These backpacks are here for a good time ~and~ a long time.
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We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Some may have been sent as samples, but all opinions and reviews are our own. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI - prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A waterproof Mancro backpack that will make traveling with your laptop way easier and comes with a LIFETIME warranty. The bag is made of eco-friendly nylon material. It also features a lock to keep your laptop safe from swipers and a USB port for charging on the go.
By the way, this backpack went through the rigorous ringer testing from none other than our Buzzfeed Reviews team. It earned one of the budget pick for the best laptop backpacks for any budget. You're welcome!
Promising review: "I got this backpack for my son last year. He's a college student and is often walking through the campus in the rain. His laptop has never gotten wet. After a full year, the backpack still looks perfectly new with no tears, frays, worn areas, or discoloration." -Calhounar
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and eight colors).
2. An Outdoor Products backpack that reviewers say will hold up so much and feel so comfortable for its wildly cheap price. The bookbag also comes with a lifetime warranty so basically, this pick could pay for itself over and over again.
Promising review: "This backpack is perfect for all my backpacking needs. I use it every day for work and personal items. It's sturdy and holds a lot of stuff (computer stuff, phone accessories, music stuff, pens, an extra battery, etc). I chose black to match all of my clothing and it doesn't show dirt easily. Additionally, the price is perfect. I purchased four backpacks that cost more but this one was the best and was 50% cheaper." -Mr.Vikk
Get it from Walmart for $9.88 (also available in blue).
3. A Speedo Large Teamster Backpack meant to help athletes carry their school necessities, activewear, sports equipment, and more!
The bag has an abrasion-resistant exterior shell, a removable dirt bag to keep wet items away from electronics and dry clothes, a raised 15-inch laptop sleeve, and a pull-out bleacher seat rest behind the laptop sleeve so you have a comfy, dry place to sit whenever you're at games or meets.
Promising review: "I have about 10 backpacks and this one is my favorite. At 35 liters, it's large enough to hold clothes, a towel, shower stuff, and my lunch. Still, it's light enough to still be reasonable to wear on a motorcycle and bicycle. The mesh pouches are great for wet stuff like a loofah and shower shoes. I think it's well made because I've been using it a few times a week for a year and so far see no signs of wear." -John
Get it from Amazon for $47.69+ (available in 30 colors).
4. A Fjällräven Kånken Water-Resistant Backpack that you can wear anywhere thanks to its stylish and functional design. The compact bag boasts a two-way zip closure, a rain flap, snappable top handles, adjustable backpack straps, exterior zip and slip-in pockets, and a removable foam insert to cushion your belongings inside ~or~ to use as a soft seat cushion when you're out and about.
Promising review: "I am not sure why I bought this since, at that time, I didn’t have a need for a backpack but I'm glad I did. First, I started using it for hikes which was really nice since it's light and also roomy. For a while, I would also use it as an overnight bag. Most recently, this backpack has replaced my purse... It’s cute, light, and so practical." -Luluscrolling
Get it from Nordstrom for $80 (available in 15 colors) or Urban Outfitters for $80 (available in nine colors).
5. An AmazonBasics Laptop Backpack to carry your whole life with four different zippable compartments, a padded sleeve for laptops and tablets, mesh side pockets, and smaller slip-in pockets for storing your keys or phone.
FYI: This is the backpack on the list that had the MOST reviews by people proclaiming that they've had it for more than two years and it's still in excellent shape.
Promising review: "I've had this backpack for almost four years now and it's been used almost every day. It's a very cheap, durable, and great quality product. No zippers have broken. No cloth has torn. There haven't even been any fuzzy cloth spots. This is the best budget backpack I have ever bought in my life. The only downside to this backpack is that I want a new one but have no real reason to buy one." -Chang
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
6. A monogrammed L.L. Bean backpack that I own and will forever proclaim to the world will last for at least a decade.
I own this backpack and you deserve this backstory: I've had and thoroughly used my L.L. Bean backpack for 13 years and it still basically looks brand new. My mom bought the L.L. Bean backpack for me for my first year of high school in 2006. It's been with me through high school, college, grad school, and now all the daily tasks and traveling I do as an adult-adult. There isn't one frayed strap or broken zipper on my bookbag after over a decade. I call it my other sibling because it's been with me for so long. Unbelievable story, right? Welp, believe it!
