The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work (and Life)

[Karlston]

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work (and Life)

Whether you're riding a bike or schlepping around a camera, these bags do the job right.

 

 

Long ago, men in gray flannel suits all got on the same train at 9 am, carrying identical briefcases and umbrellas into the city. Then they all left for home at precisely 5 pm to get on the train and ride back home. That's far from reality today. How, when, and where we work are all rapidly changing—especially in the middle of a global pandemic. I work full-time and I haven't worked outside my home in months. I don't know when I'll be on a plane next. My commute is now the few minutes it takes to walk from my kitchen to my office.

 

That doesn't mean it will be this way forever. I've been carrying different laptop backpacks as I ebike downtown and wait in safe, socially-distanced lines while wearing a mask for takeout coffee. Whether your gig is at a full-on office tower with an open floor plan, a foosball table, or just a coffee shop down the street, we have a fit and functional backpack for you.

 

We look for backpacks that include a suspended, padded laptop sleeve; durable fabrics and water-resistant zippers; and versatile storage options. These are my favorites; I also tested a few, like the Baboon Go-Backpack, that didn't quite make the cut. Be sure to also check out our guide to the best messenger bags.

 

Updated for July 2020: We added more retailers to choose from for several packs, and removed several selections while adding others, like the Aer Slim Pack.

 

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  Photograph: Tom Bihn

  Best Overall

  Tom Bihn Synik 22

   

  When I travel for work, I usually carry a Tom Bihn bag. There are a lot of pockets on the clamshell Synik 22, and they're all thoughtfully designed. For example, the zippered water bottle pocket is located in the middle of the backpack, instead of on the side, where it won't tip you off balance. The pen pockets are located in flaps on the side, rather than in the middle top, for convenient access. The exterior is made from Bluesign-certified 400-dernier ballistic nylon with top-of-the-line YKK water-repellent zippers. Each bag has a lifetime guarantee.

   

  Because the bag is so small, however, the pass-through on the back is only 7 inches wide—too narrow to slip over the handle of my Briggs & Riley carry-on. And the dense fabric and plentiful hardware—the zippers, O-rings, and buckles—make it a little heavy. But in the 22-liter size, I didn't notice the extra weight. It was the perfect, organized conference companion.

   

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  Photograph: Aer Designs 

  My Fave Bag During the Covid-19 Lockdown

  Aer Designs Slim Pack

   

  When you're in quarantine, you don't need very much stuff. That's why I've found myself reaching more and more for the Aer Slim Pack. It has a minuscule volume of 8.5 liters, which is less than half the Tom Bihn. That's enough for my essentials: A laptop and charger, hand sanitizer, face mask, wallet, water bottle, phone.

   

  I like the clean, unfussy look of its simple nylon face, which has a durable polyurethane coating that wipes clean after it's spent some time being kicked around my dusty garage floor. I also like the easy-to-access fleece phone pocket and simple interior organization. It also has a pass-through on the back to slide onto a rolling suitcase; I'm looking forward to sprinting through an airport with it sometime soon.

   

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  Photograph: Incase

  Best Value

  Incase Icon Slim Backpack with Woolenex

   

  Speaking of CES, the conference is a veritable showcase of Incase backpacks—and for good reason. Incase has lots of backpack options, but I like the low profile and durable weave of the Icon Slim with Woolenex. Woolenex is Incase's proprietary wool-polyester fabric blend. It's abrasion-resistant and repels moisture, but looks much more polished and feels more fabric-like than nylon.

   

  I like the padded grab handle and the two side "grabbable" pockets by the hips, which are perfect for lip balm, hand sanitizer, tissues, and other small necessities that tend to get lost in bigger bags. However, there is no dedicated water bottle pocket, and the interior is black, which can make it difficult to see loose belongings; you might want to drop a bag light in the bottom.

   

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  Photograph: Lo & Sons

  Most Versatile

  Lo & Sons Hanover 2

   

  I'm the parent of two young children, one of whom is still in diapers, and I hate carrying a diaper bag. I also hate switching bags between "parent" and "work" modes, because switching bags is the best way to lose favorite pens or lip balms. The Hanover 2 has a clever, padded, and detachable insert with four pockets in it. When I'm working, I button the insert inside to store my day planner, notebooks, and a coffee mug and water bottle. (Finally, a bag maker realized I carry two reusable beverage containers every day!)

   

  On the weekends, I can unbutton the insert, take it out, and replace it with a diaper changing station, tiny rain jackets, and seemingly thousands of stuffed animals. It's also made from lightweight 600-dernier recycled polyester and weighs 1.75 pounds without the insert. The pass-through is 9 inches wide, which fits the handle of my roller bag.

   

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  Photograph: North St.

  Best Bike Bag

  North St. Morrison Backpack Pannier

   

  When I walked into a beer garden while wearing the Morrison backpack (before Covid-19), a friend immediately said, "That's the coolest bag you've ever tested." North Street bags are made by hand in Portland, Oregon. The exterior fabric is durable 1,000-dernier Cordura, and the interior is a waterproof X-Pac VX21 liner with a drawstring closure underneath a buckled flap. The interior laptop compartment is suspended over the bottom of the bag, and I like that the keyring and zipper pulls are made from bright, easily-findable red webbing.

   

  It converts from a backpack to a pannier in about a minute. Just pull the backpack straps out of the pouch on the back and clip them on, or tuck them back into the pouch to switch to the pannier clip. I didn't find the rack clips to be uncomfortable at all. I got my tester last fall and the straps aren't padded, which makes them easier to store. North Street recently switched to padded straps, which may be more comfortable, if bulkier.

