The best laptop bags make carrying personal items (including your laptop, of course) a total breeze during your commute, whether you’re traveling to work or school. The best laptop bags are commute-friendly and portable, but spacious enough to store all of your portable essentials and devices. They’re also practical without sacrificing stylishness and au courant fashion.
We’ve rounded up a list of the best laptop bags that will satisfy your everyday needs and stylish desires. We’re also expecting to see more practical and trendy laptop bags arrive on retail shelves later this year, so be sure to bookmark this page to stay on top of the latest releases.
In the meantime, let’s get you caught up on the market’s most popular options. From courier bags to massive backpacks meant for gamers, here is a list of the best laptop bags.
Don’t own a laptop yet? Check out our best laptops page or, if you’re a student, our list of the best laptops for college. Prefer a standard backpack? See our best laptop backpacks rankings as well.
What is the best laptop bag?
The Peak Design Everyday Messenger is the best laptop bag. Our reviewer tested the Peak Design Everyday Messenger bag and dubbed it one of the best laptop bags he’s ever had the pleasure of hauling around.
It’s stylish, comfortable and features an easy-to-adjust strap. The bag’s interior dividers provide a perfect cozy area to stuff your laptop in. There are several models of this bag. The 15-inch model can hold most laptops up to the size of a 15-inch MacBook Pro. The 13-inch Everyday Messenger, on the other hand, is strictly for smaller ultraportable systems.
For those who want a bag with two shoulder straps instead of one, Peak Design makes a backpack version of the Everyday Messenger, too.
You can see why the Peak Design Everyday Messenger is our favorite bag — it has many different versions and models depending on your needs and desires. While the Peak Design Everyday Messenger is our top pick, there may be other laptop bags that may be better suited to your tastes in terms of style, features and design. Take a look at our list and check out the best laptop bag for you.
Here are the best laptop bags
1. Peak Design Everyday Messenger
2. Herschel Supply Co. Pop Quiz Backpack
3. Swissgear 1900 ScanSmart Mini/Slim Version Laptop Backpack
4. Timbuk2 Spire
5. Solo Duane Laptop/Briefcase Hybrid
6. Mancro Anti-Theft Backpack
7. eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack
8. AmazonBasics Shoulder Bag Carrying Case
9. Samsonite Gridlok Backpack
10. HP Envy Urban Backpack
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Yes, it’s expensive, but Peak Design’s $220 Everyday Messenger Bag is one of the most well thought out products on the market today. Its magnetic MagLatch closure works like magic and ensures your bag is secure, but still easy to open. Also, its customizable flexfold dividers let you configure your storage to perfectly meet personal preference.
Adding to its greatness is a comfy adjustable shoulder strap, additional hip straps to help balance heavy loads, and a padded laptop sleeve that will fit all but the biggest 15-inch laptops. So, even though it was designed with photographers in mind, it’s also one of the best bags any regular Joe can buy.
Read our full Peak Design Everyday Messenger review.
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For under $50, the Pop Quiz is the epitome of cheap chic. The bag’s attractive main compartment features a fleece-lined laptop sleeve that can accommodate systems of up to 15 inches.
Its versatile design is highlighted by durable build quality, as well as several storage pockets and organizers that make accessing devices on the go seamless. And because this backpack is available in more than 44 different colors, you won’t have to struggle to find your favorite.
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The Swissgear 1900 landed on our best laptops bags page because it is a TSA-friendly bag that you can slide under your airplane seat with ease. It can also fit your 13-inch tablet without any trouble.
The Swissgear 1900 is also one of our best laptop bags due to its high quality, rugged polyester design. This best laptop bag is also excellent for organizing your personal items, whether it’s pens, folders, books and more.
The laptop bag is also quite comfortable with ergonomic, padded shoulder straps equipped with an airflow back panel to provide all-day breathability. The grab handle is also solid and durable, so you don’t have to worry about it falling apart during your commute or travels. There’s also a side water bottle pocket for quick grab-and-go convenience.
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Laptops are major investments, which is why you never want to carry them around in harsh environmental conditions like rain or snow. With the TimBuk2 Spire, you get a modern canvas bag that has an integrated waterproof rolltop to prevent aqua from leaking into your bag and damaging personal items.
Available in two muted colors, it’s designed to fit a 15.6-inch MacBook laptop and has a separate iPad pocket, along with internal and external pockets for other carry-on electronics. The daisy-chain webbing is also useful for bikers and outdoor adventurists who need to carry a bit extra when bag space becomes limited.
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The Duane Convertible may look like a standard briefcase bag, but its secrets are revealed once you turn it on its side. Solo’s hybrid carrier seamlessly converts into a backpack when your arms are getting tired and can flip back into a messenger bag for better maneuverability or when you’re in a more formal setting.
