Traveling with your precious laptop and other sensitive equipment can be a pain. Aside from considering the safety of your pack, you also have to ensure your comfort alongside. With that, most gamers and business people opt for a laptop backpack since it frees both hands while you navigate the road, sea, or air – it is comfortable and convenient.
A laptop backpack is designed to fit your laptop snugly aside from your other essentials without damaging it. It comes with dedicated compartments for the laptop, its accessories like charger and cords, and for some of your essentials like extra clothes, toiletries, and other equipment like tablets or mobile phones.
And since you will most probably use your laptop bag for traveling, your laptop backpack should be capable of protecting the content from falls, bumps, heat, moisture, and other damaging elements during the commute. A laptop backpack should be made of premium-grade materials that are weather-resistant, too.
As I mentioned, another important thing to consider when choosing the best laptop backpack, aside from safety, is comfort. Check for the ergonomics of the straps – are they adjustable? Are they padded? In this case, it is best to buy one that is especially made for your gender. For example, a laptop backpack for women is contoured and adjusted to fit a woman’s frame comfortably.
Meanwhile, a gaming backpack is also gaining popularity these days. It is similar to a laptop backpack in terms of functionality, only with other tech features like cord pass through or built-in charging ports, extra organizers for tech essentials, etc.
Are you a gamer or a business person looking for the right and best laptop backpack for your needs? Here are our top 3 picks.
Best Laptop Backpack for Gamers and Businesspeople – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack 17 Inch Hard Shell Protection – (Editor’s Choice) | With a hardshell exterior made of EVA shell in PU exterior | Check Price |
| Kenneth Cole Reaction Manhattan Commuter Slim Backpack 16″ | Made of Columbian fine-grain leather that becomes more beautiful as it ages | Check Price |
| NOMATIC Navigator Premium Backpack 15L w/ 6L Built-In Expansion | Expandable from 15 liters to 21 liters capacity | Check Price |
System G Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack 17 Inch Hard Shell Protection – Editor’s Choice
If you don’t mind some extra bulk, a hard-shell laptop backpack might give you some peace of mind. The Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack 17 Inch Hard Shell is designed to provide the utmost protection for your precious gear. It also features compartments to help organize your essentials. And you can use all of these without sacrificing user comfort.
This 17 inch laptop backpack can fit up to 17.3 inches laptops to be exact. It comes with dedicated compartments for the accessories plus your essentials. Overall, you get a total of 30 liters capacity.
This 17 inch laptop bag features a top zippered pocket for your small yet essential stuff like a mobile phone or your keys. It can fit most modern smartphones so yours can be easily reached. This laptop backpack’s compartment comes with a splash-proof zipper to keep rain or water from ruining the content.
Also, this 17 laptop backpack features an EVA shell that is PU coated for extra durability and protection. This acts like stealth or that higher level of protection for your valuables inside, which also helps absorb shock from falls and bumps. This is important when you are protecting your laptop and hard drives that contain sensitive elements inside them.
The System G Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack comes with a headphone strap designed to hold bulky versions. It secures it in place so it will not deform or break during transport. Meanwhile, this laptop backpack also comes with many storage pockets for both small and medium items to keep your accessories organized.
There is also a dedicated compartment for your tablet inside this laptop backpack. This is located in front of the laptop sleeve compartment inside, both of which are padded for added protection.
Aside from built-in compartments and sleeves, this laptop backpack also features a detachable cable pouch, which can be secured inside using Velcro.
This laptop backpack is made of heavy-duty nylon on the outside with structured thick liners. The back comes with breathable mesh and cushioning. It also comes with padded straps and a carry handle on the side.
Pros
- With a hardshell exterior made of EVA shell in PU exterior
- Lots of compartments inside with headphone strap
- With a top zippered compartment for your keys or smartphone; the zipper is splash-proof
- With detachable cable pouch
- Can fit up to 17-inch laptops and tablets
- Made of nylon; breathable mesh back cushioning, padded straps, and with carrying handle
Cons
- No included rain guard
Conclusion
The Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack is great for traveling with your essential tech gear in tow. I love that this laptop backpack has plenty of compartments, too.
Kenneth Cole Reaction Manhattan Commuter Slim Backpack 16″
If your personality is more serious or if you prefer something more versatile for both your job and your hobby, a leather laptop bag surely suits you.
This laptop backpack from Kenneth Cole is made from Columbian fine leather known for its elegance and longevity. It comes in a fine grain finish that becomes more beautiful as it ages. This leather laptop backpack comes in different classic and neutral colors to match your personality and style.
Aside from having a gorgeous and durable exterior, the manufacturer also made sure it matches the inside. This laptop backpack comes with a fully-lined interior that can withstand tear and fully-packed items.
