Whether you’re starting your freshman year of college, gearing up to finish your senior year or even considering enrolling in grad school, a reliable backpack is essential. Backpacks allow you to carry everything you need when you’re headed to class, lecture, labs and more.
With that in mind, I spoke with ergonomic and chiropractic experts to find the best backpacks for college students, regardless of your major, schedule or personality. I took their input into account and curated the list of backpack options below.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best backpacks for college students | The best backpacks for college students | How to shop for a backpack as a college student | Why trust NBC Select?
How I picked the best backpacks for college students
There are several factors to consider when looking for a backpack if you’re a college student. Here’s everything our experts told me to keep in mind when curating this list:
- Spaciousness: As with any bag, space is a top concern, especially if you’re a college student who has to carry lots of books and supplies. If having room is a priority, make sure to shop for backpacks by size, since many come in both medium and large versions. If you’re an athlete, this is especially important because you’ll probably have to use the bag to carry bulky items such as shoes, cleats, towels and extra sets of clothing.
- Padding and ergonomics: Both of our experts, chiropractor Dr. Matt Cavanaugh and ergonomics expert Kevin Costello, said that padded wide shoulder straps are essential for college students looking to prioritize comfort. The back of the backpack should also be ergonomically sound, according to Costello. “The contouring of the pack should follow the natural curve of the spine and flex with body movement,” he says. “Effective lower back contouring in the lumbar area (small or the back) can help to drive effective upper spinal contouring.” Additionally, two-strap bags are better for spinal health, since they evenly distribute weight, according to Costello. Many of the bags on this list have a padded and/or curved backside.
- Pockets, sleeves and adjustability: If you're a college student, then you’ll probably need a backpack that has a laptop sleeve and other pockets for storing things such as books, pens, notebooks and headphones. Additionally, you should consider a backpack with a spacious water bottle sleeve to securely hold reusable water bottles without them falling out. The majority of the bags on this list have both laptop sleeves and a water bottle holder.
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The best backpacks for college students in 2025
All of the backpacks on this list are either direct recommendations from our experts, ones NBC Select have tried themselves or have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon.
Best backpack for athletes: Adidas Prime 6 Backpack
- Spacious
- Good for athletes
- No trolley sleeve
Adidas’ prime 6 backpack, which has a 4.7-star average rating from 759 reviews on Amazon, is incredibly spacious, thanks to the five large zippered pockets on the front of the bag. On the inside, there’s even more individual pockets to further help organize your school supplies, including small notebooks, a laptop, headphones and more. It’s also great if you’re an athlete and have to carry things like tennis shoes or other types of small athletic gear. The small front pocket has sleeves for carrying essentials such as a wallet, cards, pens and notepads.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: large | Colorways: 17 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for wellness enthusiasts: Alo Stow Backpack
- Smooth neoprene material
- Laptop sleeve
- No sternum straps
If you take a lot of yoga or pilates classes, consider the Stow backpack from yoga and athletic apparel brand Alo, which has a 4.3-star average rating from 127 reviews at Alo. It’s made of smooth matte neoprene, which is water resistant, according to the brand. It also has three outside zippered pockets, one individual pocket on the inside and a removable pouch. It has durable shoulder straps and a top strap, which makes it easier to maneuver and lift with one hand. The inside can fit a 16-inch laptop, according to the brand, so you can carry it with you, from a lecture to a workout class easily.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 1 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for athleisure enthusiasts: Lululemon New Crew Backpack
- Trolley sleeve
- Simple design
- Water bottle strap
- No sternum straps
My brother got me this backpack last year for Christmas, since I started purchasing more apparel from Lululemon. I love the simple design of the bag and that the logo is subtle. The straps have a decent amount of padding, and it doesn’t hurt my shoulders or back even when I’m carrying a lot in. It has a small front pocket, where I keep my keys, lip balm and earbud charging case. The best part is the trolley sleeve (which is more of a strap) on the back. This means I can use it for everyday tasks, as well as when I’m traveling.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: medium | Colorways: 6 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for minimalists: Calpak Kaya 15 Leather Backpack
- Great for laptop users
- Stylish
- Many colorways
- Compact
This slender backpack from Calpak is ideal for college students who only have to carry a laptop and not much else. It’s available in a ton of different shades and is square shaped, so you can carry a laptop that is 15 inches long or smaller, in addition to small textbooks and notebooks. NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown received a courtesy sample of this bag from the brand a while ago, and she’s been using it consistently ever since. “I think the structure is just gorgeous,” she says. “I especially love the stitching along the front edge and the personalized initials (optional) in the middle.” While she uses the back primarily for her work commute, she says it’s also perfect for short weekend trips, since you can fit a few toiletries and a single outfit in it in addition to a laptop.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: small | Colorways: 20+ | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: no
