The Wallet Shoppe
You’ve carried a backpack through your whole school career thus far. From the bright colors and characters of elementary school, through the “cool” bags in middle and high school.
But now? Now it’s time for a serious bag that can help you stay organized and ready for success throughout grad school.
We’ve searched high and low, asked every student we know (and some we didn’t) for their takes. Here’s the result - our take on the best backpacks for grad school students!
The full reviews are after the tables, but for those who just want to jump right in - here’s the list we’re going to go through:
Want to see more? Read on for the full list!
Best Backpack for Grad School - The List
Rains Backpack for Grad School
Dimensions: 11.42 x 3.94 x 17.72 in
Weight: 1.1 lbs
The Rains Backpack is described by the manufacturer as a “minimalistic, yet practical bag”.
It’s made of a waterproof faux-leather material to protect your belongings. There is one main compartment, a 13” laptop pocket, an inside zipped pocket for small items, and an outer phone pocket on the backside so your phone is always in easy reach.
The bag is small and lightweight, though its a little long (vertically) so it might not be ideally proportioned for people who are not so tall.
This is a great option if you’re looking for something stylish and city-friendly, but able to handle changeable weather (we’re looking at you, Seattle …). It’s easy to clean by simply wiping it down.
Pros: Waterproof and stylish? Who knew you could do that?
Cons: The straps are not the most comfortable - too thin to bear a lot of weight for long periods
YETI Crossroads Backpack
Dimensions: 19.8 x 12 x 8 in
Weight: 3.6 lbs
Made with water- and abrasion-resistant TuffSkin nylon, our favorite bag on the list is built for durability. YETI has since replaced the original 23L with this 27L version — a little roomier, same construction.
We love the “Structure Arc” design that means the bag stands upright and unzips almost all the way for quick and easy loading and unloading. The 360° padded laptop vault is a suspended sleeve with wraparound padding, sized for most 13” and 15” laptops.
The quick-stash top pocket helps keep necessities (phone, keys, glasses, etc.) in easy reach. The two exterior bottle pockets have magnets to keep them closed when not in use.
The thing we like the most though is the comfort factor. The foam shoulder straps and back panel adjust to your shape ensure a surprisingly comfortable carry.
Pros: Very comfortable, durable materials, convenient compartments with magnetic closures
Cons: Minor - the inner “quick access” pockets essentially steal space from the main enclure and can get in the way
Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack
Dimensions: 18.9 x 11.42 x 5.31 in
Weight: 2.4 lbs
Timbuk2 has discontinued the Division, and the Authority is its current equivalent — a little heavier, better organized. It has multiple organizational features, including a dedicated laptop compartment that keeps the main area clear for books and papers. There is also an organizer for your phone, pens, pencils, etc. & a water bottle holder. There are also external compression straps to cinch or expand the pack as needed.
Similar to the Yeti, this bag is designed to sit upright while you are going through it, and it carries well due to the contoured shoulder straps, tuck-away sternum straps, and air mesh back panel.
Add in the lifetime warranty and all in all, this is a great, lightweight bag with a lot of “comfortable carry” factors built in.
Pros: Comfort and capacity, we like the breathable rear mesh panel a lot
Cons: Could do with more organization options inside the main section
Samsonite Xenon 4.0 Large Expandable Backpack
Dimensions: 18 x 12.5 x 7.5 in (expands 1.5” for extra capacity)
Weight: 2.6 lbs
Another great option - this bag is made from 1680-denier ballistic polyester, which is both water- and oil-resistant and holds up to daily abuse better than most laptop backpacks in this price range.
The air-mesh padded straps and back panel keep it comfortable to carry, while a Laptop Hammock™ sleeve holds a 15.6” laptop off the bottom of the bag (useful if you ever set it down on a wet sidewalk) alongside a tablet compartment up to 12.9”. A business-organizer front pocket handles pens, cards, and a phone, and a Stackit™ strap lets it clip onto a rolling suitcase handle for travel between campus and home.
