The Best Affordable Backpacks For College Of 2024: Buying Guide & Reviews

Hailey Abbott By, Hailey Abbott
Updated
Best affordable backpacks for college
Best affordable backpacks for college

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Travel Backpack, Extra Large 50L Laptop Backpacks for Men Women

This Travel Backpack is roomy and lightweight. It has a large capacity and organized compartments for easy grabbing and carrying. There are three spacious compartments, one separate laptop compartment, one main compartment roomy for daily necessities, such as clothes, notebooks, portable charger, etc. The front compartment has many small pockets including pen pockets and keychain design to keep your things organized and easier to find. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: PUMA unisex adult Evercat Contender Backpack, Black/Rose Gold

The PUMA unisex adult Evercat Contender Backpack, Black/Rose Gold is a versatile backpack with a cool and contemporary design. Whether you're commuting to work or heading to school, the PUMA unisex adult Evercat Contender Backpack will be your go-to bag for everyday wear. Read Review

3. Best Convenient: Laptop Backpack, 15.6-17.3 Inch College School Backpack

Carry your laptop and other essentials, without worrying about damaging your back. The College School Backpack is a comfortable, durable backpack made from a durable eco-friendly nylon fabric with two "S" curve padded shoulder straps that not only relieve the stress of carrying your laptop on your shoulders, but also give you maximum back support. It's designed to be breathable and provide maximum comfort. Read Review

4. Top Choice: Kenneth Cole Reaction Women's Chelsea 15" Laptop Bag Computer Bookbag

This Kenneth Cole Reaction Women's Chelsea 15" Laptop Bag Computer Bookbag is a fashionable and functional bag that you can take with you anywhere. This backpack was designed to fit perfectly under an airplane seat when you are traveling or on business trip. Read Review

If you’re headed off to college this year, you’ll need a bag to carry all your books and supplies. Are you kidding? Why would you take that much stuff with you? Well, yes and no. You see, leaving home for the first time is pretty exciting and scary at the same time.

You’re nervous about meeting new people, leaving behind your family and friends, and how far away from everything you know it is. All those thoughts are good, though; they mean that this will start something great for you. Okay, maybe we were being a little over-dramatic there... But seriously, packing up your entire life to live in a dorm room for four years is stressful!

Fortunately for us, though, we spend less time worrying about our belongings and focusing more on meeting new people and exploring new opportunities. If packing up your entire life sounds like it could be nerve-wracking, too, then read on to learn more about what it takes to have an affordable college experience while ensuring that your things remain safe. Keep reading to learn more about the best affordable backpacks for college students.

You can count on our team of experts who have spent over 17 hours conducting surveys through 8,188 real customer reviews. Because of this, we concluded that the best-reviewed product is the Travel Backpack, Extra Large 50L Laptop Backpacks for Men Women with  pen pockets and keychain design. And PUMA unisex adult Evercat Contender Backpack, Black/Rose Gold is another choice for you while keeping the product's quality and functionality.

