Best backpacks for women in Australia for 2023
Fit everything you could possibly need for work or play into one of these stylish backpacks.
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When it comes to luggage practicality, nothing beats the humble backpack. Comfortable and often able to fit everything from your laptop to your giant water bottle, a great backpack can replace a myriad of totes, handbags and the like - making your work commute, school run or gym rush far easier.
Backpacks have gone from being more of a sportswear luggage option to a style piece, with leather and vegan leather options entering the market and laptop-friendly backpacks making that large, cumbersome tote bag obsolete.
Below, you’ll find our favourite backpack options for whatever your needs are.
BEST WORK BACKPACKS
The Horse Backpack, THE ICONIC, $319.95
Made of premium pebbled leather, this sleek backpack fits a 13” Macbook laptop, but could still easily be used as your weekend carry-all.
Vaschy Backpack, Amazon, $46.99
This water resistant backpack is designed to have a vintage feel. It features plenty of pockets and zipped off sections, including two water bottle holders on either side.
Travelon Anti-Theft Urban Laptop Backpack, Strand, $219
Practically made for the stylish interstate (or international) commuter, this backpack features a padded pocket for your laptop, space for a tablet, and a RFID-blocking card and passport slot.
Louenhide Huxley Laptop Backpack, THE ICONIC, $129.95
This super functional backpack has so many pockets and spaces to fit everything from your pens to your headphones. A great option for those who whizz in and out of the office.
Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack, THE ICONIC, $209.95
Fjallraven are renowned for their stylish, functional backpacks. The Kanken Laptop bag is water and dirt resistant, and features an external laptop compartment on the back, so your laptop fits snugly against your back.
BEST FASHION BACKPACKS
Jansport Half Pint Mini Backpack, THE ICONIC, $59.95
How adorable is this sweet mini backpack! So cute and whimsical, it’s perfect for anyone with a bit of a 90s edge to their style, or if you just love a sweet, kitschy bag to carry everything in.
Longchamp Le Pliage Backpack, Catch, $139
Longchamp make beautiful, stylish designer backpacks, and this one comes at a really affordable price. With a zipper fastening but beautiful leather details, this is a combination of chic style and functionality.
Tiba + Marl Elwood Backpack Changing Bag, THE ICONIC, $285
This is technically a very stylish baby bag, which just makes us love it even more. If you’re looking for a carry-all for nappies, toys and snacks, this is a great stylish option. However, if you love the design you’ll still find plenty of use from the myriad of pockets and space - who says baby bags have to be used for babies?
Fjallraven Kanken, THE ICONIC, $159.95
Another great backpack from Fjallraven, we included this option because of its timeless style (the Kanken is the most well-known design from the brand) and gorgeous bubblegum pink hue.
Casper Small Backpack, ECCO, $199.95
This Ecco bag is such a lovely, nude-peach shade! Created with soft, stone-polished leather, the material must be felt to be believed - and the cotton twill lining means your leather will remain protected. Not into the shade? It also comes in navy, burgundy and black.
BEST GYM BACKPACKS
Kaban 2.0, The North Face, $270
This gym or hiking backpack is so sleek and stylish, it could easily be used as a work bag. The size and shape allows you to pop everything in with ease (yep, including your towel) while not looking out of place in the office.
Gluon Beyond Backpack, Kathmandu, $99.98
A little more sporty, this gym backpack is also a bit more compact, if that’s your preference. We love how versatile it is - working just as well for day hikes and as carry-on luggage, thanks to adjustable side tabs and a compact design.
This is a great gym backpack option if you also find yourself throwing other stuff into your bag, as it features a laptop compartment and other sectioned areas. Want to keep those smelly gym socks away from your tech? That can be done.
Power VI Backpack, Adidas, $55
We love the classic, logo-based design of this Adidas sport backpack. The three stripes give it a 90s feel, while the pockets and sections allow you to stay organised.
HOW BIG SHOULD A BACKPACK BE TO FIT A LAPTOP?
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If you’re buying a backpack for work, you’ll likely want it to fit your laptop - and then some. Ideally, you want a backpack around 16L, as anything under that won’t fit a lot more than your laptop, while backpacks more suited for hikes and weekends are around 25L and above.
Want more back-to-work and school shopping options? Here are the best e-readers for those commutes. Plus, these are the wear-anywhere, must-have pants for summer office looks.
If you’re looking for a bargain, you can meanwhile head to our news.com.au Coupons page to see a list of current deals and offers.
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