Laptop Backpacks

Why a backpack

A backpack carries a laptop with the weight on both shoulders, which is the comfortable way to take one on a long walk, a bike ride or a day of travel. These backpacks all have a padded laptop compartment, usually against your back, and room for a charger, books, a bottle and a change of clothes. They suit students, commuters and anyone travelling with a laptop, and many have a side pocket for a water bottle.

The kinds in this range

• Business and commuter backpacks have a neat, plain look and organiser pockets for pens, cards, cables and a phone.
• Travel backpacks are larger, from about 20 litres for a day out to big packs of over 50 litres, and some expand with an extra zip.
• Anti-theft backpacks are made to be hard to open while you are wearing them, and one has a lock for its zips.
• Backpacks with a USB port let you charge a phone from a power bank inside the bag.
• A two-compartment backpack keeps a 15.6-inch laptop and a 12-inch tablet in separate padded sections.

Most are made of nylon, polyester or Oxford fabric described as water resistant or waterproof. For bags made first and foremost to keep out the rain, see waterproof laptop bags.

Getting the fit right

Each backpack is sold by the largest laptop its compartment takes: most here take a 15.6-inch laptop, and several are made in a 17 or 17.3-inch size. Check your laptop is no bigger, and if it is close, measure it. A slim sleeve inside the compartment adds protection, if there is room. When you wear it, use both straps and tighten them so the bag sits close to your back, with the heavy things nearest you.

Questions people ask about laptop backpacks

Will my 16-inch laptop fit a 15.6-inch backpack?

Sometimes. A 16-inch laptop is usually about the same width but deeper. Choose a backpack that says it takes 16 or 17 inches, or measure the compartment.

Does the USB port charge my phone by itself?

No. The port connects through a cable inside to a power bank you put in the bag yourself. See laptop power banks.

Can I take a laptop backpack on a plane?

The laptop and any power bank go in the cabin, never in the hold. Cabin bag sizes differ by airline, so check yours before you fly.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Messenger and shoulder bags
• Waterproof laptop bags
• Children's laptop bags
• All laptop bags
• Laptop sleeves
• Tech pouches
• Guide: How to choose a laptop sleeve or bag: the UK buying guide
• Guide: Laptop backpacks, messenger bags and briefcases compared