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These comfortable, stylish backpacks might actually make you look forward to your commute.
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We fully loaded them, carried them around the lab, and drop-tested them (repeatedly).
Weve noted this in our picks where relevant.
Our top choices cater to every throw in of commuter.
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After four months of regular use, the backpack’s zipper is beginning to fray.
We love how spacious and comfortable the Solo Re:Define backpack is.
Although it doesnt feel oversized, we found the capacity to be nearly bottomless.
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Even packed with daily commute necessities, theres room to spare.
The external water bottle pouches are surprisingly roomy, too, holding up to a 32-ounce bottle during testing.
Its a high-quality, durable, versatile choice for work or travel, making this backpack our overall winner.
The recycled polyester material is lightweight, and the bag is incredibly comfortable to wear.
It held up well during testing, showing no tears or scuffs even after rough handling.
Still, its one of the most stylish options we tested and functioned beautifully as a day bag.
The backpack can feel bulky on smaller-framed users.
The laptop sleeve is on the large side, so smaller computers may slide around in the bag.
We love thecleverly designed shoe compartmentin the spacious Matein Travel Backpack.
This bag is also one of the more spacious models we tested, with three large internal zipper compartments.
The bag itself is incredibly lightweight and has a high-quality look and feel.
It’s one of the more expensive options on this list.
The backpack also has a trolley sleeve.
We found this bag comfortable to carry thanks to adjustable straps and padding on the straps and back panel.
The material, made from recycled plastic bottles, looks and feels durable.
It also features a water-resistant coating that will further protect your things inside.
Although the price is pretty high for a backpack, we feel like it’s absolutely worth the price.
The bag doesnt offer external water bottle pockets.
Greatlaptop backpacksprovide top-notch laptop protection and supportive padding, which is why we recommend the Incase Icon Pack.
The bag has exceptionally thick padding on the back, the shoulder straps, and the laptop sleeve.
It also has a hidden back pocket for cash, cards, and other valuables.
But if your top priority is laptop protection and comfort, this backpack more than gets the job done.
There are limited pockets for organization inside.
If you bike to work, you want to verify your things stay protected from the elements.
The bag is also lightweight, weighing just 1.6 pounds on its own.
Its one of the tallest bags we tested and could easily overwhelm a smaller frame.
We love the waterproof construction and adjustable fit of the Kuhl Escape 25.
The main compartment unzips suitcase-style for easy packing, and the laptop compartment contains two well-padded equipment sleeves.
The tradeoff for all that space?
The laptop and tablet sleeves inside lack padding.
Although this bag has two slip pockets for a computer and tablet, neither of them is padded.
The bag could use more padding for laptops and fragile items.
This backpack is spacious and allowed us to fit our entire packing list with room to spare during testing.
Its light on internal organization, and the shoulder straps run long.
The straps run long, so smaller users may find the backpack sits low even on the tightest setting.
Overall its a worthwhile investment for a small commute bag that can easily transition to happy hour.
The bags shoulder straps and laptop compartment would benefit from more padding.
This bag has a huge capacity and a classic design.
The spacious main compartment lacks additional pockets but does contain a large laptop sleeve.
This classic bag is a solid option for carrying around campus.
The material has a stiff, firm feel even after a four-month break-in period.
We especially love the external front pocket for easy access to items like IDs and keys.
On the flip side, the bags stiff material helps protect the items inside.
It doesn’t have any locking zippers or slash-proof fabric.
The outside of the backpack also has a reflective print for extra visibility when it’s dark.
However, the internal construction didnt feel durable enough for daily commute wear and tear.
we liked in other models.
Monos Metro Backpack:This bags detachable front pouch and padded handles earned it high praise during testing.
The winners chosen here all performed exceptionally well in both lab and real world tests.
We will continue updating this article as we test even more backpacks that would work well for commuting.
Look for backpacks with multiple zippered compartments and pockets to keep your items organized.
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Also consider your daily needs as youre choosing features: do you always pack your own lunch?
Do you commute in sneakers and change shoes when you arrive?
Are you notorious for letting your phone die and having to charge on the go?
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Prioritize lunch compartments, shoe bags, or USB ports depending on your commuting habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a commuter backpack?
How big should a commuter backpack be?
Most standard commuter backpacks have a capacity of between 10 and 30 liters.
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