Best Backpacks for High School Students in 2020

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If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best backpack for high school students is, then we recommend the Yorepek Travel Laptop Backpack as the best one.

The bag. It was not only made for carrying your school stuff, but it was also a tool for making a statement.

Well, at least at my school and in my time.

But I’m sure that the bag is still a status symbol and serves as an indicator of what type of student you are. 

However, this article is not about starting a fashion trend. It is on the top-rated laptop backpack for high school students.

Ok, let’s jump in and review the best backpacks for high school students…

At a Glance: Our Top 7 Recommendations

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  
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★ BEST FOR LARGE STORAGE ★
Yorepek Travel Laptop Backpack
  • Laptop size: 17″
  • Capacity: 45L
  • Weight: 2.56 lbs
  • Built-in USB charging port
  • TSA-Friendly Design
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★ BEST BACKPACK FOR HEAVY BOOKS ★
Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack
  • Laptop size: 15″
  • Capacity: 35L
  • Weight: 1 lbs
  • YKK zippers
  • 1200D Poly with Rain Defender durable water repellent
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★ SIGNATURE BACKPACK FOR FEMALE STUDENTS ★
Vera Bradley Women’s Signature Cotton Campus Backpack
  • Laptop size: 15.6″
  • Capacity: 24L
  • Weight: 1.4 lbs
  • Headphones Grommet
  • 32 inch adjustable straps
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★ BEST ALTERNATIVE ★
Matein Travel Laptop Backpack
  • Laptop size: 15.6″
  • Capacity: 28L
  • Weight: 1.56 lbs
  • Built-in USB charging port
  • Anti-Thief Zipper Back Pocket
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★ BEST FOR WOMEN USE ★
Mancro School Backpack
  • Laptop size: 15.6″
  • Capacity: 23L
  • Weight: 1.57 lbs
  • Built-in USB charging port
  • Include anti-theft combination lock
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★ BEST FOR OLD SCHOOL DESIGN​ ★
Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack
  • Laptop size: 15″
  • Capacity: 18L
  • Weight: 1 lb
  • Many color options available
  • Ergonomic “X” support feature
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★ BEST ANTI THEFT BACKPACK​ ★
Lapacker Business Laptop Backpack
  • Laptop size: 17″
  • Capacity: 21L
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs
  • Anti-theft dual zippers
  • Scratch resistant materials

Choosing the Laptop Backpacks

Backpacks are like humans. They come in all shapes and sizes. They carry a lot of baggage as a normal human being does.

For the latter, it’s emotional baggage, but that’s another topic for another time.

Seriously speaking, laptop backpacks for college students are on a different level. 

They should not only be designed to protect your trusted school work and research, but they should also have extra features in different areas to be useful in your everyday university life.

With that to consider, what are the best laptop backpacks for college students?

What to Look for?

You might say that bags do not come with features the way smartphones and laptops do.

You are wrong.

Laptop bags come with their own unique set of features to entice their target customers. 

It may be water-resistant material, a special slot for your laptop’s power cord or a padded interior to provide more protection for your gadget.

The option can be overwhelming, yes, but you should know which kind you need for university life.

If you are still unsure which features you need, here are the most common ones found in a laptop backpack:

1. Laptop Compartment

Perhaps the most important feature you should check out first.

This is a safe space for your laptop. It will allow you to move freely without thinking about whether you’ll damage your device or not. 

Important things to check out in a laptop compartment are the padding and the zipper.

2. Compartment Size

Size matters. The truth is that the compartment size should match that of your laptop. 

Imagine buying what a salesperson told you was the laptop backpack for college students but you can’t fit your device in it. 

Bags specially designed to carry around laptops are usually available in 11-inches, 13-inches, and 15-inches. These sizes are the most common laptop sizes available in the market.

3. Backpack Capacity

Your laptop is not the only thing you’ll be carrying around campus if you are a hard-working student. 

If you’re on the other side of the fence, then a backpack that fits your laptop only will work for you but if you take studying seriously then you need a bag that is capable of carrying a lot of things.

4. Special Slot for Your Smartphone

Aside from your laptop, your smartphone is your next best bud in college. 

It has everything in it.

Text messages reminding you of your homework, group messages containing PowerPoint files from your professors, and contact numbers of your classmates are some of those essentials stored in it. 

So, your backpack should also have a special compartment for it.

Like a laptop compartment, it protects your phone and allows you to be worry-free about breaking or shattering it.

5. Anti-Theft Feature

Being robbed can happen to anyone at any time. Given that, it is a must for every college student to have a backpack with this feature.

Laptop backpacks contain all your important materials and, sometimes, personal information so having an anti-theft feature is a must.

Related: Do Anti-Theft Bags Work? Prevention Is Better Than Nothing

6. Waterproof

Since rain and snow is no respecter of persons, having a waterproof bag on campus is essential.

Weather-proofed bags are not only made using special fabrics, but they are also made in a specific way that gives them their unique features.

The best laptop backpack for a college student is sealed together using thermo glue instead of being stitched.

The use of thermo glue is a must as using waterproof materials is not a guarantee.

