Five Backpacks for the School Year

A good school backpack carries a laptop, a day of books and lunch without hurting your shoulders. These five are the ones we recommend most.

What to look for

Padded straps, a padded laptop sleeve and a back panel that breathes. Side pockets for a water bottle help more than you would think.

Our picks

The Black Backpack for everyday college use, the City Backpack for a smarter look, the Pastel Backpack for summer term, the Trail Backpack for weekends outdoors and the Leather Bag for anyone who prefers to carry on one shoulder.