What Features Make a Backpack Smart for Everyday Use?

Since laptops can be pretty pricey, it’s definitely worth investing in a backpack designed to protect your tech while you’re on the move. Whether you’re flying or just heading to class, a comfortable, well-made backpack with a padded laptop pocket is essential.

Comfort and durability are key factors to consider, so we tested over 50 laptop backpacks both in our New York City lab and in real-life situations to find the best ones. We loaded each bag with laptops, iPads, sweatshirts, and more, then carried them around to see how they felt. We even dropped them from a tabletop to test their durability (using dummy laptops, of course). Keep reading to see our top picks for style, comfort, value, and more.

Table of Contents

Best Splurge: Lo & Sons Rowledge

**Features Make a Backpack Smart for Everyday Use**

Why We Love It:
The sleek nylon material and leather accents give it a stylish look without compromising protection.

What to Consider:
The laptop compartment is a bit small for laptops bigger than 13 inches.

Lo & Sons’ Rowledge laptop backpack is on the pricier side, but it’s definitely worth the investment. The combination of nylon with leather accents makes this bag perfect for travelers and office-goers. While it may look small on the outside, we were able to fit a sweatshirt, laptop, iPad, notebook, and water bottle inside without any issues. The only downside is that the laptop pocket only fits laptops 13 inches or smaller, so keep that in mind if you have a larger computer.

The adjustable straps and plenty of padding throughout the bag make it comfortable and durable. At first, the material felt a little stiff, but it quickly adjusted to the shape of my shoulders and back after a few uses. It passed our drop test in the lab, but after six months of use, we did notice some scuffing and tarnishing on the hardware.

The Details:
16.5 x 11.5 x 6.75 inches | 21 liters | 3.2 pounds | Nylon, leather | 13.5-inch laptop pocket

Our Pick

Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack & Tote

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Also Read: How do Travel Tech Accessories Enhance the Overall Travel Experience?

Best Budget: Tzowla Travel Laptop Backpack

Why We Love It:
This affordable backpack has a ton of smart features for travelers.

What to Consider:
The materials are a bit lower quality compared to pricier options.

This budget-friendly backpack exceeded our expectations. After using it for four months, we love the padded laptop sleeve that protects laptops up to 15.6 inches. It also has great features like a USB port, passcode lock, and headphone port—perfect for making travel with electronics easier. The main compartment is spacious enough to fit bulkier items like a jacket or lunch, and the front compartment has plenty of little pockets for organizing smaller items.

Made from polyester fabric, the backpack feels durable and held up well during our tests. While it doesn’t feel as high-quality as more expensive bags, it still has comfortable, padded straps that make it easy to carry.

Our Pick

Laptop Backpack for unisex

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Also Read: What are the Top‐Rated Travel Chargers and Power Banks for on‐the‐go use?

Best for Organization: Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe

Why We Love It:
It has a ton of pockets for keeping everything organized.

What to Consider:
The capacity could be a bit larger.

The Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe is perfect for staying organized on the go. It has a dedicated, padded laptop pocket, multiple slip and zippered pockets in the main compartment, and a spacious front pocket for things like notebooks. Plus, there’s a side pocket for your water bottle and a trolley sleeve for attaching the bag to a suitcase. We loved being able to access the laptop from both the back zipper and the main compartment. The backpack also has compression straps to adjust its size, but we felt the main compartment could’ve been a little bigger. The padded straps make it comfortable to wear for long periods, and the recycled nylon exterior is water-resistant, which is great for rainy weather.