21 Best Backpacks for College Students, Reviewed by Experts

We first tested this popular backpack more than 10 years ago — it was a top performer then, and it continues to impress us.

It's super durable, holding up to abrasion, water-resistance and drop tests in our Lab. On top of that, it's comfortable, with lots of padding and straps at both the waist and sternum. Plus, its larger size and separate laptop compartment means it can hold everything you need for a full day of classes. We're also impressed with the thoughtful features, like a fleece-lined zipper pocket for glasses and a front bungee system that can hold a jacket as the weather changes.

Available in 18 colors, it also touts reflective features and a whistle for safety. Our survey respondents say they love how versatile North Face backpacks are, too, wearing them "hiking, traveling, going to classes and teaching."

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Most quality backpacks run $100 or more, but this popular style sells for under $45 — and boasts over 70,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, so it's clearly earned its best-seller rating.

Plenty of padding bodes well for this pack not feeling like it's constantly digging into your shoulders, plus it includes plenty of useful features like an anti-theft lock, a padded laptop copartment and a built-in USB port that makes it easy to charge your phone on the go — just note that you'll need to add your own portable battery (our tech experts love the Anker PowerCore charging bank).

In a recent survey of college students and recent alumni, our respondents recommended Osprey backpacks more than any other brand. While marketed to men, people of all genders said they love this backpack for having "lots of compartments" and "comfortable cushioned shoulder straps."

Our experts agree, too: In our most recent backpack test, Osprey was a top-performing brand with its backpack acing durability evaluations and getting great feedback for ease of use too. We especially appreciate that it has chest and waist straps to help keep the pack's weight evenly distributed.

JanSport backpacks are a favorite among GH analysts for having great organizational features for students of all ages and earning top marks in our performance tests.

For college students in particular, we love this style featuring a padded laptop sleeve, which is popular for its easy-access front pockets and durable leather base. To prevent shoulder pain, it also features a padded back panel along with comfortable straps.

If you're searching for something that's lightweight, look no further than the L.L.Bean Stowaway Pack. It weighs less than a pound and even folds up to fit in a tiny travel pouch, so it's perfect if you need something to store your stuff but don't want to tote a bulky bag around. Still, there's plenty of space to store your school stuff, thanks to a roomy main area, side pockets and a front storage pouch. It's also super versatile since it's great to travel with and easily fits and stores under seats, allowing you to get your money's worth with it.

With a huge 30L capacity, this backpack from L.L.Bean can hold your classwork as well as your gym clothes, water bottle and laptop. L.L.Bean backpacks earned a perfect score in our Lab's packing test for their easiness to pack and how much they hold. Made with polyester and nylon, this backpack is designed to hold heavier loads with padded shoulder straps and a padded back panel for extra comfort. We love the thoughtfully designed interior with a place for everything you'll need.

With over 11,000 five-star reviews this Amazon Basics backpack is a popular pick. With multiple organizational pockets, a large padded sleeve to secure up to a 17-inch laptop, two mesh water bottle pockets and other zippered compartments, this backpack is great when you are looking for something simple that holds it all. Although some reviewers wish it came in colors other than black, they did like the large amount of space it offers for storage and the fact that it holds up for years.

This Herschel backpack is ideal for college students who want a unique backpack design. It's the perfect mix of casual and professional, thanks to its simple style that comes in nearly 50 colors and patterns, including stripes and camo prints. You're sure to find a look that lets your personality shine on campus!

As for organization, the front exterior pocket is great for stashing easy-to-grab essentials like lip balms or pens and the roomy 19.5L interior is spacious. We also appreciate how easy the material is to clean and the padded interior laptop sleeve. Just note that we've found that after several years of continued use, the front straps can begin to show signs of wear and tear.

A standard backpack doesn't always work for everyone, especially if you're someone with a disability or mobility challenges that prevent you from carrying something on your back. With JanSport's newest line of adaptive backpacks, students can adjust the packs to fit their needs, thanks to its tangle-proof shoulder straps that can be aligned to fit a variety of mobility devices.

Not only can this backpack hold a 15-inch laptop in the protective padded laptop sleeve, it also features two dedicated pockets for water bottles, easy-grab zippers and a haul handle that easily secures to a headrest. We also love that it's designed to make it easier to access items at the bottom of the bag thanks to its short height.

