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Feb 22, 2024

The 14 Best Laptop Backpacks, According to Frequent Fliers

Style Advertiser Disclosure $98 Shop Read More $89 $76 Shop Read More $435 Shop Read More $150 Shop Read More $189 Shop Read More $625 Shop Read More $188 Shop Read More $120 Shop Read More $265 Shop

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$98

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$89

$76

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$435

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$150

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$189

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$625

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$188

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$120

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$265

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$220

$187

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$250

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$160

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$575

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$239

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By Sal Vaglica

Whether you’re headed out on your daily commute or embarking on a vacation with tech gear in tow, a good laptop backpack is essential. To streamline your search for a better bag, we asked frequent fliers and busy commuters for their top recommendations and put together this list with a wide range of styles, sizes and price points.

$98 at Lululemon

This day bag is a favorite of Naina Singla, a Washington, D.C.-based stylist who counts female CEOs and government officials among her clients. She says it’s a reasonably priced option that still looks professional and offers a “lightweight design that’s minimal and chic.” The bag, which can hold a 16-inch laptop in an exterior padded pocket, is made from water-repellent nylon and comes in three colors, making it a great unisex option if you often find yourself carrying your laptop in inclement weather. Singla also praises the handy pockets, including exterior sleeves for a water bottle or umbrella. Those who want to bring this as a personal item on a plane will appreciate the luggage sleeve that allows you to secure it on top of a rolling suitcase.

$76 at Timbuk2

$89 Save $13

$79 at Amazon

$89 Save $10

“I am on the road and in the skies up to two weeks a month and rely heavily on my Timbuk2 backpack,” says Karin Pitt, a flight attendant with Million Air. Aimed at cyclists, the roll-top bag can be a game-changer for chronic over-packers, since it expands from a capacity of 20 liters to 26. The backpack offers more bulk storage than organization, though there is a dedicated rear slip pocket for a 16-inch laptop and a front zippered compartment to keep essentials like a phone or earbuds closeby while you’re on the go.

$435 at Clare V.

Made from Italian leather, this compact commuter bag is only 2.5 inches deep, so it’ll look great—not bulky—on your back. Des Moines, Iowa-based stylist Grace Van Cleave says “it’s easy to find a laptop backpack; it’s less common to find one that doesn’t look like you’re heading to class or scaling a mountain,” she says. The bag, however, fits the bill, thanks to its slim profile. Its main zipper provides access to the main chambray-lined compartment, which holds laptops up to 14 inches. On the outside, a generous 10.75-inch-wide pouch can store office essentials like a wireless mouse, pens, and a smartphone, in a sleek but stylish textured pattern. “Carry it by the top handle to after work drinks and you’ll look more sleek than student,” Van Cleave recommends.

$150 at Staples

$150 at Amazon

$160 Save $10

This minimalist day bag is a “mobile office,” for Ryan Fitzgerald, a Cary, N.C.-based real estate agency owner, since the bag accompanies him to meetings down the street and out of state. Its slip pockets have room for a laptop up to 16 inches, as well as all the documents he needs throughout a transaction. The backpack also has storage space for adaptors, chargers, external hard drives and a jacket, according to Fitzgerald. At 14.5 liters, the bag’s silhouette is trim and tidy with a faux fur-lined laptop pocket and a discreet exterior pocket. “It’s a minimalist design but will make you feel like ‘Dora the Explorer’ with just how much stuff it can hold in one bag,” Fitzgerald adds.

$189 at Zappos

$189 at Backcountry

$200 Save $11

Easy access is one reason why Madison, Wis.-based Tania Burke, president of bike touring provider Trek Travel, prefers this Topo Designs backpack for her 4-mile bike commute: “It opens like a clamshell, so it’s easy to pack,’ she says, noting that its design avoids that digging-through-a-black-hole sensation that is the case with many backpacks. The rectangular, 30-liter bag has an outer panel where you can store smaller items and a separate zipper to access the larger main compartment that fits enough clothing for a long weekend if you use it as a travel bag. A zippered pocket, closest to the wearer’s back, holds a 15-inch laptop, so you can grab it without opening up the entire bag, which is a helpful detail that’ll come in handy while on TSA security lines. Shop this pack in three colors: Clay, Charcoal and Black.

$625 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$625 at Nordstrom

Jody Ford, the London-based CEO of European train ticket provider Trainline, says this Tumi commuter bag, which has an approximate 26-liter capacity, “is the pinnacle of functionality because it’s durable and versatile, and also sleek enough to be used on any trip,” business travel or otherwise. The wide-bottomed backpack sits upright and accompanies Ford on international train trips a couple of times a month. The four external pockets “allow me to easily grab what I need on the go without having to stop and unpack my entire bag,” he says. One of those side pockets has a waterproof liner to stash a splash-prone commuter mug or a wet umbrella. Stuff a 15-inch laptop inside and, if you’re traveling with a roller bag, slip the Tumi right over that using the luggage sleeve to cruise through the station.

