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Judging by this short description of laptop bags, one can guess that there are many things to consider when buying one. In a nutshell, these are the points that you should ponder on before investing in a laptop bag.
Size
The first thing that you should concern yourself with is the size of the laptop bag. Generally, you do not want to invest in an accessory that is too small to accommodate your machine. On the other hand, it is also highly unwanted to have a backpack that is significantly larger than the laptop itself. Not only would this make it harder to carry around, but your machine would also clatter inside the bag every time you take a step. This must be avoided at all costs as it drastically reduces the life of the machine and can cause unwanted errors like damaged screens and scratches on the body of the laptop. Thus, it is essential to buy a backpack that has been designed specifically with your laptop in mind. For example, users with a 13-inch laptop should only invest in those backpacks that can carry 13-inch laptops.
Budget
The next point that you must consider before investing in a laptop backpack is your budget. What good is it to find the perfect bag if it is out of your reach? If you bought your laptop for under $500, there is no reason to splurge on an expensive laptop backpack. Under no circumstances should you spend more on a laptop bag than what you did on the laptop itself. To make things easier for our users, we have made sure that pretty much every item on this list costs less than $250 (with the exception of one higher-end bag) so that everyone can afford an accessory that’s not only a good long-term investment but a financially sound one as well.
Security
The biggest flaw of laptop backpacks is that they offer little to no security. Most laptop bags don’t even have a double zipper for added security and the ones that do are extremely easy to get around. Thus, if you’re trying to get a laptop bag that’s secure, it’s best to invest in a small lock of some sort – or you can always go for something like the DaySafe 100. With a small additional purchase, you can zip your laptop bag up and lock it so that it is more secure than before. Unfortunately, most laptop bags don’t offer a lock, so you’ll just have to buy one yourself.
Style
One thing that people never compromise on is style. People will do whatever they can to make sure that they look trendy and stylish. This holds true for laptop bags as well. People even choose not to go with a certain backpack just because it wasn’t available in their favorite color. Your style is the way you express yourself, so it’s better to get a laptop that bag that ‘speaks’ to you the most.
Purpose
The final thing that you should consider before buying a laptop bag is what you are getting it for i.e. your purpose. There are countless “Checkpoint Friendly” bags that have been designed with traveling in mind. Similarly, there are numerous bags that are better suited for work environments. Thus, it is important to consider how you intend to use your laptop bag before investing in this accessory.
Types of Laptop Bags
Before we head into the review of the laptop bags that we have shortlisted as ‘the best available on the market,’ it is also equally important to view the different types of laptop bags available for you to choose from. Following are the two most popular types of laptop bags available on the market today.
Top-Loader Bags: The most common laptop backpack design is the top-loader. It provides ample space for your machine to rest during your travels and costs little to nothing to maintain. However, it offers little security as anyone can open them, which can cause problems for users.
Zipper Bags: The second most common laptop backpack design is the zipper bag. As the name suggests, these bags use a zipper to seal the bag. Even though they offer next to nothing as far as security is concerned, people can invest in locks to increase their privacy. Moreover, zipper bags better protect your machine from unforeseeable circumstances such as rain as they allow almost no rainwater to seep inside.
Now that we have gone through the terminology of laptop bags as well as the key points to consider when buying one, it is time for us to look at the different bags available in the market. Every item on this list has been checked by at least one member of our team so that the reviews below are based on facts and personal opinions, rather than hearsay. We have shortlisted some laptop bags that, while being cheap, don’t compromise on style and quality. The following is a list of our favorite laptop bags currently available on the market.
1. Incase Icon Review
Among the many laptop bags on this list, the Incase Icon is easily our favorite. The best thing about the Incase Icon is that it is perfect for business and casual dress code environments. This means that the Incase Icon neither makes you look like a college kid late for his early morning class nor does it make you look like an arrogant stockbroker. The style of the Incase Icon is exquisite.
Scoring high on style points does not mean that the Incase Icon fares poorly when the criterion of judgment is quality. Its large pockets ensure that there is always enough room for you to store your laptop as well as it accessories like a charging cable, a pair of headphones, an external USB keyboard or mouse, and possible even a laptop cooling pad. Moreover, the ergonomic features of the Incase Icon make sure that you can wear the backpack for longer periods of time without straining your muscles.
