Backpacks

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

Best Backpacks for Labor Day Travel Sales (Peak Deals 2026)

Travel backpacks highlighted during Labor Day 2026, with current product links and notes on carry comfort and organization.

Amazon Basics Bags Review

Amazon's own-brand wallets, shoulder bags, and backpacks: what the listed features offer, where they fall short, and who should consider them.

5 Best Charging Backpacks (USB Built In)

Five USB-port backpacks compared by laptop fit, pocket layout and carry comfort. Learn what the port does, which power bank you need and how to pack it for a flight.

6 Best Backpacks for Under an Airplane Seat

Six travel backpacks compared by dimensions, laptop storage and organization. Check which fit your airline’s personal-item limit and which need the overhead bin.

Caring for Leather Bags and Backpacks

Clean, condition, dry, and store leather bags and backpacks. Choose care products for smooth leather, suede, nubuck, patent, or coated finishes.

7 Types of Backpacks for Every Occasion

Daypacks, hiking, travel, commuter, sports, camera and anti-theft backpacks: seven categories compared by capacity, comfort and features.

Are Tumi Backpacks Worth It? Owner's Guide

Tumi backpacks carry a steep premium. An owner's view of the organization, durability, comfort, and warranty, plus a less expensive alternative.

Are North Face Backpacks Waterproof?

Most North Face backpacks are water-resistant. Check the exact model and protect electronics separately when rain could soak through the fabric, seams, or zippers.

How Much Should a Backpack Weigh?

School, day-hiking, and overnight packs have different weight guidelines. Weigh the full load and use fit and comfort alongside the percentage, not as an afterthought.

How to Fix a Backpack Zipper

Identify a snagged zipper, damaged teeth, worn slider, or broken pull before choosing a repair. Some fixes are simple; others need a matching part or sewing repair.

How To Pack a Hiking Backpack (4 Rules)

Four rules for arranging a hiking pack: keep dense gear close to your back, cushion it, organize for access, and secure the load.

What Are Backpacks and Laptop Bags Made Of?

Nylon, polyester, canvas, leather and more: what backpacks and laptop bags are made of, what denier, ripstop, CORDURA and ballistic nylon really mean, and what keeps a bag dry.

How to Wash a Backpack (Without Ruining It)

How to wash a backpack by hand: empty it, brush off dry dirt, wipe it down, then wash or spot clean the way your brand allows. With JanSport, North Face, Osprey, Herschel, Kånken and Dickies notes.

Are Kanken Backpacks For Guys?

Yes, Kanken backpacks are unisex. Where the 'girls' backpack' idea came from, the schoolkid backstory, and the Kånken we'd pick for a laptop.

Backpack vs Messenger Bag: Which Wins?

Choose a backpack for longer walks with a heavier load, or a messenger bag for quick access to a smaller daily carry. Compare fit, organization, and capacity.

16 Affordable North Face Backpack Alternatives

Sixteen backpacks that cost less than a North Face, for camping trips, the daily commute and weekends away.

7 Best Backpacks for Grad School

Seven backpacks built for the grad-school carry: laptop plus textbooks plus lunch, for daily campus use. Picks spanning budget to splurge.

8 Best Backpacks for Day Hikes

Eight hiking packs compared by capacity, support, hydration storage and weather resistance, with a practical day-hike packing guide.

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

Remember the Wiz backpack? Revisit the colorful personal locker bag, its unusual shelf layout and modern alternatives, plus what to check when buying a vintage original.

My Backpack Smells Like Mold — Now What?

Found your backpack in the back of the closet and it smells like mold? Our step-by-step guide to emptying, cleaning, drying and deodorizing it, and when to give up.