5 of the Best Backpacks for Tech You Can Buy in 2026

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Backpacks are great if you need to carry a laptop to school or work every day, especially if your commute or class schedule requires you to do a lot of walking. If you travel often, they also make great personal or carry-on items for useful travel gadgets like power banks and adapters. Some backpacks even come with USB ports, an ideal upgrade for those who need a convenient and reliable way to charge their phone on the go.

The main thing you want with a tech backpack is a padded compartment to protect your laptop or tablet during transport. Additional pockets and compartments for storage and organization are also great if you have other things like chargers, books, and a water bottle to carry. The backpacks listed here are all designed to carry your technology and have been selected to suit a variety of users and style preferences.

Starting with a budget-friendly option, you can get Duslang’s laptop backpack on Amazon for $32 for the 15.6″ version. luggage equipped with USB ports before you head to the airport.

The backpack has 4.7 stars on Amazon from over 4,000 ratings, as well as over 800 five-star reviews. Users say it’s spacious and durable beyond what they expected given the price. That said, Duslang’s bag won’t offer the same level of protection as some of the more expensive backpacks on this list. It also has an external USB-A charging port, so you’ll need an adapter for a USB-C phone. Still, if you’re on a budget and want something that goes beyond the basics, the Duslang backpack is a good choice.

Nordace offers a variety of smart backpacks that feature USB charging ports, various pockets, and (of course) a padded laptop compartment. We choose the Nordace Siena Pro for its sleek, minimalist design, available in a variety of colors, styles and sizes to fit 11″, 13″, 16″ and 17″ laptops. Prices range from $100 to $130 depending on size.

If you plan to travel with your backpack, Nordace offers various discounted add-ons and packages. These include a compression packing cube to reduce the space your clothes take up, a toiletry bag, a universal travel adapter and a rain cover for your bag, although the Siena Pro itself is water resistant. The backpack also has a hidden pocket on the back to hold your phone or anything else you want to keep safe in a crowded space.

One downside of the Siena Pro is that, like the Duslang backpack, it only has a USB-A charging port, which seems like an oversight at its price. Some users also criticized aspects of the bag’s design, including the port on the opposite side of the phone pocket, making it difficult to charge when stored as intended. Other than that, reviews for the Siena Pro are largely positive, with many praising its overall quality and fit.

If a sleek, minimalist design like the Nordace Siena Pro doesn’t appeal to you, Swissgear offers more traditional, sturdy options like the Cecil Laptop Backpack. At $70, it’s a good compromise between cheaper Amazon bags and higher-end models. The Cecil is a simple backpack with three compartments and dedicated slots for a laptop, tablet, pens and keys, plus side pockets for water bottles. This makes it perfect for students who just need something basic and secure. Swissgear also offers backpacks aimed at travelers, traders, and even gamers if you want something more specialized.

Reviewers of the Cecil praise the backpack’s excellent quality, particularly its durable zippers that don’t snag fabric, at a reasonable cost. If you have a smaller laptop and want to save a little money, Swissgear also offers the Bungee Core Laptop Backpack, which can accommodate a device up to 13 inches and offers most of the Cecil’s key features for $60.

Messenger bags can be a great alternative for those who don’t like carrying traditional backpacks because they are more flexible in how you can carry them. If you live in a crowded city or take public transportation, you may feel safer with your bag clutched to your side rather than exposed and out of sight. Just keep in mind that carrying all that weight on one side of your body isn’t good for your shoulders or back. It’s best to change shoulders every once in a while, but not all bags are designed so you can do this comfortably.

At $119, Timbuk2’s Classic Messenger Bag is one of the best options in terms of cost and quality. In addition to a switchable shoulder strap, the bag is waterproof. Inside, there’s an internal divider for your laptop, plus additional pockets for your phone, wallet, and whatever else you need. The downside is that the divider is not padded, but Timbuk2 allows you to customize the Classic Messenger and add the padding, among other things, for an additional fee.

Personalized bags can be expensive. Adding a padded laptop sleeve costs $20 on top of the cost of the bag itself, and since it’s only available in sizes Small and up, you’re looking at a minimum of $199 to $239 before splashing out on fabrics, colors, and other optional upgrades. Still, reviewers say the price is worth it based on Timbuk2’s quality, comfort, and customer service. Customizations also mean that you can get the exact bag that will suit your needs and personal style, which is a major point in favor of the Classic Messenger Bag.

Troubador is another brand that offers a range of stylish backpacks designed to hold and protect laptops. Our pick is the Apex 4.0, a versatile bag for everyday use, although Troubador also offers others aimed at travel and the outdoors. At $279 for the base model – and $899 for a leather version – the Apex isn’t cheap, but its quality is worth the price. The New York Times Wirecutter even named it the best laptop backpack of 2025 and included it in its updated list for 2026.

Wirecutter says the Apex 4.0 is an upgrade from the previous bag with better laptop protection and more comfortable straps. It has what Troubador calls its CrashPad Cocoon Laptop Sleeve that keeps your device suspended from the bottom of the bag, that way your laptop won’t hit the ground if you put it down too hard. While not fully waterproof, the Apex’s exterior is a proprietary weather-resistant fabric made from recycled plastic bottles and features waterproof zippers to offer some protection from the elements. That said, if you want complete protection from heavy rain, you can get a backpack rain cover for an additional $30.

The Troubador Apex 4.0 offers space for a 17-inch laptop, plus plenty of compartments for organizing cables, books, pens, and everything else. There’s even an extra pocket built into the left shoulder strap for easy access to your phone or wallet. If that seems like too much space for you, the Apex Compact 4.0 can accommodate a 15-inch laptop without sacrificing other features. It may be expensive, but the Apex 4.0 is a worthwhile investment that will keep your belongings, especially your technology, safe.

The backpacks on this list have been selected to fit different budgets and lifestyles. What a student or office worker needs in their bag will be different than a frequent traveler or someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. We’ve also included ones with USB ports and customization options, things you might not know you could get with a backpack. In choosing specific backpacks to feature, we looked at customer feedback wherever possible, as well as reviews from trusted sources.