Best backpacks to protect your laptop

Laptop backpacks allow you to easily take your favorite device with you, and they also help keep your laptop safe from the elements and other forms of damage as well. Therefore, having one is an excellent idea, especially if you commute to work a lot or you're a university student who moves around campus frequently. Here's a list of our favorites.

All-around excellence

SwissGear Laptop Backpack

Staff pick

Between the four large compartments for accessories and up to a 17" laptop, the ballistic polyester exterior, a wealth of padding on the inside, and the attractive price, this backpack is excellent all-around.

$75 at Amazon $75 at SwissGear

Best spacious

TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack

This backpack from TIMBUK2 has a crazy amount of extra space for peripherals, making it perfect for those who have plenty of accessories for their laptop.

$129 at Amazon $129 at TIMBUK2

For frequent travelers

Thule Subterra Daypack 25L

Featuring durable nylon, oodles of padding, and plenty of space, this backpack is ideal for those who travel a lot and need something that can keep up. The SafeZone compartment keeps fragile peripherals safe and sound, too.

$119 at Amazon $130 at Thule

Best for gaming laptops

Razer Rogue

The Razer Rogue is made of water-, scratch-, and tear-resistant materials, and internally it also sports heavy padding. There's plenty of space to comfortably fit a laptop and peripherals, and the overall aesthetic goes perfectly with gaming devices.

$98 at Amazon $99 at Razer

Convertible option

Solo Duane Convertible Briefcase

This neat laptop case offers a solid amount of protection and extra space, and it can be carried as either a backpack or a briefcase thanks to its convertible nature.

$37 at Amazon $38 at Best Buy

Best for women

The North Face Recon Backpack

This backpack features ballistic nylon, solid padding, and plenty of space on the inside for up to a 15" laptop and more. It also is designed specifically to fit the female frame, making it an ideal pick for women.

$99 at Amazon $99 at The North Face

Best for active users

Osprey Radial 26 Daypack

The Osprey Radial 26 Daypack was built with physical activity in mind, as it has breathable materials and a special harness. It also has plenty of room for things like water and spare clothes alongside your device.

$161 at Amazon

Sleek style

Incase EO Travel Backpack

This backpack protects laptops up to 17" with its weather-resistant exterior and padded interior, and also features a sleek and stylish design that looks fantastic.

$145 at Amazon $122 at Green Time

Leather luxury

Tiding Leather Laptop Backpack

This genuine leather backpack from Tiding combines traditional style with modern functionality, comfortably fitting and protecting up to a 15" laptop and some peripherals as well.

$110 at Amazon

Best budget

Mancro Laptop Backpack

The Mancro Laptop Backpack isn't as protective or spacious as other options, but it's much more affordable as a result. It also includes a metal shackle and radio-frequency blocking that you can use to prevent theft.

$28 at Amazon $36 at Newegg

If we had to choose

All of these backpacks will be an excellent choice for your laptop, as all of them feature good protective qualities and a solid amount of space for extra items like accessories. However, if we had to pick just one, it would be the SwissGear Laptop Backpack. It offers the best balance of protectiveness, extra space, and pricing on the market, and when you consider how much value it brings to the table, it's easy to see why it's our top choice.

Folks who want something on the smaller size should opt for the Solo Duane Convertible Briefcase, as it protects your laptop well while not taking up too much space on your back. The fact that you can use it as either a backpack or a briefcase is really cool, too, since a backpack configuration won't always be ideal for every situation.

Finally, if you're looking for something stylish, we recommend the Tiding Leather Laptop Backpack. It's made out of quality, genuine leather that looks phenomenal, and there's plenty of space and padding on the inside of the backpack too.