Backpacks for college are perhaps the most sought-after as they come in various styles and sizes, each with their own features. Apart from helping you carry your things, the backpack should help prevent back and shoulder strain when around campuses for long periods of time. In this article, we discuss the 10 best backpacks for first-year college students in 2024 after testing and reviewing several models. Whether you are interested in a travel backpack for women, a sturdy everyday carry backpack, or a manifold one with compression packing cubes, this guide will help you make a decision.
Having the ideal blend of design and utility, the Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is an ideal pick for students. The stylish design helps the backpack hold a 15.6 inch laptop, a few thick text books and many of the other essentials when traveling. The backpack also contains a USB port that helps its owner charge their devices while on the move. The straps are also padded so that a lot of pressure is not exerted on the shoulders.
Key Features:
• Contains a USB charging port
• Material is water resistant
• Has several compartments for easy use
- Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack
So, if you seek the best travel backpack – look no more because the Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack is an excellent option. For a day at college or an overseas trip, this bag is made to be organized and comfortable. In their previous review, the authors of the article Maine’s Best Backpack: The Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack, rated it as very good for students who tend to travel. The padded harness system that is also adjustable, evenly distributes the weight, and multiple pockets, make sure that all of your gear stays in place.
Key Features:
• Harness system is adjustable
• Clamshell opening is user friendly for packing
• Is designed for up to a 17 inch laptop
- Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack
Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack is a durable yet stylish bag with a favorite design, perfect for the students who are always looking to turn heads. Quite possibly, the sleeve of this backpack is fully lined with fleece, which means your tech stays protected with enough room for instructor books or notebooks. This is also one of the best backpacks for high school and college students because of its design and the lightweight materials used to build the bag.
Key Features: • Padded laptop sleeve • Front pocket with key clip • Waterproof zippers
4. Osprey Daylite Plus Backpack The Ospreys Daylite Plus is one of best backpacking backpacks perfect for travel and college students. Thanks to its small size and lightweight design, the Osprey Daylite Plus makes backpacking or hiking an easier affair to students looking for a multifunctional bag. It has a padded back panel that offers a lot of comfort in those long walks through the campus. Key Features: • Hydration reservoir compatible • Ventilated back panel for comfort • Front pocket with mesh organizer
5. JanSport Right Pack Backpack Most loved by kids, JanSport Right Pack Backpack is famous for its toughness and classic looks. As a wonderful accessory to this pack, JanSport Right Pack Backpack features a suede leather bottom, large main pocket, and a protective laptop sleeve making the JanSport Right Pack Backpack one of the best backpacks for college in 2024. It offers an excellent solution to those in search for a good quality, simple and easy to use bag that is very sturdy.
Key Features:.
• Bottom material made of suede leather.
• Cushioned laptop sleeve.
• Available in different color options.
- Fjällräven Kånken Laptop Backpack.
Fjallraven Kanken is a very stylish but at the same time strong backpack. The square form is the most functional in terms of book storage, and there’s a laptop compartment for added device protection. This one is particularly loved by teens who want to look good but don’t compromise on the performance of their backpacks so it’s one of the best backpacks for high school and college students who have been tested on and loved this style.
Key Features:
• A great example of Scandinavian design.
• Made with strong materials and resistant to water.
• Padded shoulder straps for comfort.
- SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart Backpack.
The SwissGear 1900 ScanSmart is perfect for the tech-savvy students. A great selling point of this backpack is its TSA friendly design making it even easier for those who travel on a regular basis. Has the capacity to hold a 17-inch laptop comfortably and has several organizing compartments. This bag is also suited for college students looking for a bag that can accommodate many devices.
Key Features:
• A compartment to fit TSA requirements.
• A waterproof cover.
• A few pockets to organize your items.
- North Face Borealis Backpack
Coming to the North Face Borealis Backpack it has been a college students’ go backpack for the longest of time owing to its comfort and sturdiness. Thanks to its FlexVent suspension system support is at its maximum on long days. Furthermore, the large capacity makes it possible to carry books, a laptop, and even gym clothes all in a day. It is also one of the most effective backpacks for college students, tested and rated in 2024.
Key Features:
• FlexVent suspension system.
• Multiple compartments having large capacity.
• Water As well as Mesh pockets for the bottles.
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack
Now the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is without a doubt pricier, this one is a must-have as it does deliver excellent value primarily because of its outstanding design. This well-designed backpack could easily work for students who happen to be photographers or creatives thanks to its innovative design, modular internal dividers and extra protection for your gear. It’s also great for travel and for school making it one of the best backpacking backpacks.
Key Features:
• Internal dividers that can be adjusted to the user’s needs
• Will not be damaged regardless of the weather conditions
• The latch system has magnetic options that are super secure
- Vera Bradley Campus Backpack
If you are a student looking for style without sacrificing utility, the Vera Bradley Campus Backpack is a great option for you. This backpack’s manufacturers are known for the colorful patterns it has and providing this bag with enough volume and padded straps features makes it one of the best women’s travel backpacks. Moreover, it has a padded laptop sleeve and a number of other organizational pockets for small items.
Key Features:
• Cool colored patterns that appeal to the users’ eyes
• Padded laptop compartment
• Thick cushioned shoulder straps
Bonus: Best Packing Accessory – Compression Packing Cubes
During weekends or when you have school and are in need to travel home frequently, packing cubes compression is essential. The best compression packing cubes will enable the compression of clothes so that there is a lot of space used with the backpack in it. They are very useful to keep the surroundings tidy and clean.
Conclusion
A useful backpack for college can make an experience more enjoyable as it helps in bringing all important items in comfort and style without creating disorganization. It does not matter if you are for a travel backpack for women or other best backpacks for college students, below is a collection that caters for all needs. For people travelling too much, Tortuga Outbreaker and Osprey Daylite Plus may work very well, on the other hand, it is reasonable to assume that many clients prefer the style of Herschel Pop Quiz or Vera Bradley Campus Backpack. With a good investment in a backpack, the college life and the life after college becomes easy and adventurous.