Best Backpacks for Engineering Students of 2020

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Best Backpack For Engineering Student

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eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best backpack for engineering students is, then we recommend the eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack as the best one. It has a lot of organization pockets and comes with the cool integrated crush-proof AC-adaptor garage feature

>> Check price on Amazon <<

The backpack is not only made for carrying your school stuff, but it is your best companion wherever you go.

Well, at least in my university’s days, I had to carry a lot of books, a water bottle, stationery, and other stuff.

Thanks to my trusted backpack although it was broken now. 

I’m sure that a good backpack is not just a status symbol but a tool that will serve you last longer, at least until your graduation day!

Regardless of which engineering field you are, if you’re looking for the recommended backpack for school, you come to the right place.

We are taking a look at some of the best backpacks for engineering students that are going to serve you for the long term.

At a Glance: Our Recommendations

How Do They Compare?

Backpacks Details Our Score  
Innovative Backpack Design
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eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack
  • Laptop Size: 17″
  • Integrated crush-proof AC-adaptor garage
  • Pass-through sleeve
  • Dimension: 18″ x 12.75″ x 8.5″
BEST FOR LAPTOP PROTECTION
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Incase City Collection Backpack
  • Laptop Size: 16″
  • 360-degree padded for optimal laptop protection.
  • Two primary storage areas
  • Dimension: 20.5″ x 13.5″ x 5.5″
BEST FOR TECHNICAL STUDENTS
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Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack
  • Laptop Size: 15″
  • Two dedicated sleeves for a laptop and a tablet.
  • Reinforced Duravax base panel
  • Dimension: 12″ x 7″ x 18″
BEST FOR SCHOOL
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Victorinox Vx Sport Cadet Laptop Backpack
  • Two dedicated sleeves for a 16″ laptop and a 10″ tablet
  • Rear sleeve slides over the suitcase handle
  • 19L Capacity
  • Dimension: 7″ x 19″ x 13.5″
BEST FOR EVERYDAY USE
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JANSPORT Right Pack Backpack
  • Two dedicated sleeves for a 15″ laptop
  • Premium Cordura fabric with suede leather bottom
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Dimension: 18″ x 13″ x 8.5″

How to Choose the Right Backpacks

Whether you are studying in electrical or computer engineering, it is important to choose the right backpack that suits your needs.

Here is the guide that will give you some ideas on which backpack is best for you. Read on.

What Can Be Found in the Backpack of Engineering Students?

To start off, you need to know how much would you carry to school every day.

Here are some common items that many typical engineering students will have in their backpack to school:

  • A laptop or tablet
  • Cell phone
  • Scientific calculator
  • Books
  • Water bottle
  • College ID card
  • Lunch box
  • Stationary
  • Headphone

Of course, there are other miscellaneous items that not mentioned here.

The key point is, if you can identify what are the essentials that you frequent bring to school, it will make it easier for you to decide which backpack to choose.

This leads to the next point.

Backpack Size

If you like to carry a lot of stuff with you to school, you would need a large backpack.

As a general rule, any backpack that can fit a17 inch laptop is considered as a large backpack.

Many of the backpacks in this size can accommodate a capacity of more than 22 liters. If you’re minimalist, the medium size of the backpack is sufficient enough.

Another point to remember is that, do you carry a laptop to school? If you do, then you have to choose based on the size of the laptop compartment.

Even if you don’t carry a lot of stuff, you want to make sure your laptop can fit into the laptop sleeve.

Organizational Features

A good idea is to choose a backpack that can hold it all. If your backpack can hold plenty of items, make sure it doesn’t jumble them up inside.

Your backpack should be able to hold your items neatly without causing any damage.

For example, a good everyday backpack will have a separate compartment for your pens and your books and a sleeve for your laptop.

This way, you can simply store each item in their preferred slot.

Durability

This is something that should be important to everyone.

You want a backpack that is durable enough to carry all the heavy loads and that can serve you last longer.

Pay attention to the materials used for the bag.

You might notice some manufacturers will state the grade of the material in the Denier (D) rating.

Essentially, the denier rating how you measure the thickness of the individual threads that constitute fabrics and textiles.

Different material such as polyester and nylon have a different denier rating.

Find out more about the denier rating here.

