Laptop Backpacks

Best laptop and high-tech backpacks

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

The Speck Aftpack (*Est. $100) holds laptops up to 17 inches in a padded microfleece compartment. The backpack also has numerous other pockets, including a media organizer with a headphone-cord port and a bottle pocket. The Speck Aftpack comes in two color combinations and includes a chest strap. Nicole Price Fasig at PCMag.com reviews the Speck Aftpack and gives it a "very good" rating. Fasig likes the stylish and comfortable design, and lots of pockets make it easy to keep your gear organized. However, Fasig thinks the Speck Aftpack is a little bulky, and she'd like to see some quick-access pockets.

The JanSport Boost TNG3 (*Est. $70) also gets high marks from PCMag.com, where it scores an Editors' Choice award. The JanSport Boost backpack has two large zippered compartments, a padded laptop sleeve for a 17-inch notebook, two water bottle pockets and a pocket to keep headphone wires untangled. With 2,300 cubic inches of interior room, the JanSport Boost can hold a good amount of gear in addition to a laptop. Molly McLaughlin at PCMag.com calls the Boost backpack nearly weightless and exceedingly comfortable, thanks to padded and ventilated straps. However, her tests show that the JanSport Boost isn't well balanced, so it has a tendency to tip over when placed on the ground.

The High Sierra Groove backpack (*Est. $80) doesn't include a dedicated laptop sleeve or compartment, but it offers some nifty high-tech features. The Groove provides 2,190 cubic inches of space for loads of books, and the 17.5-inch-high backpack should accommodate most smaller laptops if you have your own sleeve. This Apple-certified backpack includes backlit controls for an iPod on the front shoulder strap, and it's compatible with any iPod that uses a dock. Otherwise, the High Sierra Groove is a conventional, full-featured, extra-large backpack with mesh-backed curved shoulder straps, a water-bottle pocket on one side, a ventilated back and daisy-chain loops on the front to hold a jacket or yoga mat. This is one of two high-tech backpacks recommended in tests at Good Housekeeping magazine.

The North Face Surge ABKB (*Est. $115) isn't wired for an iPod, but it does have a headphone port, front electronics organizer and pockets for a 17-inch laptop and power cords. It has dual water-bottle pockets for better balance. To compensate for heavy loads (with 2,050 cubic inches of space), there's a sternum strap, tuck-away hip belt and the latest back-saver design, which keeps the pack's contents close to the back to minimize back or 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. However, one owner notes that the Surge backpack isn't the most streamlined -- when it's fully packed, it doesn't fit underneath a standard airplane seat.

The North Face Borealis ABKM (*Est. $60) also gets high marks. Comparison tests of 30 backpacks at Good Housekeeping magazine give top ranking to the Borealis as the best all-around backpack for school use. Testers find it especially durable and water-resistant, with excellent organization and comfort. In fact, it's the only backpack tested by Good Housekeeping about which the editors note no drawbacks. The North Face Borealis backpack includes a breathable mesh back and removable padded hip belt for comfort, plus reflector patches for safety. A mesh pocket on a front shoulder strap can hold a cell phone or MP3 player, and a padded sleeve protects a laptop 17 inches or smaller. Total volume is 1,830 cubic inches, so the North Face Borealis has less capacity than the North Face Surge backpack.

The Kelty Riff (*Est. $30) is smaller than the backpacks discussed above -- the total volume is only 1,500 cubic inches and it can't accommodate large notebooks -- but Good Housekeeping names it one of the best backpacks. It's also significantly less expensive than other laptop backpacks. The Kelty Riff backpack has two main zippered compartments (one large and one small), and it includes a padded laptop sleeve for computers 13 inches or smaller, so it's a good choice for carrying a netbook. It also has a few high-tech extras, like an audio pocket with cord port and a clip for iPods or cell phones on one of the shoulder straps. The Kelty Riff also includes two side mesh bottle pockets. Testers for Good Housekeeping love the style, and it performs well in water-resistance tests. However, durability tests indicate the fabric is vulnerable to tears. The Kelty Riff backpack gets very positive reviews on eBags.com, with nearly all reviewers saying they would purchase it again. However, one reviewer notes that the water-resistant coating began to peel in the interior compartment after several months of use.

For women, the REI Acumen Women's Pack (*Est. $75) is a well-reviewed choice. With a total capacity of 2,075 cubic inches, it can hold significantly more gear than The North Face Isabella, and it includes padded shoulder straps, a waist strap and lumbar pads designed for a woman's smaller frame. The REI Acumen backpack includes an interior laptop pocket that fits notebooks up to 15.1 inches, side mesh pockets and several smaller pockets with organizers. In an interview on CBS' "The Early Show," Paul Hochman, a writer at Fast Company magazine, names the REI Acumen as one of the best back-to-school backpacks because of its female-friendly design.