7 Top Picks
4 Reviewers
30 Hours of Research
20 Options Considered
Sometimes back, all that mattered when looking for a college backpack was size and durability. However, things have changed and become a bit complicated. As a college student, you'll need to carry more items with extra-care requirements to school.
In addition, you'll need a good one to put your laptop, power cords, notebooks, pens, and many more school items. So while you can still use your high school backpack, a new upgraded one would serve much better.
With several options to choose from, it might be challenging to find a suitable backpack for yourself. But, worry not, for we've got you covered. We have reviewed many backpacks, evaluating their features, pros, and cons.
3 Top Backpacks for College
1. [Best Overall]
5/5
The backpack is made for both convenience and comfort. It is made of recycled PET bottles that make up the grey exterior. The bag is also tailored to protect your belongings against bacteria attack; It has a Microban antimicrobial coating that deters bacteria growth.
2. [Best For The Money]
4.9/5
It is made from high-quality fabrics, making the backpack durable. It also has larger well-padded compartments to ensure your laptop and other essentials are safe inside.
It also has a luggage strap that allows you to fix the backpack on a trolley conveniently.
3. [Best For Frequent Travellers]
4.8/5
This is a great choice for college students who must travel more often. It features a simple design that offers comfort and convenience when moving around. However, it is large enough to hold a 17-inch laptop and other large items.
Besides, we've surveyed college students and recent graduates to establish what features they need most in backpacks. We've also considered style, comfort, and durability in coming up with the best backpacks for college students. Therefore, you're guaranteed the best selection when considering our selection(s).
What Are the Best Backpacks for College Students?
Top on our list for the best backpacks for college students include the following:
- Solo Re: Define Laptop Backpack
- Matein Travel Laptop Backpack
- Targus Cypress Hero Backpack
- KROSER Laptop Backpack
- Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack
- 17 Inch Laptop Backpack Business Anti Theft Slim Durable School Backpack
- Bagsure Travel Laptop Backpack, Business Water Resistant Laptop Backpack
- BadPiggies Vintage Travel Backpack
- CoolBELL Travel Laptop Backpack
Best Backpacks for College Reviews
[Best Overall]
5.0/5
The Re: Define Laptop Backpack is the best backpack for college students. The backpack is made for both convenience and comfort. It is made of recycled PET bottles that make up the grey exterior. The bag is also tailored to protect your belongings against bacteria attack; It has a Microban antimicrobial coating that deters bacteria growth.
The backpack also has several other features meant to offer comfort and durability. Below are some of the additional features of the backpack.
Its checkpoint-friendly design allows easy security checks at college gates or airports.
It has an external USB port that allows you to conveniently charge your phone, tablet, laptop, or other electronic devices.
The backpack has an external headphone port that allows you to listen to music with your audio device well secured in the bag.
The heathered build material of the backpack allows you to clean it effortlessly by wiping it using a damp cloth.
It has a water-resistant coating on the external part that prevents water from penetrating the inside, thus protecting your electronics.
It has a fully padded compartment that fits an 11-inch to 16-inch ultrabook or 15-inch MacBook.
The backpack has an RFID Data Protection Pocket that offers security to encode personal data on your ID, credit card, or passport.
The product measures 3.15 x 13.19 x 19.29 inches and has an average weight of 1.43 lbs.
It is a uni-sex backpack suitable for adults.
It has lockable zipper pulls that guarantee security.
Pros
Cons
[Best For The Money]
4.9/5
KROSER Laptop Backpack is a premium laptop backpack for students with premium features. It is made from high-quality fabrics, making the backpack durable. It also has larger well-padded compartments to ensure your laptop and other essentials are safe inside.
KROSER Laptop Backpack Features
The backpack is a 17.3-inch backpack to fit your large laptop and other items.
It measures 18.5 x 13.3 x 7.8 inches and has an average weight of 2.6 lbs.
It is made of good-quality poly fabric materials for top performance and durability.
It has larger compartments to keep large items like college files, iPad, laptops, and other items.
It has an in-built USB port to charge your phone, laptop, and other electronics.
The backpack has a well-padded design to safeguard your laptop and other delicate items.
It has adjustable shoulder straps that relieve stress off your shoulder when carrying heavy materials.
It also has a luggage strap that allows you to fix the backpack on a trolley conveniently.
Pros
Cons
[Best For Frequent Travellers]
4.8/5
The Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack is a great choice for college students who use laptops on travels more often. It features a simple design that offers comfort and convenience when moving around. However, it is large enough to hold a 17-inch laptop and other large items.
Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack Features
The backpack has a 17-inch compartment to fit a 17-inch laptop and items of similar or lower sizes.
It has mesh water bottle pockets allowing you to carry water when traveling.
It also has other compartments like the organizational compartments for small items like pens and phones.
The product has an internal measurement of 12.0 x 4.5 x 17.5 inches and an external measurement of 13.4 x 7.0 x 19.3 inches.
The backpack is light, with an average weight of 1.98 lbs, allowing you to carry it around effortlessly.
It is made from durable polyester material, ensuring it lasts longer without needing replacement.
It features a one-pack style meaning you'll organize all your items in one compartment.
It is a uni-sex backpack best for adult college students.
With a 4.6 Google rating for customer reviews, it is clear that it meets the expectation of many of its previous buyers.
Pros
Cons
The 17-Inch Laptop Backpack Business Anti Theft Slim Durable School Backpack is a high-end backpack for college students featuring a stylish and trendy design. It has a large spacious main compartment able to accommodate a 17-inch laptop. Its key features are listed below.
17 Inch Laptop Backpack Business Anti Theft Slim Durable School Backpack Features
The backpack has a large 17-inch compartment that can hold up to a 17-inched laptop or any other item.
