The best laptop bag is one that’s comfortable, durable, and has enough storage space for all your devices and daily needs. Most come with various pockets, allowing you to fit a laptop and a notebook, battery pack, pens, water bottles, and cables. For those who travel a lot, there are also rolling laptop bags. For most people, the Incase ICON Backpack is a great overall pick. It’s durable, has comfortable straps, and plenty of pockets for storing your essentials. Our experts tested products from Incase, Solo, and more to find the best laptop bags for you. Here are our picks. The ICON looks good even when it’s packed to the brim. Its frame maintains its structure no matter how much gear you’re carrying. But, if you’re looking for a collapsible bag, the ICON may not be the right pick for you. On the other hand, the backpack’s structural integrity further supports its ability to carry around your school or work necessities. Thanks to its heavy 840D ballistic nylon material, the ICON can withstand a laptop bag’s typical wear and tear. Unfortunately, it’s missing a water bottle compartment, but Incase didn’t disregard folks on the go. The bag’s first side pocket incorporates an opening to run a cable through while it’s zipped to store a portable charger or music device and connect to your phone. Material: 840D nylon | Compatibility: Devices up to 15 inches The Duane is polyester, so it’s not the most water-resistant bag on the planet. Nevertheless, it doesn’t skimp on protection, so your prized possessions are safe. It includes a padded pocket offering 360 degrees of protection for a laptop up to 15 inches. It also provides enough storage for your day-to-day and maybe even short weekend trips. In addition to a padded pouch for your laptop, the Duane has a secondary compartment for a tablet and front zipper pockets for your smartphone, chargers, and smaller gadgets. Though there’s not much additional storage space, what’s available helps the Duane maintain its profile as a briefcase or backpack. Material: Polyester | Compatibility: Devices up to 15 inches The Flatiron is made from a ballistic polyester material, so your precious computer is protected from harm. Although polyester isn’t as eye-catching or beautiful as leather, it’s durable and easier on your pockets. Solo designed the Flatiron with business travelers in mind. It has a front zippered pocket and a front zip-down organizer for additional storage. It also includes a rear ride-along feature for easy connection to a suitcase for consolidated travel. But Solo’s “clamshell checkfast design” is the Flatiron’s real claim to fame. The company says this bag makes traveling for business easier since the design helps you pass through airport security faster than usual. Material: Polyester | Compatibility: Devices up to 16 inches Internally, the Pro Slim offers many different compartments, including a crush-proof AC adapter garage and a zippered water bottle pocket. The interior compartment is padded and fits computers up to 15 inches in size. You can also remove that padding to accommodate a larger laptop of up to 17 inches. The Pro Slim houses a top-loaded tablet pocket with fleece lining for automatic glass cleaning. The pocket fits tablets up to 11.5 inches in height and 8.1 inches in width. If you’re going for a professional look, you can convert the backpack into a briefcase using the bag’s top handle. If you don’t want to carry around your Pro Slim at the airport, there’s a horizontal luggage pass-thru panel for easy hookup to a piece of luggage for easier transport. Material: Polyester | Compatibility: Devices up to 17 inches The fabric is made from eco-friendly, water-repellent nylon, which protects your bag against accidental spills. To ensure maximum protection, Mancro equipped the bag with durable metal zippers and a theft-proof combination lock. Unlike most laptop bags on this list, it’s available in seven different colors. Inside, you’ll find three main compartments, nine smaller pockets, and two sealed sleeves for your tablet or laptop up to 15 inches. Mancro also included a handy USB cable built-in. If you need to charge your phone on the go, you can easily access a portable battery pack. No matter what you decide to carry in the Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack, you’ll be comfortable as the bag features reinforced padded shoulder straps to alleviate strain. Material: Nylon | Compatibility: Devices up to 15 inches Internally, a protective slip pocket with a soft interior lining secures your tablet or laptop. A laptop up to 13 inches can fit comfortably in this sleeve. Ultimately, the Daypack’s top-loading compartment, which results from uncurling the roll-top, is a big-time saver. It doesn’t require going through the main cavity, so you have quick access to your laptop. Beyond the ultra-protective laptop and tablet protective sleeve, the Daypack offers a slew of small sleeves and pouches, all totaling 24 liters of space. Specifically, two mini zipped storage compartments, two sleeves, a zip pouch (ideal for sunglasses), and a front pocket (perfect for storing cables and the rest of your day-to-day gadgets). The Daypack’s ergonomics make it comfortable to carry around your valuables. Thule also carefully designed the bag’s back panel and mesh shoulder straps to make it breathable and comfortable. Material: 420D nylon | Compatibility: Devices up to 13 inches The 20L comes with a top-mounted slip pocket, a key tether, a side-oriented water bottle, tripod slots, a ton of little odds-and-ends compartments, and a MagLatch system to open the bag quickly. Peak Design created the 20L with Hypalon-reinforced and bar-tacked stress points in addition to a cotton-twill interior for a longer-lasting, more durable build. The well-constructed bag maintains a lot of storage while still looking sleek. In terms of looks, you can decide between three different color options: gray, tan, and black. All of these premium features come at a cost. Material: 400D nylon canvas | Compatibility: Devices up to 16 inches; one full-frame DSLR camera body and three to four lenses The material is splash-proof, lightweight nylon fabric, and it has a soft leather handle and a comfortable shoulder strap for easy portability. If your job or lifestyle involves a decent amount of commuting or traveling with your belongings in tow, the Taygeer briefcase makes for a reliable companion. There’s plenty of storage space inside the Taygeer briefcase with several functional compartments, including a dedicated padded laptop sleeve capable of fitting devices up to 17 inches. If you require even more storage, it also features an expandable zipper that adds an extra 1.2 inches of room to the bottom layer of the briefcase. Material: Nylon | Compatibility: Devices up to 17.3 inches
Durability
Padding and external materials determine laptop bag durability. Most laptop bags have added padding for extra protection, but it adds to the bag’s bulkiness, which can be a drawback if you’re looking for something easy to carry. Some models have removable padding to accommodate larger computers. Concerning material, some people prefer polymer, but it doesn’t fare so well in a rainstorm; nylon is typically a tougher material.
Storage/Pockets
Pockets and storage space are key to keeping your laptop bag organized. Some bags have pockets dedicated to chargers, cables, and water bottles. Although these thoughtful pockets are convenient, they increase the bulkiness. If you want a more streamlined style, opt for something simpler. If you decide on a simpler laptop bag, a built-in organizer can help handle loose items like charging cables and pens.
About Our Trusted Experts
Nicky LaMarco has over 15 years of experience writing about web hosting, antivirus software, backup software, and other technology for publications like Tech Republic and Web Hosting Sun. Will Harrison is a writer who specializes in gaming. His work has also appeared in the Toledo Blade, the Austin American-Statesman, Polygon, Thrillist, and more.