Best backpack for fall: Béis The Backpack
- Trolley sleeve
- Two water bottle pockets
- Adjustable straps
- All one shade
Simply called “The Backpack” this bag from Béis comes in eight muted earthy tones, including maple, olive and beige, which are perfect shades for fall. With a 4.8-star average rating from 3,509 reviews at Béis, the backpack has two water bottle pockets (one on each side), a small pocket on the front and one large pocket toward the back. It has a thin laptop sleeve on the back and adjustable padded straps for easy, pain-free commuting. You can also get matching carry-on suitcases to go with the backpack since it has a sturdy trolley sleeve.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: medium | Colorways: 8 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack with padded laptop sleeve: Athleta All About Backpack
- Simple design
- Padded laptop sleeve
- No outside water bottle sleeve
This backpack from Athleta has a simple overall design, with two overall pockets — one small one in the front and one large pocket for carrying most of your belongings. The inside has both a padded laptop sleeve (to prevent potential damage) and an interior water bottle pocket, ideal for holding reusable water bottles. The bag is made from a durable water-repellent polyester material, according to the brand, so if you accidentally spill something, it’s easy to wipe away.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 5 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack with magnetic straps: Rains Backpack
- Magnetic fastener
- Square shape
- Straps are somewhat thin
If you prefer a sleek bag that has more of a square shape, consider this backpack from Rains. It has a sleeve that can fit a 15-inch laptop, a subtle interior phone pocket, and thin adjustable straps. It’s made of a waterproof polyester material that is good for light rain, according to the brand. The flap on the top has a magnetic fastener and a clip that you can attach to a buckle for extra security. NBC Select commerce editor Jordan Bowman uses this backpack and he loves how minimal it is. “I've had the Rains backpack for about 5 or 6 years now. I even bought one for my fiancé who also uses one during her daily commutes,” he says. It's a sleek bag and it doesn't hold much but if all you need is a laptop, a notebook, pen, some other knick knacks and keys, you're all set.”
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 8 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: no
Best all-purpose backpack: Calpak Luka 15-Inch Laptop Backpack
- Many compartments
- Multiple colorways
- Trolley sleeve
- Nothing to note at this time
The Luka backpack from Calpak, which has around a 4.8-star average rating from 1,114 reviews on Calpak, won the NBC Select Travel Award for best overall backpack. You can get the medium backpack, which fits a 15-inch laptop, or go up a size and get the bag that fits a 17-inch laptop. It has multiple pockets, sleeves and compartments for transporting books, clothes, equipment, small personal items and more. It has a pocket on one side for holding a small bottle and a hidden compartment on the other side for carrying shoes or an umbrella.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: medium | Colorways: 20 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack with durable material: Carhartt Advanced Laptop Backpack
- Many pockets
- Padded shoulder straps
- No trolley sleeve
The Advanced Laptop Backpack from apparel brand Carhartt has a 4.7-star average rating from 1,129 reviews on Amazon. It also has lots of zippered pockets, ideal for carrying everything from a laptop, notebooks, pens, over-ear headphones, water bottles and more. There are two flexible mesh water bottle sleeves on the side so you can carry multiple bottles of water.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 4 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for outdoor adventures: Orvis Trekkage LT Adventure Backpack
- Good shoulder padding
- Spacious
- Water repellent
- No trolley sleeve
This backpack from Orvis, was an NBC Select Travel Award winner for best outdoor bag, could be a good fit if you like spending time outdoors since it’s lightweight (2.4 pounds when empty) and water-repellent, so it keeps your belongings dry if you find yourself in an unexpected rainstorm. “I've been using this backpack for the last couple of months as my everything bag,” says Josh Rios, NBC Select video producer. “It's my work bag, my travel bag and my gaming bag. The bag has so much space for everything from a laptop, handheld gaming system, a couple of textbooks and an extra shirt.” It’s also easy on the back and shoulders, according to Rios, since the straps help to evenly distribute the weight of the bag when it’s full.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: large | Colorways: 3 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for fashion students: SJP Carried Away Convertible Backpack
- Trolley sleeve
- Leather straps
- Laptop sleeve
- Only one colorway
I previously used an older version of this backpack. The outside material is incredibly smooth and it has a subtle design. It comes with both shoulder straps and two leather loops on top that you can fasten with the metal button. Those same leather loops make it easy to lift and carry in hand if you want to give your shoulder a break. It’s also great if you travel or commute since it has a wide trolley sleeve on the back that makes sure it stays in place when you put in the handle of a carry-on suitcase.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: medium | Colorways: 1 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Backpack with most support: The North Face Jester Backpack