In general, a backpack made of polyester has better water-resistant than leather. Getting a backpack with a water-resistant feature is a no-brainer.

You don’t want your laptop and other stuff getting wet on rainy days or bad weather.

Ergonomic Features

Since you’ll be using your laptop backpack every day to school, it is important to make sure it is comfortable to wear on.

A heavy backpack can cause back pain so make sure your backpack is convenient to carry around. 

This is why it’s a good idea to get a backpack that is lightweight and small.

But if you have too many items, the size can vary, but a lightweight backpack is the best option.

Besides the weight, your backpack should be breathable.

Many high-quality backpacks nowadays feature the air mesh back panel that allows ventilation, keeping the items inside cool. 

The shoulder strap is also an important factor to consider and should not be overlooked.

If your shoulder strap has thick padding, it will be able to protect your shoulders from potential pain.

Another feature to look for is the chest strap or wrist strap. It is very convenient to have because it will provide extra support when you carry a heavy load.

The Best Backpacks for Engineering Students Reviews

1. eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack

Innovative Backpack Design

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See this backpack on Amazon now

The eBags Professional Slim Laptop backpack is probably one of my favorite backpacks on our list and I wish that I could have it in my university’s days.

It is not cheap but what I like about the bag is its innovative design.

Unlike the “standard” design of many backpacks, you’ll quickly notice the small compartment at the bottom of the eBags.

This the integrated crush-proof AC-adaptor garage located at the bottom of the bag where you can store adaptors or other bulky items.

You can remove it if you wish to add more space to the main middle compartment.

The construction of the Professional Backpack is made of sturdy twisted dobby fabric measuring at 840 and 900 denier.

It has a durable build with a great thick high-quality stitching job to ensure an extended performance.

The eBags Backpack carries a padded laptop sleeve that holds devices with a screen size up to 17 inches. There’s also a separate slot to hold a tablet if you need to.

The front side of the bag features an organizational panel that has been designed to provide ample storage space yet remain slim and bulk-free.

It includes designated internal pockets to hold your mobile phone, college id cards, scientific calculator, as well as a key leash.

The eBags backpack comes with tough shoulder straps with an adjustable chest belt to provide comfortable wear.

The backside of the bag is layered with breathable mesh to cool you down.

Additionally, you can tuck away the straps and pull the backpack along with a rolling suitcase.

Pros

  • Integrated crush-proof AC-adaptor garage
  • Stowaway straps feature
  • Pass-through sleeve secures bag to rolling luggage

Cons

  • Lack of additional features like the USB charging port
  • Tight interior space due to slim design

>> Check price on Amazon <<

2. Incase City Collection Backpack

Best for Laptop Protection

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See this backpack on Amazon now

Incase City Collection Backpack is a great choice bag for someone who would like to have excellent protection for their laptop especially the MacBook Pro.

This backpack features a 360-degree padded with a nice faux-fur lined to protect your laptop from a sudden bump from any side.

 The laptop sleeve can hold a laptop up to 16 inches. A nice fit for your MacBook Pro 15 as well as an IPad. The backpack is made of the durable 270 x 500D blended weave polyester that will serve you last longer. 

The Incase City Collection Backpack can hold a storage capacity of 17.5 liters. With the dimension of 19 inches high and 11 inches wide,  you can easily fit a couple of binders or large textbooks.

In addition, there are plenty of small pockets (and zippered stash pockets) to organize your phone, calculator, cards, charger, notepad, and all essentials. 

The back straps are very adjustable with 17 inches shoulder drop. It is a convenient feature for someone who is tall.

The bag has an ergonomic design with air mesh padded straps which is great for long walks or a daily commute.

Overall this Incase backpack is a good bag for engineering students but I wish it comes with side pockets for water bottle pocket or umbrella.

It isn’t a deal-breaker but they are very convenient features to have. 

Pros

  • Excellent laptop protection
  • A lot of organization and storage options
  • Very durable (Incase Brand)

Cons

  • No water bottle pockets
  • No chest strap

>> Check price on Amazon <<

3. Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack

Best for Technical Students

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See this backpack on Amazon now

Carhatt is an iconic brand that has been around since 1889. They are trusted brands and have been producing many quality products including this Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack.

It is suitable for students who like to carry both a laptop and a tablet to school.