Even though Incase is better known for its cheap yet reliable iPhone covers, it is certainly not a one-trick pony as evident from its wide selection of quality laptop bags. The best feature of the Incase Icon is its stability. This means that it can be used for a variety of purposes without compromising the safety and security of your laptop.
Unlike most of the laptop bags available in the market today, the Incase Icon has not compromised on quality or aesthetics. It looks sharp and is surprisingly well organized, which means that no bag can even compare to the cost effectiveness of the Incase Icon. Not only that, but it is extremely roomy as well. Users can store loads of items in the bag without breaking the straps or without the bag swelling up into a disfigured form. The many compartments and zippers of the Incase Icon allow you to not only store your laptop in the backpack but also your USB keyboard, a Bluetooth mouse, extra game controllers, the laptop’s power cord, gaming headphones, house and car keys, USB power station, SD card, and wallet, all at the same time and with plenty of room to spare.
On the other hand, the organization of the Incase Icon ensures that these items don’t become a jumbled mess and remain static in their designated slots. Its 21 different and designated compartments mean that everything has a proper place and can be retrieved from its slot, which can help you out considerably when you’re in a hurry.
By looking at our quick review of the Incase Icon, it is no surprise that it finds itself at the top of the list of the best laptop bags available in the market. The Incase Icon truly has it all: quality, style, reliability, durability, and cost effectiveness.
2. The North Face Pivoter Review
The second item on our list of the best laptop bags available for purchase is the North Face Pivoter Backpack. It is perfectly suited for people living in urban areas. Not only does it have enough space for you to keep your laptop, tablet, or eReader safe and secure, but it also provides sufficient space to store your notebooks, car keys, a change of clothes, shoes and boots, and a water bottle. The North Face Pivoter Backpack is, thus, the ideal choice for people who go to the gym on their way back from work. However, even though it may be a typical laptop and gym backpack, it does not mean that the North Face Pivoter Backpack looks out of place in a white collar environment. Its professional and sleek design makes it blend right in with your office environment and often helps you create a fashion statement.
While it may be the second rated item on our list of the best laptop bags available in the market, it does not mean that it is not as good as the Incase Icon. It provides users all the benefits that the Incase Icon does such as an integrated sleeve and well-organized and designated compartments for your laptop, peripherals, and essentials.
What separates the North Face Pivoter Backpack is that it has special models for men and women. The women’s North Face Pivoter Backpack is one of the most comfortable and stylish laptop bags in the market. However, this does not mean that the men’s North Face Pivoter Backpack model is uncomfortable or unstylish. Both of these models house a padded back support which enables quick stress relief and prevents the build-up of sweat on your back.
What we found truly astounding about the Pivoter was the fact that it offers great value for money. It is much more affordable than most of the items on this list. However, its low price does not mean that it is a substandard item. This fact is proven by North Face’s relentless confidence in its product, which has led it to offer a lifetime warranty on the Pivoter.
When discussing gym and laptop backpacks, one can’t help but address the elephant in the room i.e. the fact that sweaty gym attire should not come in contact with your laptop at any time. North Face knows this fact well and has come up with a design that gets around this problem with considerable ease. The Pivoter offers a special padded compartment right at the back end of the backpack which can be used to store your expensive laptop. On the other hand, your sweaty gym attire is kept in another compartment. This compartment is separated from the slot holding your laptop, so you can rest easy knowing that the moisture from your gym clothes will not wreck your machine. This gives gym enthusiasts a peace of mind and they can work out for longer periods of time without having to worry about their precious electronic goods.
3. Fjallraven Kanken Review
Often dubbed as the ultimate laptop backpack for hipsters, the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack is everything as advertised and much more. Not only is it affordable and reliable, but it is also aesthetically pleasing.
Even though the first Kanken laptop backpack was designed keeping the needs of schoolchildren in mind in Sweden in 1977, it has come a long, long way from its humble origins. The Fjallraven Kanken Laptop backpack offers an amazing build quality which easily makes it one of the best and most reliable laptop bags available for purchase.
These days when a laptop bag must be the jack of all trades, the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack fits the bill perfectly as it offers the essentials that people look for in a laptop backpack. This laptop bag has a certain youthful charm about it that is unparalleled by any other item on this list.
Another key selling feature of the Kanken Laptop Backpack is its incredible versatility. It can be used by people who need it for their office work and can also be used by teachers and young people who want their style to be their statement. Furthermore, it is available in six different color contrasts, so you can rest assured knowing that there is probably some design which complements your style.
