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The right backpack keeps everything exactly where it belongs, blending comfort so seamlessly that you barely notice it's there.
Our gear experts have been buying and testing backpacks for over a decade (since 2010!) and have worn and assessed hundreds of packs. A pack to carry your things is a key to many of life's greatest adventures, and we put each of these backpacks through the wringer in all of the same ways you would — school, work, travel, hiking, and beyond — to help you find the right pack for your needs.
Our favorite everyday backpack is the Osprey Nebula 32. It's got lots of organizational pockets, a clamshell-style laptop compartment, and a great suspension system for handling heavy loads.
If you're in the market for a carry-on travel pack, check out the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L. It's a protective pack that can carry heavy loads well and features compression straps to cinch it down (or attach an additional daypack).
Those seeking a simple daypack for use on the trail might like the lightweight REI Co-op Flash 22, which is an affordable minimalist pack.
Editor's Note: Our guide to the best backpacks was updated on March 13, 2025, to make our award section more helpful with personal anecdotes from our testers.
Volume: 32 L | Electronic Storage: 17" laptop compartment with sleeve
REASONS TO BUY
Flexible multi-use design
TSA-approved laptop compartment
Top-tier suspension system
Hydration bladder port
Bike light loop
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Modern yet outdoorsy style
The Osprey Nebula 32 delivers a sleek, supportive fit and a host of practical features, effortlessly transitioning from school or work to weekend adventures. Known for backcountry innovation, Osprey also claimed top marks among our favorite school backpacks. This versatile daypack combines lightweight durability and outdoor-grade support with a compact, travel-savvy design. Students get ample storage and smart pockets, while the TSA-approved clamshell compartment shines for laptop access in class or at the airport. One tester noted, “I love how it handles my daily grind and still feels ready for a spontaneous trip.”
Our Sample Kit fit inside the Osprey with room to spare.
The Nebula safeguards your shoulders, back, and gear with a robust suspension system offering structure, padding, and all-day comfort. Its water-resistant 420D nylon exterior and Atilon frame with thick foam excel from daily use to weekend trails, biking, or markets. Swap your laptop for a hydration pack via the neck pass-through for tougher trips.
Few daily backpacks match the Nebula's comfort, protection, and versatility, making the Osprey Nebula 32 worth its cost. “It's my go-to for work and hikes—never lets me down,” says one tester. For tighter budgets, the Patagonia Refugio 26L offers similar perks at a lower price, while The North Face Jester trades some organization for solid comfort at a mid-range cost.
We tested the Nebula over many months, with multiple testers and a wide assortment of everyday items most people pack.
Volume: 30 L | Electronic Storage: 15" laptop sleeve
REASONS TO BUY
Large capacity
Feature heavy
Well-padded inside and out
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
No suspension
Questionable durability
The Volher Travel is an affordable, tech-savvy daypack that shines on commutes, at airports, or in class, earning a top spot among school backpacks we tested. It's versatile enough for gym trips or as a diaper bag. With 30 liters, cushioned padding, and smart pockets, it's loaded with features. “This is a backpack built for people on the go,” our reviewer stated. Its transit-ready design includes USB and headphone ports, a velcro-secured laptop sleeve, lockable zippers, a thick grab handle, and a back strap for suitcase attachment.
Cost-saving with the Volher can mean sacrificing strength and performance. Its ample padding lacks a robust suspension system, risking back and shoulder strain, especially with heavy loads settling low. Fit adjustments are limited, and durability raises concerns—reviews note weak stitching, fabric holes, and faulty parts; our bag arrived with a broken USB port. “It's a steal for the price, but I worry it won't last,” says tester Jamie L. Still, its design perks and low cost appeal to risk-takers. Compare it to the Matein Travel Laptop and Tzowla Travel Laptop for similar designs.
The high-value Volher Travel Backpack will hold everything you need for a busy day, and then some, and still stands upright like a champ when filled.
Volume: 20 L | Electronic Storage: 17" laptop & tablet
REASONS TO BUY
Large, padded pocket for laptop
Thickly cushioned back and shoulders
Robust construction and quality design
Waterproof bottom
REASONS TO AVOID
Skinny water bottle pocket
Not as deep as many
The Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe is our top laptop backpack pick for most. It features a dedicated padded rear pocket for a 17-inch (or smaller) laptop, plus a second padded sleeve in the main compartment. The cushioned back and straps ensure comfort under full loads and boost airflow to reduce sweat. “It's my go-to—keeps my laptop safe and my back happy,” says one tester. Water beads off most of the exterior, and a waterproof bottom guards against wet surfaces.
