EA_Backpacks_4-7

Today I take a look at the best backpacks for back to school that are specifically designed with special space for a laptop. With laptop computers constantly getting lighter & more affordable, backpacks with laptop space are becoming more and more of a necessity for today’s students. Nearly anyone can afford a laptop now, and having a safe, secure, and durable way of getting it from one place to another is extremely important. So, what’s the best bag for getting the job done? Read on to find out about a few of the very top candidates!

The first bag up for consideration is the Samsonite Campus Business 15.6″ Laptop Backpack – In Black. This bag is not only large, but it’s also highly durable. Made from 1680 denier nylon, it can easily handle your heaviest textbooks and stand up to the everyday abuse that backpacks are expected to face. Among its main features are a zippered front pocket (for quick and easy access to frequently used items), a dedicated tablet (or iPad) pocket (as well as a special zippered one for your smart phone), and adjustable shoulder straps (that are air mesh padded for easy airflow & unmatched comfort). And, of course, it’s also got a very well padded laptop compartment that can hold computers of up to 15.6 inches in size. So, if you carry lots of books, a heavy laptop, or even various everyday and / or sporting goods items (like a baseball glove or rugby ball), then this bag is big enough and tough enough to handle it all! Part of Samsonite’s Campus Business Collection, it’ll serve your purpose whether you’re a student, a business professional, or a traveling backpacker. All in all, this is one very nice backpack.

The next bag on our list is made by Swiss Gear. It’s the Swiss Gear 15.6″ Laptop Backpack – In Navy / Light Grey / White. This attractive, multi-coloured bag is also designed to hold most laptops of up to 15.6 inches in size (as well as tablets in protective sleeves), and it has an internal organizer in the front compartment that features a special cellphone pocket & a handy, detachable key fob. This makes your most essential items easy to find at all times. Even more convenient are its zippered, side pockets that provide fast access to the things you use most often. Possibly my favourite feature of this bag, though, is its padded back, which makes for a significantly more comfortable trek between classes when your pack is full of heavy books and a rigid laptop computer. I just love anything that adds to my comfort! Also enhancing the comfort level here are the bag’s breathable & ergonomic shoulder straps, as well as its adjustable compression straps (with their side release buckle). Finally, the material that this bag is made of is a water-resistant, polyester, dobby fabric. This means that you can carry your books and computer through rain or shine with no worries of getting any of your valuable items wet!

The third bag to make the list is the Burton Kilo 27L Backpack – In Beige Safari. I really like the look of this bag, with its near Desert Camo design. It just looks tough to me. I guess that its durable polyester construction doesn’t hurt either! And this bag is extra big. It can hold (in full padded comfort) a laptop computer of up to 17 inches in size, as well as a great many other things. This bag also has a ton of accessory pockets, internal organization in the main (large) compartment (including a mesh pocket with a key clip), and it’s even got special front webbing (which is perfect for carrying either a skateboard or a jacket). If you happen to be a tablet person rather than a laptop one, you’ll be happy to know that there’s an additional fleece-lined sleeve for such devices that measure in at up to 11.5 inches. If you have a really small laptop that you’d like to carry there instead, no worries! It’s 100% permissible to do so. I’m not sure whether or not I’d rate this as the best bag of the bunch, but if a large bag is what you’re looking for, or you have a large laptop computer or heaps of other things to carry, then you really can’t do much better than to purchase this Burton bag!

Another great bag to carry your laptop in is this very nice bag from JanSport. It’s the JanSport Digital Digibreak 25L Backpack – In Red / Grey Stripe. A bit smaller than the others on the list, this bag has an internal sleeve that can hold a 15 inch (or smaller) laptop. Its bottom is both fully padded & shock-absorbing, so if you set it down a little bit too hard, your computer will be protected. Of course, this will only work up to a certain point, so I wouldn’t advise being too hap-hazard with your bag!! It’s also got a dedicated tablet pocket (featuring a soft-touch lining), and its main material is 600 denier polyester (so you know that this bag is tough!). Its padded shoulder straps (which are straight-cut) and “fully padded back panel” are designed for your comfort during extended periods of wearing the fully loaded bag on your back. Having this level of cushioning on your neck, back, & shoulders is an invaluable feature for anyone who has to wear this pack for more than a few minutes at a time. Even though this bag is the smallest we’ve encountered thus far, its one main compartment still holds a significant amount. After all, 25L is one heck of a lot of milk!

Finally, to round out our list, we have the Swiss Gear 17.3″ Laptop Backpack – In Black / Dark Grey. Another of the fairly large bags, this one features the unique quality of RFID protection. This means that if you have credit or debit cards with RFID technology (commonly called tap technology) or a Passport with the same feature, your cards and Passport will be safe inside this bag as they will not be able to be scanned. The bag features a special material or lining that blocks the radio frequency signal and prevents advanced identity thieves from stealing your personal information. This is one feature that I personally just love about this bag! Among its others are a padded back (for added comfort), a zippered front pocket (for quick and easy access), padded and adjustable shoulder straps (with an easy-access storage space for your sunglasses), external side pockets (also zippered), a special organizer area in the front compartment (with expected features, like a detachable key clip & a cellphone pocket), and the whole thing is made from water-resistant polyester to keep your stuff nice and dry. As is typical of Swiss Gear products, this bag is yet another winner!

Having reached the end of our list, I’d like to end off by providing you with a link to numerous other backpack options. Best Buy seemingly has hundreds of these things across a number of great brands. You’ll find their complete selection HERE. Some of these bags will have laptop space; other bags may not. Be sure to read up on all of the specs to understand what you’ll be getting before you place an order. Good luck and have a great year of learning!

Leonard Bond
Leo enjoys writing about everything from secret agents to tech toys and gadgets to professional hockey. Find his reviews and other product related commentary right here on the Best Buy Blog and his latest hockey rants at www.hockeycontroversial.com.