Our Top Picks

  • TSA APPROVED & MULTIPURPOSE: At checkpoints, the large travel backpack can be freely unfolded 90-180 degrees, allowing you to quickly pass through airport security and keep things tidy, exclusive designed for airplane travel. A luggage strap allows the traveling backpack fit on the suitcase, great for international plane travel and day trips
  • DURABLE MATERIAL: Made of water resistant and durable polyester fabric, high-density nylon lining for better tear resistance, the heavy duty backpack with metal zippers ensures daily long lasting use. Serve you well as professional office work backpack, large USB charging bookbag and school backpack. Ideal present for back to school, graduation, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day
TOP Choice #2 PUMA unisex adult Evercat Contender Backpack, Black/Rose Gold
Our Score:
9.7
PUMA
  • Padded back panels
  • Interior laptop sleeve
  • Adjustable straps
  • Screenprinted logo
  • Side mesh pockets
  • Front pocket organizer
  • 【Large Capacity】External dimensions:19.5x 12.5 x 5.3 Inch. One separate laptop compartment can hold laptops up to 17.3 Inch,15 Inch,14 Inch and 13 Inch Notebook Macbook.One spacious packing compartment roomy for your phone, books, clothes,folders, power bank, pen,wallet and other items.
  • 【Comfy & Durable】Made From Durable Eco-Friendly Nylon Fabric With Two "S" Curve Padded Shoulder Straps relieve the stress of shoulder.Comfortable airflow back design with thick but soft ventilated padding, gives you maximum back support,very breathable and comfortable.
  • 【Dimensions】Overall Size: 16” H x 10” W x 7.5” D. Laptop Compartment: 15.25” H x 10” W x 1.75” D. Product Weight: 2.15 lbs. Compatible with most tablets and fits most laptops with up to a 15-inch screen.
  • 【Comfy & Functional】Rear exterior features breathable and adjustable shoulder straps that relieve stress of shoulders for maximum comfort while on the move. Rear of backpack features a trolley strap that fits over most luggage upright handles for hands-free carrying. Convenient beverage holster pockets featured on both sides of backpack. Features a convenient, easy to carry, top grab handle.
  • 【Storage Space & Pockets】Separate padded tech pocket fits most laptops with up to a 15-inch screen, as well 14 Inch Laptop or 13 Inch MacBook/Laptop. Padded tablet pocket in main compartment is compatible with most tablets. Front exterior features an extensive business organizer for all your needed essentials.
  • 【Fashion Forward Quality】Made of a stylish chevron quilted polyester-twill water-resistant exterior with gold-plated zippers. Interior features a fully lined tear-resistant stripe polyester lining that will stand up to daily use. The perfect 15-inch computer backpack to keep your business essentials organized while on the go.
  • 【Multipurpose】This backpack was designed to fit perfectly under an airplane seat when you are traveling or on business trip. Suitable for commuting or as a carry-on, can be easily stored. This backpack is lightweight and stylish which is perfect for school, college, travel, hiking, business trips, commuting to work, everyday use, outdoor activities, or even perfect as a gift.
  • Made of durable 1200D poly with rain Defender water repellent Plus duravax abrasion-resistant base
  • Measures 12w x 18h x 11d inches; weighs 1.4 pounds
  • Contour fit padded shoulder straps with daisy chains, and padded air mesh back panel
  • Versatile pack for work or school includes a 15-Inch laptop sleeve and tablet space
  • Zippered exterior organization compartment for keys, pens and other small items; mesh side pockets
  • Pockets: 1 exterior
  • 17.5 inch x 11.75 inch x 6 inch (HxWxD)
  • Signature striped fabric liner
  • Padded and fleece lined 15 inch laptop sleeve
  • Waterproof zipper detail
  • Front pocket with internal mesh organizers and key clip
  • ▶TSA Friendly Backpack: TSA-Friendly function is exclusively designed for airplane flight travel. At Checkpoint, unfolds the laptop travel backpack freely 90-180 degree and the laptop stays flat without taking it from the bag, making it getting through airport security checkpoint more easily. The laptop travel backpack is large enough for hiking, vacation, travel, weekend getaway, overnight trip
  • ▶Water resistant & Multipurpose: 17. 3 inch laptop travel backpack is well made of water resistant and eco-friendly Polyester Fabric with metal zippers, which perfects for business traveling, professional office work bag and other outdoor activities, college high school student backpack for boys girls
  • ▶Spacious Pockets: Sturdy laptop travel backpack has one separate laptop compartment for iPad, for hp, dell inspiration laptop(size up to 17. 3 inch) travel packing cubes, wallet, clothes, bottles, phone accessories, umbrella, other electronic devices and various items, Make your items organized and easier to find
  • ▶GREAT GIFT IDEA: Graduation gifts for college student, high school students and middle school students. The best gift choice for men and women as Valentine's Day Gifts, Thanks giving Day gifts, or Christmas gifts. Special birthday day gift for him or her, your husband, daughter, son, father, mother and as a gift for friends
  • ▶USB Charging Port and Luggage Sleeve: Durable 17 inch laptop travel backpacks with external USB charging port for women men and built-in charging cable can easily and conveniently charge your smart phone, tablet and other electronic devices while walking. Featuring the luggage belt on the its back, business traveller could fit backpack right on the luggage suitcase, which frees your hands
  • Functional & Stylish: This floral backpack is perfect to be a daypack for women. Perfect for weekend get-away, biking, camping, gym, travel, shopping, cycling, dating, etc. Great value gifts for travel, birthdays,valentines day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas day.
  • Durable Material: Made of waterproof and durable canvas. Soft, lightweight but sturdy. Won't rip or tear when you put a lot inside of the backpack. Smooth zippers, easy to clean and Machine Washable.
  • DURABLE & MULTI-PURPOSE: Comfort high quality polyester fabric materials ensure lasting use, the bottom fixed pad makes mens laptop backpack sturdy. You can store survival gear kits and outdoor emergency tools in your huge backpack for camping, hunting, hiking. Travel backpack for men ideal for sports, outdoors, office. A great travel gift for college students, office workers, travelers, men, women, boys, girls, teens, adults, father, grandfather
  • WATER RESISTANT & CONVENIENT: School lunch backpack with lunch box is made of high quality water-resistant lightweight polyester fabric, high quality shoulder strap of the business backpack for men is designed with breathing durability fabric and comfortable U air vent back, adjustable straps lighten weight and protect your muscle, A luggage strap allows carry on travel backpack to slide over the luggage tube secure it in place. Hidden safety pocket of lunch box backpack is safe and convenient
  • LAPTOP COMPARTMENT & USB PORT: Matein backpack lunch bag for men with one separate compartment is fully open design for 17 Inch laptops as well as 15.6 Inch, 15 Inch computers and iPad, TSA friendly design allows you to quickly pass the airport security check. And the USB charging port of this college bookbag for men makes it easy to charge your phone, convenient and practical, note not include the power bank
  • STORAGE CAPACITY & ORGANIZED POCKETS: Dimension: 18*17*11 inches, mens work backpack 17 inch with an extra-large main compartment, laptop compartment and many pockets. Two side zipper pockets for easy access to tissue, conveniently hold umbrellas and water bottles of elastic belt. The front pocket can hang the key for commuting. Top compartment stores glasses. Laptop backpack for men provides independent space for your laptop, mobile phone, clothes, lunch box, wallet, pens, keys
  • INSULATED LUNCH BOX COMPARTMENT: Matein 17 inch lunch backpack for men not only keeps the food warm but also keeps cold drinks for about 2-4 hours, high quality insulation layer of lunch box compartment keeps food fresh and warm in this insulated cooler backpack, which makes it easy to clean and store food. Laptop backpack with cooler compartment is suitable for school, college, office, picnic, beach, trip, travel, outdoor&indoor. Food container compartment dimension: 11*6.5*9.5 inches

