Best Backpacks For College Students

Backpack is one of the essentials for every college student. You need it to carry textbooks with you to the classes, together with all the other items you might need. If it’s big enough, you will be able to put in your laptop as well. Sure, you could do the same with some other type of bag, but not many of them are as comfortable to carry as backpacks.

Thanks to their design, backpacks will allow you to carry more weight without feeling any pain or discomfort. Furthermore, backpacks also come with larger compartments than most other bags, as well as plenty of additional pockets. Thanks to this fact, you will be able to stay more organized.

Because of all this, you will be able to use your college backpack for many other things apart from just carrying your stuff to the classroom and back. You will be able to use it to carry your gym gear, as well as food, drinks, and other items. You will also be able to take your backpack outdoors, filing it with camping equipment.

Of course, all this is true only if you buy the right kind of backpack. In order to be able to find the best one, you need to know what kind of features you’re looking for. This is why we’ve decided to help you by discussing the things you need to consider when shopping for a college backpack.

What Should You Consider When Choosing a Backpack For College Student?

There are many things you need to take into consideration when looking for your perfect college backpack. For instance, the ideal backpack needs to have enough room so that you can put inside all your college essentials, including textbooks, notebooks, and even a laptop. It also needs to come with additional pockets, where you could keep things like pens, documents, and so on.

It also needs to be made with comfort in mind. That said, it would be ideal if its shoulder straps are padded so that you wouldn’t feel any discomfort while carrying it on your back. The back of the backpack should be breathable, thus adding to your comfort.

The backpack also needs to look nice, not to mention that it’s essential that it’s made of fine-quality fabric. This way, it can serve you well for a really long time.

Best Backpack Brands For College Students

There’s no way of knowing whether a backpack is sturdily built as there’s no specification that shows its level of ruggedness and durability. A useful trick is to check its manufacturer. If the backpack is made by a reputable manufacturer, the chances are that it’s gonna serve you well for a long time.

The thing is that the manufacturer probably isn’t willing to risk its good reputation by making a poor-quality product. With that in mind, we’ve decided to introduce you to some of the best backpack brands in the world today. So, with no further ado, here they are, together with the best backpacks from their collections!

Best JanSport Backpack For College: Jansport Superbreak

Did you know that JanSport is the world’s largest manufacturer of backpacks? The fact that this brand sells more backpacks than any other company means that their products are really good. And one of the best backpacks you will find in JanSport’s collection is the one called Superbreak.

Everything about this backpack seems awesome, stating with the fact that it looks pretty nice. It’s available in all sorts of styles and colors, which means that you will surely be able to find one that fits your fashion style.

Apart from being beautiful, the backpack is also very sturdy and very comfortable to carry over your shoulders. It also has a pretty decent capacity, so you will be able to put inside a regular-size laptop, together with many other items. Finally, this backpack is also pretty affordable, which is not the case with many other items from JanSport’s collection.

Best North Face Backpack For College: Jester Backpack

Although North Face backpacks aren’t famous for being cheap, they definitely deserve their price tag.

They’re made to last, with fabric that’s very hard to rip. They also look really elegant, which is another reason why they’re suitable for the college crowd.

One of the best backpacks from North Face collection is Jester Backpack, which is available in different colors.

It’s pretty spacious and packed with useful features. On top of everything, the backpack is also very comfortable.

It has padded shoulder straps and breathable back.

Best Herschel Backpack For College: Herschel Heritage

Herschel is famous as one of the best manufacturers of bags and backpacks, so you certainly won’t make a bad choice if you decide to purchase an item from this brand’s offer.

But, if you want the very best backpack, we say go for the one named Herschel Heritage.

It has a classic design, which makes it elegant, thus suitable for carrying it to college. It’s also available in many different colors, so you will probably be able to find one that you like.

Apart from looking nice, this backpack also has plenty of storage space, not only in its main compartment, but in additional pockets as well.

Finally, the backpack is made of fine fabric and designed to be as comfortable as possible.

Best Under Armour Backpack For College: Hustle 2.0

Under Armour has become to be one of the most prestigious brands when sports clothing is concerned. This manufacturer also has backpacks in its offer and one of the best ones you can get is the backpack named Hustle 2.0.

What makes it so awesome is that it’s made of quality materials.

This makes the backpack sturdy and very durable, meaning that it’s going to serve you well for years. It also looks nice and has plenty of storage space.

You will have no problems putting in all your college essentials, including a laptop.

The backpack is available in several different colors, so you can surely find one that you will like. Its price might not put it in the budget backpack section, but this item is definitely worth buying.

Best Vera Bradley Backpack For College: Iconic Campus

Vera Bradley is a brand famous for the fashionable design of its products.

