The Best Work Backpacks, According to ‘Women’s Health’ Editors

For an affordable bag perfect for work and travel, this Amazon pick is your gal. I can’t even keep track of how many times I’ve seen this bag out in the wild (on the streets of NYC, the airport, the train) since I bought it on a whim over three years ago.

For starters, it has so much storage: There are two main compartments, separate sleeves for a 14-inch laptop and 13-inch tablet, a dedicated shoe compartment, and a water-resistant pocket for wet clothes or towels. (Gym-to-office people, this one’s for you.) The padded shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry, and the monochrome design doesn’t scream “I’m going on a backpacking trip.”

It has enough room for work essentials and a change of clothes, so I’ve used it for everything from my daily commute to weekend getaways. The separate compartments are especially handy when you’re trying to keep your sneakers away from your clean clothes or stop your laptop charger from getting tangled. It weighs about 2.2 pounds, so it’s not the lightest bag on this list, but the storage space you get is worth it.

And the real selling point? Mine has been going strong for more than three years with minimal wear and tear. Considering how much I’ve dragged it around NYC and how many airplane seats I’ve stuffed it under, that’s pretty impressive for an Amazon impulse buy. It doesn’t have the luxe materials or refined finish of a pricier work backpack, but it’s functional, roomy, and versatile enough to earn its keep well beyond the office. Plus, in a neutral color (like the beige option I chose), it doesn’t clash with any of my work outfits.

If you’re the kind of person who leaves the house with a laptop, a water bottle, a change of clothes, and approximately 47 other things, the lululemon Everywhere Backpack is for you. It has a roomy 22-liter capacity with tons of compartments to fit everything you need and then some. The durable, easy-to-clean nylon material makes it super practical, while the streamlined shape goes with everyday office wear, says associate editor Olivia Luppino.

Inside, there’s a padded laptop sleeve that fits devices up to 16 inches, plus a spacious main compartment for all your daily essentials (and extras). A front zippered pocket keeps smaller items within easy reach, while side pockets give you a spot for your water bottle. “It’s roomy enough for work necessities and a change of clothes for post-office plans or a workout,” says Luppino.

Even when it’s packed to the brim, the bag doesn’t skimp on comfort. The adjustable padded straps distribute weight evenly, and Luppino found it comfortable for walking around the city and commuting—especially compared to her heavy tote. One small gripe: The straps can be a little finicky to adjust, and at 22 liters, the bag might feel oversized if you tend to pack light.

If your backpack has been leaving your shoulders sore and achy by the time you get to the office, meet the Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack. Fitness & Reviews Editor Natascha Grief noticed a difference almost immediately, thanks to the strap design: “The straps are set closer together at the top so that they sit in a more comfortable place and then flare out, which eliminates the sore and achy shoulders I'd get from my previous backpack,” she says. The bag itself is lightweight, too, so you’re not adding unnecessary bulk before you’ve even packed your laptop. After more than a month of commuting with it, Grief found it durable and super easy to carry.

Don’t let its streamlined design fool you: the backpack holds a whopping 27 liters, including a separate exterior laptop compartment that fits a laptop up to 15 inches. That means you can pull out your laptop without unzipping the entire bag or excavating your lunch and notebook in front of officemates. There are also two zippered pockets, two interior slip pockets, and water bottle holders inside and out. Grief especially loved the flap pocket for stashing sunglasses, keys, and a phone within easy reach, while the discreet zippers add extra security.

Made from smooth polyester, the bag also has a clean look that works well with office clothes and travel fits. Its pass-through strap makes it easy to slide onto a rolling suitcase.

The Calpak Luka might just convert you into a backpack person. Just ask Associate Health and Fitness Editor Addison Aloian, who “used to think backpacks were kind of dorky to wear after high school,” but is now “totally obsessed” with her Calpak after making the switch from a work tote that had been contributing to her back pain.

The Luka is lightweight and made from Calpak’s signature puffy fabric, but it can hold a lot. Aloian regularly packs breakfast, lunch, coffee, a water bottle, workout clothes, and whatever else the day calls for, and somehow, it all fits. The magic? All the compartments.

