends a lot on whether the bag is waterproof or water-resistant and different textiles vary in water-repellent properties.

Some bags may have longer, thicker or covered zippers that are waterproof or longer zipper pulls for ease of use.

Waterproof vs Water-Resistant

For most people, water resistance and waterproofing are the same. But protection from water and precipitation is one of the key factors that will determine not only your choice but the price, too.

Water-resistant bags repel water and protect their contents from a splash or a quick drizzle. They will not keep your items and tech safe if caught up in heavier rain while commuting, cycling or on other outings.

Proper waterproofing, on the other hand, will ensure that your laptop remains safe and dry, even if you get soaked while waiting for the bus on your way back from the office. Different backpacks may also feature different waterproofing in different compartments for better protection.

Comfort, Durability and Laptop Protection

One element to consider when choosing your laptop backpack is comfort and how well it suits your own body.

Everyone has different viewpoints and needs regarding what is comfortable, but ergonomic ease should be there when carrying a device, regardless of the carrying style.

Equally important is the protection that the bag offers to your device. There are backpacks with extra padding inside and out and offer suspended laptop compartments that provide extra protection in the case of a fall or bump.

This is a feature worth valuing, as it can give some extra peace of mind when it comes to accidents and dropping your bag with a device in it. With that in mind, some bags come with a false bottom and a suspended sleeve.

That means that the laptop sleeve ends before the actual bottom of the pack, suspending the device off the bottom so that it does not come into direct contact with surfaces.

Some sleeves have extra elasticity and reinforced walls and are not only suspended but shock absorbent, too.

Last but not least, durability and material quality are factors that will determine the price and the longevity of your backpack against your investment.

In our experience, when it comes to safely transporting tech, it is better to invest a little more in durable material and adequate construction than deal with the consequences of a damaged device, be it an accidental fall or water damage.

The Stubble & Co Roll Top 20L bag, for example, is in our opinion a durable, versatile and weatherproofed bag that is worth the investment and will last in the test of time and everyday use.

As with all the bags on this list, we’ve vetted the Roll Top over a couple of years’ of use. Despite some cosmetic signs of use and some abuse too, we’ve never yet experienced any damage to one of our laptops while in tow.

Laptop Bag Style & Versatility

If you are simply looking for a secure way to transport your device to the office, school or co-working space, there are many options, including padded sling bags, laptop totes, laptop briefcases or backpacks.

A bag can be much more than just an item holder, it is a tool and a style statement all in one. There are advantages and disadvantages for each category and your carrying preference is as important as the style.

Laptop backpacks usually offer comfort, good weight distribution and padding for ease on the shoulders and back, as well as to keep your device safe.

A tote and a briefcase can be held with one hand and slings can be carried as crossbody packs, so all these factors depend on your preference and stylistic choice.

When commuting or traveling with tech, overall storage is a determining factor too.

Maybe you are looking for a more sophisticated version in leather to take to the office or on business trips. If you plan to take it along to the gym, would you like it to have a water bottle pocket or even room for a hydration pack?

Where you live or plan to travel also plays a role. In high precipitation areas, waterproofing is a necessity. In warmer climates, dark colors could cause your device to heat up if exposed to the sun for long, so choosing accordingly will make your commute stress-free and your choices can be narrowed down.

If you are looking for a waterproof backpack or even a dry bag to take along to other activities, there are plenty to choose from on our other guides. Some offer laptop compartments.

There are also different-sized packing cubes to help you organize your commutes and travel better.

If you have made it this far, you are certainly well equipped and hopefully better informed on choosing your next pack and getting the most out of it on your everyday commutes and future travels in a comfortable, safe and stylish way.