Get it from L.L. Bean for $39.99+ (available in eight colors).
7. A JanSport Big Student Backpack to help you carry everything around in neat, simple order. It features two large compartments designed to carry books, one water bottle pocket, and three front zipper pockets.
Promising review: "I'm a full-time college student who carries around really heavy textbooks among other things. I originally bought this on October 29, 2009, and finally, after five years and three months, need another one since the original is starting to break down. In my opinion, five years of throwing around the backpack, traveling to and from school on public transit, and carrying heavy items in the bag, I'd say I have had my money's worth... And trust me, it thoroughly got a beating. I'm one of those types of people that will travel with heavy textbooks, lay it anywhere, accidentally kick it, and etc. And it still lasted me a good 5 years. I just hope the new one I get lasts just as long or longer." -Jaxx B.
Get it from Amazon for $22.49.
8. The CA-UTEST pink kitty backpack and lunch bag set for grade school kids who plan to turn heads every time they touch down on the schoolyard and in the cafeteria.
Promising review: "These backpacks are a good size and very sturdy. The one she had last year (same style, different color) held up all year and parents were always asking us where we got it. We were happy to order another for this school year!" -Carol Anderson
Get it from Amazon for $27.90+ (available in two sizes, three colors, and with an option to buy a single backpack).
9. An Outdoor Products backpack specifically meant to carry you through outdoor and school activities. The backpack has ventilated construction meant to keep you from overheating during hikes. It's will also help you maintain good water intake since it's designed to hold a hydration reservoir.
Promising review: "I discovered this backpack three years ago and I love it. My kids have so much to carry at school that their backpacks would only last half the year. I found these on clearance one year and have never looked back. These work the entire year and they still have them. I buy a new one every year and they use the old ones for gym bags or to carry their electric devices when we travel. These are the best backpacks ever." -Stephylynn
Get them from Walmart: backpack for $20+ (available in three colors) and hydration reservoir for $11.99
10. An eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack that will come in extra handy if you travel often with different tech gadgets, particularly a camera. The bookbag has a separate laptop and tablet sleeve, slip-in and zippered pockets, stowable straps, and a pass-through sleeve that lets you slide it easily onto rolling luggage. It basically does everything but transport itself to your destination telepathically, OK?!
Promising review: "I've been using this bag every day for more than one year now. I still am as much in love with it as I was when I initially wrote this review. This is the longest period of time that I have ever used one bag as my everyday bag. I have been rough with this bag for a whole year and the bag is still in brand new condition except for the bite marks on one of the adjustment straps that my dog got to, which is no fault of the bag." -Steve
Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in four colors).
11. A padded North Face Borealis Backpack to help you carry ~all~ of the things while preventing your back and shoulders from wanting to curse you out.
The backpack has padding in its shoulder straps, hip straps, and on the back panel for comfort. There's also padding in the laptop sleeve portion to keep your most valuable device safe and sound. Additionally, the backpack has a main compartment, a secondary compartment, a water bottle insert pocket, a front stash pocket, a bungee storage system in the front, and a safety whistle. Translation: It's got pockets galore! Lots of reviewers noted that the backpack manages to hold a lot of stuff without feeling too heavy on their back and shoulders.
Promising review: "I am a freshman in college and I use this backpack for everything. In the big pocket, it fits two one-inch binders, about four folders, a five-subject notebook, my planner, and my laptop with still enough room on top to stuff my pen bag or a light jacket. In the organizer pocket, I put my portable battery, my laptop charger, and a few snacks with no problem. In the small pocket, I keep smaller things like my earbuds, phone cords, laptop mouse, and calculator. I also drop my phone in there during class. The straps on the front are great to tie a raincoat on those crazy weather days. Having the deepwater bottle pocket on both sides is great for when I’m walking around. I can have my water on one side pocket and my phone and wallet in the other. All in all, it’s a great pack. It’s really durable since I have a tendency to just drop stuff and it keeps my laptop safe. It's also easy to clean. Lastly, rainwater just slides right off. I wouldn’t recommend submerging it in water but just walking across campus in the rain would be okay and your stuff will stay dry." -Sara Brown
Get it from Amazon for $85.98+ (available in 31 styles).