Sticking with a stitched panel will allow water to still enter your laptop compartment, possibly damaging what’s inside.

7. Material

Nylon is the most preferred fabric for a laptop backpack for college students. 

A special nylon material called Cordura is known as the most trusted backpack material. It is strong and durable against drops, scratches, and holes yet still easy to wash.

The Best Backpacks For High School Students Reviews

1. Yorepek Travel Laptop Backpack

Best for Large Storage

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The Yorepek Travel Laptop Backpack from Yorepek is perhaps the sturdiest looking laptop backpack in this list. It also checks most of the essential features that should be in a laptop bag.

It has a large capacity, is made from durable material, and is convenient and functional. The features of this laptop backpack include:

  • USB charging port
  • Waterproof and durable polyester fabric
  • Luggage strap

Additionally, this Yorepek laptop backpack comes in a TSA-friendly size and design. The design of this laptop backpack allows you to keep your laptop inside while passing through airport security

It also can be unfolded freely to a flat position while still keeping your laptop still in the bag. This Yorepek bag also comes with a Scan Smart feature, which is ideal if your class is going on an international trip.

One gripe with this laptop bag is its special compartments.

While it is large enough to fit even the biggest laptops available in the market, some might find it problematic for the lack of a better layout for computing accessories and other items you need at school.

Pros

  • Dedicated USB charging port
  • Sturdy construction
  • Scan Smart feature for easy travel

Cons

  • Short luggage strap
  • Compartments are not organized enough

2. Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack

Best Backpack for Heavy Books

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If you’re a student who needs to carry both a laptop and a tablet to school, the Carhartt Legacy Standard Work backpack is one of the options you should consider. 

Don’t let the name of this bag put you off. Although it is labeled as a work backpack actually it is a very versatile backpack that is suitable to be used by college students. 

As mentioned earlier, this backpack features a padded laptop compartment that fits up to a 15-inch laptop as well as a sleeve for a tablet or iPad. 

With a dimension of 18”(h) x 12”(w) x 11”(d), it provides that volume approximately 35L, slightly less than Yorepek. It is a relatively small backpack to be fair but it still can hold a couple of books and school supplies. 

There are several organizational pockets as well as 2 mesh pockets on both sides for a water bottle or an umbrella.

In terms of quality, the Carhartt Legacy Standard Work Backpack is an overall really well-made bag. Here are some of the main highlights:

  • Built with a heavy-duty 1200D Poly with Rain Defender durable water repellent that is great for a rainy or snowy season.
  • Duravax abrasion-resistant base that can withstand any kind of terrain.
  • Padded air mesh back panel and contoured shoulder straps for ergonomic features.
  • YKK zippers

Overall, this backpack doesn’t hold as much stuff that you would expect but it does the job well for school. If the storage concerns you more, then the Yorepek backpack is the best pick.

But for the quality it can offer, the Carhartt backpack can last longer and serves until your graduation day.

Pros

  • High-quality and sturdy
  • Dedicated laptop and tablet sleeves
  • Weatherproof materials

Cons

  • Not quite water-resistant
  • Pricey

3. Vera Bradley Women’s Signature Cotton Campus Backpack

Signature Backpack for Female Students

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Vera Bradley Women’s Signature Cotton Campus Backpack is perfect for female students. Well, I’m not sure if any guy would like to carry this bag to school though :).

Compared to Mancro School Backpack on our list, this bag easily stands out in terms of design. The color is so vibrant makes the backpack look stylish and cute.

The backpack has multiple compartments and pockets, enough room to keep your books, binders, laptop, tablet, keys, chargers, and other essentials.

There is a dedicated nice padded laptop compartment that can hold up to a 15.6” laptop.

The bag is made from lightweight quilted cotton and might not be good at resisting the water from penetrating inside.

The plus point of using cotton as the material is that it makes the backpack lightweight and comfortable to carry.

Here are some of the cool features of this backpack:

  • Zip closures at the front pocket
  • Small opening for a headphone jack
  • 32-inch adjustable straps
  • Trolley sleeve for air travel

It’s no doubt that this backpack is well-made, comfortable to carry and beautiful, but it lacks extra features that Yorepek and Lapacker backpack have on our list. 

The higher price tag (slightly under $100 at the time of this writing) might not justify the worth of owning it.

The bottom line: If you’re a big fan of Vera Bradley bags and don’t mind with the price, this Signature Cotton Campus Backpack is probably the great backpack to carry to college. 

Pros

  • Nice and soft quilted cotton materials
  • Trolley sleeve is a plus 
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not quite water-resistant
  • Pricey

4. Matein Travel Laptop Backpack

Best Alternative

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The Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is the most normal-looking bag on this list. That conclusion comes after comparing it to the Kanken, which comes in as the most traditional looking and the Yorepek laptop bag that looks the sturdiest.

However, normal-looking is not at all bad.

This bag comes with features that include a separate laptop compartment, another space for papers, and important items and pockets where you can keep other essentials to get you through the day.

Comfort is the name of the game for this laptop backpack. It was designed to allow airflow with its soft multi-panel ventilated padding.

