The best laptop backpacks do much more than allow you to transport precious cargo without worrying about knocks and bumps. From expansive extra pockets for cables, tablets, and accessories, to everyday quality of life features like anti-theft measures and lightweight materials there's plenty to consider when taking your machine on the road. Add comfort and the need for a supportive back and strap system, and it can be difficult to find the right laptop backpack for you.
That's where we come in. We've been hauling some of the best gaming laptops around for years now, entrusting these gadgets in the straps and padding of some of the best laptop backpacks as well. We've put this list of our top picks together based on the features they offer, as well as comfort and health measures and their overall value as well.
The quick list
Best overall
There's plenty of protection, spacious pockets, and a massive range of models designed for different sized rigs here.
Best cheap
The Matein Travel backpack is a perfect bargain go-to - especially considering its subtle design and additional USB charging and anti-theft features built in.
Best storage
Targus teamed up with SteelSeries for this multi-pocketed backpack. With plenty of space for all your tech this is a real long-haul monster.
Best for school
This is a simple but instantly recognizable backpack, but it's still a durable, low-weight option for school with a range of different designs and materials available.
Best premium
The super customizable and luxuriously finished Timbuk2 Division has a super padded laptop pocket and plenty of comfort features as well.
Most durable
If you need a rugged backpack to keep everything safe, the Lenovo Y is your best bet - a tough hard shell with fantastic interior padding.
The best laptop backpack overall
Razer is as close as you can get to a household name when it comes to gaming tech, and they have a range of bags to go with that hard-earned reputation. Of course, you don't need the best Razer laptop to take advantage of their laptop backpacks. One of their most recent efforts is the Rogue, a backpack that comes in a variety of sizes to suit your needs (there are models for carrying 13", 15", and 17" laptops).
Besides being rather handsome, the Rogue has everything you could want from the best laptop backpack: scratch-resistant padding, water resistance to keep your gear safe from the elements, a relatively affordable price, and plenty of space for all your kit. Basically, it strikes a good middle-ground between features and cost.
Because of a minimalist look "for an urban warrior", it's meant to have a tear-resistant exterior as well. Although we're not entirely sure what an 'urban warrior' is, it sounds cool. That makes this one perfect for everyday kicking about regardless of whether you're using it for uni, school, work, or travel.
The best cheap laptop backpack
Want a great all-rounder? This option from Matein isn't as showy or expensive as the competition, but considering how pricey laptop bags can be, that's a welcome feather in its cap. It's got storage for days, too - there's a ridiculous amount of pocket space on offer here.
For starters, three separate compartments allow you to keep all your gear organised. Laptops and tablets are stored in their own section at the back to protect them from whatever else you might be carrying, for example. What's more, these sections feature their own pouches for keeping accessories within easy reach. If you've ever hunted for pens or headphones that are rolling around somewhere at the bottom of your rucksack, that'll be good news.
This Matein backpack also has utility despite the lower price tag. Besides being water-resistant to keep your tech out of harm's way, it boasts a "hidden theft-proof pocket" and an external USB charging port on the side. In other words, it's a sensible choice no matter whether you're travelling to school or getting a boost of power while waiting at the airport.
The subtle design adds an element of safety as well; it doesn't scream "hey everyone, there's an expensive laptop in here." That makes this one of the best laptop backpacks if you're looking for an affordable, sturdy companion.
The best laptop backpack for storage space
If you're in it for the long haul and/or prefer being prepared for every possible eventuality (up to and including zombie apocalypse), the Targus SteelSeries Sniper bag will be your jam. A hefty 26L monster with pockets for days, it's got enough room to store everything you need other than the proverbial kitchen sink.
Seriously, you can fit all sorts in here; whether it's keyboards, controllers, hard drives, and mice to go with your laptop, this backpack has you covered. And while the usual ventilated back padding and strap padding are greatly appreciated in making travel more comfortable, the real bonus would be a hidden "ultra valuables" pocket squirreled away inside and out of sight.
The best laptop backpack for school
Those dreaded 'back to school' ads seem to get kicked out the door earlier each year, but an upside would be the sales that appear in their wake. And if you see this particular rucksack on offer, it's worth taking note.