Our main gripe with this pack is its shallow depth—great for flat items like folders and notebooks, but limited for clothing. Its exterior pocket only fits a slim water bottle. Still, it's our top pick for premium laptop protection, perfect for most office workers. “It's sleek and keeps my gear safe,” says tester Laura T. We also love the Incase Icon for daily commutes for more organization and a higher investment.
Volume: 30 L | Electronic Storage: 16" laptop and small tablet
REASONS TO BUY
Good laptop capacity
Excellent organization
Stands up readily
Sturdy water bottle pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff back isn't great for biking
Water bottle holders are harder to use while wearing
The latest The North Face Recon won over our travel and commute testers with its strong performance and value. This 30-liter pack fits a 16-inch laptop and offers smart pockets for on-the-go organization. Padded back and straps, plus a longer torso, ensure all-day comfort. “It stands up anywhere—super handy,” says one reviewer. It stands upright for easy access and adds clever touches like reflective loops, a sternum whistle, and a water hose port, making it office- and adventure-ready.
The ergonomic back panel excels unless you bend forward on a bike, where the unpadded center digs into your spine. The third pocket is roomy but easy to overfill, crowding the main compartment's opening. Durable water bottle pockets feel stiff and require loading the bag to access. “It's solid, but those pockets can be a hassle,” one reviewer griped. For a smaller, cheaper alternative, we recommend The North Face Borealis, fitting a 15-inch laptop with a bungee cord replacing the mesh pocket.
Whether you are commuting to the office or the cowork space, or you are taking work on the road, the Recon is an easy choice to be sure there's plenty of room to pack up everything you may need.
Volume: 17 L | Electronic Storage: 15" laptop, second laptop, & tablet
REASONS TO BUY
Numerous compartments with great organization
Sturdy materials and structure
Distributes heavy loads effectively
Excellent protection of and access to electronics
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No cushion on the bottom
Lacks a bottle pocket
The Incase Icon takes another top spot in our laptop backpack review for its ability to protect and carry multiple devices. It boasts great organization and protection with three separate compartments for keeping all your large items organized. There's a laptop pocket, an embedded sleeve for a second laptop, and a separate pocket for a tablet. The total volume of this pack is 17 liters, and it features a wide array of auxiliary pockets for other work necessities. This pack excels at keeping all your tech well-organized.
For everything this pack has to offer, it is highly specialized and compartmentalized. It is meant for a lot of technology, and those who like to stuff everything into one main storage compartment might not love the multiple main compartments and variety of pockets. However, we think this is a great, versatile option for carrying all your gadgets and more. If you want to carry a lot of photography-specific gear, we love the Peak Design Everyday, that comes at a pretty penny but has all the best protection and organization for your camera equipment.
This beaut is ready for the coffee shop, work, or your next big meeting. Its versatile functionality is what we think makes a laptop backpack excellent.
Available Sizes: 30L, 46L, 65L | Pockets with Exterior Access: 5
REASONS TO BUY
Dual compression strap system to secure gear
Rugged design provides structure and support for packing
Easy access pockets and organization features
Comfortable carrying harness system
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
Doesn't lay flat when unzipped
Try the Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L for a travel backpack to replace your carry-on. Built to carry a week's worth of clothes and gear, it uses internal and external compression straps to shrink the 46L load. It's durable, 100% recycled ripstop nylon resists water and wear, shielding items from rough surfaces and rain. The comfy harness—supportive back panel, padded straps, and firm waist belt—distributes weight well. “It's a game-changer for staying mobile,” says one reviewer. A padded laptop sleeve with external zippers safeguards electronics.
The Sojourn Porter shines as a single travel bag, but it can get bulky when overpacked. “It got a bit bulky when I crammed it full of clothes,” our tester admitted. Stiff external compression straps add structure but stop it from lying flat when unzipped, making access more duffel-like than suitcase-like. Still, it's comfy for weekend or work trips, and it's ideal for mobile travelers. Alternatively, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L offers easy living with integrated packing cubes, mesh pockets, and a fully flat-opening design for organized access.
The Sojourn Porter is everything you want in a travel backpack: large storage volume, compression straps, bag attachment points, quick-access pockets, and comfortable to carry.
