The Best Affordable Backpacks For College Of 2024: Buying Guide & Reviews
By, Hailey AbbottUpdated
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.
RELATED: Our staff and experts compiled a list of 10 best waterproof college backpack in 2024 based on 5,894 reviews from customers.
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
- 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
- ★【Multiple Pockets & Organized】 The large bookbag owns 17+ independent pockets for large storage and organization for small items. 3 spacious main compartments with many hidden pockets can accommodate lots of stuffs like school supplies, travel accessories, clothes, stationery, school books, cord organizer, side deep zipper pocket for easy access essentials, side elastic net pockets conveniently hold umbrellas and water bottles. Best highschool bookbag for high school student
- ★【USB Port & Anti-Theft】With built in USB charging cable, the 15.6 inch laptop backpack with usb port offers you a more convenient way to charge your phone while walking around the campus. The Anti Theft backpack have a hidden pocket on the back, can protect your valuable items from being stolen. The shoulder strap with zippered pocket for airline ticket, passport and such. As a men electronics backpack, it's nice tech gift for travel enthusiast,can use as Valentine's/Mother's/Father's day gift
- ★【Luggage Strap & Back Support】The luggage strap allows travel laptop backpack was placed on the suitcase tube to free your hands and back. Multi-panel padding back design, gives you maximum back support, adjustable padding shoulder straps help relieve the stress from your shoulder. Best choice as a college backpack, flight backpack, weekender backpack for travel, airplane carry on travel backpack, middle school backpack, professional business backpack, travel overnight backpack
- ★【Expandable & Large Capacity】 Normal capacity is 29.5L, After Expanding:36.8L. This big school backpack for men with expandable feature offers you more packing capacity than slim laptop backpack.One separate laptop compartment hold 15.6 Inch Laptop or less. One spacious packing compartment roomy for daily necessities,tech electronic accessories.Front compartment with many pockets,pen pockets and key fob hook,make your items organized and easier to find
- ★【Durable Material & Best Gift Choice】This backpack for school is made of water resistant and sturdy polyester fabric with metal zippers. It provides more protection for your items in rainy day and long-lasting usage for everyday & weekend. A good gifts for men, gifts for women, gifts for travelers. Best Christmas gift/ New Year gift choice as a backpack for traveler, travel backpack for men women,laptop backpack for men, boys school backpack, high school backpack and middle school bookbag
- HERITAGE: Durable, timeless, functional. Since 1960.
- ICONIC: Same classic Kanken design since 1978. Stash everyday essentials in the main zippered compartment, front zippered pocket, and two open side pockets.
- PRACTICAL: Meet the material: Vinylon F. It has a weird name but it's dirt-resistant, water-resistant, and wipes clean.
- FUNCTIONAL: Two-way zipper with rain flap for protection. Ergonomic shoulder straps for the long haul. Dual top snap handles for quick carry. Sitting pad for impromptu seating. Reflective logo.
- ROOMY: 16 L of storage space for everything you need and some things you don't. Measures 14.9" (38 cm) x 10.6" (27 cm) x 5.1" (13 cm). Weighs 0.7 lb.
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
Polyester and canvas can also be very tough and resistant to water.
Ergonomic Carrying Options
Size & Design
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
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
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
Security
Durability
The size of the backpack is measured in liters. It is also related to the load it can support (measured in kilograms).
Organization
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.
READ NEXT: Top Best Coffee Makers With Grinder For You In 2024 & Buying Tips
About Hailey Abbott