The same is the case with the line of backpacks called Iconic Campus.

Designed with female college students in mind, this backpack comes with floral print and is available in a large number of different colors.

Looking nice is not the only advantage of this backpack. It’s also very rugged and very durable, thanks to the fact that it’s made of top-quality materials.

It also comes with plenty of storage space, as well as some really useful features. The only thing we aren’t too crazy about is its a-bit-high price.

Best High Sierra Backpack For College: High Sierra Swerve

This backpack is available in different styles and colors, so both female and male college students should be able to find some that they like.

Apart from being pleasant to the eye, this backpack is also very good in terms of sturdiness. Actually, all High Sierra products are known for their longevity.

It also comes with plenty of storage space. The main compartment is large enough for you to put a normal-size laptop, together with many other things.

There are also some additional pockets both inside and outside, which are meant to help you stay organized.

There’s also a USB feature, which you can use to charge your phone once you’ve placed a power bank inside.

The backpack also comes with ergonomic shoulder straps that add to the comfort.

Best College Backpacks By Feature

If a specific backpack feature is what you’re after, we’re now going to help you find the best product. Whether you’re looking for a backpack that can fit a large laptop or one that’s made of waterproof fabric, we will help you find the best one. So, let’s start!

Best Backpack For College Students With Laptops: SwissGear 1900 Scansmart

What makes this backpack ideal for those students who want to use it to carry a laptop is not just that its storage capacity is big; it’s also that this backpack is designed to be very easy to use.

You can put a 17-inch laptop in its main compartment, which uses the ScanSmart lay-flat technology, which will keep your device safe.

The compartment is secured by a zipper, which is incredibly easy to use, as well as pretty reliable.

The backpack is also very rugged, meaning that you won’t rip or tear it easily.

Actually, if you’re looking for a laptop backpack that’s going to serve you well for a long time, this is the one!

More options: The 4 Best Backpacks For College Students With Laptops, The 4 Best Messenger Bags For College Students

Best Waterproof Backpack For College: Matein Slim

It’s made of waterproof fabric, meaning that your stuff will remain dirty even if rain is pouring.

But, that’s not the only awesome thing about this backpack.

It also looks very nice and elegant, regardless of which color you choose.

The backpack has a spacious main compartment, in which you can easily put a large laptop.

Furthermore, it also comes with a USB feature, where you can put a power bank and use it to charge your smartphone/tablet.

More options: The 4 Best Waterproof Backpacks For College Students

Best Rolling Backpack For College: J World New York Sundance

This backpack comes with built-in wheels, as well as a handle, making it incredibly easy to take it with you when you’ve packed heavy stuff in it. Instead of carrying in on your back, you can just drag it along with you.

Thanks to this fact, you will be able to use it to carry big and heavy things, which makes this backpack suitable for travel.

It has a huge compartment where you can store a large laptop and many other things that you need for college. There are also some additional pockets and useful features that will help you stay organized.

On top of everything, this backpack also looks lovely and is available in all kinds of designs and colors. And considering how awesome it is, we can say that this is one very affordable backpack.

More options: The 4 Best Rolling Backpacks For College Students

Best Large Backpack For College: JanSport Big

If you need a backpack with plenty of space, JanSport Big is the one. It’s really huge, yet pretty lightweight.

It has enough capacity for you to place a large 17-inch laptop in, together with all kinds of other items.

And even if you put a lot of weight inside, it won’t feel uncomfortable carrying it.

It’s because this backpack comes with ergonomic shoulder straps.

Because it’s meant for carrying big and heavy items, this backpack is made of sturdy fabric and its construction is very rugged. You can be sure it won’t break in any way from regular use.

Considering how good it is, we can’t say its price is high. On the contrary, this is one very affordable backpack.

The only thing we’re not too crazy about is its pretty inconspicuous design, although the backpack is available in different colors.

Most Durable Backpack For College For Heavy Duty Loads: Pelican U100 Elite

If you’re planning to carry a lot of books and other heavy items, there’s a concern that the backpack won’t be able to handle it.

You will have no such worries if you decide to buy Pelican U100 Elite.

You probably won’t be able to find a sturdier backpack than this one no matter how hard you tried.

Apart from being a durable backpack, this product is also great for the fact that it will keep the items you put inside safe.

It’s waterproof and comes with a crushproof case, which makes it ideal for carrying laptops and other valuable devices.

It also has plenty of room and its monochrome design makes it classy, although not too trendy. And the only real issue we have with this backpack is that it’s pretty pricey.

More options: The 4 Most Durable Backpacks For College Students

Best Backpacks By User Group

When choosing your ideal backpack, you also need to take into account the user group you belong to. A female student needs a different kind of backpack than a male student. And those who are still in high school really don’t have a need for a backpack designed for college crowd.