The REI Co-op Flash 22 excels in our daypack review for its value. Updated with new pockets and external lashing options, this lightweight, minimalist pack surprises with its comfort. A thin foam pad, side water bottle pockets, and an ice axe loop keep it simple yet effective. “I've even used this pack for running,” our tester remarked. “It bounces a bit, but its light build suits quick trail moves.” After a decade of use, the latest Flash sets the bar for affordable, featherweight daypacks.
The Flash 22's single-layer ultralight fabric sacrifices some comfort and durability, but its ripstop nylon holds up and patches easily. It struggles with heavy loads, though we don't expect more from a sub-one-pound pack. “It's light and cheap, but I feel the trade-off on longer hauls,” says one tester. Try the pricier Osprey Daylite Plus for added comfort and toughness. Both suit hiking, commuting, travel, or backpacking as a day pack, with various sizes and colors available.
The Osprey Talon 22 remains a top daypack, earning our lightweight favorite title in this year's daypack daypack review (with women testers raving about the Osprey Tempest 20). Its versatile, feature-packed design shines with a lightweight build that handles weight well. A robust suspension, flexible frame, and padded hip belt ensure comfort and stability on the move. The AirScape back panel boosts airflow to cut sweat. “It's perfect for any trail—keeps me cool and steady,” says one pack reviewer. It also offers a hydration sleeve, ice axe loop, pole holders, helmet system, and light attachment.
The Osprey Talon 22 isn't ideal for extra layers or bulk; for that, we suggest the REI Co-op Traverse 32, offering 50% more storage and better comfort with a modest weight bump. The Talon excels for light, fast day trips, moving seamlessly with you. “It's my pick for biking and quick hikes—super agile,” says another tester. It's tough to beat for day hiking, mountain biking, or commuting. For women, the affordable, comfy Decathlon Quechua shines on casual hikes.
The Osprey Talon 22 on a cold fall evening. This pack has enough room and lashing options to pack extra layers.
Credit: Jacob Clark
How We Test Backpacks
Over the years here at GearLab, we've tested more backpacks than we can count. We tested packs on the trails, on our bikes, at school, at the airport, during our daily commutes, at the crag… You name it, and we've been there. Additionally, we take empirical and quantitative measurements like volume, weight, and size to compare models side by side in each category. For example, we have purchased thousands of ping pong balls to measure volume: we don't just take the manufacturer's word for it as we find many companies measure volume differently.
For this review, we compiled test results from over 300 different models in total, all purchased at retail prices from many of the same popular merchants you likely shop at. You see more details of how we test in each of our backpack reviews. For example, see how we test travel backpacks.
Illustrating our GearLab testing method for determining volume by filling a pack with ping pong balls and then pouring them into our calibrated cylinder for measurement.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Why Trust GearLab
To lead the extensive testing for this review, we have four contributors well-versed in the world of backpacks. Myrha Colt lends her experience from a lifetime of travel. Having lived on 6 continents, working, playing, and studying, Myrha knows the value of being prepared for whatever the day brings and rarely leaves home without a backpack. She leads our school backpack testing and offers valuable insights into testing for other types of packs as well. Sam Schild is an avid backpacker with close to 10,000 miles of backpacking experience. His list of completed big trails includes the Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Colorado Trail. When he's not out on a backpacking trip, you can find him mountain biking or trail running in Colorado's Front Range or bikepacking somewhere in the American Southwest. He uses a backpack to carry all the essential gear on all his adventures. Hale Milano has lived life on the road as both a weekend warrior, global traveler, and weekday business traveler. He's logged hours in airports, trains, and other types of travel carrying gear on his back in everything from a satchel to a 100-liter duffel bag, to dedicated hiking backpacks and specialized travel backpacks. Ben Applebaum-Back is an outdoor guide and student and has used backpacks for everything from daily school and work commutes to thru-hiking trails in northern New England. In addition to these four, our team includes a host of experts who use different styles of backpacks for international travel, backpacking trips, and during their day-to-day commutes; each one maintains an eye for meticulous evaluation when putting these bags to the test.
The Talon's back panel is very comfortable while riding and didn't impact our riding position or range of motion.
Taking three of our favorite options out for a stroll. From left, the Osprey Flapjack, followed by the Burton Tinder, and last but not least, the North Face Borealis.
We've tested all kinds of backpacks in all kinds of situations and environments.
Our teams tested and rated all these backpacks for different qualities depending on the pack type and its intended use. We tested for durability, comfort, weight, features, volume, ease of use, water resistance, style, accessibility, and more. We packed and unpacked them all. We hiked, biked, and went through airport security with them. We loaded up our precious laptops and tablets in them. In short, we put all these backpacks through the wringer to find the best of the best.