The Herschel Heritage is arguably one of the best laptop backpacks for anyone heading to school, college, or university; besides being a slick-looking classic thanks to that synthetic leather diamond and trim, it's hard-wearing due to a canvas exterior. Even the zipper pulls go above and beyond thanks to a pebbled leather effect.
It doesn't disappoint when you open it up, either. That iconic striped lining is back with the Heritage, and there's plenty of room inside for everything you need. A pocket for 15-inch laptops will keep your precious tech safe, too.
The best luxury laptop backpack
The Timbuk2 Division is a fairly expensive laptop backpack, but its customization options, high build quality, and extra comfort padding makes it a must-see for anyone looking to invest a long-lasting solution. The official Timbuk2 site allows for a full personalization of everything from materials to color - we opted for a Pokeball aesthetic when let loose on the customization tool - but everything comes well stitched and highly durable.
The back panel offers four generous wads of padding, as well as nice thick straps to keep everything solid and comfortable. That was enough to see us through journeys of up to two or three hours with a full setup in tow, though a five hour cross-country trek did prove too much after a while. That said, there are plenty of ways to keep that comfort up, including the cross-body strap included as well.
There are three compartments to keep all your goodies safe here, and we were surprised to find space for so much kit. Transporting an Asus TUF Dash F15 laptop, Nintendo Switch, Audeze Maxwell headset, iPad Air, a separate set of Switch controllers, and all the cables and accessories that come with the above was easy and we even had room to spare. Most of your gadgets will sit in the main compartment, aided by separated internal pockets, while there's a slimmer laptop sleeve running along the back of the bag as well. It was a little disappointing to find that a backpack of this premium didn't offer a lockable zip on this back compartment, however.
Read more: Timbuk2 Division backpack review
The most durable laptop backpack
The main thing you need a gaming laptop bag to do is protect your tech. And while all of the entries on this list feature padding or EVA shells in one form or another, none can match the hardy Lenovo Y Armored Backpack for sheer, stubborn survivability. It's built to last; this bag boasts a weatherproof exoskeleton, and the gray matte finish makes for a hard-wearing exterior. This isn't just for Lenovo rigs either - if you've splashed out on an Alienware laptop, the hard-shell exterior and heavy durability will be put to particularly good use.
What's more, the rear inside pocket features padding that's basically soft red bubble-wrap. A "compression-molded back panel providing airflow ventilation" only makes this package more appealing, as do three distinct sections filled with pouches.
Which backpacks are best for laptops?
The best laptop backpacks are reinforced, particularly around the bottom and corners, and will offer a separate pocket for your computer at the back. You don't want your rig to be bouncing around in the main pocket, especially if you're carrying chargers, adapters, mice, and keyboards around with you as well. To avoid scratches, aim for a separate pocket, separated from the main compartment with a soft but rigid wall.
You'll also want to make sure your laptop backpack has some hefty straps on it. If you're going to be carrying a larger 17.3-inch machine (even cheap Alienware laptops are considerably heavy), for example, you'll need those straps to be well cushioned and offer a sturdy base across the full width of your shoulders.
Is your laptop safe in a backpack?
Even if you've splashed out on the best possible backpack for your laptop, it's still not going to be 100% safe. We'd recommend carrying a lock on your backpack itself, and picking up a laptop lock if you're going to be out and about with your machine.
When placing your laptop in your backpack, there are a number of things you can check to make sure no physical harm will come to it as well. Double check that there's nothing in between the keyboard and the display when you're closing the lid, and make sure your machine is fully shut down to ensure it doesn't heat up in your bag.
What should you keep in a laptop backpack?
There are a few things you can keep your laptop backpack stocked with to make sure your laptop is always ready to go. First up, chargers are essential, but adapters should be kept in a separate pocket to avoid any scratches or scuffs. After that, we'd recommend you keep some screen wipes or microfibre cloths to hand, as well as a mouse and a laptop lock.
We're rounding up all the best Alienware laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops for you to slot into your backapck. Of course, if you're still speccing out a price point, take a look at all the latest cheap gaming laptops - we're rounding up the best RTX 3050 laptop deals, RTX 3060 laptop deals and RTX 3070 laptops as well.
