Are laptop backpacks safe?
Some laptop backpacks come with special anti-theft features, such as hidden zipped pockets, in order to keep your valuables safe while travelling on public transport. But you could always purchase a security lock if you wanted extra peace of mind.
Specialist laptop backpacks come with a special compartment to store your laptop. If these sections are padded, this helps to provide extra security to ensure your laptop stands less chance of getting damaged.
How do I choose a laptop backpack?
There are several things you should consider when choosing a laptop backpack.
Size and weight: Will the backpack fit your laptop, its accessories and any additional items you need for work or university? Or are you looking for a smaller, more streamlined bag if you’re travelling by plane or even by bicycle? One size does definitely not fit all, so check the specifications carefully.
Security features: When travelling by public transport, you may want to consider how your choice of backpack can help to keep opportunistic thieves at bay. Anti-theft pockets and locks can be handy features to consider.
Material: Check out the material the laptop bag is made from. Is it durable? Water-resistant? Or will the bag material need special care, for example, rewaxing?
Organisation: Check out how many pockets there are on the inside and the outside of the bag. Do these have zips? Are there enough pockets to prevent all your things from getting jumbled?
What is the best brand for laptop backpacks?
When it comes to the best laptop backpack, brands such as Samsonite, Swissgear and The North Face come with a good, solid reputation. But it’s worth checking as to whether these brands meet your particular set of needs before purchasing on the back of the name alone.
What is the most durable laptop backpack?
There are a number of durable laptop backpacks on our list, but our top pick is the Fjällräven Kånken Laptop Backpack. As well as being tough and built to last, this classic bag has ample storage space and is a firm favourite with Mumsnetters.
How we choose our recommendations
We've thoroughly researched the best laptop backpacks you can buy this season including tried-and-tested products from a wide range of honest, trusted sources. Here's how we narrowed it down to our top picks.
Mumsnet community
When it comes to stylish, comfy laptop backpacks which offer excellent protection to your electronic devices, Mumsnetters know a trusty carrier when they see (and use) one.
We first assessed all the recommendations from the Mumsnet community, getting feedback on the best laptop backpacks they have personally used, reviewed and rated, including their favourite models, and must-have additional features such as hidden pockets and adjustable shoulder straps. We also considered the reasons why Mumsnetters would avoid certain laptop backpacks, with ‘value for money’ being a big deciding factor.
Expert opinions
We know that choosing the right laptop backpack takes a lot of thought and consideration, so we made sure our recommendations were well received within the bags and luggage industry, rated or recommended by travel experts and industry leaders.
Trusted consumer reviews
Finally, we scrutinised honest customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Currys and John Lewis to get wider consumer opinions on the products on our shortlist. Through this research, we were able to weigh up the top backpacks for a variety of needs including commuting to work and travel, and gain a greater understanding of the pros and cons of each.
About the author
Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on home care content. She is a mum of two and lives in Sussex. She has worked for local newspapers and magazines across Sussex, and her work has appeared in titles, including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.
Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021 and has recently taken over responsibility for floor care and laundry content. She writes buyers guides, including what to consider when buying a robot vacuum cleaner, cleaning articles and tests products, including the Henry Quick vacuum and the Beldray 60m Rotary Airer, to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.
Why you should trust us
Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products in a wide variety of categories.
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is important to us and that's why we're always upfront about the research we do, and where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family and strive to offer impartial advice across the board.