The best laptop backpacks for commuting and travel

Known for building gear aimed at athletes and outdoor adventurers, The North Face creates products to withstand somewhat extreme conditions. The same standards apply to the North Face Connector. But don’t assume this backpack is restricted to mountaineers. It's great for students or anyone who travels a lot.

Everything on this backpack is built to last. It features a FlexVent suspension system, with custom injection-moulded shoulder straps, and a padded mesh back panel. So even if you pack it to the max, it’s still comfortable.

The laptop compartment is also super protective, so there's no need to worry about your laptop getting banged up and damaged. The Connector backpack has two main compartments and stretch mesh pockets for bottles of water.

The only downside is that it doesn't have a waistbelt support like other North Face backpacks, and reviewers have noted that it doesn't have a flat bottom, so it doesn't always stand up straight.

You’ve seen Herschel backpacks, because they’re everywhere right now — it’s a classic style for contemporary times. And one of our favourite designs from the Canada-based brand is the Herschel etreat Backpack. 

It has a simple design that meets all the basic functions of a good laptop backpack. That being said, if you're looking for a more tech-focused backpack with multiple pockets, compartments, and other extras, this isn't for you.

But what it lacks in the frills department, it makes up for in quality and durability. It’s also worth noting that it looks pretty great — sleek, simple, and more mature compared to your typically bulky, teen-style backpack.

The Retreat features one large main compartment with a 15-inch laptop sleeve, and one single slip pocket at the front. Nothing confusing here, people. Again, just enough to get the job done — but getting it done on-trend.

If you've ever shopped for a backpack during the back-to-school season, the Jansport logo will be familiar. Jansport has seemingly been around forever, remaining a reliable and well-trusted brand. Style-wise, it's an American classic. We can’t not have a backpack dedicated to students in this list. 

The Cool Student Backpack gives you everything you'll need for the semester. It has two deep sleeves, one for a laptop and the other for textbooks, plus a front stash pocket for smaller items like pens, pencils, and other supplies.

It also has a mesh pocket that's just the right size to keep your water bottle from slipping out. The manufacturing quality on the Jansport is so good that Jansport offers a lifetime warranty on this backpack, so there's literally no need to worry about this thing lasting you through the school year or beyond. 

Gamers rejoice. The Everki Atlas is built to carry a laptop and all your gear while staying organised. A 180-degree foldout design makes all of the bag's contents easily accessible, while making it totally checkpoint friendly.

The interior compartments and pockets are a nice contrasting red, which makes it easy to find what you need. And there are dedicated sections for your laptop, tablet, magazines, business cards, and other items. It also has also has a media player outlet, which prevents wires tangling around your straps.

It terms of the fit, this backpack uses a five-point balance strap system with pillow-soft, adjustable straps. Plus, two quick-slide straps at the bottom and one across the chest. To top it all off, the Atlas is water resistant.

If you find yourself constantly trekking from one end of the airport to another, whether it be for a business trip or a weekend excursion, the Osprey Nebula Daypack is a great choice. It's a big bag for big trips and sizeable needs.

It has a sleeve for your laptop, along with several internal and external organisation pockets, a large main compartment, stretch front compartment, side mesh pockets, and a cosy padded harness to keep everything you need organised and accessible while taking the pressure off your shoulders.

It even comes with LED light attachment point, to keep you safe if you're traveling at night and need to put a bit of light on the situation.

With a 34-litre capacity, it’s the biggest backpack on this list. Indeed, the Osprey Nebula Daypack is spacious enough to fit all of your necessities, yet compact enough to fit in any overhead bin and even under most aircraft seats.

The Wenger Pegasus Laptop Backpack has you covered, whether it's for work, business, university, or travel. It’s a big backpack designed for a big load. It has an impressive capacity and room in the main compartment for big laptops.

The pockets help to keep you organised: the front pocket for your phone, cables, charger, business cards, and smaller items, while the three larger padded compartments hold books, clothes, notebooks, and more. 

Shock-absorbing shoulder straps keep you comfortable, and there are mesh side pockets for quick and easy access to your water bottle. There's also air-flow back padding, which keeps you cool, and a reinforced grab handle that slips over the handle of wheeled luggage, making things easier at the airport.

If your daily commute involves public transport or navigating the hustle and bustle of city life, you don't want a bulky bag that will take up already-limited space. But it still needs to protect your laptop at all times. 

The Wenig Anti-Theft backpack is slimline but full of features and storage. It has three main compartments — including a laptop sleeve — plus 12 other pockets for stashing a tablet, notebook, chargers, leads, pens, and other bits. 

At the airport and in a rush? No problem. This backpack hooks over the handles of a wheeled suitcase to save you time and effort.

There's also a USB charging port, so there's no need to stress over finding a seat next to an outlet or the fact that you forgot to charge your phone overnight, and headphone port. As for safety features, it has a fixed password anti-theft lock and hidden anti-theft pocket. You can travel very securely.

The Lekesky Laptop Rucksack is a great all-rounder. It’s especially good for staying organised, even if you’re someone who carries a lot of different stuff around. Its wide-open design makes everything easy to access, with clearly designated compartments and pockets inside that keep everything exactly where you want it. There are five main compartments, including the laptop sleeve. In fact, this one’s so roomy that there’s space to keep two laptops.

Even though it’s at the lower end of the price bracket, it has extra features that put it ahead of more expensive backpacks. There’s a reflective stripe on one of the straps, plus an anti-theft pocket that rests against your back — pretty much impossible for thieves to access while you’re wearing. It’s a perfect spot for keeping your phone, keys, or wallet. They’ll be safe but you’ll have easy access.

In terms of style, it’s also a nice-looking design that will suit anyone. Handles on the top of the backpack allow you to carry it handbag style, too.