The best college backpacks for students in 2025

When searching for the best backpacks for college students, we tested for durability, functionality, and style. Undoubtedly, The North Face Recon Backpack is the perfect combination of all three.

It has a posture-correcting design. We tested its suspension system (including a sternum strap, back clips, and removable waist belt) which helped balance the weight of a full backpack evenly. This in turn alleviates chronic back pain students get from carrying heavy loads over time. We also liked that the rear is padded with a ventilated cushion, and its wide shoulder straps for easier lifting.

The pockets are intuitively placed. Its medium-size main compartment has a laptop sleeve, a front mesh pocket filled with practical separations for all of your charging cords, smaller devices, and writing utensils. Plus, it has two water bottle pockets on its sides.

Safety features are a nice bonus. The chest buckle has a whistle, and the backpack has a reflective outer layer that stays illuminated in low light. Plus, the sleeves are plush enough to protect your tech from breaking on impact. 

We also include the Recon in our guide to the best backpacks for students, as it makes a great confidence-boosting gift for pupils heading off to a new school. In terms of style, its minimal design and array of colorways make this a versatile choice for those who commute to class or wear a backpack to work.

Patagonia is one of our favorite B-corp retail companies and we appreciate it's eco-conscious approach to outdoor gear. We highly favored this backpack during our testing because it has a small outer pocket that's in the perfect spot for quickly grabbing something like a sweater or snacks.

The shoulder straps are supremely comfortable. The lightweight padding feels plush on the shoulders and its sternum strap relieves extra pressure from your spine.

It stays dry in the rain. The Refugio's recycled nylon exterior is coated with a water repellent finish that wicks moisture. 

It comes with a removable laptop sleeve. If you need to lighten your load, you can slide out the sleeve so it effectively functions as a daypack.

JanSport's Main Campus FX is an oversized version of a classic design, so it's great for students when they're in school and even after they graduate. Not only is it built perfectly for carrying books and laptops, but it's also versatile, making it easy to use for everything from classes to road trips to the gym.

It's a classic design. The Main Campus FX carries a 15-inch laptop with a heavy load of books and random accessories like headphones, a water bottle, beauty products, and assorted writing utensils. The padded straps make carrying its weight a bit breezier.

It's spacious and has neat organizational features. The dedicated laptop pocket is nicely padded, and there are two other full-size compartments, making room for anything and everything. It also has a keychain in the front pocket to keep your dorm or apartment keys handy.

Your most valuable learning tool is your laptop, and if you're on a busy campus, you may be wondering how secure it would be if you were to accidentally leave your backpack behind somewhere. In any case, Troubadour's Pioneer 3.0 waterproof backpack has the design features to give you peace of mind.

You can lock it shut and slip a tracking device in its secret pocket. "The tech section is engineered with protective cushioning to safeguard my laptop from damage, and the lockable main compartment (where I stash my wallet) even features an AirTag pocket just in case I misplace my bag," writes freelance reporter Rebecca Strong.

It's comfortable to carry, even when it's chock-full. "The ergonomic design includes sculpted and padded shoulder straps and a breathable back panel. Did I mention that it looks sleek as heck, and maintains its shape no matter how little or how much I'm storing inside it?" continues Rebecca.

Everything is easy to access. "The shoulder strap pocket allows me to quickly grab my phone or keys, and the dual elasticated 1-litre bottle holders make it simple to hydrate in a cinch," she writes.

Dagne Dover makes some of our favorite bags we've ever tested. If you like a sophisticated, minimalist design with ample space and clever compartments, its Dakota neoprene backpack will be your saving grace.

It comes in three sizes. All of which are water-resistant, shock-absorbent, and complete with sleek straps. Inside there are pockets galore, so no space is wasted. The laptop compartment in the large version fits a 16-inch laptop, which is bigger than the average college device. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and has a mesh tablet pocket, five medium-sized pockets, and a convenient detachable pouch. Its two exterior pockets can carry your water bottle and a stash of snacks.

It has a trendy, minimalistic design. Despite its simple exterior, we can confidently say this luxury backpack fits everything you'd ever need: a laptop, tablet, textbooks, water bottle, notebook, snacks, and a spare pair of shoes. On the outside, it looks chic and simple, but inside, it gives you all the power to be your most organized self — which is also why we love to wear it as a work backpack. It even has a nearly-invisible slip pocket by the handle where you can keep small items, like a snack or headphones. 

One of our favorite features we discovered while testing is the luggage handle sleeve, which you can slide over the handle of your carry-on as you wheel it around.

Read more in our full Dagne Dover Dakota backpack review. You can also see how it compares to a Quince dupe in our Dagne Dover vs Quince backpack review.

For the college student with a maturing style and an appreciation for a spacious bag, this Vera Bradley backpack is both a great stylistic and functional choice.

It has a luggage handle and smooth-pull zippers. Inside is a padded 15-inch laptop compartment along with two side pockets for a water bottle. It has a sizable 25-liter main compartment containing two mesh slip pockets and outer pockets to store smaller items.

It comes in dozens of colorways. This is one of the best college backpacks that combines utility with a minimalistic look7676 in several stylish shades. The small brand tag is monochromatic and located on the side, so it blends in with the rest of the backpack. Once you open its pockets, you get a pop of the brand's signature paisley pattern.

Our jet-setting colleague and friend of the Insider Reviews team flagged Brevitē's backpacks as one of her most consistently used items when she travels.

Its backpacks are also great for school, since they have neat compartments to keep everything organized — your laptop is separate from your books, your phone is separate from your coin purse, and so on. We also like that the design is very minimal, so it's well-suited to a wide range of personal tastes.

