The 37 Best Back-to-College and Dorm Room Deals

I’ve never seen such a good deal on Rains’s waterproofbackpack. Tech writerJordan McMahonhas used it for several years to protect his laptop from inclement weather. “It’s one of the sleeker, more minimal laptop bags to carry on a daily commute, which means its one major drawback is the lack of space — don’t expect to pack much more than your laptop, your phone, and a book,” McMahon says. “But if all you need your bag to do is look good and protect your computer, then look no further.”

McMahon also likes this bag, especially for long day trips, since it has a fairly small footprint but still holds a lot. The main compartment contains a laptop sleeve, tablet pouch, and one mesh zipper pouch, and there are two pockets on the outside of the bag for carrying things like books and charging cables. Discounts vary by color (of which there are three).

I highly recommend Baggu’s puffy laptop sleeve — I’m going on five years with mine!

This classic tote has a bottom zipper pocket to stash sneakers for an after-class gym session. It’s also the perfect size for quick trips back home on the weekends or as a personal item when flying home for winter break.

College-ruled notebooks for every subject, now just under $3 apiece.

A robust spiral-bound planner.

The smudge-proof, bleed-proof, smooth-writing pen that’s taken office supply Tiktok by storm.

New pencils are synonymous with back-to-school, and mechanical pencils just make the most sense.

The latest MacBook Air for the best deal we’ve seen in ages.

Especially perfect for studying in peace, and keeping the noise down when your roommate is trying to sleep.

An all-around excellentprinter. It’s good for easy black-and-white or color-photo printing, copying, and scanning.

Dorm room outlets tend to be limited, so a power strip is a must.

This fleece,a favorite of writer Brenley Goertzen, will come in handy throughout the school year: as a toasty coverup for chilly end-of-summer nights, an extra layer for winter, and an all-purpose topper for pretty much all of fall and spring.

Same goes for the men’s version.

Is it really clutter if you make it look cute? These storage crates are great for stashing stationary supplies, errant cords and chargers, or that would otherwise be floating randomly around your room.

Dorm rooms are basically blank slates for your personal style. There’s not a lot wiggle room (because there’s usually not a lot of room in general), but little touches can go a long way — like this deeply discounted mushroom-ish table lamp, which is way more interesting than your standard gooseneck desk light.

Even if the product name is a bit cringe-y, this pillow great for both studying in bed and taking well-deserved study break.

The arched shape of this full-length mirror is a refreshing change of pace from standard rectangular frames. This one can be hung over the back of a door or mounted to the wall.

Zhuzh up an otherwise cookie-cutter room with a fun rug. All of Ruggable’s styles are 20 percent off right now, but the main selling point here is how easy they are to keep clean: Just toss them in the washing machine.

If coffee is a non-negotiable, this at-home, single-serve brewer will save both money and time.

If you don’t want to use — or don’t have — an AC, this powerful fan is a great alternative.

Lands’ End makes some ofour favorite sheets. Take good care of this set, and they’ll last well past senior year.

You need pillows.Theseare a perfect balance of firm and fluffy, and the price is very right.

You also need a towel (or two — they also sellsets), and this is also one ofour favorites.

It’s a safe bet that you won’t have a private bathroom, so a shower caddy is a must. This one is sturdy and sizable enough to hold multiple full-size bottles.

Shared bathrooms also mean shared germs, and protective footwear is a must. This pair has drainage holes, so you’re not tracking (as much) water all over the place.