The Kenneth Cole Reaction laptop bag is also generous when it comes to compartments so you can fit your essentials and organize them as well. It comes with a leather laptop case that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop. This laptop backpack also has a separate compartment for your tablet up to 12.1 inches and comes padded to protect the content.
Meanwhile, this laptop backpack includes smaller sleeved and zippered compartments for your smaller items like chargers, cellphones, keys, and even documents, passports, and other valuables.
The Kenneth Cole Reaction Manhattan Commuter Slim Backpack 16″ also utilizes RFID-blocking technology in the pockets that prevent identity thefts to scan your pack for your passport, credit or debit cards and IDs.
This laptop backpack is also very convenient to use while traveling. It comes with a TSA-friendly feature that allows you to keep the content intact like your laptops at the checkpoint. No need to remove them from the pack as the scanner can easily check them. This allows you to move through the security checks at the airport faster, too.
The Kenneth Cole backpack comes with a trolley tunnel if you prefer to give it some wheels. It fits most trolleys to free your body while staying mobile. The trolley tunnel is also where you can find hidden storage for your valuables like credit cards, passports, IDs, and cash.
This laptop backpack also comes in an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable and convenient to bring anywhere and while using any mode of transport. The back panel is made of mesh material so it remains breathable. The shoulder straps are padded for extra cushion and comfort, with adjustable straps at the bottom. It also comes with a top handle.
Pros
- Made of Columbian fine-grain leather that becomes more beautiful as it ages
- Utilizes RFID-blocking technology in the pockets
- Comes with a trolley tunnel
- Can fit up to 16-inch laptop and a 12-inch tablet
- Plenty of compartments – sleeved and zippered
- EZ-scan feature/ TSA guidelines compliant
Cons
- The bottom is not padded so you need to secure your laptop
Conclusion
The Kenneth Cole Reaction Manhattan Commuter Slim Backpack 16″ is versatile with its trolley tunnel feature. I also love this laptop backpack’s TSA, EZ-scan feature which makes it great for plane travels. The size fits an overhead cabin, too.
NOMATIC Navigator Premium Backpack 15L w/ 6L Built-In Expansion
If you need a laptop backpack for daily or light travels, the NOMATIC Navigator Premium Backpack 15L w/ 6L Built-In Expansion is compact enough to fit your essentials, including your precious tech gear.
This laptop bag backpack is flexible for your small to medium space needs. It comes with a 15-liter capacity that is expandable to 21-liters by opening the expansion zipper. This gives you 33 percent more space as you need it, which also folds compact if you don’t.
The NOMATIC Navigator Premium Backpack 15L w/ 6L Built-In Expansion is a waterproof laptop backpack that protects the inside from environmental elements. It is also made of durable and premium materials that resist daily wear and tear. The exterior also has reflective bars and the compartments are using YKK zippers.
Ideally, this can be used to fit a laptop case, 15.6 inches, in screen length. In addition to the dedicated slot for the laptop, this laptop backpack also features a variety of compartments – five mesh pockets, two zippered pockets, and an RFID-blocking pocket.
This 15.6 laptop case comes with a variety of features that makes it flexible for your needs. It comes with pen slots, cord pass-throughs, and mesh pockets. This laptop backpack also comes with a luggage pass-through that allows it to be attached to your trolley’s handles for hands-free use.
This Nomatic laptop backpack is ergonomic and convenient to carry along trips or short commutes with its adjustable padded straps and breathable back panel. It can also fit your water bottle with its own pocket at the side.
Pros
- Expandable from 15 liters to 21 liters capacity
- Made with water-resistant and durable materials and secured by YKK tamper-proof zippers
- Can fit a 16-inch laptop
- Comes with a variety of storage compartments – zippered pockets, sleeves, and mesh pockets plus an RFID pocket
- With luggage pass-through
- With adjustable padded straps and breathable back panel
- With bottle pocket at the side
- comes with pen slots and cord pass-throughs
Cons
- Some find the capacity not enough for their needs
Conclusion
The NOMATIC Navigator Premium Backpack 15L w/ 6L Built-In Expansion is flexible with its expansion feature. It is also durable for daily use and comes with ample space for your essential tech gear.
Final Verdict
Whether you are looking for the best laptop backpack for men or women, it is important to put comfort and functionality first. These two are the foundations of having the best investment to protect your precious tech gear.
From this list, I find that the Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack is what stands out.
The Carry+ Professional Laptop Backpack has a large space inside, with plenty for your different tech gear, including your laptop, and a host of other essential accessories. I love this laptop backpack’s modern yet minimalist design. The hard shell is advantageous in most ways, and could definitely add some level of protection for your peace of mind.