Best Backpacks for College and High School Students of 2025
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Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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An affordable backpack from a trusted brand, the JanSport Main Campus has a large capacity and a secondary compartment with an organizer panel.
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Written by Jaclyn Greenberg, mom and accessibility advocate with expertise in mobility and hearing devices. Ben Yoder, SEO editor with more than 25 years of journalism experience.
Updated November 8, 2023
Backpacks are for more than just carrying books and a laptop around campus. The best backpacks can reflect the style of the student who is lugging them—but they need to be more than a fashion statement.
High school and college backpacks should be functional and designed to help students succeed in the classroom. In addition to padded laptop compartments and dedicated space for water bottles, the best backpacks should also have the organization elements that help students stay on top of their schoolwork, including big front pockets for school supplies, interior pockets, and plenty of space to carry school books. (They should also have padded straps so overstuffed bookbags don’t cause back and shoulder pain.)
When shopping for backpacks, don’t overlook your students’ outside interests, either. Some of the best backpacks on the market are specially designed with these interests in mind, whether they be sports, travel, hiking, or something else. (Outdoorsy students may want to consider the North Face Borealis
(available at Amazon for $98.98)
, which has features that work both in the classroom and on a hike.) Regardless of what your student is interested in, their backpack should be durable because teenagers and young adults are notoriously hard on things.
We researched popular and top-rated backpacks from the best brands so the college student or high schooler in your life can return to campus organized, comfortable, and ready to learn. Here are our favorite backpacks for college and high school students.
Credit:
Reviewed / North Face
The North Face Borealis backpack would be great in the classroom and the outdoors.
Best Dual Purpose
The North Face Borealis
Dimensions: 19.5 x 12 x 6.5 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 28 liters
The North Face Borealis is ideal for the classroom and the great outdoors. It has a large main compartment for books and binders, and the laptop compartment can fit up to a 15-inch laptop. This bag, which has a stand-up design so it’s easy to pack, features a sternum strap, removable waist strap, and a bungee compression strap system, which are great when students want to hit the hiking trails or go camping.
What reviews say: “My niece is a freshman in college and has used this backpack for four years, and it is still holding up well. No tears or holes,” wrote one customer. “When my middle school daughter's other backpack broke three weeks into the school year, I told her to research a sturdy backpack. The research led her to The North Face Borealis school laptop backpack. This backpack is spacious for a laptop, books, and everything else that is needed for school.”
Pros
Stand-up design
Features a sternum strap and removable waist strap
The Jansport Main Campus backpack has a padded laptop compartment and is available in many colors and patterns.
Classic Pick
JanSport Main Campus
Dimensions: 17 x 12.5 x 7 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 32 liters
Jansport is synonymous with backpacks for good reason. The company has been building quality backpacks for more than 50 years. The brand continues this tradition with the Main Campus style, which features an extra-large capacity, padded straps, and a dedicated padded compartment that fits up to a 15-inch laptop. It has a large main compartment and a secondary compartment with an organizer panel.
What reviews say: “I was looking for a new backpack for school that could hold my laptop, a few binders/notebooks, and a textbook or two all without being super bulky. This is the backpack I was looking for! Plenty of room for all of my supplies, and it's comfortable and stylish. You can't go wrong with Jansport!” wrote one happy buyer.
The Fjallraven Kanken 17-inch laptop backpack is trendy while also being functional.
Trendiest
Fjällräven Kanken Laptop 17"
Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.8 x 7.1 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 20 liters
Fjallraven Kanken backpacks are always trendy, and this one is no different. But it’s also functional for college and high school, with a padded compartment that fits up to a 17-inch laptop, padded straps to comfortably carry heavy loads and enough space inside for everything the student in your life needs to succeed.
Although the Kanken is stylish and comfortable, it’s important to note that it’s one of the smaller backpacks in this guide.
What reviews say: “When my backpack for college stopped zipping properly, I figured I'd splurge on/invest in a Kanken. … I went for this so it would comfortably fit my MacBook Pro in the laptop pocket, and it does with a couple inches of room to spare,” wrote one reviewer, who rated her purchase a 10 out of 10 overall.
Lululemon Everyday Backpack 2.0 can easily make the transition from high school to college to the workplace.
