13 best backpacks perfect for school, work
From incredibly practical to super stylish, the backpack is the must-have work or school accessory. Here are the best you can buy.
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The backpack is a popular choice of carry bag, particularly when lugging bits and pieces to and from work, university or school. And it’s not hard to see why. Simple and lightweight, the backpack is comfortable and convenient. It allows you to transport all manner of items, distributing weight evenly across your body while keeping your hands oh-so free for essentials such as your phone, keys or keep cup.
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I don’t know about you, but I seem to take a huge amount of much-needed stuff to work and am in constant search of the ideal bag to accommodate it all. Enter the back pack. With generous internal space and multiple compartments for laptop, files, lunch, water, even gym clothes for lunchtime yoga, the backpack is the perfect solution. And not only functional, the humble backpack is now available in a wide range of fabulous designs that are stylish enough to accompany you to after-work drinks or dinner.
The only trouble, as always, is which one to choose. To help you make that decision, we have rounded up the best backpacks on the market that are particularly suited to work, university or school, so you can find the ideal option to meet your needs, budget and of course, your own personal style.
SHOP BY CATEGORY
- Best budget backpacks
- Best designer backpacks
- Best backpacks for a laptop
- Best leather backpack
- Best backpack for work trips
- Best backpack for school or university
BEST BUDGET BACKPACKS
Volher Laptop Backpack, $48 at Amazon Australia
This backpack is the GOAT. Featuring three different zipped compartments as well as several pockets and sections, say goodbye to things getting lost at the bottom of your bag for good. Crafted from thick but soft multi-panel ventilated padding, your back will be supported no matter how heavy you load up your bag.
Perfect for commuting, it has a handy antitheft pocket at the back and a USB port to keep your electronics charged. Plus, the luggage strap means it can easily slide over your suitcase handle too.
An Amazon bestseller, it has over 18,300 five-star reviews. “I had been looking for something like this and had no luck in store. Spacious, durable and most of all organised with allocated pockets inside compartments,” wrote one five-star review.
Another said: “there is so much space and different pockets in each section. It is very compact while also fitting so much stuff. I am very organised, and this backpack is perfect for it. I’ve used it in the rain and it didn’t seem to go through at all.”
Water Repellent Backpack, $49.95 at H&M
This casual-style backpack not only comes with a more-than-reasonable price tag, it also offers a functional water repellent design with heaps of useful space. It features a laptop sleeve, a large zippered external compartment and two side sections. Made of lightweight polyester, it’s also a breeze to carry, especially with adjustable padded shoulder straps and an easy-to-grab top handle.
Quechua NH 150 Country Walking Rucksack, $39.95 at Decathlon
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, this backpack from Decathlon is well worth considering. It comes in at a great price and, although from a store specialising in sporting goods, it has a stylish everyday aesthetic. More importantly, it offers seven pockets to stow away bits and pieces, one for a 13” laptop and one for a 10” tablet. An excellent budget backpack that will comfortably get you to and from work with everything you need.
BEST DESIGNER BACKPACKS
Maison de Sabre The Backpack, $389 at THE ICONIC
The Backpack, created by Maison de Sabre blends undeniable style and functionality to provide the ideal work companion. Crafted from soft sustainable leather in a range of fab colours (we particularly love the emerald green), it features no less than six external pockets with another five on the inside, including a protective laptop compartment with zip closure. Meanwhile, the padded adjustable straps and padded back panel offer the ultimate in carrying comfort to help make light of a heavy load.
Calvin Klein Utility Pocket Tote Backpack, $189 at ASOS
In true Calven Klein style, this designer backpack is sleek yet practical, featuring a convenient close-over flap with two-way zipper. Generous in size with internal and external pockets, there is plenty of usable space to organise your paperwork, laptop, keys, lunch and whatever else you need. Thick padded straps make it comfy to pop on your back, while a strong top handle converts it to a handy tote. Best of all, it’s made from 98 per cent polyester, so it’s lightweight, durable and easy to clean with a damp cloth.
Le Pliage Original Backpack, $230 at Longchamp
If you’re after iconic Parisian style, you can’t go past Le Pliage Original Backpack by Longchamp. Much like their famous tote, this sleek and contemporary bag is made of lightweight materials and features adjustable straps and versatile internal space. Enviable understated elegance that’s durable, long lasting and available in seven great colours. Warning: you may decide you want more than one.
BEST BACKPACKS FOR A LAPTOP
Timbuk2 Authority 28L Deluxe Backpack Black, $312.43 at Amazon Australia
This handy backpack is one of Amazon’s top picks, as a result of its excellent quality and many five star reviews. It offers the ultimate in organisation with a large internal compartment for files and books and smaller sections for pens, phone, keys and water bottle. Most importantly, it has a separate zippered pocket to fit most 15” to 17” laptops with rear access for extra safety.