There’s a dedicated padded laptop sleeve for devices up to 15 inches, plus multiple interior and exterior pockets to keep chargers, mints, hand sanitizer, keys, and other little essentials from becoming one giant jumble. A luggage sleeve makes it travel-friendly, with a hidden zippered pocket for valuables tucked inside. Basically, everything has a home, which is great news for anyone who’s ever had to dump an entire bag onto their desk just to find a lip balm.

One small heads-up: Aloian loved the pink color but notes that lighter shades can show dirt pretty quickly. The scratch-resistant exterior helps with everyday wear, but you may want to opt for a darker color if you’re tough on your bags.

July makes travel gear that looks great well beyond the airport. Beauty Editor Nicole Saunders loves its “sleek design” and “non-bulky appearance,” which makes sense: The 20-liter backpack has a structured shape with a smooth nylon-twill finish, leather-wrapped handle, and gunmetal hardware that feels more “office to drinks” than your average commuter pack. The lightly cushioned straps are comfortable, and Saunders says they don’t dig into her shoulders even when she overpacks.

There’s a padded laptop compartment that fits up to a 16-inch laptop, a smaller interior zippered pocket, a front-access pocket for things you want to grab quickly, and a side zip pocket that fits a water bottle or umbrella. The coolest travel feature by far is the “QuickPass” travel pocket—a hidden, magnetic compartment at the top of the bag for storing a passport or phone. It also has a luggage pass-through strap, so you can slide it right onto your suitcase handle when you’re racing through the airport. Saunders likes having the laptop sleeve and smaller compartments separate from the main 20-liter space, even when she travels light and doesn’t use every pocket.

It has plenty of room for a laptop, travel essentials, and your daily necessities, but it’s more of a medium-size carry than an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink situation. Saunders found it smaller than some of the other backpacks she tried and said it wouldn’t be her pick for weekend trips.

This briefcase-like silhouette sneakily packs a ton of stuff. Copy Group Director Marli Higa put it through an afternoon at the coffee shop with a laptop, two notebooks, two books, chargers, an umbrella, a flannel, two 20-ounce water bottles, and multiple pairs of glasses. Somehow, it all fit. The dual exterior bottle pockets are a big help, freeing up precious room inside, while the padded, fleece-lined laptop sleeve is basically a “comfort blankie” for your computer, she says.

There’s a main compartment with a zippered mesh sleeve, a front compartment with organizers and a key clip, plus a zippered front pocket for quick-access items. There’s even a hidden shoulder-strap pocket for wireless earbuds. Despite all those options, Higa says it has “the exact right amount of internal organization,” meaning you won’t spend five minutes digging around for your keys—or wondering which pocket you put them in.

Then came the real test: an 11-hour flight. The Kaslo worked as an under-seat carry-on, leaving enough room for Higa’s feet while still holding her lunch, headphones, neck pillow, sweatshirt, and a last-minute airport gift. The luggage trolley sleeve made it easy to attach to her rolling carry-on, too.

The Quince Marlow Laptop Backpack is proof that a work backpack doesn’t have to look, well, like a work backpack. Made from 100% top-grain leather with a pebbled finish, it has a handbag-esque look that plays well with dressier office outfits—something WH’s Director of Special Projects Amanda Lucci appreciates.

At $150, this is a steal for a genuine leather backpack—especially since it closely resembles bags from brands like Cuyana and Tumi, which retail for upward of $500.

Inside, the main compartment has four slip pockets and a zippered pocket for keeping smaller essentials organized, while a separate back compartment houses a padded laptop sleeve that fits up to a 16-inch laptop. There’s also an exterior zip pocket for quick-access items and a luggage sleeve on the back for travel.

It has a slim profile—and Lucci found that it isn’t the best choice when she needs to pack a lot. There’s also no exterior water-bottle pocket, so your bottle takes up precious real estate inside the bag. But when she’s traveling light and wants something that looks especially nice with a dressier outfit, the Marlow is the one she reaches for.