We’re now gonna talk about the best backpacks for several different user groups. So, let’s start with the best backpack for female students.

Best Cute Backpack For College Girl: Kenox Rucksack

Its floral design makes it a very attractive choice for college girls, as well as those who are in the high school.

This backpack is available in two different color variants, which isn’t too large of a choice, but to be fair, both colors look wonderful.

Another awesome thing about this backpack is that it comes with plenty of storage space in its main compartment, allowing you to use it to carry a laptop. There are also many additional pockets meant to help you stay organized.

The backpack is also great for the fact that it’s made of quality fabric, which ensures you will be able to use it for a long time.

For all these things, it’s kind of surprising that this backpack isn’t much more expensive. Instead, it’s one of the most available choices you can make.

More options: The 4 Best Backpacks for College Girls, The 4 Cute Backpacks For College Students

Best Stylish Backpack For College Guys: KINGSLONG Slim

Generally speaking, college guys prefer backpacks that look elegant, while giving away the feeling of ruggedness.

KINGSLONG Slim perfectly fits this description. This is an elegant backpack with a monochrome design (available in three different variants), which is made of super durable linen polyester.

Thanks to the fact that its construction is sturdy, you can pack a lot of things inside.

Furthermore, this backpack has an innovative design that creates such weight balance that you will feel about 25% less weight.

The backpack has a pretty large storage compartment, which allows you to put in a regular-size laptop (up to 15 inches in diagonal), together with many other things.

More options: The 4 Best College Backpacks For Guys, The 4 Best Stylish Backpacks for College Students

Best Backpack For Nursing Students: High Sierra Powerglide (Wheeled)

This backpack is ideal for nursing students, although it can also be a very good choice for other types of students, as well as professionals.

The thing about this backpack is that it’s pretty large, with a lot of storage space inside. Thanks to this fact, you can pack a 17-inch laptop easily, together with many other items. Because of this, it’s also suitable for travel purposes.

Being large and spacious is not the only thing that makes this backpack awesome. It also comes with built-in wheels and a handle, meaning that you can drag it along if it’s too heavy to carry it on your back.

The backpack comes with a sort of inconspicuous design, which fashion aficionados won’t go crazy about. Still, no one can argue this backpack is an eyesore. On the contrary, its simple design makes it pretty elegant.

More options: The 4 Best Backpacks for Nursing College Students

Best Backpack For High School Students: Under Armour Storm Contender

Under Armour is a brand very popular among high school students.

Apart from footwear and clothing, this manufacturer also makes backpacks.

And one of the best backpacks in its collection is Under Armour Storm Contender.

What makes it a suitable choice for high school students is not just that it looks awesome; it’s also that it comes with plenty of useful features.

There are many different pockets, in addition to the main compartment, which is large enough to fit a 15-inch laptop.

Furthermore, as its name suggests, Storm Contender is a water-resistant backpack. It’s also very tough, yet pretty comfortable to carry on your back. Actually, thanks to its padded shoulder straps and a breathable back, this is one of the most comfortable backpacks you can find.

More options: The 4 Best Backpacks for High School Students

Best Backpack For Middle School Students: JanSport Superbreak

The main reason why middle school kids love this backpack is its amazing design. Actually, it is available in all kinds of different designs, each of which looks pretty fun and interesting. Apart from looking nice, the backpack is also very sturdily built, which is not surprising considering that it’s made by JanSport, the world’s largest backpack manufacturer.

Although it’s not the biggest backpack of them all, it does have enough space for the needs of an average middle school student. Furthermore, this backpack is incredibly convenient to carry, as well as very comfortable. It comes with padded shoulder straps, which feel very good, ensuring there’s no discomfort even if there’s a lot of baggage in the backpack.

The final reason why JanSport Superbreak might be an ideal backpack for middle school guys and girls is that its price is more than affordable. This is actually one of the cheapest backpacks on Amazon.

Conclusion

There you have it – all you need to know about backpacks, including how to find one. Now that you have all this info, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to make the right buying choice. And if you don’t want to risk anything, just buy one that we reviewed.

We reviewed a bunch of different backpacks, ideal for different purposes. So, regardless of what you need it for, you will surely be able to find one among our reviews. We also reviewed the best backpacks from each of the most reputable backpack brands. We also reviewed those products we believe are ideal for a special user group, e.g. high school crowd.

Of course, all this doesn’t mean that if a backpack is perfect in one criterion, it’s not good when other criteria are concerned. On the contrary, each of these backpacks is suitable for different purposes, so you surely won’t regret if you decide to buy one of them.