What’s truly amazing about the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack is that it has a leather padded laptop compartment. This added feature is not just present for style as it serves another important function i.e. providing security and safety. Moreover, the Fjallraven Kanken can easily accommodate heavier loads as well without sacrificing its effectiveness.
What separates the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack from other items in the market is its remarkable Vinylon F construction. As everybody knows that Vinylon F is extremely water resistant and robust, it is the ideal choice for people who live in areas where it rains most of the time. Not only that, but the Vinylon F construction has made the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack very hard wearing. Fjallraven is so confident about the quality of its product that it offers a 2-year product warranty for this backpack and even claims that this item will last for ages.
Good looks aren’t the only thing in the arsenal of the Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack. What most people forget about when reviewing this awesome product is that it can accommodate laptops as big as 15 inches. Moreover, it has a designated laptop compartment which means that you can easily find your machine whenever you want and that it remains safe and secure during your travels. There are also many compartments where you can store other items such as keyboards, mice, controllers, headphones and the power cord of the laptop. There is also ample room for you to store office or school supplies such as notebooks and presentation slides.
The Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack is the perfect fusion of quality and style and is definitely something you should look into if you want to invest in a laptop bag that will last for years and never go out of style.
4. Thule Paramount Daypack Review
The next item on our list of the best laptop backpacks available in the market is the Thule Paramount Daypack. Thule is so confident about the quality of its product that it offers a 25-year warranty for it. This fact only underlines the durability and longevity of the Paramount Daypack, which is truly a thing of beauty.
Aesthetics aside, Thule’s Paramount Daypack is extremely tech-oriented. Its slot for laptops is one of the best in the market. It is fully padded and can be accessed without opening the main compartment of the bag. This saves time for people looking to access their laptops quickly. Not only that, but the padded laptop compartment can also accommodate laptops as large as 15.6 inches, which is much bigger than most of the items on the list.
This bag is marketed as the best bike laptop bags for bike commuters because it can be housed on a bike without losing its sleekness. Not only that, but the bag’s large compartments also provide you sufficient space to store other items such as a mouse, a keyboard, your laptop’s charger, your headphones, and even a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated during long commutes.
The Paramount Daypack is not just for hipsters as its professional design makes it feel right at home when being used in an office environment. It offers the best of both worlds and you should invest in this model if you want a laptop backpack that will last for ages.
5. 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 Review
The Tactical Rush 12 Backpack may seem like an absurd choice at first as not only is it expensive, but it also offers fewer pockets than most laptop bags available in the market today. However, believe us when we say that less is more. The reduced number of pockets means that everything about the Tactical Rush 12 Backpack is well organized. The laptop has more than 16 compartments which should be sufficient enough for most laptop users.
Laptop users can store their headphones, keyboards, mouse, and other peripherals in the bag, and wear it for long periods of time as its ergonomic design ensures comfort as well as style. This laptop backpack can hold laptops as big as 15 inches, which is ideal for people who have bigger laptops. Moreover, the various color contrasts of the Tactical Rush 12 Backpack mean that there is something here for everybody, so you are certain to find a color combination that you like. An added incentive of getting the Tactical Rush 12 Backpack is longevity and style.
6. Arcteryx Granville Review
The Arcteryx Granville Backpack is one of the best laptop bags available in the market today. Arcteryx is widely considered as one of the best outdoor brands in the world, even though it is quite expensive. However, unlike most expensive items available in the market these days, the Arcteryx Granville Backpack is not overpriced at all as this laptop bag offers great value for money.
The Granville Backpack can store laptops as big as 15 inches easily with plenty of room to spare for other accessories such as power cords, keyboards, and controllers. Moreover, it is available in 4 different colors, namely Marine, Biome, Bengal Copper, and Black. Thus, you are bound to find a color that you like. If you have some extra cash and want a quality product that will last for ages, the Arcteryx Granville Backpack is the laptop bag for you.
7. Incase Range Review
The second Incase item on this list, the Range Large Backpack is a thing of beauty. Although Incase is better known for its budget yet quality iPhone covers, the company makes amazing laptop bags as well. Unlike other laptop bags on this list, the Range Large Backpack is well suited for bike journeys as well. Users can store their laptops in the compartment and thus, carry it on long journeys. This does not mean that the Incase Range Large Backpack sticks out like a sore thumb in boardroom meetings, so you won’t have to worry about your style.
