I Used Dozens of Laptop Backpacks on All Types of Commutes. These Are the Best.

Storage

Comfort

Material

Storage:22-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 17 inches, main compartment with seven pockets, separate laptop compartment with one pouch |Comfort:Breathable back panel and padded shoulder straps |Material:Waterproof recycled polyester fabric, recycled polyester lining, vegan leather trim

I’ve been recommending Troubadour Goods’ Apex Backpack for over two years thanks to its elegant design, comfortable padding, and thoughtfully placed pockets. The latest version can hold laptops up to 17 inches and has thicker padding than many other backpacks for better comfort and protection. The bag is mostly composed of recycled polyester — made from old plastic bottles — which is both waterproof and pleasant to touch. That’s accented by a convincingfauxleather, creating an understated look that makes it suitable for the office or as your personal bag while traveling.

Usually, if I’m going to a coffee shop to work, I’ll bring myiPad Proor work laptop (a 13-inch MacBook Pro), somenoise-canceling headphones, ane-reader, mynotebookand some pens, a camera, and a few smaller items like gum and sunglasses. That all fits without any issue due the Apex’s seven pockets and 22-liter capacity — even with a sweatshirt inside, the bag doesn’t feel bulky. There’s a dedicated laptop compartment in the back that also has a sleeve to hold paper or other thin items. Most of the pockets (there are six in total) live inside the main compartment and vary in size to hold things ranging fromwired earbudsto asmall e-readeror notebook. Everything else can be stored in the main compartment’s free space.

The Apex’s back padding is particularly thick, which makes it comfortable for a short walk and a long commute alike. It’s made of three separate parts with spaces in between for breathability to help prevent back sweat. The padding on the straps isn’t nearly as thick, but it doesn’t need to be. Even when the bag was fully loaded, the straps never dug into my shoulders or otherwise felt uncomfortable. There’s no sternum strap, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on wearing this while riding a bike.

If you want a smaller version of the Apex, there’s acompact modelthat’s nearly identical but has a smaller 16-liter capacity and only holds laptops up to 14 inches.

Storage:20-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 16 inches, main compartment with laptop sleeve and zippered pocket |Comfort:Padded shoulder strap |Material:Recycled nylon

If you’d prefer to save some money without sacrificing comfort or style, get the Topo Designs Rover Pack Classic. It has a more outdoorsy look than the Apex, but it’s still sleek enough to be office friendly. That’s partly because the top flap buckles closes with two straps, rather than having a zippered opening. That design, however, allows you to store a few more things at the top of the bag, like a sweatshirt, or some taller items.

On the front of the bag is a single zippered pocket that has enough room for essentials, such as a wallet, some earbuds, and a few other small items. There’s also a zippered pocket on the top flap, which can be used for the things you frequently grab. Inside the Rover is a sleeve that can hold up to a 16-inch laptop. It’s not as cushioned as the compartments in the Apex or Synik, but it should still provide ample protection. Additionally, the shoulder straps aren’t quite as padded as those of most other bags on this list. They are still comfortable enough but may not be as suitable for long commutes if you carry a lot of stuff.

The bag has expandable water-bottle holders on either side, though as with most backpacks, my 40-ounce Owala bottle was too thick to fit. That said, smaller bottles should fit just fine, and both pockets have adjustable straps to keep your bottle secure.

Storage: 30-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 16 inches, main compartment with pouch, laptop pouch, external pockets |Comfort: Padded shoulder straps and back, sternum strap |Material: Nylon

When I’m going on a short trip, I turn to Tom Bihn’s pocket-packedSynik. Its busy exterior isn’t as sleek as the Apex’s, but that’s a worthwhile sacrifice for better organization and more room (30 liters compared with the Apex’s 22) without being much bulkier.

The bag’s five external pockets make it easy to store even a weekend’s worth of stuff while remaining organized — I never forget what each pocket is holding. The top of the bag has two pockets, one deep enough to hold a slim water bottle or something like a Kindle, while the other, shallower pocket is better suited for small items. The two vertical pockets on the sides are easy to reach when you hold the bag over one shoulder. I use them for things I frequently grab, such as my passport, sunglasses, and small notebook. Along the bottom of the Synik’s front is a horizontal pocket that’s perfect for holding charging cables.

As with the Apex, the Synik has a dedicated laptop pocket, though this one opens from the side rather than the top. That does make your laptop harder to access when you have the bag underneath the airplane seat in front of you, but it also allows the main compartment to be more travel-friendly than most bags. Thanks to its 30-liter capacity, you can fit all the clothes you need for a weekend, plus some headphones and toiletries. And to prevent the bag from getting too awkward to carry, there are compression straps that cinch everything down.

Even with every pocket stuffed to the max, the Synik features a design that ensures it never gets uncomfortable, even when I’m darting across a long airport terminal. The straps are thicker than the Apex’s, but the back padding is a tad thinner and not as cushiony. The bag also has sternum and waist straps to help keep it in place while you’re on a bike or otherwise moving around a lot.

