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A great school backpack is a constant companion, carrying all the essentials for a long day of classes, clubs, sports, internships, and more. But it’s not just for toting gear—it’s a wardrobe staple and an opportunity for students to express their personal style. So it’s important to find one that’s versatile, good-looking, comfy, and durable enough to stand up to plenty of wear.
Fjällräven Kånken Laptop
The Fjällräven Kånken Laptop is a vintage-influenced pack, beloved by many a hip kid. It’s the knapsack that you (or your parents!) might have carried in elementary school, only more sensible and grown-up with the welcome addition of lightly padded straps and a protective laptop compartment.
It has an iconic look, with clever updates. The original Kånken pack was designed for Swedish schoolchildren back in 1977 and continues to draw a devoted following among kids and adults alike. The updated Kånken Laptop retains the youthful, stylish charm of its predecessor—available in the familiar Fjällräven array of colors, from muted grays to splashier shades of orange, blue, and mustard—while adding useful features such as a padded laptop compartment and cushioning on the straps. (The first iteration has just plain webbing.)
It’s ideal for midsize loads. I carried the Kånken Laptop—loaded up with a laptop, a change of clothes, a toiletry bag, a notebook, a water bottle, chargers, and other odds and ends—for a full 12-hour day on my feet, and it was so comfortable that I nearly forgot I was wearing it. But the lightly padded straps aren’t meant for shouldering heavier gear (think multiple large textbooks).
With an 18-liter capacity, this is the smallest backpack we recommend. But thanks to its deep, boxy shape and clamshell opening, it somehow manages to feel bigger on the inside (could this be the Tardis of backpacks?).
It provides easy access to your essentials. The Kånken Laptop’s main compartment is roomy and deep, with one slip pocket for stowing a notebook or textbook. A zipper runs around three sides of the backpack, allowing the pack to open like a suitcase—a feature that one tester appreciated when using the Kånken Laptop as an overnight travel bag.
The laptop compartment fits computers up to 15 inches and has a separate zipper, so you don’t have to dig through the main compartment to grab your laptop. (The Kånken Laptop also comes in versions made for 13- and 17-inch laptops, so you can choose the size that best suits your needs.) A zippered pouch on the front is the perfect spot for smaller items you need to access quickly, such as a wallet, keys, or a phone charger.
Its double top handles come in handy for carrying and hanging the pack. This is the only bag we tested with this extra-versatile feature. One Wirecutter staffer who owns the Kånken Laptop told us that being able to comfortably switch between wearing the bag on her back and carrying it by its top handles makes navigating buses and other crowded spaces much easier. Plus, the handles help the bag stay securely put on the hook of a bathroom stall.
Herschel Classic Backpack XL
An unfussy, functional bag with retro-inspired styling, the Herschel Classic Backpack XL has earned a dedicated fan base among cool kids of all ages. Plus, it’s spacious enough to take you all the way from a 7 a.m. sports practice to a midnight study session.
It has traditional school bag styling—in a good way. Charmingly simple? Yes. But the Herschel Classic has enough special signature details to keep it from being dull. The basic silhouette gets a dose of personality from its red and white striped lining, corded zipper pulls, and instantly recognizable front pocket branding. It also comes in more than two dozen colors and patterns, from basic blacks and grays to floral prints and camos.
It’s extra-roomy. With a 30-liter capacity, this pack is the most spacious of any of our picks. Inside the large main compartment you’ll find an elasticized laptop sleeve that can accommodate computers up to 15 inches; you could also use it to store notebooks or a textbook. The Classic’s front zip pocket is ideal for carrying smaller items like earbuds, pens, and a wallet, and it includes a clip for securing your keys.
Unlike smaller versions of the Herschel Classic, the XL size is equipped with two side water-bottle pockets that can each comfortably fit a 24-ounce Takeya water bottle.
The straps work well. The Classic’s straps are flexible, nicely padded, and easy to adjust. And one particularly thoughtful feature helps tame whatever webbing remains dangling after you’ve adjusted them: elastic loops for tucking in any excess.