It also has a separate compartment for a 9.7-inch iPad.
It also has other compartments for power banks, pens, keys, and other items, while the main compartment can accommodate. Besides, there is a hidden zipper pocket for keeping papers.
The backpack has side pockets for carrying water bottles and a compact umbrella.
It has a padding design with enough airflow allowance to allow efficient air circulation between your back and the bag.
It also has adjustable shoulder straps that fit well and lessen the stress on the shoulder, allowing you to carry it for longer.
It has a hidden anti-theft pocket that offers top security for your valuable items.
The backpack is made of durable polyester fabric. It is also water-resistant to protect water from reaching your books or electronics inside the backpack.
Pros
Cons
This backpack has all you need as a student and a frequently traveling type. With a sleek, trendy design, the backpack delivers outstanding performance while being attractive. Below are its keys features.
Bagsure Travel Laptop Backpack, Business Water Resistant Laptop Backpack Features
The backpack has a 15.6-inch compartment for a 15.6-inch monitor or lower size.
It has several other compartments. For instance, the larger main compartment is for travel essentials, the front organizer pocket for pens and other small accessories, and a zippered pocket for other frequently accessed items.
The backpack also has side mesh pockets for carrying umbrellas and water bottles.
It has an external USB port that allows you to charge your electronic devices on the road while secured in the bag.
It also has a headphone jack allowing you to easily listen to music while protecting your studio device inside the bag.
The backpack has a rucksack with an airflow foam for sufficient air circulation between the bag and your back.
It is made from a durable and water-proof fabric, protecting your items against rainwater damage.
The product measures ‎15.6 x 12.9 x 6.1 inches and has an average weight of 2.14 lbs.
Pros
Cons
This backpack best fits college students who like a stylish backpack. Besides, it is made of high-quality material and gives the best performance regarding security and convenience.
In addition, it has the following features:
The backpack measures 16.9 x 11.4 x 5.3 inches and has an average weight of 1.7 lbs.
It has a high-quality canvas & metal zipper for sturdiness and durability.
Its padded design features adjustable straps that fit well and relieve stress from the shoulder.
It has several compartments for keeping and organizing all your school items.
It has an in-built USB port that allows you to charge your devices while walking.
It is a unisex backpack ideal for adult college students. It is also suitable for outdoor activities like traveling.
It is made of premium oxford fabric that makes it durable.
Pros
Cons
4.4/5
This backpack is a decent bag with a business style. It is a large backpack with a capacity of up to 17.3 inches. The backpack is convenient while being durable at the same time. It has the following features.
CoolBELL Travel Laptop Backpack Features
The backpack has an external measurement of 18.5 x 13.8 x 7.1 inches with an average weight of 2.7 lbs.
It has a separate padded laptop compartment that can accommodate a 15.6-inch laptop or a 17.3-inch one.
It features a zipper opening mechanism.
It is made of quality polyester material, making it last longer.
The backpack is water-proof, keeping off water from damaging internal components or items.
It has an anti-theft hidden pocket for keeping valuable items.
It also has a shock-proof feature that protects your electronics from shock effects.
The backpack has an external USB port to charge your electronics while walking.
It also has reflective night strips that ensure your safety while using public means of transport.
It has a padding design with enough airflow allowance to allow efficient air circulation between your back and the bag.
Pros
Cons
Top Backpacks for College Buying Guide
Note that you will carry several items to and from your college enviros. Therefore, you need a good backpack. While selecting the best backpack for college is the way to go, it is not always the case. Before settling for a particular backpack, you must first analyze your specific needs. Consider what items you need to carry and their size. One crucial item to always remember is your laptop size.
Consider the following factors when considering the best backpacks for college.
- The backpack should have a large padded laptop sleeve to accommodate your laptop.
- The straps should be adjustable, padded, and wide for comfort.
- It should have several organizational pockets to organize your college sites well.
- It should also have interior pockets to keep small items like your pen, phone, etc.
- The bag should also have dual water bottle pockets.
- It should be made from quality fabrics like polyester, oxford, etc.
- It should have lockable zippers.
- It should be durable, comfortable, and practical.
If a backpack ticks all these boxes, then you can go on and buy it. However, you might get a backpack that doesn't fit all these features. You'll need to identify what you need most from the bag and decide based on your need.

FAQs
Which Brand Backpack Is Best for College?
The best brand backpack Solo Re: Define Laptop Backpack. Solo manufacturers manufacture this brand backpack. The backpack is water-resistance, easy to clean, and has RFID Data Protection Pocket for personal data protection, an external USB port for charging your phone, and a headphone port for connecting with your external headphone. It is also easy to clean.
Which Bags Are Best for College Students?
The best bags for college students are listed below.
Solo Re: Define Laptop Backpack
Matein Travel Laptop Backpack
Targus Cypress Hero Backpack
KROSER Laptop Backpack
Amazon Basics Laptop Backpack
17 Inch Laptop Backpack Business Anti Theft Slim Durable School Backpack
Bagsure Travel Laptop Backpack, Business Water Resistant Laptop Backpack
BadPiggies Vintage Travel Backpack
CoolBELL Travel Laptop Backpack
What Is a Good Backpack Size for College?
A 21 to 30 liter-backpack is ideal for a college student. This range of bags has enough space to carry your college essentials but is not too large. The backpack should be large enough to fit your laptop, files, books, and a water bottle.
However, the size may vary depending on the size of items to carry and the laptop you have.
Which Type of Bag Is Best for College Girls?
The best bags for college girls include the following:
Bric's X-Bag Large Sportina Shopper
Leaper Laptop Backpack
Modoker Vintage Backpack
Lovevook Backback for Women
Cluci Backpack
Amerileather Leather Backpack
Himawari Travel School Backpack