   

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  Photograph: Tortuga

  Best Carry-On

  Tortuga Setout

   

  The Setout comes in both men's and women's versions, and my favorite is the 35-liter women's version, which is barely bigger than a daypack. It has three compartments: A slot for tablets and laptops in the back; a front compartment with little pockets for pens, cards, and sundries, as well as a clip-in key holder; and a middle compartment for clothes.

   

  The zippers are lockable, and the fabric is made from recycled 900-dernier polyester that has also been treated with durable water repellent. I like that it has multiple padded grab handles and is sized for my small torso. I also like Cotopaxi's travel backpack for quick weekend trips.

   

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  Photograph: Timbuk2

  Best for Rain

  Timbuk2 Lane Commuter Backpack

   

  Earlier this year, Timbuk2 launched their "No Wet Laptops" campaign with several water-resistant options. I tested the Lane Commuter, which is the smaller, stormproof version of their popular Parker backpack. The bag has its own removable rain cover stored in the bottom. As if that wasn't enough, the front is made from protective coated nylon and the interior is also water-resistant. I filled the front pockets full of packets of tissues while biking through a particularly long, grim, and rainy Northwestern spring, and they all stayed miraculously dry.

   

  I particularly liked the bag's easy-access magnetic front pocket, which I used for storing keys, all 6,000 of my favorite pens, and lip balm, and a big reflective panel on the bottom. It's worth noting that at 2.4 pounds, this bag is a little heavier and bulkier than some of our other picks. But it's worth it if you, too, live in a part of the country where you're soaked for 9 months out of the year and keep a boot dryer by your front door.

   

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  Photograph: North Face

  Tailored for Women

  North Face Isabella Daypack

   

  You might not need a woman-specific backpack. But it's worth considering if many backpacks are too long for your torso or don't accommodate your hips. The Isabella's straps fit my smaller shoulders perfectly (I am 5' 2"). It's miraculously light (1 pound, 5 ounces); the laptop pocket is fleece-lined and suspended; and the interior fabric is also a much lighter, contrasting gray than the sleek black exterior—I can't stand rooting in the bottom of a bag that is the color of a black hole.

   

  Like the company's popular Pivoter, the Isabella is also separated into two compartments, which comes in handy when you stop by the grocery store and on your way home want to keep two pounds of paper-wrapped raw chicken separate from your laptop. However, at 17 liters, it's very small and only fits up to a 15-inch laptop. Also, the easy-access front mesh pocket isn't waterproof.

   

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  Photograph: Prvke

  A Great Camera Bag

  Wandrd Prvke Camera Bag

   

  I carry a lot of gear every day, from my mirrorless camera and extra lenses to a 16-inch MacBook Pro and various other accessories. So I spent months looking for a bag that could fit it all but still have a way to access the goods quickly. My search led me to Wandrd's Prvke series. Despite several months of daily use, it's in fantastic condition thanks to the 1,680-dernier ballistic nylon exterior, not to mention the weather-resistant zippers. I have the 31L, which allows me to add a good deal more into the expandable roll-top. (There's a 21L option, too.) Lots of little pockets adorn the bag to store cables, card readers, microfiber cloths, and the like—even one underneath that houses a rain fly to keep the bag dry when it's raining.

   

  I opted for the Photography Bundle, which adds a camera cube filled with foldable, Velcro liners you can use to organize camera gear and keep them secure. It's also easy to access my camera from the side pocket without needing to take off the entire backpack. I've tried a lot of backpacks and messenger bags, and this is the happiest I've been with one so far.

  —Julian Chokkattu

   

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  Photograph: Bellroy

  Best Backpack + Tote Bag

  Bellroy Duo Totepack

   

  I prefer backpacks to totes or messenger bags; I like to balance the weight on both of my shoulders. However, I am aware that spinning around with a backpack at a crowded event in a cocktail bar or restaurant is a great way to accidentally send someone flying. For those times, Bellroy's Duo Totepack is my favorite convertible. (Disclosure: I also own and use a Bellroy wallet.)

   

  The totepack is made from 30 recycled water bottles, woven into a water-resistant fabric with Aquaguard water-resistant zippers. At under 2.5 inches wide, it's slim enough to tuck under my arm with two padded grab handles but still expands to fit my laptop, water bottle, and assorted sundries. After I leave a work event, I can slide the backpack straps out of the back panel, clip them on, and bike away.

   

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  Photograph: GORUCK

  For Adventurers

  GoRuck GR1

   

  The GoRuck GR1 was designed by an ex-member of the Special Forces, so it's tough enough to take whatever you or nature can think to dish out. Its slim profile in no way betrays its awesome carrying capacity, which is bolstered by a hefty amount of MOLLE webbing to accommodate all sorts of straps, carabiners, or other items you might choose to clip to the interior or exterior.

   

  The thick, padded straps take a while to break in, and at 3.5 pounds it's heavy for an everyday pack. But if you’ve spent years customizing your own idiosyncratic carry system, complete with hand-sewn straps and just the right pouches for all your gear—or if you exit and enter your workplace by busting through a plate-glass window—then the GR1 will thrill you.

   

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  Photograph: Mission Workshop

  A Cult Favorite

  Mission Workshop The Rhake

   

  If you're a fan of top-loading rolltop bags, then the Rhake from Mission Workshop will suit you well. It's hugely customizable with lots of included pockets. Our test version came with an optional G-clip rolltop closure and big, gleaming metal Cobra buckles, and you can clip pouches to the shoulder rails.

   

  Two-layer weatherproof construction and Velcro closures keep the contents of the main compartment dry, and it comes with lots of tiny pockets in flaps that you zipper and clip shut. It's not particularly fast or easy to access many of these pockets, and for its size (22 liters) the bag is really heavy. But it sure looks cool.

 

 

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work (and Life)