Buying a new travel backpack can be a real challenge. Price, quality of stitching, and style all factor into a decision. We’re making it a little easier for you with a roundup of the latest and best-rated backpacks for travel, commuting, school, and more.
Our testing team sorted through the best of the best to find the right mix of form and function. Check out our top picks below.
Editor’s Pick: Eloop City B1 manages to be cool looking, feature-packed, and indestructible at the same time – $59.99 at Amazon.com
Eloop has traditionally been a manufacturer of high quality, design-focused electronics for travel. But making a backpack is a far cry from a Bluetooth speaker, so it’s a massive upset that the City B1 beat out more familiar (and expensive) names in the travel and tech backpack world. Let’s find out why.
Where to buy the Eloop City B1 in North America:
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So what makes the Eloop City B1 the best backpack for people on the go?
Ridiculous quality for the price. Triple stitching on every seam. Damage resistant waterproof outer shell. Super luxe easy grip zippers. Straps made from material so strong it could be used in a car safety belt. That’s the ludicrous quality that Eloop brings to the table. We tried everything to cause even the slightest bit of wear to our test bag, and just simply couldn’t do it in over 8 weeks of testing. That’s good news for Eloop, because the company includes a lifetime warranty for the bag.
Design that stands up to the test of travel. The silhouette of the bag is supported by semi-rigid material that retains shape over time. It’s a welcome feature from a tech travel bag that looks sleek and minimalist. Even when stuffed with goods, the City B1 maintains a svelte profile which greatly helps during busy commutes or crowded airport terminals.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Eloop now offers matching travel accessories, including a sleek power bank ($19.99) and a portable Bluetooth speaker ($29.99) under the City line.
Uncomplicated in all the right ways. Do you want a backpack that has all the features you expect without silly bells and whistles that only get in the way? Then the City B1 is the bag for you. No useless tech ports, no odd pockets too tiny to fit anything you actually carry, and no added gimmicks that plague the tech bag industry. This is a backpack that does exactly what you need it to do, and then gets out of your way.
In our eyes, you can’t do any better for the money.
Ebags Slim Laptop Backpack offers plenty of storage in a relatively compact design – $119.99 at Amazon.com
The Ebags brand has grown to the be go to for many travelers, and in recent years has improved quality greatly. They earn a top position on our list with their slim laptop line, which ticks many of the boxes we look for in a tech travel bag.
Where to buy the Ebags Slim Laptop Backpack in North America:
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The Ebags Slim comes in a solid but distant second in our roundup
Easy access compartments organize without overwhelming. Laptop bags suffer from overcomplicating the experience of reaching in and quickly accessing a tablet, pen, or notepad while on the go. We like the convenient front zip pouch with innovative – but not annoying – storage system. It’s one area where Ebags offering shines.
Fun color options add variety. Tech bags can be a bore. They are nearly always grey, sleek, and minimalist. If that’s your bag (ahem) you’ll be well suited for a number of brands. But Ebags offers a few color options here, which vary from traditional to a bit more exciting. That’s a welcome offering in the segment, and contributes to our approval of this laptop bag.
Soft outer material is prone to damage. If we are paying over $100 for a backpack, it had better last years. The outer material of the Slim Laptop backpack is attractive at first, but may be prone to wear. After just 6 weeks of use, we started to see some telltale signs of uneven color caused by wear on the edges of the bag. If you have a rigorous or demanding travel schedule, this may not be the bag for you.
Price is steep for what you get. Never mind the fact that Ebags started life as bargain basement brand. They have impressed us in the past and certainly continue to do so. That said, the bag feels a little too expensive for what you get, and we feel Ebags may be trying to bite off more than they can chew. With some improvements, this bag could be a contender for the top of the list.
NOMATIC packs in features galore for a sky high price – $239.00 at Amazon.com
The NOMATIC laptop backpack has a lot to offer – if you’re willing to pay the price. It’s the cool kid in the backpack playground, and can definitely back it up with interesting features. But we just couldn’t come to terms with the price, so while the bag earns a prestigious third place on our list, NOMATIC loses points on overall practical value.
Where to buy the NOMATIC Laptop Backpack in North America:
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Why NOMATIC may be worth the price when money is no object
Features, features, features. If you love backpacks that have removable components, NOMATIC is the brand for you. Their slim laptop bags comes with a fully removable inner panel, a removable hard case for sunglasses, and a retractable key leash. That’s a lot of convenience in a relatively small package, and adds to the versatility of the bag.
With great features come great cost. It’s easy to buy a key leash for under a dollar, so while features like these add convenience, more frugal-minded individuals will balk at the price. And while the bag has a distinct look to it (more on this next), the materials and overall construction quality do not exceed Eloop’s offering, which comes in at 25% the cost. And like Eloop, NOMATIC offers a lifetime warranty.
It’s a bropack. Some may find the super-tech look to their liking, the look is distinctly masculine. We would love to see NOMATIC offer an alternate color scheme or change up the harsh geometric pattern for something more neutral. Ebags does a great job of offering some more stylish options while maintaining the tech travel look.
Runner’s Up: Best Laptop Backpacks for People On the Go
There are hundreds of laptop backpacks on the market. And while we attempt to test as many as possible for our readers, some packs simply don’t make the cut. Here’s a quick peek at travel backpacks that nearly make our list, but didn’t quite cut it for the true professional nomad.
Pelican U100 Elite is too bulky for it’s own good – $192.99 at Amazon.com
Pelican is known for tougher than travel cases for sensitive film and audio gear. The U100 backpack is an attempt to enter a more accessible space of increasingly mobile content producers. Unfortunately, the bag itself just doesn’t cut it compared to sturdier, less expensive, less bulky, and better looking alternatives.
Briggs & Riley Kinzie Street Backpack offers a bit of class, but not enough to make up for shortcomings – $219.99 at Amazon.com
The Briggs & Riley Kinzie Street has a sophisticated look on the outside, but lacks the interior space or organizational power to make our recommended list. We love the style, but that’s about all. Durability and features are all lacking, and the flapover feature doesn’t help for quick pulls of identification, notepads, or other essentials.
Dell Alienware 17″ Vindicator 2.0 Backpack is ruined by poor material choices – $99.99 at Amazon.com
Alienware is known for super powerful gaming computers and accessories, and their foray into backpacks is meant to complete a line of lifestyle products for gamers on the go. And they nearly nailed it with the Vindicator 2.0. At first glance, we loved the blue piping contrasting with the black, woven nylon look. The love ended when we saw how easily the rigid front panel wears. Alienware clearly did not test this pack enough, because even small impacts leave lasting marks. We can’t imagine the Vindicator will look good after a year of use.