Moreover, the Incase Range Large Backpack is extremely comfortable to wear. Its ergonomic design ensures that people can wear this big backpack for extended periods of time without straining themselves. It is an inexpensive and quality item that you should definitely invest in if you want a product that is durable as well as stylish.
8. ASUS Republic of Gamers Nomad Review
This backpack is a mammoth of a laptop bag as it allows users to stash even their humongous 17-inch gaming laptops. Moreover, the numerous compartments of this bag enable the user to store all the accessories that they may need such as a gaming keyboard, a gaming mouse, expensive gaming headphones, a power cord and other items such as food, drinks, snacks, extra clothes, and extra controllers.
The ASUS Republic of Gamers Nomad Backpack is one of the best gaming laptop bags available on the market today. Users can even use this backpack for work-related activities such as taking it with themselves to board meetings and such, and not feel out of place because the stunning design of the ASUS Republic of Gamers Nomad Backpack is as professional as it is incredible.
9. Ogio Renegade RSS Review
The Ogio Renegade RSS Laptop Backpack is a popular choice for people who seek to find a lot of storage space in their laptop bags. The Ogio Renegade RSS can safely conceal laptops as large as 15-inch. What’s amazing about the Ogio Renegade is that it has a unique suspension compartment. This means that you can stash your laptop in this compartment and drop it from a considerable height, and there wouldn’t be even a single scratch on your machine.
There are many pockets on this design, which enable the user to store whatever they want. You can easily store important documents such as reports and assignments in designated compartments. Even though the Ogio Renegade is one of the most expensive laptop bags on this list, its astounding quality and incredible features make it one of the best laptop bags available in the market today.
10. Brenthaven MetroLite BPReview
The next laptop bag in our list of our favorite bags for laptops is the Brenthaven MetroLite BP Laptop and Ultrabook Backpack. The biggest selling feature of the Brenthaven Collins Backpack is its simplicity. A bag that has been designed with a minimalistic design, this laptop backpack is bound to capture the attention of anyone who looks at it.
Even though the exterior of this bag is jet black and dark, it can be found complemented by vivid orange accents if you want to make more of a statement. The manufacturers are so confident about the quality of the backpack that they have included a lifetime guarantee on the item. There are also many interior compartments where you can store your other laptop accessories like headphones and a power cable.
11. Filson Padded Laptop Bag/BriefcaseReview
The Filson Padded Laptop Bag looks more like a briefcase than a typical laptop backpack. The biggest selling point of this laptop bag is its durability. Moreover, the Filson Padded Laptop Bag is weather repellant, a fact that has only added to its longevity. This laptop backpack is padded with leather, which makes the entire design very aesthetically pleasing and visually attractive.
Furthermore, users can adjust the shoulder strap according to their height so that people of every shape and size can enjoy this bag without having to compromise on anything. The Filson Padded Laptop Backpack enables the users to take whatever they want or need on their travels, which makes it a popular choice among people who need their computer with them on the go like travel bloggers and stockbrokers.
12. AmazonBasics 15.6-Inch Laptop and Tablet BagReview
AmazonBasics is Amazon’s equivalent of a brand store. As its name suggest, AmazonBasics provides all the basic things that you may need in your day-to-day life, which is why it also has its own laptop bag. The AmazonBasics Laptop Bag is a high-end accessory that takes minimalistic design to a whole new level.
Its large and padded interior provides you with extra space to store your tablet or laptop. Even though the quality of the product could be better, the affordable price range and longevity of the backpack more than make up for it. The AmazonBasics Laptop Bag is available for laptops as big as 17 inches, so you can easily store your laptop in it. Because this bag is so cheap, it is a great option for kids.
13. Ice Red AVA Review
The Ice Red AVA Laptop Backpack is the ultimate laptop bag for women. Not only is it very stylish, but it also offers the high-end features that one needs from a laptop bag. The manufacturers have opted for a nylon material and are so confident of the quality of the material used that they offer a guarantee for its quality.
Keeping in mind that different colors appeal to different people, the AVA Laptop Backpack is available in four colors, namely red, yellow, blue, and jet black. This laptop backpack is available for 10 to 15-inch laptops so that most users don’t miss out. Its vibrant colors, large laptop compartment, and exquisite quality have made it one of the best laptop bags available for women.