It is functional and safe due to its sturdy strap and a hidden anti-theft pocket and it comes with a dedicated USB charger slot for easy access to your mobile phone or laptop.

Pros

  • Spacious compartments and pockets
  • Lightweight
  • Good quality

Cons

  • Hidden anti-theft pocket is too small
  • The strap might not be sturdy enough

5. Mancro School Backpack

Best for Women

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Women also need a special laptop backpack. This one is ultralight and spacious enough to fit all your daily needs as a college student.

The Mancro School Backpack checks off most of the important features in a laptop backpack for college students.

First, it comes with multiple compartments to make your things more organized. It has a front zipper for easy access and has a small front pocket and an internal zippered pocket for storage of your other items.

The bag is also full of user-friendly features. The bag comes with anti-theft features like a built-in lock that you can configure to your own lock combination.

It also has a dedicated USB charger port and was made to be lightweight so you can carry it around for hours.

There are two downfalls with this laptop backpack, though, and they are the absence of a padded bottom panel and the materials used are not waterproof.

Pros

  • Multiple compartments
  • Built-in lock
  • 900D water-resistant fabric

Cons

It lacks padding in its bottom part

6. Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack

Best Old School Design

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This laptop backpack from Fjallraven is the most iconic backpack on this list. The Kanken Laptop 15-inches comes in the most traditional but still capable of delivering the protection needed for your laptop.

The Kanken laptop bag comes with features that include a two-way zipper with rain flap and padded, ergonomic shoulder straps with dual top handles. It uses a unique material called Vinylon F. 

It is dirt-resistant, water-resistant and is easy to clean. In terms of storage, it comes with 18 liters of storage.

Specific measurement is 15.7 inches x 11 inches x 6.3 inches and weighs 1 lb. The Fjallraven Kanken brand is one of the oldest bag brands. 

That fact comes with a caveat, though. Kanken laptop bags are costly.

While it is packed with features and comes with some very unique material, its price is too steep for most college students.

But does its price tag justify what it offers?

Pros

  • Can fit everything you need
  • Sturdy construction
  • Water-resistant

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Get dirty easily

7. Lapacker Business Laptop Backpack

Best Anti Theft Backpack

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Lapacker is a Chinese company known for manufacturing waterproof and stylish bags. The Lapacker Business Laptop Backpack is one of their most popular products.

This Lapacker laptop backpack might be designed for business people, but it can also be a useful tool for college students. 

Its space, special compartments, and zippers are what make it useful for those who spend most of their time studying and running from one class to another.

It comes with features that include:

  • Large multi-compartment
  • A laptop compartment that fits 15-inch to 17-inch laptop
  • Two side pockets
  • Adjustable shoulder strap
  • Water-resistant

If your classes require books while you’re in the classroom, this Lapacker laptop backpack can also hold books. It was made with two multi-compartments. 

One can be used to store your laptop while the others are dedicated to your books and other items like notebooks or electronic devices.

Additionally, it comes with an anti-theft feature. It is found in the bag’s unique zipper system, which protects itself from blades and other objects that can force it open.

It was also made from a material that protects it from scratches and water.

Pros

  • Large storage
  • Airflow backing system
  • Anti-theft feature

Cons

  • A bit heavy to carry
  • Decent quality

Can’t I Use My Normal Old Backpack?

You can if you don’t want your laptop to survive after a week of dragging it from classroom to classroom every day.

Laptop backpacks were designed and manufactured in a way that a normal backpack isn’t.

The most distinct difference between the two is how the former has a dedicated space for storing your laptop.

This space is usually padded and comes at a size that would allow your device to slip in easily and be protected all day long.

Advantages of Using a Laptop Backpack

The laptop backpack for college students needs to be packed with features allowing you to maximize the investment you made on your laptop bag. 

After knowing the features, what benefits does the laptop backpack offer?

1: Protection

A laptop is a big investment and it makes sense to get a designated bag to protect the laptop from damage. It becomes even more valuable when you start storing files in it. 

A laptop backpack is the best accessory you can get as a student. Price should not be a concern since there’s often a student discount for the one you’ll choose. 

Instead, you should primarily focus on finding one that could last you your whole time at the university. 

A weather-proof, Anti-theft, robust, and padded backpack would be the right one for you.

2: All-in-One

Something that carries it all is an essential feature. It was mentioned that a backpack is expected to not only carry a laptop but also your books and other important materials and devices. 

It should be big enough to fit everything important you need to get you through the day.

Conclusion

College students are expected to be at the top of their game at all times. They need dependable gear in order to do that. 

Great learning materials, a great performing laptop and all of the other important tools to survive university life.

Having the best laptop backpack for high school also helps in getting that degree. It’s an accessory that allows you to carry everything you need in a small but spacious bag. 

In this list, that is the YOREPEK Travel Laptop Backpack made with materials that are durable and will last for a long time. It also comes with spacious compartments which is a significant need for college students.

Additionally, it features a dedicated USB charging slot for those times when your smartphone is running low on juice and you need to run to another class several buildings away.

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