And despite its generous and functional space, it has a neat slimline finish. One happy customer on the US Amazon site left a glowing five-star review, saying: “I ordered this bag to hold both a work laptop and a surface (tablet sized). It is perfect! I love how slim the pack is. The pockets are well designed, there is room for essentials, my lunch, and work gear. The backpack is comfortable to wear and it is easy to adjust the straps. It was on the pricier side for what I was initially looking at, but it is well worth it. The materials are high quality and there was obvious thought put into the details – such as reinforcing under the straps at the bottom.”
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Siena Smart Backpack, $149 (down from $255) at Nordace
The Siena Smart Backpack covers all bases, as it’s stylish, spacious and perfect for transporting your work device. Made from lightweight frosted polyester it’s durable, water resistant and comes in nine gorgeous colours. A generous main compartment offers plenty of organisational pockets, including a padded sleeve for your 15.6” laptop and other devices such as tablet and smartphone. It’s like your entire desk, including a USB charging port, fits neatly into a single bag that looks great and is easy to carry.
Understandably it has attracted many five-star reviews with purchasers loving its many useful compartments, amazing quality and easy maintenance. One reviewer left the comment, “I use this for work and travel without issue. Plenty of room and the quality is great. Straps still intact. Love the water bottle holder on the side and the separate laptop section. Highly recommend!”
Fjallraven Kanken Backpack, $171.96 (was $214.95) at THE ICONIC
The Kanken is a little more on the expensive side but is a total crowd pleaser. Most teens (and their parents, too) would love this backpack, which is lightweight, durable and surprisingly roomy. A huge attraction, apart from its stylish contemporary look, is that it comfortably fits a 15” laptop, along with everything else you need during the day. The ideal birthday or Christmas present that’s available in 19 stunning colours, I just can’t choose between mint green or royal blue …
Hershel Pop Quiz Black/Tan bag, $150 at Myer
This sturdy backpack is incredibly functional, with a casual contemporary style to suit any work or university situation. It features a padded fleece-lined sleeve to accommodate devices up to 15” and offers a range of handy pockets to organise your belongings such as sunglasses, headphones, books, files and keys.
One Myer customer was thrilled with this purchase, giving the backpack five stars and posting the comment: “I needed a backpack upgrade for my work laptop but I wanted something that wasn’t generic and boring looking while still being functional, so I tried this one out. This is my perfect backpack. I love the size, I love the pockets and I love how padded and nice the laptop sleeve part is.”
BEST LEATHER BACKPACK
Republic of Florence Salvador Black Leather Laptop Backpack, $399 at THE ICONIC
This elegant Republic of Florence backpack, crafted in Italy from soft genuine leather, would make a stunning addition to your work wardrobe. It features a host of internal and external pockets to keep you well and truly organised and will accommodate most 15” laptops. Perfect for a more classic look that will stand the test of time – and a sizeable load!
BEST BACKPACK FOR WORK TRIPS
The ReNew Transit Backpack, $161 at Everlane
Everlane offers stunning bags and the ReNew Transit backpack is no exception. Made from 100 per cent recycled polyester, this lightweight backpack has a sleek design that comes in five ultra chic tones. It also offers a surprising amount of space with a 15” exterior laptop compartment and other zippered pockets to accommodate your travel essentials such as passport, tickets, water bottle, notebooks or magazines. And with a handy pass-through strap that attaches to your wheelie luggage, travel has never been easier.
Not surprisingly, this backpack has received hundreds of positive online reviews, with one customer commenting, “So far, this is a huge hit. The material is soft, but durable, it’s roomy but streamlined, styling is great (not corporate feeling) and most importantly the back zip pocket fits my (GIANT) 16” MacBook Pro! Gender neutral too. Huge win!”
BEST BACKPACK FOR SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY
Billabong Command Backpack, $79.99 at City Beach
If you have a teenager, you’ll know they carry around the most enormous amount of stuff in their backpack – computer, lunch, books, PE uniform – the list goes on. And in my daughter’s case, her backpack was simply not up to the challenge. She needed something tough and roomy – that still looked good to carry around. And we found it. Billabong’s Command Backpack is perfect. It’s good quality, durable and incredibly spacious with heaps of internal compartments so she can organise her belongings and know exactly where everything is at any given moment. And coming from Billabong, it has a sleek and stylish look that my daughter is happy to carry on her back. Mission accomplished!
Want to dress like a celebrity stylist? This sleek trend is taking over the fashion world right now. We’ve also combed through thousands of reviews to find out the best tote bag for every occasion.
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