What to Look For in a best affordable backpacks for college?

Some of you may be reluctant to select one of the best affordable backpacks for college, to be honest. The main reason is that you didn’t study that before. There are pretty lots of factors that must be considered when investing in best affordable backpacks for college. You are expected to count on our expertise in best affordable backpacks for college to make the right choice. 

So now we move on to the significant factors related to best affordable backpacks for college you must keep in mind:

Material

Sturdy backpacks will be made from a mixture of nylon heavy duty and YKK zips that are water-repellent. Avoid plastic zippers.
Polyester and canvas can also be very tough and resistant to water.

Ergonomic Carrying Options

Comfortable backpack carrying is essential, particularly if your travels involve a lot of walking and hiking. You can carry the backpack on your back, so your arms and shoulders aren't burdened. Make sure the backpack you select allows you to leave your hotel room whenever you like without putting your arms strain.

Size & Design

Once you have decided on your main purpose for your backpack (or what you need it to hold), you can get a good idea of the dimensions or the capacity of the bag.
Different sizes and designs will be used for different purposes.
A backpack for everyday use that holds 20-24 liters of water should suffice.
Some bags can be stiff while others are more flexible behind the back.
Last but not least, the style (color, or print) that you choose for your bag should reflect your personal taste. However, it can also be used to transition from one location to the next.

Comfort

Comfort is key. Make sure to look for contoured and padded back panels as well as padded straps to make sure your trip is comfortable.
You should also look out for waist and chest straps. They will help distribute the bag's weight, and prevent back pain.
Anatomical hand-straps are also useful for when you need to keep your bag in one hand while on the subway, bus or train.

Budget

We don't advocate buying something you cannot afford. However, it is important to avoid purchasing the most expensive option.
There is a direct correlation between quality and price. You don't want your bag ripping open or all of your stuff spilling onto the streets. You don't need to spend more for high-quality backpacks, although they will be more expensive.

