The Best Laptop Backpacks

Having successfully redefined the wallet, the design team at Bellroy then set their sights on the backpack industry. From the use of cutting-edge recycled materials to the considered placement of pockets, Bellroy backpacks have quickly become the gold-standard for everyday carry.

The Melbourne brand's Classic Backpack Compact offers a slim design that helps you navigate crowded trains with ease, while still providing plenty of storage for all your work essentials. Alongside internal mesh pockets that are perfect for your chargers and cables, and a quick-access front pocket to keep your keys and phone close to hand, the Classic Backpack Compact also sports a dedicated sleeve for laptops up to 13". The laptop sleeve is padded, and holds your laptop securely against your back to keep it safe while you're on the move.

The Classic Backpack Compact's exterior features a durable, water-resistant woven fabric made from recycled materials, creating a sophisticated, hard-wearing finish that'll offer a bit of protection for your gear if the weather turns on you. That savvy material also helps deliver one of the lightest premium backpacks on the market, with the Classic Backpack Compact weighing only 500g, to keep you moving smoothly on your commute.

Key info

16L capacity – features 13" laptop sleeve – made with durable, water-resistant recycled fabric – 500g weight

If you're looking for some extra storage space, the Classic Backpack has a larger 20L capacity, while the Classic Backpack Plus boasts a roomy 24L to stash all your essentials.

Berlin-based brand Ucon Acrobatics designs backpacks with a striking, minimalist sense of style that stands out amongst the competition. Their modern silhouettes and functional builds make Ucon Acrobatics bags more versatile than most, so you can move from work to a shopping trip to a night out with an ease that most backpacks can't match.

Sleek and unobtrusive, the ultra-compact Hajo Backpack Mini's slim form won't pull focus, while still handily managing laptops up to 16". The Hajo features a dedicated laptop sleeve made from an upcycled neoprene, delivering shock-absorbing protection for your tech while reducing the demand for new materials. The rolltop closure makes it easy to load and unload your bag, while the quick-access zip on the side helps you get at your gear in an instant.

In fact, Ucon Acrobatics' backpacks make strong use of recycled materials right throughout their construction without compromising on quality. The vegan tech material used for the outer is smooth and stylish, with a waterproof finish to protect your tech. (The material is waterproof, but water can get in through the seams in heavy rain, so don't take your backpack swimming, ok?).

Key info

12L capacity – features 16" laptop sleeve – made with waterproof vegan tech material and recycled fabrics – 850g weight

For extra room, check out the Hajo Backpack Medium, which sports a 16L capacity – a third again the size of the Mini, while still keeping things slim.

Equally at home on your commute, in a cafe or as carry-on, the versatile Soft Touch Backpack from Moleskine is designed to help you move around in style.

From the smooth finish on its water-resistant outer to the savvy side pockets (perfect for stashing an umbrella or drink bottle), the Soft Touch Backpack is a stylish carry solution with beauty that's more than skin deep. Beneath its soft-touch shell, you'll find a padded laptop sleeve capable of safely storing devices up to 15", as well as a zip compartment that's perfect for stashing your keys, cables and other small essentials, and a roomy main compartment for everything else.

When you're ready to board your flight, the Soft Touch Backpack reveals an extra feature – a luggage strap that allows you to mount it on your suitcase handle, leaving you with one less thing to carry through a crowded airport.

Key info

14.5L capacity – features 15" laptop sleeve – made with a soft touch PU

A versatile variation on the usual formula, the Tokyo Totepack is a playful combination of a backpack and a tote bag, giving you extra ways to carry all your gear. The padded shoulder straps pack away flat into the Totepack when you're ready to switch into tote mode, with soft webbing grab handles to help carry your gear effortlessly.

Inside the surprisingly spacious Totepack, you'll find a padded laptop sleeve that suits devices up to 15", as well as internal pockets to keep drink bottles and umbrellas in place, a zip pocket for your smallest essentials, and a roomy main compartment for lunch, your book, and a spare jacket. The Totepack features a zip closure, so whether you're in backpack or tote mode, everything inside will stay right where it belongs.

Key info

20L capacity – features 15" laptop sleeve – made with durable, water-resistant recycled fabric and premium, eco-tanned leather – 850g weight

The Totepack was testing the limits of what could be called a backpack, but the Tokyo Work Bag is the odd one out here, in that it's not a backpack by any standard. Despite that, it's a strong option if you're looking for a laptop bag, and aren't locked into wearing it on your back.

A modern variation on the messenger bag, the Tokyo Work Bag's clever use of space is what earns it a place in this list. Sporting the same capacity as the Totepack, the Work Bag's landscape layout gives you easier access to all your gear, so you can make better use of every inch inside. The Work Bag can fit laptops up to 16" in its padded sleeve, and has a bevvy of internal pockets to help you keep everything where it belongs. It also features a side pocket that's perfect for keeping your drink bottle or umbrella in easy reach, so no matter what kind of water situation you're dealing with, you're well equipped to handle it.

When it comes to carry options, though, that's where the Tokyo Work Bag shines. You've got the soft webbing handles for a quick pick-up-and-go, or there's the padded shoulder strap if you want to keep your hands free. Then when you're heading to the airport for a conference (or just a weekend away), you can take advantage of the luggage pass-through to mount the Tokyo Work Bag on your suitcase handle, and get through check-in with one less thing to carry.

Key info

20L capacity – features 16" laptop sleeve – made with 100% recycled fabric and premium, eco-tanned leather – 880g weight

Still haven't found what you're looking for? Don't worry, this is just the beginning! Check out more of our beautiful backpack options, and you're bound to find the perfect fit for you.