Storage:35-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 15 inches, main compartment with pouch, separate laptop compartment |Comfort:Padded shoulder straps and back, removable waist strap |Material:Recycled polyester

If you need even more room, get Cotopaxi’sAllpa 35 Lpack.Strategist writer Katherine Gillespie says its overall comfort, easy-access compartment at the top, and generously padded laptop sleeve make it a great laptop backpack to take with you on a plane. It comes in three sizes, though the 35 L model should be enough for most short vacations.

Like a traditional suitcase, the main compartment of the Allpa has mesh pouches to hold all your gear in place. In addition to the backpack straps, the Allpa also has handles on the top, bottom, and side of the bag if you’d rather carry it across the terminal. Gillespie says the bag is comfortable to wear because it has a sternum strap and removable waist strap for added support. If you’re taking this bag on a longer trip that still calls for a checked bag, the back of this bag can slide over the handle of a suitcase. Cotopaxi also just released anupdated versionof this pack with a built-in water-bottle holder.

Storage: 25-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 15 inches, main compartment with pouch, laptop pouch, external pockets |Comfort: Padded shoulder straps and back, waist strap |Material: Recycled polyester

Before upgrading to the Allpa (and then the Synik), I used the Gregory Rhune for about a year. In addition to all the clothes and toiletries I needed for extended stays, I could stuff the Rhune with a MacBook Air, iPad Mini, Kobo e-reader, Fujifilm camera, wireless headphones, and still have room for a couple miscellaneous items.

Even with all that stuffed inside, the bag never felt overpacked or unwieldy thanks to the Rhune’s bucketlike design.Like the Synik and Rover, the Rhune opens up at the top of the bag, a design that allows you to pack more items than you could into a standard zipper backpack. There’s even a zip pered pocket on the outside of that top portion that’s big enough to hold an e-reader plus a set of AirPods (or otherwireless earbuds) and a wallet and keys.

Its straps aren’t quite as sturdy as the Synik’s, but they’re still padded enough to remain comfortable even for long walks across a terminal; it’s meant for backpacking, so it should be comfortable for even longer stretches, too. There’s also a small pocket on the front of the Allpa, which I used to hold a fanny pack plus two beanies. The bottom corners of the bag also have straps for carabiners so you can attach even more items to the bag. I used one to hook my water bottle to the bag and haven’t noticed any signs of tearing despite my bottle being fairly heavy.

Storage:18.7 liters, fits laptops up to 16 inches, main compartment with laptop sleeve and several pockets |Comfort:Padded shoulder straps and back |Material:Polyester

TheAer Fit Pack3 is great for people who like to head directly to the gym after work as it’s meticulously designed to protect your tech while being spacious enough to carry your workout gear. It has two built-in sleeves — one for your laptop and one for a tablet or notebook — while the unique middle zipper on the front makes it easy to access your gym kit. The compartment houses gym clothes and shoes completely separate from the other compartments, meaning you can store them without worrying about sweat or grime getting on everything else in your backpack. The materials are super-durable, the padded back and shoulder straps add comfort for commuters, and the bag features plenty of internal organization to keep small gear safe. There’s even a sizable pouch on the side to hold a large water bottle.

Storage:18.17-liter capacity; fits laptops up to 13 and 15 inches, main compartment with laptop sleeve and one pocket|Comfort:No shoulder or back padding |Material:Polyester

I used this Rains backpack for four years to protect my laptop from inclement weather when I walk to coffee shops. The interior laptop section has a dedicated strap that can easily store my MacBook Air, though you can get a larger version that holds laptops up to 15 inches. There’s also a hidden phone zipper pocket on the back that you can use to store your mobile device or quickly access an I.D. 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. But if all you need your bag to do is look good and protect your computer, then look no further.

My only complaint with this bag is that its straps are quite thin and don’t provide the same amount of padding as those on bags like the Troubadour or even the Soleil. Since the backpack isn’t meant to carry much stuff, those straps don’t cause much discomfort, but it’s worth noting if you plan on wearing your bag for long stretches of time.

Storage:18-liter capacity, fits laptops up to 14 inches, main compartment with 14-inch laptop sleeve and multiple pockets |Comfort:Shoulder padding |Material:Recycled nylon

I’m a huge fan oftotepacks. Their convertible design — which varies from bag to bag — makes it easy to carry the bag multiple ways rather than sticking to the traditional back carry. Of all the totepacks I’ve tested,Sherpani’s Soleilhas the most flexible design, as you can carry it on your back, throw it over your shoulder like a tote using a removable strap, or use the top handles to carry it at your side.

It doesn’t have as many pockets as the Apex, but it still has enough room to hold a day’s worth of gear. The front has two pockets, one for small items like your wallet and sunglasses and another that’s big enough for a medium-size notebook or an e-reader. The main compartment has a 14-inch laptop sleeve, plus a few pouches (without zippers) to hold some loose items. The free space has enough room for a paperback, some bulky headphones, a water bottle, and a few notebooks.

What makes the Soleil special, though, is its abundance of straps. In addition to padded backpack straps (that can be tucked away when not in use), there’s a removable, adjustable shoulder strap that allows the bag to be worn cross-body or over one shoulder. There are also two handles made offauxleather atop the bag that make it easy to pick up or hang on a hook.

One caveat: The back isn’t as breathable as those of other bags like the Apex or Synik, so I’d recommend using this bag cross-body when it’s hot out.