Weight

Not only does it matter how heavy your items are, but so is the backpack. Lightweight backpacks are better as they will lower your overall back weight. But don't sacrifice strength. You should choose a lightweight backpack but one with enough strength.

Security

Pickpockets can target foreign travelers, making it more difficult to avoid being attacked in bus stations and airports. Make sure you have two zips you can lock together in the bag that you choose. Some bags have a lockable mesh you can use to wrap the bag and attach it to something larger so no one else takes it.

Durability

Your backpack's durability will depend on the material it is made from, as well as how it is packed and taken care of.
The size of the backpack is measured in liters. It is also related to the load it can support (measured in kilograms).

Organization

Some backpacks have no interior. Many backpacks are well-organized with many pockets and compartments.
For a lightweight backpack, you might choose a simpler design. However, you can also have multiple pockets to keep your essentials organized and easy access. You will find your belongings more easily distributed and accessible if there are many pockets and compartments in your backpack.

FAQs

Do I Really Need A Hip Harness?

This is an important feature to own if you intend on backpacking for long distances or hiking. This feature will distribute your backpack's weight more evenly across your body and provide you with greater comfort. This feature is standard on backpacks designed for outdoor adventure.

How Do I Clean My Backpack Properly?

The material of your backpack will affect the amount of cleaning needed. Nylon and water-resistant materials can be cleaned with a damp cloth. To maintain leather backpacks' integrity, it is a good idea to use a leather conditioner and cleaner. A damp cloth is sufficient for bags with metal or plastic elements.

Are All Backpacks Equipped With Compression Cords Inside?

This isn't the usual practice for backpacks. The compression cords are useful for packing and can be used in the same manner as a normal suitcase's compression strap. These are often included in some travel backpacks. If you want to pack more, invest in packing cubes. They will also help you organize your backpack.

Can You Wash Backpacks?

The type of backpack can be washed. You can wash a backpack made from nylon or canvas in the washing machine. Leather bags, on the other hand, cannot be washed in a washing machine. You will have to clean them with a leather cleaner. You can either put the bag in a laundry bag, or you can turn it inside-out and wash the bag in the washing machine with a gentle cycle.

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of Backpacks?

Material and design are key factors in the durability of backpacks. For education, a high-quality backpack can last for 3 to 4 years with a custom design. If you only use the backpack while on vacation, it can last even longer. A good backpack will last longer if you clean it regularly and don't use any harsh cleaning methods.

Which Backpack Is Best For Daily Use?

This question is dependent on many factors, including your style preferences, budget and the features you need for daily life. We know it's difficult to choose the right backpack for you, so we created this comprehensive guide.

Are Backpacks Unisex?

Most backpacks can be used by both men and women. However, some brands offer modified versions for women. The backpack can be used to carry books, phone chargers and other small items, such as laptops, tablet computers, smartphones, and tablets. Many well-known brands have separate designs for men and women, with sizes. You will find the perfect backpack for you.

What Is An Anti-theft Backpack?

Anti-theft backpacks can be found in many stores. This means that it is more difficult for anyone else to access your bag. Many backpacks come with zippers which allow you to access the main compartment from your bag while it's on. This means you won't need to remove it and put it in danger of someone picking it up. Some backpacks have webbing that covers the zipper openings. This makes it difficult for anyone to find and zip the bag.

Do You Think It Is Unprofessional To Have A Backpack?

Not at all!
The backpack is a convenient and efficient way to transport all your daily essentials. It is important to find one that matches the style of your workplace.

The list of best affordable backpacks for college is frequently updated whenever new data becomes available. Please take more time to visit our website to stay up-to-date with changes in the product.

You are supposed to be free to get in touch with our customer support. All of your problems or challenges with the best affordable backpacks for college will be carefully considered.


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About Hailey Abbott

Hailey Abbott
Hailey Abbott is an outdoor enthusiast and freelance writer for CampfireHQ. She has a passion for hunting and fishing, which she often enjoys with her family and friends. Hailey also enjoys staying active through sports such as golf, basketball, and softball. Hailey has worked as an editor for several years, providing content that is both accurate and engaging. She has also had the opportunity to interview numerous experts in various fields. This wealth of experience gives her a unique perspective when writing about the outdoors and other topics.

Read Hailey's full bio