What Type of Backpack Is Best For You?
Picking the right backpack matters for your needs. It should handle heavy gear, fit comfortably, and organize long-wear essentials. While backpacks can overlap in use, the best design ensures quick access, weather protection, or comfort on hikes. We'll guide you through pack types to match your priorities.
Where Do You Want Your Pack To Go?
Know your plans before picking a backpack. A work or school pack differs in size and shape from a travel or backpacking one. For hiking, choose small for quick day trips or larger for multi-day treks—or just a hydration pack for basics. The right pack boosts comfort and ease for hikes, commutes, or travel.
Water and weather protection is a key feature to look at in any bag. A backpack should keep your belongings safe, snug, and dry no matter how you plan to use them.
Credit: Hale Milano
Travel Backpacks
Travel backpacks suit planes, trains, buses, and cars. Our top travel backpacks feature a spacious, accessible main compartment, ample pockets for gear organization, and versatile carrying options like removable straps, slings, and padded handles.
These packs will usually have minimal external features, so they can easily be stuffed into overhead bins, car trunks, or other tight spaces. They are typically moderate in size — somewhere between the size of a daypack and a large backpacking backpack — in order to meet airline carry on size requirements and to maintain a comfortable carrying weight. Our favorite models have great internal organization features, protective electronics pockets, and comfortable harness systems.
Travel backpacks are great for getting all your luggage to wherever you're headed next.
Credit: Hayley Thomas
Laptop Backpacks
Laptop backpacks are typically small to moderate in size and have specific design features meant to carry a laptop and other electronic devices. They usually have a well-padded internal sleeve or multiple sleeves to protect your laptop or tablet. They might have specially designed compartments for things like extra battery packs or charging cords. Because these bags carry delicate cargo, protection is one of the most important and heavily weighted factors we consider in our testing.
Most laptop bags have a more sleek and stylish look that fits into an office or urban setting. However, there is a wide range of options available today, and you can find some that look more sporty, techy, or minimalist. Laptop bags are a great option for protecting your valuable electronic equipment, and many have enough extra space for things like textbooks, lunches, gym clothes, a compact umbrella, and other essentials to complete your commute to work or school.
A great laptop bag can be hard to find, but is invaluable in protecting your electronics while you're on the move.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Daypacks
A great daypack usually has a fairly simple and versatile design that makes it ideal for any type of day trip. Those day trips can be on a hike, a bike ride, or even just a stroll around the city. Depending on your intended use, may value different specs in your daypack, but in general, the bags on your shortlist should be comfortable, versatile, and easy to use.
Daypacks balance size—big enough for snacks, layers, a first aid kit, and more, yet small enough to avoid excess bulk. Ideal for commuters with dual water bottle pockets (coffee and water) and space for essentials. Hiking models add technical perks like hydration sleeves, hip belt pockets, and straps for helmets, poles, ice axes, or skis.
Daypacks fit everything you could need for a day in the mountains or around town.
Credit: Scott Ring
The North Face Recon (right) easily fits a travel pillow and a large scarf into its external stretchy mesh pocket.
There's some reference to Goldilocks in this photo of the Osprey Mutant 38 (left) and 52.
Going for an evening stroll with the North Face Borealis Sling.
We've tested dozens of kinds of bags for all different types of trips from around home to up the mountain to across the globe.
Our sling bag review also features fanny packs. Sling bags can provide a great place to store water, snacks, and your wallet, keys, and phone, but stay off your shoulders and back to reduce strain.
Bike commuters who want to reduce strain on their back, neck, and shoulders while riding can also use bike panniers that clip onto your bike rack. Some models even convert to backpacks.
Women's Backpacks
Many hiking daypacks and backpacking packs come in women's specific sizing, too. Although many women can and do comfortably wear men's or unisex models, women's packs are usually sized to more closely fit women's anatomy. This means a women's pack usually has a shorter torso length, narrower-set shoulder straps, and a wider hip belt.
How to Pick the Best Backpack for You
Once you've figured out the backpack style that best suits your needs, looking at the specific design features of different individual models will help you narrow down the field considerably.
Pack Size: Storage Volume and Weight
Choosing the right pack size depends on what kind of gear you need to carry and for how long you need to carry it. A bigger pack will obviously be able to hold more gear than a smaller one, but it will almost always weigh more than a smaller pack. This might not be so important if you're just carrying your pack on the bus or to the office, but it becomes more critical if you're hauling gear for longer distances or time periods — like around town for a full day, on a long hike, or on a multi-day backpacking trip.