$188 at Caraa

“I always get stopped by random people asking where I got it,” says Miami, Fla.-based Debbi-Ann White, a senior vice president at Unique Vacations, of her Caraa Stratus backpack. The 16-liter bag comes in two colors (Black and Clay) and has a water-resistant shell, a padded sleeve for a 15-inch laptop, and a luggage sleeve for secure storage. But it’s the 15 interior pockets that make this bag supremely useful for those who crave compartmentalization and hate digging around the bottom of a bag for keys. White, who frequently travels for work and pleasure, notes its durability: “From Jamaica to the volcanic mountains of Guatemala, this bag has been across the globe and still looks new.” (Water-resistant nylon makes it easy to clean). The bag’s rounded shape has a classic school backpack feel, but its ­sleek fabric, vegan leather details and matte black hardware make the bag stand out without bold branding.

$120 at Amazon

$120 at Ogio

This 33-liter bag has plenty of organization for gadgets, and it won’t require opening up the bag’s main compartment to find a phone charger or USB dongle, thanks to thoughtfully placed exterior pockets. San Diego, Calif.-based Win Cramer, CEO of headphone maker JLab is a fan of the bag: “Everything has its place, from earbuds to sunglasses, laptops, business cards, vitamins, passports, charging cords, you name it,” he says. One large, U-shaped zipper provides access to a sleeve for a 15-inch laptop (which can be secured with a hook and loop strap), as well as a separate sleeve for a tablet or e-reader.

$265 at Knack

$275 at Amazon

This backpack from Knack expands by 33 percent, offering up to 35 liters of packing space with a quick zip. Ally Case, a Miami, Florida-based flight attendant with a major U.S. airline and social media manager, is a fan of its hidden expansion. Made in four colors, you can fill this bag, then stuff it in the overhead bin for multi-day trips, or slim it down and tuck it under the airplane seat. Either way, you can roll it on a hardside suitcase using the luggage sleeve. A dedicated pocket behind the shoulder straps holds a 15-inch laptop, while interior zippered dividers sequester the rest of your tech, like a mouse, keyboard and chargers.

$187 at Travelpro

$220 Save $33

$220 at Amazon

This boxy 20-liter commuter bag is a go-to for Tony Maxit, a Montreal-area-based captain with Jazz Aviation, an Air Canada regional partner, because it slips right under an airline seat and sits upright on a rolling suitcase. Available in three dark colors, the backpack features built-in USB-A and -C ports that let you charge devices from the outside (you can use them with your own portable power bank). The two main zippers open on either side of the bag’s main divider and are connected with gussets at the bottom so the bag won’t fully flop open when you’re digging around on the go. While it’s large enough to hold a 15.5-inch laptop, the slickest feature is a magnetic pocket up top to store and retrieve things like sunglasses or your phone one-handed.

$250 at Amazon

$250 at Nomatic

With a 15-liter capacity and 16-inch laptop compartment, this day bag has a slim look and feel that light packers and daily commuters will appreciate. It zips open, expanding to offer a 21-liter capacity, which still might not sound like a lot, but it’s exactly what Plunge CEO Michael Garrett needs for routine flights between Sacramento and San Diego. “It’s small and light, yet fits everything I need, including my MacBook Pro,” he says, adding that he prefers to use it for one- to three-night trips. The silhouette is minimalist by design with simple yet helpful features like a hidden pocket for a water bottle or travel mug and interior mesh pockets. Those who travel through busy airports or city streets regularly will appreciate the interlocking tamper-proof zippers that offer better protection than standard pulls without the fuss of a lock.

$160 at Amazon

$160 at Zappos

Victoria Hitchcock, a San Francisco, Calif.-based stylist, carries this surprisingly sleek hiking backpack daily because its diagonal zippered pockets offer easy access to her belongings while commuting. Thanks to its conveniently placed compartments, it offers “laptop protection without the bulk,” she says. Inside, the 12-by-14-inch laptop sleeve doubles as storage for a hydration bladder when you’re out on a trail. The pack also includes a sternum strap to help keep a fully loaded pack comfortable on your frame. While it comes in three colors, Hitchcock recommends either the darker black or navy to wear around the city.

$575 at Zappos

$575 at Bloomingdale's

Hitchcock says her CEO clients tend to gravitate towards the nondescript yet luxe colors scheme of this Tumi day bag, as well as its structured shape that looks more formal than a slouchier bag. One of the slimmer packs on this list, measuring only 3.5 inches deep, the Tumi is designed for office essentials more than clothing and other travel goods. A padded laptop sleeve holds devices up to 14 inches; you’ll also find a clever smartphone pocket between the shoulder straps, as well as handsome leather accents that elevate its look.

$239 at Amazon

$239 at Bloomingdale's

Singla likes this commuter backpack because it strikes the right tone between style and practicality. “This brand is a favorite of professionals who travel a lot or commute in the city,” Singla says, adding that the bag’s lifetime guarantee is another plus. At 5.5 inches deep, the almost 16-liter bag won’t double as a travel pack, and that’s part of the appeal. According to Singla, one of its best features is its slim build. “I also love the padded neoprene backpack straps, which are ergonomic and comfortable,” she says. The Briggs & Riley style comes in three colors and has two main zippered compartments, a 15-inch laptop sleeve and slip pockets for cards, a passport and earbuds. Plus, the light-colored lining that makes it easy to find what you need.