15 Best Backpacks for High School and College Students

We first tested this popular The North Face backpack more than 10 years ago — it was a top performer then, and it continues to impress us.

✔️ The bag is super durable, holding up to abrasion, water-resistance and drop tests in our Lab. Reviewers have shared that the nylon and polyester blend material has held up to years of use, from freshmen year of high school to senior year of college. The Borealis doesn't have a flat base, so it's easy to store when not in use, but it's more challenging to load when empty.

✔️ It's comfortable to wear and keeps your belongings organized. There is a lot of padding and a sternum strap as well as a detachable waist strap. The Borealis stands out for including thoughtful features, like a fleece-lined zipper pocket for glasses and a front bungee system that can hold a jacket as the weather changes. Plus, its larger size and separate laptop compartment mean it can hold everything you need for a full day of classes.

✔️ This pack's design is multi-functional while looking sleek. Our survey respondents said they loved how versatile North Face backpacks are too, wearing them "hiking, traveling, going to classes and teaching." Available in 17 colors, this style also touts reflective features and a whistle for safety.

RELATED: The Best Travel Backpacks

After researching hundreds of backpacks, this Matein backpack is the best value, costing a fraction of what most college backpacks retail for.

✔️ It costs just $22. Most quality backpacks run $100 or more, but this popular style is currently on sale for $22 — and boasts thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon.

✔️ Handy features make this pack great for school and travel. This affordable pack includes useful extras like an anti-theft lock, a padded laptop compartment and a built-in USB port so that you can charge your phone on the go (just note that you'll need to add your own portable battery). Plus, the ample padding prevents this pack from feeling like it's constantly digging into your shoulders.

✔️ Although lightweight, it's a bit flimsy. It weighs just about 1.5 pounds, which is notably less than other featured packs. The material isn't as sturdy feeling as other tested packs and testers reported some wear issues with extended use.

GH pros have been recommending L.L. Bean backpacks for decades. This upgraded pack is ideal for high school students.

✔️ It's spacious interior includes enough volume for bulky items while having organizational features like smaller pockets and pouches. The laptop sleeve is padded to keep your tech protected. There's a stretchy water bottle holder on each side along with a front bungee cord to hold an extra layer of clothing.

✔️ The ergonomic padded shoulder straps and a chest and waist strap provide ultimate comfort and support. The back panel is also padded and covered in a mesh fabric for breathability too.

✔️ The design is specially made for people 13+ years old, making it a great choice for high school students. The durable yet lightweight nylon ripstop is currently only available in three neutral shades. The brand also sells matching lunchboxes and accessories to complete the look.

A standard backpack doesn't always work for everyone, especially if you have a disability or limited mobility that prevents you from carrying something on your back. With JanSport's newest line of adaptive backpacks, you can adjust the packs to fit your needs, thanks to their tangle-proof shoulder straps that can be aligned to fit a variety of mobility devices.

✔️ Additional handles make this pack easier to maneuver. This pack has a shorter height to make it easier to reach items at the bottom and so it fits nicely on different mobility devices. It also features longer zipper pulls, but one tester with limited grip strength found them challenging to pull.

✔️ It includes the features you need in a school backpack like a 15-inch laptop sleeve (however, it's not padded), two dedicated side pockets for water bottles and a front organizational pocket for pens and pencils.

✔️ Testers all reported that it was easy to attach to their wheelchair or scooter. "I strapped the backpack to the tiller of my scooter and the extra straps on the body of the bag made it very easy to grab and maneuver," said one tester. "The small straps with clasps made it easy to fasten." An online reviewer shared, "It has plenty of room and pockets. It straps easily and securely to my chair, so I can carry on with my daily activities hassle-free."

RELATED: Best Adaptive Clothing Brands

Taking you from class to the airport and everywhere in between, this Timbuk2 backpack is a true jack of all trades.

✔️ It has a separate padded laptop compartment that fits a larger laptop than most backpacks on our list do. While most packs can only fit a 15-inch laptop, this backpack can accommodate a 17-inch laptop. To keep everything super organized, it also features two more internal sleeves, convenient front-zippered stash pockets and numerous pockets throughout.

✔️ For ergonomic support, there's generous padding on the back and shoulder straps and an optional chest strap. The compression straps and a luggage sleeve offer extra convenience while traveling.

✔️ Testers applauded its sleek, masculine look that fits it all without bulk. One GH analyst uses this backpack daily, carrying his laptop, gym clothes and everything he needs for the work day. He especially appreciates the built-in luggage sleeve, so the backpack can sit on top of his carry-on suitcase when traveling. Note that this pick is available in a limited range of dark colors.

Patagonia is known for travel and camping packs, but the brand's school backpacks are also top notch. They feature the same durable materials with designs perfect for students.

✔️ Ergonomic straps offer proper support. Carrying too heavy of a load can put intense strain on your shoulders and back, leading to chronic pain over time, but you can distribute the weight better with a chest strap and padded shoulder straps, like those included on this backpack. The straps and back of the pack feature mesh for improved ventilation.

✔️ This pack has an impressive 26L interior with a sleek look that doesn't appear bulky. It includes a padded laptop sleeve that's removable to use elsewhere too. In our tests, we appreciated all of the convenient pockets and the stretchy water bottle side pockets to accommodate larger bottles, but there was less internal organization overall than other backpacks.

✔️ Testers (even ones with back pain) found this pack comfortable to carry when full. "This backpack has saved my back," reported one tester with chronic back pain. She said this was the only backpack she could wear comfortably for hours because of the adjustable chest strap for support.

If you are looking for something simple without all the extra frills that often accompany most packs, this streamlined yet stylish backpack from Herschel may be for you.