12. A Wildkin backpack with cutesy cartoons to suit a toddler's style and construction to survive typical kiddie activity.
Multiple Amazon reviewers who are parents bought this bag for their children and noted that this backpack was solid enough to last throughout a single school year and well into the next.
Promising review: "I bought this for my 4-year-old for Pre-K. It is very durable and a great size. It can hold a few folders or composition notebooks and still have plenty of space for his naptime fleece throw blanket. I love the water bottle holder on the side. This backpack is perfect for kids attending Pre-K to maybe second grade. He has owned this for about eight months and there are no tears, holes, or zipper issues. It is in almost new condition and he will use the same backpack for his kindergarten school year." -Angel Mom
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 15 prints).
13. A stylish and waterproof Himawari bookbag that will look super cute with a variety of outfits yet survive daily use for school, work, or casual wear. The backpack is made of scratch-resistant nylon. It also has a double-closure zipper, two inner side pockets, two outer pockets, one front zippered pocket with a flap, and a laptop space in the inside.
Promising review: "I have had to buy four backpacks over this past year or so. I'm a college student and no backpack has measured up to my needs until now. This backpack is amazing! It's water-resistant and stays dry even in intense rain. It has SO MANY POCKETS which is amazing. The stitching is a wonderful quality. Honestly, this is the best backpack I've ever bought. I don't think I'll need to buy another one for a long time." -Catherine P.
Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in 30 colors).
14. A High Sierra Loop Backpack that reviewers say can be used for mountain climbing, school, catching flights, and commuting to work. It features a slew of pockets, a padded back panel and straps, non-slip shoulder pads for easy toting, and a side compartment for a water bottle.
Promising review: "This is the best backpack I've owned. I bought it in 2013. I've recommended it to so many friends that I figured I'd write a review to recommend it to strangers. I hike a lot and this backpack has been to more mountains, waterfalls, cliffs, boulders, and national parks than most of my friends. I rode down an inactive volcano on it once. The backpack has room inside it for my 3L Platypus Hydrating Bladder, another spare one, and a couple of snacks. I also fly several times a year and my backpack has been back and forth across this country, plus to a few others. My bag can be crammed while fully stuffed under an airplane seat. There is plenty of room inside of it to pack everything I need for a week-long business trip or a two-week vacation. For my classes, it comfortably holds all my books, has great interior pockets for organizing pens, pencils, sunblock, and notebooks. There are good exterior pockets for a water bottle, chapstick, and lotion. Despite all this use, it still looks nearly brand new, except the TSA broke one of the zippers off a year ago. It's amazing and I love it. I'd say I plan to use it until it wears out but it'll probably outlive me." -Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 33 colors).
15. A lined and water-resistant Vancropak backpack that will hold a 17-inch laptop, a water bottle, and loads of other school supplies.
Promising review: "I bought this backpack a little while back but I always hold off on reviewing products until I have thoroughly used them. I am so excited about this backpack because it’s perfect for me! I’m a college student and was looking for something that would be sturdy enough to hold my laptop and my books but also sleek in design and not too complicated. This is perfect and I can fit all my essentials easily. It is water-resistant so it keeps everything important, (like my camera and laptop) dry. This backpack also has a really cool charging feature where you can hook up a power bank to charge your phone or any other device you have that can be charged via USB. That's one of my favorite and most handy features of this backpack since I'm always on the go and I tend to use my phone a lot for life, school, and work. The backpack comes EXACTLY as pictured so if you’re wondering about if you’re getting the real deal, then have no fear because this seller won’t cheat you out of anything with this purchase." -Bv
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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