It's intuitive to use. In the front pocket, there's a key leash and small compartments for writing utensils and your phone. Then, there are two ways to access the main compartment, via the top or side zipper. We like that the side pocket can stretch to fit a large stainless steel water bottle.

It contains two secret pockets. Inside the main compartment and in the rear, there are two small zippered pockets that you'd miss if you don't look closely. They're perfect for storing your wallet or AirPods, so you can discreetly pull them out when you need them.

Sometimes a tote bag is more convenient to access your belongings at a moment's notice, but a one-shoulder design is bound to cause more discomfort than two straps. The Rowledge lets you switch from one to two straps at a moment's notice.

It has a neat interior organization system. Inside its front pocket is a key leash, plus several slots for holding charging cords, earbuds, and other small items that are easily lost at the bottom of a backpack. The main compartment has several more slots like these, and on the outside are two pockets for an umbrella and water bottle.

Its convertible design is great for busy commutes. "I was successfully able to fit two bags worth of stuff into the Rowledge, and its convertible style came in handy on a crowded train. As more and more people filed in, I had to remove my bag from my back and hold it by my side. I was able to secure the backpack straps within the travel sleeve and firmly grip my bag via the handbag handles. The conversion was so easy that I didn't even realize I walked onto the train with a backpack and exited with a handbag," says Francesca Rea, former Story Production Manager.

We also tested the new Rowledge 2, which has similar specs but comes with a heftier price tag. For now, we recommend you save the $340 difference and stick with the original — at least until the new version goes on sale. See our review of the Rowledge 2 in our guide to the best Lo & Sons bags.

Read more in our full Lo & Sons Rowledge Backpack review. 

This backpack is all about functionality, protecting your laptop, and basic storage.

It has a big main compartment with little extra. The Comfort Carry Pack has a spacious 30-liter capacity, but not an extravagance of pockets. There's a main compartment with a laptop pocket as well as a second compartment with an organizer for pencils.

You can strap shoes or a jacket to the front. Made with a chest belt, hip belt, and padded straps, this is a great choice for going between school and other activities. The bungee cords on the front are a perfect place to store one last bulky item, like a jacket or dust bag.

The Carhartt Medium Pack, bundled with the three-can insulated cooler, might be one of the best college backpacks for hauling books and lunch.

It's highly durable. The backpack is made from Cordura, an incredibly durable ripstop material that's also been treated to be water-repellent. The outside of the bag features a mesh pocket for a water bottle, a Hook-n-Haul system for adding extra items like the insulated cooler, and air-mesh shoulder padding. The inside of the bag has plenty of practical storage compartments. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to the fleece-lined eyewear compartment, you can keep all of your belongings organized and easily accessible. 

The attached compartment can keep perishables refrigerated. "My favorite feature is the attached cooler. It can fit up to three 12-ounce cans, but it's also the perfect spot to keep snacks or a lunch for days when you have a packed schedule of classes. And when you're not on campus, it's perfect for hiking, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you'd want to enjoy a cold drink while on the go. It's also easily removable if you prefer to carry the backpack without it." — Amir Ismael, style editor

The North Face is known for making durable and high-quality gear and the Borealis Backpack, one of the brand's most classic styles, is no different.

It's great for hauling all sorts of gear. The 28-liter size fits just about everything you need for class and then some. It has the standard features: a nicely padded laptop pocket, a spacious main compartment, side pockets for water bottles, a small fleece-lined outer pocket, and a bigger outer pocket with pockets and places for pens. It's built with a chest and hip belt, making it useful for hikes too.

It's easy to open and close. There's also a small but thoughtful feature to appreciate: U-pull zippers that make unzipping any of its pockets 10 times easier. The Borealis Backpack may not have a bunch of hidden compartments in the niftiest spaces, but it does what it needs to with quality materials made to last a long while. And for the same price, the Women's Borealis is specifically designed to fit a slighter build.

The Herschel Little America backpack is a classic carryall with a deceiving name. With its spacious 25 liters and nicely padded laptop compartment, the pack is made to help you carry everything you need for school while sporting a timeless style.

You can expand or collapse the bag easily. The main compartment is like a huge pit where you can fit a lot of things: books, snacks, tech, and more. It also has two small side pockets on the inside. Little America is easily expandable and easily collapsible. The single outer pocket is perfect for storing quick things you may need throughout your day.

It has extra long adjustable straps. The backside is thoroughly padded for comfortable carrying. Though, personally, we think this backpack works best on taller people since it's 19.25 inches long. For this reason, the bag is a bit overwhelming on a shorter back.

We've tested the now-retired Carhartt Classic Work Pack, but thankfully, the 25 L Classic Laptop Backpack is an excellent upgrade.

It's made from a durable, water-repellent mateiral. On the inside, it accommodates a medium-size cargo load. Thanks to its front zippered pocket with key ring clip and separated mesh slots for your phone, notebooks, or pens, you won't lose any of your smaller items at the bottom of the bag.

It has a dedicated 15-inch laptop sleeve at the back of the main compartment, and this new model even comes with side pockets of water bottle storage. You can get it in the classic brown colorway that the Michigan-made workwear brand is recognized for.

You can customize its width to fit in small spaces. The compact rectangular design can be expanded, making it especially versatile. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit. It has three pockets: a laptop pocket, main compartment, and outer pouch. The laptop pocket is well padded and the zipper is tucked away in the back. The straps are nice and soft, though oriented differently than the typical backpack, and it has two side pouches that can be used to store a water bottle and possibly even an umbrella.

It's a popular eco-friendly brand. I see this backpack all the time on my college campus. The sleek look makes this a functional piece as well as a nice addition to almost any outfit.

Read more about its upgraded version in our full Fjällräven Tree Kånken review.