"I use the backpack to carry a variety of things that are useful throughout my busy day," wrote one reviewer. "It has plenty of room and pockets. It straps easily and securely to my chair, so I can carry on my daily activities hassle-free."

This Calpak backpack has a chic design without compromising on innovative features. We were impressed with just how much this pick can hold while keeping a slim, easy-to-carry shape. It has a back laptop compartment to keep your electronics protected, an easy-access front zipper pocket and even a luggage trolley sleeve to place it on top of a carry-on suitcase when traveling. Rated very highly for appearance, one of our testers said, "People stop me on the subway nearly every week to ask me where my backpack is from!"

With a separate zippered compartment for smelly clothes, this backpack from Lululemon is perfect for gym trips after class. There's also a padded pocket for a 15-inch laptop, a 20L interior to hold other classwork and an easy-access side phone pocket. The interior is an organizational dream with labeled compartments, too. It's available in 10 shades from bright pink to camo.

This classic all-black backpack has two large front pockets to keep all your belongings organized with pouches for your phone, pens and even a hook to hold your keys. We love the side water bottle pocket too. Many survey respondents loved how durable and long-lasting this pick is with one saying she "used it for seven years during undergrad and grad school" and it "held up to daily use over many years." With over 23,000 reviews on Amazon, reviewers appreciate the brand's attention to detail with convenient design features like a front carabiner and sunglasses loop.

If you want a backpack that'll help you stand out on campus, look no further than this totally unique pick from Himawari. Available in 25 colors and patterns including stripes and neon yellow, this backpack is made from water-resistant canvas and nylon materials. There's a USB charging port (battery not included) for easy charging on the go. With thousands of rave Amazon reviews, users are impressed by just how much this top-loading backpack can fit.

Swedish brand Fjallraven's simple backpack style called Kanken has been around since 1978, and this version makes the classic even better with an added laptop pocket. We love the classic look and versatile design but note that the straps are on the thinner side and don't have any padding. (The original style is a tad smaller and doesn't have a designated tech area.) When your back needs a break, you can carry this backpack by the handles on top, which also snap together.

This stylish backpack from Everlane is made with 100% recycled polyester that also has a water-repellent finish. There's a zippered laptop compartment that can hold a 15-inch device. Its tons of organizational pockets include an internal and external water bottle compartment, front zippered pockets and internal pouches. Plus, it even has a back strap to fit on top of a carry-on suitcase for easy traveling.

Designed specifically to withstand the elements, this backpack from Patagonia is made with nylon with a durable water-repellent finish to keep your belongings safe from rain, snow and sleet. There's a padded laptop sleeve and tablet pocket for easy access to your electronics during class. One tester raved that this bag is the "backpack to end all backpacks" because of just how much it can hold while offering great protection against bad weather.

While this top-rated backpack can be packed into its own pocket, the roomy 40L interior can hold everything you'll need for a day of classes with separate internal pockets and side water bottle holders.

Available in 11 colors, thousands of Amazon reviewers agree that the nylon fabric is impressively durable and many appreciate the padded straps, too. One reviewer even says this backpack was "durable, lightweight, highly visible and gorgeous."

This neoprene backpack is sporty yet stylish, making it perfect for anyone who needs to carry school supplies and gym clothes. We love Dagne Dover because the brand offers trendy purses, totes and carry-on bags that are both cute and functional.

Available in a variety of sizes and colors, the Dakota backpack has tons of interior and exterior pockets to keep you organized – and even a hidden one on top to stash your phone! In our testing, we noticed that the neoprene fabric did show some pilling with extensive use.

Vera Bradley's college backpack comes in 50+ fun patterns from paisley prints to geometric designs. This style is perfect for college students because it has a mesh laptop pouch, a hidden back pocket for valuables and three pen holders. It's made from 100% cotton for a soft feel and cute tufted look, but it's not waterproof. If it gets dirty after classes, no worries — this pick is machine-washable.

Student-athletes often have to head straight from practice to class, so they need a backpack that'll hold everything they need for the day. This pick from Speedo is up to the challenge.

It has a padded laptop sleeve, a separate wet/dry compartment for dirty clothes, a water bottle holder and tons of zippered compartments for excellent organization. It also comes in over 60 different colors and patterns, and even includes a removable foam seat to make sitting on bleachers more comfortable. While we haven't tested this style yet, it has plenty of rave reviews online, including many from college athletes who say they use this bag every day.