It has two separate sleeves for the 15-inch laptop and a sleeve for your tablet or documents. Both sleeves are padded including the bottom which is good to protect your computer.

The main compartment is roomy enough to keep your books. Additionally, there are two zippered pockets on the front which are pretty basic but practical.

Another plus is that you will get the heavy-duty YYK brand on all zippers.

The Carhatt backpack is constructed with 1200 denier polyester which is super durable and tough material.

The whole bag is covered with the Rain Defender durable water repellent (DWR) which keeps your electronics and gears dry in light rain.

Also, there is a Reinforced Duravax base panel on the bottom to prevent the water from moisture getting in when you put the bag down.

This laptop backpack is comfortable to carry around as there is a regular back panel for airflow.

While it does the job well but I believe it could be improved. The countered fit shoulders straps are wide and nicely padded.

It comes with some gear loops where you can attach some other things with a carabiner or anything.

Overall, the Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack is a great option for engineering students. Nothing fancy but it does what it suppose to do.

Pros

  • Two dedicated sleeves for laptop and tablet
  • Heavy-duty YKK zippers
  • Water repellent material

Cons

  • The air mesh back panel could be better
  • No interior zippered pocket

>> Check price on Amazon <<

4. Victorinox Vx Sport Cadet Laptop Backpack

Best for School Holidays Trips

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See this backpack on Amazon now

If you are an engineering student and who enjoys vacation trips during the school holidays then we recommend the Victorinox Vx Sport Cadet Laptop Backpack as the best one.

While it has many standard backpack features like other bags on our list, this one has a pass-through pocket which makes it easy for you to put on top of other luggage.

Just like Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack, this backpack features two padded compartments for a 16-inch laptop and a 10-inch tablet (or eReader).

The Sport Cadet laptop backpack is slim in design that can provide 19 liters of storage capacity. 

In the front pocket, you will find that there is a lot of small pockets to keep your school stuff like organized.

You’ll notice the great stash pocket on the front that’s super spacious. I like the subtle Victorinox that runs up the side.

The backpack also has some ergonomic features such as the ergonomic padded adjustable straps and padded mesh back panel.

They greatly keep you comfortable when commuting to school.

If you carry a lot of heavy textbooks, you lock down your loads but adjusting the compression straps on both sides of the bag.

In my opinion, Victorinox Vx Sport Cadet Laptop Backpack is a great backpack for engineering students but it only comes in one size on Amazon (at this writing).

Not really a big deal though.

Pros

  • Dual zip closure
  • Can be used as a traveling backpack
  • Plenty of small pockets

Cons

  • Only one size

>> Check price on Amazon <<

5. JANSPORT Right Pack Backpack

Best for Everyday Use

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See this backpack on Amazon now

If you’re looking for a standard backpack for a school that has excellent quality without any fancy features, we recommend the classic and timeless JanSport Right Pack backpack.

What we like about this backpack is its signature suede leather at the bottom that makes it look rugged. 

The backpack has a storage capacity of 31 liters and it is constructed with a premium quality 915 Denier Cordura material. It has a padded laptop compartment that can hold a 15-inch laptop.

On the front zippered pocket, there is a simple organizer panel that can hold your small items and key. There is a quick access pocket to stash some items like a calculator and phone.

As for the comfort features, the backpack has a fully padded back panel as well as padded straight cut shoulder straps. With a weight of about 1 pound, this backpack is very lightweight to carry. 

JanSport Right Pack backpack is a very simple backpack without bells and whistles but it has all you need to carry your books, laptop, and other stuff to school.

Any don’t forget that it comes with a lifetime warranty from JanSport.

Pros

  • Durable material
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Popular backpack in the market

Cons

  • The ergonomic features could be better
  • No additional sleeve for a tablet

>> Check price on Amazon <<

Conclusion

I think this was one of the harder decisions to make when it comes to choosing a winning backpack for engineering students.

Each one has their unique bonuses, so I struggled when making this decision, but the winner of the roundup is the eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack.

The innovative design is the primary reason we pick this bag.

The integrated crush-proof AC-adaptor garage feature is a very clever idea where you can put all the sensitive items like cable, charger, USB drive, and earphones.

It can be removed out if you need more space in the main compartment.

We will say that all of these backpacks on our list are an excellent choice if you are in the market for student backpacks.

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