For the cumbersome journey to campus, the pack-up-and-go morning rush, or the long walk home, having one of the best laptop backpacks is a critical lifeline for keeping your precious technology safe and sound. A reliable laptop backpack should not only bear the weight of your laptop (along with plenty of paperwork), but it should also keep your laptop safe from harm. Whether it's splashes, spills, or the occasional unforeseen thunk to the floor, a great backpack is an investment towards keeping your splendid laptop safe from the elements.
The best laptop backpacks at a glance:
• Best laptop backpack: KROSER Travel Laptop Backpack - View at Amazon
• Best budget laptop backpack: MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack - View at Amazon
• Best waterproof laptop backpack: Mark Ryden laptop backpack - View at Amazon
• Best anti-theft laptop backpack: BanGe Anti Theft Laptop Backpack - View at Amazon
As for keeping your laptop safe from others, many modern laptop backpacks are well-equipped for that too. From ingenious internal zips that are tricky to open to RFID signal-blocking technology that keeps your personal data well and truly safe from harm, our selection of laptop backpacks is a must for security-conscious laptop users.
But it's not just about protecting your laptop from harm, a great laptop backpack ought to be comfortable for you too. Plush, adjustable shoulder straps, padded, breathable back support and a spacious design, our picks for our favourite laptop backpacks are chosen to accommodate travellers of any size.
Best laptop backpacks of 2023:
Best laptop backpack
If you're in need of plenty of bookspace, as well as some room for your 17-inch laptop, then KROSER's 18.4-inch gaming backpack is the bag for you.
With no shortage of side pockets, hidden anti-theft storage compartments, and signal-blocking RFID-lined sections, the KROSER laptop backpack has everything you'll need for a successful commute to work or campus, without the worry of succumbing to bad weather or opportunistic hackers.
Breathable and plush (despite its serious size), there isn't much this reliable backpack can't handle.
Pros
- Excellent high-capacity backpack
- Water-repellant material for safe transport
- Incredibly comfortable and spacious
Cons
- Perhaps overly large for some users
Best budget laptop backpack
MATEIN's wonderful travel laptop backpack is the perfect solution to your commuting needs. Delightfully spacious (without being overly large), comfortable and aesthetically subtle and understated - MATEIN's travel laptop backpack has more than enough room to keep your laptop safe and sound, and has plenty of room spare for books and other valuables.
As for comfortability, the MATEIN's breathable back padding and pleasant shoulder straps ensure that you're as relaxed as can be when lugging home your workload. For your most precious belongings, there's a cleverly hidden pocket disguised as back padding, which can be accessed quickly from the outside, saving you some potential pocket space, as well as peace of mind.
Pros
- Fantastic, spacious design
- Formal, slick aesthetic
- Useful anti-theft pockets
Cons
- Not entirely waterproof
Best waterproof backpack
For protection against the elements, the Mark Ryden business laptop backpack is a solid choice that'll keep your books and budget laptop safe from harm.
Coated in a thick nylon outer layer, Mark Ryden's business backpack is fortified against both miserable weather and any potential accidents that might befall you on your commute.
Plenty of space, easy to access with a 90-degree opening angle (so you've got room for lunch too) and some wonderfully well-hidden anti-theft pockets - the Mark Ryden business laptop backpack is one of our favourite choices this year.
Pros
- Excellent waterproof design
- Plenty of storage space
- Breathable design suitable for cyclists
Cons
- The aesthetic is a little bland
Best anti-theft laptop backpack
So, you've just acquired yourself a shiny new laptop under £500 - it's bold, brilliant and above all - extremely precious to you. Travelling with any ordinary backpack might prove fatal to your gaming on the go - a lack of security and an easily accessible zip makes it much easier for thieves to simply nab your valuables without a trace, don't make it easy for them.
BanGe's truly stellar anti-theft laptop uses a passworded anti-theft TSA lock system which keeps your zips firmly locked and sealed, so only you can access your invaluable belongings.
This tough, waterproof laptop backpack is perfect for enduring a dreary walk to work, where the weather isn't on your side, as well as any potential thieves intrigued by your handsome new bag.
Pros
- Slick, formal design
- Waterproof for total protection against rain
- Excellent anti-theft design
Cons
- Not as spacious as other choices
Best ultra-slim laptop backpack
In need of something a little lighter on the shoulders? This nifty ultra-slim backpack is the perfect answer to your bulky travelling woes. Slim, yet expandable, this affordable backpack offers plenty of versatility for those who don't fancy lugging a gargantuan backpack around just for a student laptop - if you're one of those people, this might just be the bag for you.
Ultra-comfortable thanks to its lighter design and revolutionary for those commuting on the train in need of some foot space, the ZINZ expandable laptop backpack is a solid choice at an affordable price. If you're something of a bookworm, however, and you need as much space as you can muster, a larger bag will do you wonders (and save you several trips to the library).
Pros
- Excellent for light luggage transport
- Amazing expandable storage
- Incredibly affordable
Cons
- Not a great deal of room in the laptop backpack
Laptop backpack vs regular backpack - what's the best?
A laptop backpack is usually equipped with multi-layered compartments, as well as somewhere snug for your laptop to sit while you're walking. While this might not sound exciting, that extra layer of padding provides padding to protect your laptop from slips and falls that catch us off-guard at times.
A regular backpack, however, might not even have enough room for a laptop - leading to a sudden wrestling match before you head off to work or school in the morning, not the most fun thing to do before you've properly woken up.
Are laptop backpacks waterproof?
Laptop bags are, for the most part, water-resistant, they'll protect your bag from a decent amount of water, but forget taking it for a dip.
In any case, while yes many laptop backpacks are waterproof, it's best not to test the laptop backpack's waterproofing abilities with your valuables inside.
How can laptop backpacks prevent theft?
Laptop backpacks have a number of ways of keeping your hardware safe and sound, from TSA anti-theft locks that keep zippers code-protected, to hidden anti-theft pockets and RFID signal-blocking material that wards off any unwanted thieves and hackers from stealing data - laptop backpacks are great at keeping your possessions safe.
Ryan is a tech writer and reviewer for What's The Best, specialising in PCs and gaming. He is a keen PC gamer and an avid reader.
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