✔️ The classic design and shape is versatile for any occasion. It has one large compartment with a laptop sleeve, a front zippered pocket for items you need to access quickly and a side water bottle holder. Note that this pack lacks a luggage sleeve.

✔️ The long-lasting exterior fabric is sold in 18 colors (from the brand directly), including both neutrals and bold hues to showcase your personality. The durable exterior proved to be abrasion-resistant in our tests. Many testers reported that their Herschel backpacks stayed in great condition for years!

When heading to a gym on campus, carry everything you need with this lightweight pack from Osprey.

✔️ It's spacious enough to hold workout clothes and school supplies. The Daylite can fit two water bottles in the side pockets and schoolwork with the built-in laptop sleeve.

✔️ The compression straps help keep smelly items separate. It can hold sneakers or a sweatshirt in the front of the backpack, separate from the rest of the interior. We like that you can handwash this pick, but we wish it were machine washable for easier cleaning. If you're a student-athlete and need something bigger than a backpack, we recommend checking out our gym bag round-up for larger options.

✔️ You can also easily carry this pack longer distances, thanks to the chest and hip strap that add support. There's mesh in the straps and back to prevent overheating, even after an intense gym sesh.

Whether you're headed to class or the gym, this sporty backpack from Lululemon was a favorite among testers for its lightweight feel and simple design.

✔️ The stylish backpack is available in classic and bold shades. Testers liked its sleek materials that one said "looked cuter than other backpacks." It's currently available in seven colors, including bright pink, dark green and black.

✔️ This backpack has a roomy interior but lacks certain handy features. It includes a laptop sleeve, a front zippered pocket and two side water bottle or umbrella holders, but it doesn't have a luggage sleeve.

✔️ The pared-down design makes it great to use as a bag for classes or workouts. While it lacks organizational features, the spacious interior allows you to carry bulky items like sneakers and other fitness gear easily. When not in use, this pack easily compresses flat for easy storage.

You'll get two bags in one with the convertible Rowledge backpack from Lo & Sons.

✔️ This bag has an innovative two-in-one design. The backpack straps tuck away, so you can carry it by its top handles for a more professional look. The sleek material was also easy to wipe clean in our evaluations.

✔️ There's an organizational insert with pockets and compartments, great for keeping smaller items organized and accessible — that's removable too in case you need to carry larger items.

✔️ Bring this bag to both internships and job interviews as a tote and then to class as a backpack. Because of its multifunctionality, this bag is the most expensive pick in our roundup.

We love Dagne Dover because the brand offers trendy purses, totes and carry-on bags that are both cute and functional.

✔️ This neoprene backpack is sporty yet stylish, making it perfect for anyone who needs to carry school supplies and gym clothes — the included shoe bag even keeps your stinky sneakers separate. The design also works well for an overnight trip.

✔️ The Dakota backpack has tons of interior and exterior pockets to keep you organized – and even a hidden one on top to stash your phone. It's available in nine colors and three sizes; the Large size is best for students. In our testing, we noticed that the neoprene fabric did show some pilling with extensive use.

With a look that has stood the test of time, this quintessential backpack from Jansport comes with a 15-inch internal laptop sleeve and ample room for binders and notebooks.

✔️ The classic design also comes in a wide range of color and fabric options, including corduroy materials, floral prints and embroidered designs. And you can't beat the price — some colorways are even on sale for $45 right now!

✔️ It has a reinforced suede bottom for durability plus padding at the back and shoulder straps for comfort while carrying a heavy load. In Lab evaluations, it stood out for being lightweight yet sturdy, proving it's practical for year-round and repeated use. Note that the laptop sleeve isn't padded.

✔️ Testers especially liked the roomy front pocket, which makes it easy to grab essential items like sunglasses, pens and a calculator — it even features a built-in key ring.

Showcase your personality on campus with this trendy backpack from Calpak.

✔️Available in 20 colors, including shiny metallics, classic neutrals and bright neons, this backpack has a look for everyone.

✔️ Although highly organized, it lacks substantial padding. There's a side zippered pocket for an umbrella, a water bottle holder and plenty of zippered organizational pockets. The separate, padded laptop compartment can accommodate a 15-inch laptop, but the brand offers a 17-inch version for $148 (note this style is available in fewer colors). We wish the straps were a bit more padded.

✔️ It's great for travel too. Testers also liked the luggage trolley sleeve to take this bag on the go. Complete the set with a matching Luka Duffel and Luka Belt Bag.

This chic backpack from Everlane shuts with a magnetic flap over the top to keep everything secure.

✔️ It's made of 100% recycled polyester with a water-repellent finish in five neutral colors. The zipper teeth are the only element of this bag that's not made from recycled materials.

✔️ The slim design has excellent organization. There's a main compartment and a zippered laptop compartment that can hold a 15-inch device. Its organizational pockets include an internal and external water bottle holder, front zippered pockets and inside pouches. Plus, it even has a back strap to fit on top of a carry-on suitcase for easy traveling.

Swedish brand Fjallraven's simple backpack style has been around since 1978 — and this updated version is better suited for college and high school students.

✔️ We love the classic look and versatile design with an added laptop pocket. It can fit up to a 15-inch laptop, which is impressive for the pack's slim profile. This pick is sold in six fun color options such as yellow, teal, cobalt and grey.

✔️ When your back needs a break, you can carry this backpack by the handles on top, which also snap together for easier toting. It's best suited for lighter loads because the straps have less padding than other picks.

✔️ The top unzips fully around the sides for easier packing and unpacking. The whole pack keeps its shape when in use, but also goes completely flat for convenient storage.