Pros: Durable ballistic polyester, well-organized front pocket, expandable for extra capacity
Cons: More of a traditional business-backpack look than a campus-casual one
Herschel Pop Quiz
Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.25 x 6.5 in
Capacity: 25L
OK, we love the look of this bag!
The Pop Quiz now runs 25L, up from the older 22L. It uses Herschel’s EcoSystem 600D fabric with a liner made from recycled post-consumer bottles, and a weatherproof zipper to ensure your belongings stay safe and dry. The spacious main compartment will store all of your books and essentials. The padded floating laptop sleeve holds up to a 15/16” computer.
The front zippered pocket has an internal mesh organizer and key clip, and the small lined pouch on top keeps your phone or glasses in easy reach. In other words, straightforward organization that comes in a classic style back pack.
Pros: Classic design with padded fleece laptop sleeve
Cons: It’s essentially a book bag, there’s not a lot of other compartments
Targus Drifter II
Dimensions: 16 x 21.5 x 5 in
Weight: 2.9 lbs
This bag offers a case full of storage options and protective compartments for important devices. Focusing on durability, the nylon bag has a weather-resistant bottom and thick industrial zipper pulls. The two large main compartments provide ample storage, including a padded laptop section that holds up to a 17” device, and an interior divider to keep files and papers organized.
The front zip compartment has pockets for business cards, a mesh accessory pocket, a key clip, and a soft lined, scratch-resistant pocket for fragile accessories like glasses. The back panel has extremely thick padding that includes a large hidden zippered compartment strategically placed to provide lumbar support.
Likewise, the shoulder straps are heavily padded for comfort and include a removable mobile phone pocket and an elastic loop specifically designed to hold sunglasses. This bag keeps everything you need protected and in easy reach.
Pros: Excellent organization and comfort, designed by a company that specializes in mobile computing accessories
Cons: Although the cases appears quite rugged, some buyers report it doesn’t stand up well over the long term to being knocked around
Fjallraven Kanken 17” Laptop Backpack
This practical bag is made from a material called Vinylon F, which is water-resistant, dirt-resistant, and wipes clean easily. The two-way zipper has a rain flap for added protection. The shoulder straps are padded, adjustable, and ergonomic for carrying with ease.
The dual top snap handles allow you to quickly grab and carry like a tote for short distances. The padded laptop compartment holds up to a 17” computer and leaves you with one main compartment and three smaller pockets to hold everything else you may need.
The back pocket is also padded to ensure it’s comfortable against the back (this backpack design was actually created with schoolchildren carrying tons of textbooks in mind - source). And yes, these backbacks are for both sexes!
Pros: Classic looks in water-resistant, dirt-resistant Vinylon F
Cons: We feel that a 17” inch laptop fits, but it’s a stretch. A 15” laptop carries really well
Best Backpack for Grad School - Buyer’s Guide
There are a lot of options here for great back packs for grad school. Like having the right supplies, choosing the right bag will help you be prepared and succeed in your classes. Here are a few things to think about when you’re making your decision:
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Capacity: What’s the maximum you’ll need to carry in the pack? Think about not just your laptop and phone, notebooks and textbooks, but any other accessories, water bottles, etc. Size the bag for the day you’ll have the most to carry
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Access: Does the pack have a good number of compartments with convenient access? It gets hugely tiresome having to practically empty a pack to get that one thing that’s (inevitably) slipped to the bottom. Make your life easier!
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Durability: This is going to get daily use, and if you’re going to be exposed to the elements, so will the backpack. If you’re likely to be dodging rain showers, make sure your pack is at least water-resistant to protect your gear
Our choice? It’s really a very personal decision, and what’s right for one person might not be right for you, but for its combination of easy access (standing upright because of its Structure Arc design), extra storage compartments, and well thought-out extra features, the YETI Crossroads is our choice.
Related reading:
Bonus Video!
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