Laptop backpacks

A backpack for a laptop distributes the weight across both shoulders and protects the machine in a padded compartment, most often elevated from the bottom. It should be chosen based on the accepted diagonal, from 13 to 17 inches, on the useful volume in litres, and on the fabric's rain resistance.

How to choose a backpack for a laptop

The maximum advertised diagonal is a limit, not a guarantee. Measure the three dimensions of the laptop with the lid closed before comparing them to the inner dimensions of the dedicated compartment. A backpack for a laptop also counts for what it carries around, charger, water bottle, documents, sports gear. A 17-inch laptop backpack is similar in size to cabin luggage and stands out in transport, while a 14-inch remains discreet at the office.

Back pack for laptop: back shape and straps

A backpack for laptop with a short back features closer and curved straps, a shorter back, and a contained width, so the load doesn't shift outward. Dressier versions swap technical nylon for pebbled leather or coated canvas, without giving up a wide opening for the machine compartment. Check the padding of the straps and the presence of a chest strap before considering the colour.

• Suspension back or honeycomb foam to limit sweating
• Separate opening for the machine compartment and elevated bottom
• Trolley pass to rest the backpack on a cabin suitcase
• High quick-access pocket for the phone and transport ticket

Water-repellent fabric or backpack for wet trips

A water-repellent fabric will fend off a short shower, but it doesn't make a backpack for laptops waterproof. True waterproofing requires welded seams or a roll-top closure, which few urban models offer. The usual compromise remains a coated canvas lined with a rain cover that can be stored in a pocket at the bottom. A backpack for a laptop with the machine compartment opening at the back keeps water further from the screen than a model with a front flap.