Cleanest Design
lululemon Everyday Backpack 21L
Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.4 x 5.9 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 23 liters
This stylish Lululemon backpack easily makes the transition from high school to college to the workplace. Available in three colors, the Everyday Backpack 2.0 is water-repellant and has an exterior padded pocket that fits up to a 16-inch laptop. With its external and internal pockets, this bag makes it a breeze to stay organized.
What reviews say: “I really wanted a more compact backpack with a specific compartment for my laptop and tablet. This ended up being perfect because it has lots of pockets that are pretty spacious, and the interior has good built-in pockets that fit my calculators and other small things,” wrote one reviewer who said the backpack was perfect for college. “I can even fit a sweatshirt or a set of clean clothes in the main one along with my notebooks.”
Pros
Stylish
Water-repellant design
Fits up to 16-inch laptop
Cons
Available only in three colors
Credit:
Reviewed / Matein
This Matein backpack is among the most popular on Amazon.
Best Oversized
Matein Extra Large Backpack
Dimensions: 19 x 13.8 x 7.8 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 35 liters
This Matein backpack is perfect for school and travel—and it’s available at a value price. Available in 14-inch, 15.6-inch, 17-inch, and 18-inch options, you can get the right size for your needs. College and high school students, though, may want to check out the 17-inch. It easily fits the notebooks, books, and other essentials you’ll need for class. There’s a reason this backpack is the No. 1 best-selling backpack on Amazon.
What reviews say: “The backpack has many compartments, and the main one is spacious enough to fit your computer and a 2- to 3-inch binder plus three notebooks. The straps don't dig into your shoulder and distribute weight across your back,” wrote one of the 70,000+ buyers who gave this backpack five stars on Amazon.
Dimensions: 17.5 x 12 x 7.25 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 27 liters
The Everlane Renew Transit Backpack is another great pick for students who also want to travel. It features a 15-inch exterior laptop pocket, so your computer is easily accessible during class or a flight. It also has two internal slip pockets, an external water bottle pocket, an internal water bottle pocket, and two zip-closure pockets, perfect for school essentials or passports and plane tickets.
What reviews say: “After a thorough search for the perfect school and travel backpack that would meet all of our daughter’s needs, we discovered this perfect treasure! She finally outgrew her previous travel backpack that we purchased for her when she was 8 years old (she is now 14 years old),” said one mother who says this bag is perfect for high school and college travels. “... Great job! I may now need to get me one because it is so nice!”
Dimensions: 18.75 x 11.75 x 10 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 30 liters
The L.L. Bean Comfort Carry Laptop Pack fits up to a 15-inch laptop in its padded sleeve, has a built-in organizer panel with zippered pockets, and has water pockets that hold up to 32-ounce bottles. This backpack is designed with ergonomics in mind, with a rigid back panel with extra padding, mesh straps, and an adjustable sternum strap. With a body made from 300-denier ripstop polyester, 420-denier ripstop nylon, and an extra-durable 1,000-denier nylon bottom, it’s built to last.
What reviews say: “We wanted a backpack that was large enough for my son’s school laptop and enormous binder, as well as water bottles. This one fits it all. The straps are comfortable, and I like the look of it,” said one 5-star reviewer.
Dimensions: 20.25 x 12.5 x 11 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 37 liters
The Adidas Prime 6 is ideal for anyone who wants a straightforward, well-fitting backpack that’s good for school, sports, or even a hike. The back and the shoulder straps are well padded, thick, and adjustable. It fits up to a 15-inch laptop, and there are three larger storage pockets and two smaller ones. There is also a pouch for a phone or items you want to keep in a safe place.
What reviews say: “I highly recommend this bag for any high school/college students or people in sports,” wrote one 5-star Amazon reviewer. “It holds lots of items and lots of school books. I love this bag for my traveling competitions, and it stores so much.”
Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.25 x 6.5 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 25 liters
Made with 100% recycled material, the Herschel Pop Quiz features padded straps, a spacious interior, and fits up to a 15-inch laptop in its floating sleeve. One of our writers fell in love with her Pop Quiz, calling it a “blessing in my life.” After years of use, she was still amazed by the “incredible Mary Poppins-esque depth” of the exterior accessories pouch. “That is where the magic happens, keeping smaller items from getting lost in the main compartment, yet holding so many of them,” she writes.