- Supportive straps
- A lot of padding
- No trolley sleeve
While The North Face is a go-to brand when it comes to outdoors apparel such as fleece jackets and quarter-zip sweaters, the Jester backpack is also versatile. It has a spacious main compartment for carrying textbooks, folders, binders, notepads and much more. Plus, there is a laptop sleeve and multiple mesh pockets on the inside and one on the outside for a water bottle. The two padded shoulder straps also have a sternum strap that connects in the middle, which provides extra support to the body when carrying the bag.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 30+ | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack with a USB port: Bagsmart Quilted Backpack
This backpack from Bagsmart has an interesting quilted material and a bright gold zipper that makes it more recognizable than other monochromatic options. It has three compartments for holding books, tablets, clothing and more. It has a flexible water bottle pocket on the side, a trolley sleeve, a 17-inch laptop sleeve and breathable padding on the back to reduce sweating. It also has a built-in USB charging port that holds a portable charger, so you can connect your phone to it without having to carry it by hand. The backpack has a 4.7-star average rating from 4,741 reviews on Amazon.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: yes | Size: large | Colorways: 4 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack for college freshman: JanSport SuperBreak Backpack
- Spacious
- Durable
- No trolley sleeve
There aren’t many backpack brands that are as recognizable as JanSport. The brand’s bags have a standard design that hasn’t changed much over time but works well for all sorts of college students. I’ve owned many JanSport backpacks and love how durable they are, and how many different colorways they’re available in. They’re ideal for students transitioning from high school to college because they aren’t too small or large, so no matter what your major or hobbies are, you’ll have enough space to carry books, footwear, a laptop, headphones or other accessories.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: medium | Colorways: 19 | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best water-repellent backpack: Beckmann FLX Beige Backpack
- Spacious
- Water repellent
- May be large for some
This large backpack from Beckmann has a modern look and utility. It has a monochromatic beige design, with both sternum straps that connect the two shoulder straps to provide more support to the body — this helps distribute weight evenly around the upper body. The back has substantial padding and the inside compartment has plenty of room for books and a laptop. There’s also a space for a power bank, a water bottle pocket and a buckle on the side to secure your belongings. The bag also has a water-repellent coating. NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson uses this bag and loves how spacious it is. “The Beckmann Street FLX backpack might be a little too big for everyone, but I like how much it can hold — especially if you have a bunch of large books that you're lugging around,” she says. “I love a backpack that keeps your aforementioned large books dry when it rains, too."
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: large | Colorways: 1 | Adjustable straps: Yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Best backpack with a flap top: Herschel Little America Backpack
- Many colorways
- Adjustable straps
- No sternum strap
One of the first backpacks I had in college was a version of this popular one from Herschel. The brand’s probably most recognized for its flap-top design, which allows you to adjust the straps with a belt-style fastener rather than a zipper. With a 4.6-star average rating from 216 reviews on Amazon, this bag is spacious and stylish. It can fit a 17-inch laptop, a reusable water bottle on the side sleeve and multiple textbooks. It also has magnetic metal pins that help further fasten the backpack close and ensure you don’t lose anything.
Laptop sleeve: yes | Trolley sleeve: no | Size: large | Colorways: 20+ | Adjustable straps: yes | Shoulder strap padding: yes
Related
How to shop for backpacks as a college student
As a college student, there are a couple of aspects to consider when shopping for a backpack for the school year. Here is what our experts recommend factoring in before shopping:
- Consider your height and size: In addition to the size of a backpack, your height and overall size are important when shopping for a backpack. That’s because backpacks come in all different sizes, some of which may be too large for someone short or small in stature or too small for someone who is taller than average or has broad shoulders. “Make sure the backpack fits your size so you can comfortably carry it on your back with both straps comfortably fitting to your shoulders,” Alan Hedge, a professor at the human centered design department at Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures.
- Safety: Hedge also recommends looking for a backpack that isn’t as susceptible to theft. This includes looking for one that is easily recognizable in some way, such as with a reflective or shiny material that’s easy to see in the dark.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Kevin Costello is an ergonomics expert and the president of the United States Ergonomics organization.
- Dr. Matthew Cavanaugh is a chiropractor at Cavanaugh Chiropractic in Lafayette, Louisiana.
- Alan Hedge is a professor emeritus at the department of human centered design at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about ergonomics, home, kitchen and lifestyle. I’ve written guides on the best lumbar support pillows, how to treat “tech neck” and the best reusable water bottles. I spoke with multiple ergonomics experts for their guidance for this story.
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