Best Laptop Backpacks

Top backpacks for carrying a notebook computer

Many backpacks come with separate laptop compartments or sleeves, and often include other high-tech accessories such as wireless iPod controls or cord ports. They offer great organization, but they're significantly more expensive than traditional backpacks.

The High Sierra Access (*Est. $70) is praised by reviewers for its functionality; this pack has a spacious 2,700-cubic-inch capacity and can store most 17-inch laptops. The tradeoff for the added space is its weight; at 4.5 pounds, it's a bit heavier than most backpacks when empty. The High Sierra Access isn't included in any professional backpack tests we found, but it's a favorite among reviewers posting to sites such as LuggageOnline.com and Amazon.com. Like the High Sierra Fat Boy, it has angled compression straps to reduce the depth of the pack when it's not fully loaded, reducing unnecessary back and shoulder strain. It comes in 16 color combinations and, like all High Sierra backpacks, has a lifetime warranty against defects. As its name suggests, the Access focuses on accessibility: A back zipper allows easy access to a laptop without having to open the main compartment, and a tuck-away rain cover can be pulled out at a moment's notice in case of a sudden downpour.

Owners rave about the Access' storage capacity and many convenient pockets: "Tons of pockets with plenty of room. I use this bag to go back and forth to work every day, and it always fits what I need," says one owner posting to eBags.com. The padded back and shoulder straps, and chest and waist straps provide a comfortable carry, even when this pack is loaded to maximum capacity. According to another reviewer, "Even if you carry an elephant in it your back won't hurt." On the downside, a few owners say the size and weight of the Access make it less than ideal for daily use unless you have a ton of gear to transport. In addition, some say they tend to lose items in the many pockets and pouches.

The Case Logic Security Friendly Laptop Backpack (*Est. $80) earns points from frequent fliers for its zip-open laptop compartment that allows the pack to lay flat, so you may not have to remove your computer from the bag when going through airport security. (Some TSA agents might still require you to remove your laptop and regulations change frequently.) The black backpack accommodates a 16-inch or smaller laptop in a separate padded and zippered compartment. The large main section includes an interior pocket for file folders and notebooks, and the zippered front pocket sports an organization panel for cell phones and other gadgets. Total capacity is nearly 1,650 cubic inches, and the Case Logic pack can be attached to rolling luggage using an integrated strap. The backpack is covered by a 25-year warranty.

PCMag.com gives the Case Logic Security Friendly Laptop Backpack a 4.5-star rating out of 5. Editors like that the pack lives up to its name with its zip-open, lay-flat design, and praise its ample storage space. "It fits all of my accessories and items without making it bulky," PCMag's Iman Edwards writes. The backpack also gets high marks from nearly 50 users at Amazon.com, who give it 4.5 stars out of 5, and nearly 60 owners posting to eBags.com, where 97 percent say they'd purchase it again. Reviewers say the backpack is strong and durable, and it's also comfortable to carry. The well-padded laptop compartment earns kudos from most, but some users note that there's little padding on the bottom. A few users think the design is boring, and some wish for side pockets to hold water bottles.

The High Sierra Swerve (*Est. $80) also gets high marks at user-review sites. It's less expensive than the High Sierra Access and a bit smaller, with 2,230 cubic inches of storage. This multi-compartment backpack can accommodate a 15-inch laptop and -- unlike the Case Logic pack -- includes mesh pockets on the sides to hold water bottles. Other features include a front pocket with organizer, an MP3 player pocket with a headphone port, S-shaped padded shoulder straps and adjustable side straps to make the backpack less bulky when it's not full. The Swerve is available in 15 colors and comes with a lifetime warranty.

More than 715 users review the High Sierra Swerve laptop backpack at eBags.com, and 93 percent would buy it again. Most say the pack has plenty of room for a laptop, books and accessories, although one owner says three-ring binders are a tight fit. Durability is another plus: "It has held up to all the wear and tear that it gets at school and keeps my stuff really organized," one reviewer writes. However, a few users report that the zippers and side buckles split easily when the bag is full. Some say the bag is heavy even when there's not much in it; others say the weight is necessary for durable fabrics capable of withstanding heavy loads.

The North Face Surge (*Est. $115) is one of the pricier options among laptop backpacks, but it does have a headphone port, front electronics organizer and zippered compartment for a 15-inch laptop. Dual water-bottle pockets and a power-cord compartment are also included. To compensate for heavy loads (the Surge has 2,015 cubic inches of space), there's a tuck-away padded hip belt and the latest back-saver design, which keeps the pack's contents close to the body to minimize back and shoulder strain. The North Face Surge is expensive, but reviewers say it provides great organization with pockets that are easy to access in a hurry. At eBags.com, the pack earns above-average ratings from nearly 1,200 owners -- 95 percent of whom say they'd buy the Surge again. "This bag has tons of pockets for getting at all your stuff quickly. I've taken it on several trips to India and Dubai, and it performed flawlessly," one owner writes. The only downside of note is that the generous internal padding leaves less room for books and papers inside the pack.

As budget backpacks, both the Targus Sport (*Est. $25) and Targus Varsity (*Est. $45) get some good user reviews. The Varsity can store a laptop of up to 15.6 inches and is recommended by CNET, where editors say, "It's not a fancy or particularly cool bag, but the Targus Varsity has one big thing going for it: It's relatively cheap." The pack offers numerous zippered storage pockets, including two side pockets, a file compartment, pen loops and a key loop for easy access to accessories. The Targus Sport laptop backpack is slightly less expensive and a bit more stylish, but can hold only up to a 15.4-inch laptop. It offers additional compartments on the outer shell, and the front zip-down section features small pockets and pen loops for easy accessibility and convenient organization. The Sport is favorably reviewed by owners posting to Amazon.com, but reviews of three different Targus Sport products are lumped together (including a tablet-computer sleeve), so it's difficult to determine a consensus on the backpack.