If you own a 15.6-inch MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 15, you’ll be able to clip them into the bag’s padded compartment, while a handful of other tech products can be organized in a large front pocket. There is even a pair of quick-access pockets for your phone, keys and wallet.
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Any backpack designed with security features like a combination zipper lock is well worth the look, especially for commuters who travel with expensive gear. The Mancro Anti-Theft Backpack does the best job of securing your goods, bundled with a tiny lock that’s simple to operate and easily slides through the zipper holes.
The main compartment can store any 15” laptop and large tablets simultaneously, while the bag’s numerous small compartments keep EDC items neatly organized and safe. However, its most compelling feature is the built-in USB charging port on the side that can be used to juice up portable devices when your Anker charger isn’t an option.
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eBags doesn’t just sell backpacks, it also makes its own. For students and business users who want tons of secure compartments in a small bag, go with the Slim Processional.
This business-friendly bag has a 17-inch laptop sleeve, crushproof AC-adapter garage, and a convenient front vertical zippered pocket. The Teflon-coated design also repels water effectively to preserve the exterior and protect what’s inside. At $120, it might seem pricey, but you still get a ton of backpack for the money.
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If you’re all about maintaining a low-key presence, then this is the sling for you. Amazon’s slim and compact shoulder bag lets you discretely carry any laptop over the shoulder or by the handle.
You won’t be turning heads with the subdued black design, but the carrier serves its purpose of safely getting your portable computer and EDC items from point A to point B. There is no standout functionality, but it’s unbelievably cheap and you really can’t ask for much more than what it already affords: flexibility and organization.
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The Volher laptop backpack for business and travel is one of the best laptop bags in the market. One of this bag’s greatest selling points is its built-in USB charger that can be found on the outside. There is also a built-in USB charger on the inside. This is excellent for travelers and commuters because now they can conveniently charge their devices while walking.
This Volher laptop backpack is water resistant and its material is made of durable polyester fabric, ensuring long-lasting usage. Another reason why this laptop landed on our best laptop backpacks page is its stylish design. It’s very modern and clean-looking, but still has a trendy, sexy aesthetic.
This Volher laptop backback can hold any 15.6-inch laptop in its spacious, roomy laptop compartment. There are mesh pockets on the side for a water bottle and umbrella to keep your items organized and easy to access.
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Who knew HP had an eye for stylish travel gear? The PC giant has definitely caught our attention with its fashionable backpack that comes fully waterproof and features genuine-leather handles, which convert the Envy Urban into a utility tote. However, it’s more than just a fashion statement.
You’ll find a plethora of pockets, including a zippered tech pocket and a soft, fully lined compartment, to carry all of your valuables. Another convenient feature is a cable-routing system that makes it easy to charge your portable devices. Best of all, it comes with RFID protection to secure your personal information from hackers.
How to choose the best laptop bag for you?
There are so many types of laptop backpacks out there, so to make your shopping a little it easier, it’s a good idea to narrow down your options to backpacks that fit your needs. There are several super-important aspects of a laptop backpack you must take into consideration before buying, including size, compartments and innovative designs somehow manage to maximize space while maintaining TSA-friendly dimensions.
Size: If you’re going to purchase a laptop backpack, you’re going to have to make sure that your laptop can fit into your chosen backpack of course. You should measure your laptop’s width (from left to right) and depth (from the hinge to the lip). When sifting through the internet for a laptop backpack, you’ll have to make sure that the backpack is at least an inch longer than your laptop’s width, since laptops tend to sit vertically in laptop backpacks. You should also make sure the backpack is wide enough to fit your laptop’s depth.
You should also double check to see if the backpack complies with TSA guidelines if you plan on travelling.
Compartments: Compartments are were laptop backpack makers get creative and design bags that fit certain consumers. If you tend to have a lot of small knickknacks when commuting and travelling, then it’s best that you opt for a laptop backpack with a lot of fun hidden pockets and pouches.
If you’re an on-the-go business man or woman, you’ll want to keep an eye out for a backpack that has a compartment that can keep your files and folders safely tucked away.
Useful features: The number one thing I look for in a laptop backpack is a USB charging port in case my phone decides to run out of juice, and I don’t want to have to deal with outlet hoggers at the airport. Premium laptops backpacks tend to offer useful features that will make your commute and travels a lot easier.
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Durability: You should also keep in mind the fabric and material of your backpack. If you’re going to be exploring rugged locations or regions with frequent inclement weather, you should definitely consider purchasing a laptop backpack with durable fabric. If you’re going to a rainy climate, for example, you may want to purchase a water-resistant backpack. I also highly recommend getting a laptop backpack
If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll likely be pushing your laptop backpack beneath your seat quite often, so you’ll want to choose a fabric that doesn’t pick up stains and spills too easily, such as water-resistant polyester.