Smaller and lighter packs usually have more minimalist features for supporting heavier loads and tend to get uncomfortable more quickly once you load them near their full capacity. Conversely, heavier packs with more robust suspension systems might feel awkward if they're only minimally loaded but will feel more balanced and comfortable when loaded with an appropriate weight that utilizes the hip belt and suspension system.
General Sizing Guidelines
Depending on your intended use, most packs will fall into these general size ranges:
5 liters to 20 liters: Most hydration packs and smaller daypacks; ideal for fast and light outings of a few hours.
15 liters to 30 liters: Most daypacks, school bags, and laptop backpacks; ideal for a full day's worth of gear for work, school, hiking, or around town.
30 liters to 45 liters: Larger daypacks, most travel backpacks, and smaller technical hiking and climbing packs; ideal for an overnight or weekend outing.
45 liters to 60 liters: Larger technical hiking and climbing packs and smaller backpacking packs; ideal for 2-4 day outings.
If you're looking for a versatile, softshell, briefcase-style travel pack, look no further than the Patagonia MLC, which at 45 liters in size, is the ideal travel and carry-on size.
Credit: Hayley Thomas
Comfort and Fit
All backpacks have shoulder straps and a back panel. What sets different packs apart from one another in terms of comfort and fit is a suspension system is what distributes the weight of the pack between your shoulders and hips. If a pack has no suspension, then all of its weight will rest squarely on your shoulders. This is okay for lightweight loads, but for heavier loads, it will be a pain in the shoulders.
The most comfortable and supportive suspension systems include an internal frame that supports the weight of the pack, a padded hip belt that transfers the load to your hips, shoulder straps that comfortably help balance the load, load lifter straps that help adjust how the pack sits on your back, and a supportive and ventilated back panel. Together, these pieces make for a comfortable pack capable of carrying heavier loads more efficiently.
A pack's hip belt is just as important as the shoulder straps. Generally speaking, the more cushioned a hip belt is, the more comfortable it will be. A hip belt should also be wide enough to not dig into your hips or stomach. But, if a hip belt is too wide that can also cause discomfort. Hip belt comfort is very dependent on body type. So, it's best to try a few different packs to figure out what works best for your body.
A pack's hip belt is important for comfort, but not everyone finds the same qualities in a hip belt comfortable.
Credit: Jeff Mogavero
Lastly, a pack's back panel is what rests on your back. Not all back panels are created equally. A good back panel will have enough cushion to rest comfortably on your body. Our favorite back panels are made with some sort of mesh material to allow air to flow between the pack and your body. We've all had a sweaty back from wearing a backpack on a hot day; this mesh helps with that.
The trampoline-style mesh back panel of the Gregory Optic 58 does a good job of letting out moist warm air from behind your back.
Credit: Elizabeth Paashaus
Other Pack Features
It's important to look for a pack that has the features that you need and doesn't have a bunch of extras that you don't need. Don't just buy a pack with a lot of features because it has a lot of features. Buy a pack with the specific features you need. These extras are usually simple in design but have a specific intended use.
The convenient top zipper pocket is a handy spot to stash snacks, keys, wallets, or phones for easy access.
The hip belt pockets on the Endo 15 are useful for keeping small items easily accessible.
Knowing what you will bring helps you figure out what volume and organizational features are right for you.
If you plan to regularly carry a laptop in your backpack, then be sure it has a protective pocket or sleeve for a laptop. If you need to carry multiple drink bottles, get a bag with big, functional water bottle pockets. If you want to quickly access a rain jacket or other layers without opening your pack, then get a pack with a big enough outside mesh pocket.
If you're using your pack for travel, get one with enough compartments to carry what you plan to travel with and keep that stuff organized. If you want a pack that carries a hydration bladder, be sure it has a designated sleeve for that. If you need to carry a sleeping pad on the outside of your pack, be sure it has straps and buckles for that.
If you're going traveling with a pack it's helpful to have a wide opening to see all your gear.
Credit: Hayley Thomas
Conclusion
This guide should help make your backpack-buying decision a little bit easier. Be realistic about your goals and needs. The aforementioned list of packs is the best of the best. So, choose the one that fits your needs the best from this list and get out there. Rest assured that we will keep buying, using, and reviewing the best backpacks in the industry to keep this list current.
—Myrha Colt, Sam Schild, Hale Milano, and Ben Applebaum-Bauch