What reviews say: “I bought the navy color of this backpack about two years ago, and have been using it as my main backpack since,” wrote one 5-star reviewer. “I love it. It is stylish and extremely well-built. I have had absolutely no rips or zipper failures or seams coming loose. I have used it at internships in a professional environment, or strolling to class on campus.”
Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 7.5 inches (height x width x depth)
Volume: 28.7 liters
The Kenneth Cole Reaction Travel backpack combines the style of a designer tote with the comfort of a backpack. It has a padded laptop pocket that fits up to a 15-inch laptop, a front pocket with organizers for tablets, notebooks, and chargers, and a compact design that helps the bag hold a lot more than it looks.
What reviews say: “I’ve had this backpack for three years, and it still looks like the day I received it,” said one woman who recommends the backpack. “Perfect for school—both high school and college—and traveling. It also really has a lot more space than you think. There’s especially many pockets and zippers to keep all your things organized.”
What You Should Know Before Buying a School Backpack
A good school backpack is essential for students, but not all backpacks are created equal. While every high school or college student deserves a comfortable, spacious, and durable bag that works for their lifestyle, how that looks will depend on the student. Here’s what you should keep in mind.
Storage and Organization
The right-sized bag with pockets and compartments in the right places can help keep your student ready for anything. Here’s what to look for.
Laptop Compartment
While all of our backpack recommendations have laptop compartments, there is a range in sizes — don’t forget to make sure that your student’s laptop fits the backpack you’re considering, and that the laptop compartment is well-padded.
Considering how important a laptop is to school success—and how rough high school and college students can be on things—you might also want to invest in a quality laptop sleeve for extra protection.
Internal Organization
A place for everything and everything in its place is the secret sauce to staying organized. The right backpack for your student will have enough compartments to keep things organized, but not so many that it’s hard to find what they’re looking for. Look for easy places to stash pens, keys, lip balm and other daily essentials – and if it makes sense for your student, a hidden internal pocket for wallets, IDs, and other items you don’t want on display.
External Pockets that Make Sense
Quick access to needs like a subway pass, headphones, or a water bottle make life easier. But size is important, especially for water bottles. It’s worth double checking to make sure that the backpack you're planning to purchase accommodates your favorite water bottle—there’s a big difference between a standard Hydro Flask and a Yeti Rambler.
Durability and Weather-Resistance
Backpacks take a beating – between heavy loads and rough handling, there’s a dozen ways students puts packs through their paces. To make sure the backpack lasts as long as your student’s academic career, look for water-resistant or waterproof fabrics (like ballistic or ripstop nylon or coated canvas); strong stitching and seams, especially around zippers and pockets; and a reinforced bottom of the bag.
Ergonomic and Comfort Features
Whether they’re walking across the quad or commuting across a city, smart, ergonomically-minded features can make a massive difference in how comfortable a backpack feels, both in the moment and over the long term.
Shoulder Straps
There’s no getting around the fact that a student’s backpack is heavy. When looking for a backpack for college or high school, it’s vital that the straps be well-padded for comfort. Adjustable straps ensure that the pack sits correctly across the shoulders, so the load stays balanced and easier to carry for students of all heights.
Sternum and Waist Straps
If your student has a long walk or commute, an especially heavy load to carry, or plans to use their backpack for hiking or travel, opting for a model with sternum or waist straps can be a smart ergonomic upgrade. Both straps can help keep the backpack balanced and supported to avoid putting strain on backs and shoulders — but are cumbersome extras for students who don’t use them.
Breathable Mesh Back Panels
No one likes a hot and sticky back. Look for mesh back panels that help create airflow, or ridged airflow channels or honeycomb mesh for better circulation.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
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Jaclyn Greenberg lives with her husband and three children on the East Coast. She writes about her experiences parenting as well as challenges related to accessibility and inclusion.
A journalist for more than 25 years, Ben Yoder uses his news, editing, and search experience to help consumers find the best products possible as an SEO & Updates Editor with Reviewed. Based in Iowa, his work has appeared in the Des Moines (Iowa) Register, HawkCentral, and Cyclone Insider, among other websites.
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