The best laptop backpacks in 2024 for work, school or college

The best laptop backpack for you depends on your needs and style choices, so what's best for one, might not be great for others. Thankfully, there are a ton of amazing laptop bags, in all shapes, sizes and varieties to choose from these days. So many in fact, it can be confusing to find exactly what you're after. 

In this article we've done the hard work for you, highlighting the best laptop bags money can buy right now, to suit a variety of different needs and tastes. So, whether you need to get your device safely to work on the train or bike, you want to take the best student laptops back to school, university or college, or you want to take it on a hike through the countryside, you're sure to find a laptop backpack here that's perfect for your needs.

These products vary in terms of size and weights, the number of pockets for storage and materials they are made from – you'll find all of this information below to help you make an informed decision. Looking for a shiny new device to go with your new laptop bag? Don't miss our round-ups of the best laptops available now.

Best laptop backpacks in 2024

For casual day-to-day use, this is the best laptop backpack we know of. With a capacity of 25 litres, yet weighing just 300g, the JanSport Super Break Plus features one large main compartment, a front utility pocket with organiser, a water bottle pocket on the side, and an internal laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 15 inch laptop. With its straight-cut padded shoulder straps, fully padded back panel and a web haul handle, this laptop backpack is very comfortable in use, and it comes with a lifelong warranty. A great choice for anyone who needs a laptop backpack day-in, day out.

Whether you're wandering around a city on a business trip, or strolling through the woods on a summer's day, this laptop backpack from Fjällräven is just what you need for long walks. Offering 28 litres of strorage overall, you can store a 15-inch laptop in the protective, cushioned compartment at the back. There are also two open pockets on the side, each of which can take a 500ml water bottle, plus a zipped pocket at the front. Its padded shoulder straps make this backpack comfortable to wear for hours on end, and while it's spacious enough to carry everything you need, it's not so bulky that it'll weigh you down.

When it comes to creating stylish and functional bags and accessories, Bellroy is at the top of its game. The company has a number of highly functional and stylish laptop backpacks, but this one came out on top for us. Okay, so it's a little more pricey than the others on this list, but if you want to keep your device safe, have space for lots of other items and want to do it in style, Bellroy's Venture laptop backpack offers a very solid investment. It has an insane amount of pockets to help keep your belongings organized, a padded sleeve for a laptop up to 16-inches and its drop down front access panel makes it super easy to find any small items hiding at the bottom. Add all that to the fact that it is made from 100 percent recycled materials and comes with a three-year warranty and it really is excellent value for money.  

Students don’t want big, bulky backpacks: they want something that's lightweight and hits that sweet spot between casual and professional. This laptop backpack from Herschel ticks all these boxes, and more. With 21.5 liter capacity and one large compartment, it also includes a 15-inch laptop sleeve pocket, a front compartment for small items like pens and keys, and an internal media pocket with headphone port. Plus it’s available in a huge range of colors, letting you express your personal style on campus.

Looking for a camera bag that you can also carry your laptop in? Then this stylish backpack offers everything you need. With a total volume of 25 litres, Lowepro’s modular canvas backpack can fit a range of photo equipment in the main compartment: it’d be large enough, for instance, for an SLR and a 24-70mm lens. What's more, you get handy dividers to organise everything efficiently, and four point access so you can grab your gear quickly when inspiration strikes. Along with all that, there’s a separate pocket (29 x 2 2 x 37 cm) that will fit a 15in laptop, and keep it nicely protected. Rugged, durable, flexible, comfortable and weather-resistant, this is the best camera bag and laptop backpack combo we know of today.

If you don't want to carry a lot of stuff around with you – maybe just a laptop, a hoodie, and a book to read on the train – then you'll want a small and light laptop backpack that won't weigh you down. And we've got just the thing. This marvellously minimalist bag has an inside laptop pocket, a nicely sized main compartment and a hidden phone pocket on the backside. With magnetic closings, carabiner details and adjustable straps, it's both stylish and functional, not to mention lightweight and professional looking.

Okay, so most of us aren’t flying right now. But with an eye on the future, here’s a great combination of carry-on bag and laptop backpack. Perfect for the tech-savvy traveller, the Incase EO Travel Backpack includes a dedicated laptop compartment, lined with soft faux fur and an interior slip pocket to protect your devices. And unlike other laptop backpacks we’ve listed so far, it’s big enough for laptops up to 17in. 

With breathable mesh and multiple adjustment points in the straps, as well as the integrated sternum strap to disperse the weight, this backpack is comfortable enough for long journeys by planes, trains or bus. Plus it’s eco-friendly to boot, being made from Ecoya, a solution dyed yarn that uses 89 per cent less water than traditional yarn-dyeing methods.

When you're off hiking or camping, you want a robust and reliable backpack, and here's one with a dedicated, padded laptop compartment too. With a mammoth 50 litre capacity, there's plenty of room for all your hiking essentials, and the Light Beam single aluminum stay and Dynamic Airflow back panel keep your load stable and comfortable. An additional stash pocket on the front of the pack makes it easy to tuck away a jacket or hoodie, and inside there are some handy the organizers for maps, electronics, pens, and other bits and pieces. We particularly love the instruction booklet, which helps you make the most of all the straps and features.

We're all worried about plastic pollution right now, so here's a practical way to do something about it, at a budget price, no less! This Ogio Alpha Convoy 120 is made from Cordura EcoMade, a durable and sustainable fabric made from recycled plastic bottles and engineered for abrasion resistance and anti-tear strength. It comes with a waterproof zippered laptop pocket, which fits up to a 15-inch laptop, two front molle straps, a front valuables pocket, an internal key clip, and reflective zipper pulls. With a 20 litre capacity, reflective panelling to the front for safety and security, and comfortable, adjustable shoulder straps, this is excellent value.

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