Backpacks

Reviews, care guides, and buying advice for backpacks of all types.

Amazon Basics Bags Review

Amazon's house-brand bags won't out-engineer Bellroy or Tumi. But for a laptop bag you'll replace in three years anyway, here's what holds up and what to skip.

5 Best Charging Backpacks (USB Built In)

Five backpacks with built-in USB ports for charging phones and tablets on the move. What actually works, what's gimmicky, and the safety caveats nobody mentions.

14 Best Under-Seat Backpacks for Flying

Fourteen backpacks that fit under any airline's under-seat measurement and still hold a 15-inch laptop, a passport, and a change of clothes. Field-tested.

Caring for Leather Bags and Backpacks

How to clean, condition, protect, and store leather bags so they last for years. Care tips by leather type — full-grain, top-grain, suede, nubuck, and patent.

7 Types of Backpacks for Every Occasion

Hiking, commuter, school, tactical, sling, duffel, daypack — seven backpack categories compared on capacity, comfort, and the use case each one was actually built for.

Are Tumi Backpacks Worth It? Owner's Guide

Tumi backpacks run $400 to $700. After three years of daily commuter and travel use, what holds up, what doesn't, and whether the brand premium pays off.

How to Wash a Dickies Backpack

Step-by-step washing for a Dickies backpack — what's machine safe, what isn't, and how to dry without warping the polyester body or padded straps.

Are North Face Backpacks Waterproof?

Most North Face backpacks are water-resistant, not waterproof — and the difference matters in a downpour. The two models that genuinely keep gear dry, and why.

How Much Should a Backpack Weigh?

Most loaded backpacks are heavier than they should be — by a lot. The percent-of-bodyweight rules for adults, kids, commuters, and hikers, plus how to cut weight.

How to Fix a Backpack Zipper

A broken backpack zipper doesn't mean buying a new bag. How to fix stuck sliders, missing teeth, and broken pulls — most repairs need no tools, just patience.

How To Pack a Hiking Backpack (4 Rules)

Four rules for packing a hiking backpack so the load rides on your hips, not your shoulders. What goes top, middle, bottom, and outside — with the why for each.

What Are Backpacks Made Of? (4 Materials)

Most backpacks are nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or canvas. The pros and cons of each — abrasion resistance, water repellence, weight, and how each ages.

How to Wash a Herschel Backpack

Step-by-step washing for a Herschel backpack — handle the cotton-canvas variants, the leather details, and the magnetic clasps without ruining either.

How to Wash an Osprey Backpack

Step-by-step washing for an Osprey backpack — handle the harness, hip belt, and waterproof exterior without compromising the All Mighty Guarantee fit.

How to Wash a Jansport Backpack

Step-by-step washing for a Jansport backpack — the right detergent, why machine wash is risky on older Cordura, and how to dry without zipper damage.

How to Wash a Kanken Backpack

Step-by-step washing for a Fjallraven Kanken by hand — which soap to use, which to avoid, and how to clean without ruining the waxed Vinylon F finish.

Are Kanken Backpacks For Guys?

The Fjallraven Kanken is officially unisex — but a few sizing, color, and capacity quirks matter for taller men or anyone carrying a 15-inch laptop.

Backpack vs Messenger Bag: Which Wins?

Backpack vs messenger bag — comfort, capacity, style, and back health compared head to head. Which fits how you actually carry to work, gym, or weekend travel.

16 Affordable North Face Backpack Alternatives

Sixteen backpacks under North Face prices that hold up the same way — for camping, daily commute, or weekend trips. Picks from $35 to $200, all field-tested.

10 Best Backpacks for Grad School

Ten backpacks built for the grad-school carry: laptop plus textbooks plus lunch, daily for three years. Picks across budgets from under $35 to over $300.

19 Best Backpacks for Day Hikes

Nineteen daypacks reviewed for trail use — capacity, hip-belt comfort, water-bottle access, and weather resistance. Picks from $40 to over $200.

The Wiz Backpack | An Awesome and Iconic Bag from the 80s

Remember the Wiz backpack? This iconic 80s personal locker bag was every kid's must-have. Here is the full story behind the nostalgic classic.

My Backpack Smells Like Mold — Now What?

My backpack smells like mold — now what? Follow our simple step-by-step cleaning guide to remove mold, mildew, and odors from your backpack.

How to Wash a North Face Backpack

Step-by-step washing for a North Face backpack — handle the DWR coating, the foam panels, and the fabric without stripping the water resistance.