New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

Whether you’re a student or a professional, there’s nothing quite like a backpack for women that securely holds the essentials.

They’re not always as eye-catching as a designer purse or tote, but they’re excellent for those who have a lot to carry, such as a laptop, notebooks, and maybe even a pair of lululemon leggings for your workout after the office.

Much like men’s backpacks and messenger bags, options fit for women typically boast exterior zipper pockets, an embossed design of some kind — perhaps gold hardware, tassels or a pebbled leather shell — and come in a catalog of classic styles.

To help you enjoy your shoulder carry-all more and stress less, the Post Wanted team hand-picked our favorite women’s backpacks for you to enjoy and recommend to everyone you know, too.

Not to mention, you may want to also browse our edits of the best adult lunch boxes and best crossbody bags to complete your online shopping haul of must-have accessories.

Shay Mitchell’s playbook with her brand Béis. Its Expandable Backpack has ample storage, is 100% sustainable (made of recycled plastic water bottles), and has the luxury of perfectly compartmentalizing everything, from your smaller tech items to your laptop.

Materials: 100% Recycled poly, (Trim) 100 % Recycled faux leather, (Liner) 100% Recycled Poly

We all love lululemon, and its Everywhere Backpack 22L Tech Canvas is a quality shoulder bag to pick up. For less than $100, it’s spacious with a front zippered pocket and also comes with side pockets to stash smaller items and your water bottle. For that reason, it’s a prime option for students, athletes and simply for everyday use.

Even better, its interior padded pocket fits a 16-inch laptop, so it’s a fantastic score for airport travelers to double as a carry-on pack.

Materials: (Liner) 100% Recycled Polyester, (Body) 100% Recycled Polyester, (Strap Lining) 100% Polyester

Meet the backpack we personally use and can’t stop recommending IRL: the Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack. Price will depend on your preferred size and you should certainly snag it if your main objective is carrying everything comfortably.

As the option we resort to for commuting to the office in NYC, we haven’t met a more comfortable backpack. Its soft exterior lends itself to a roomy interior that’s filled with plenty of space to store all of your essentials. Plus, it’s entirely well-made and has lasted for years of good use.

New York Post Review: The Dagne Dover Dakota Large Backpack isn’t just a bag; it’s my ride-or-die travel companion, my organized-overpacker’s dream, and honestly, the only backpack I’ll ever need. Crafted from sleek, water-resistant neoprene, it looks sharp without trying too hard, and somehow manages to hold everything without bulging like it’s about to explode. Inside, it’s all intentional design: a padded laptop sleeve, mesh compartments that keep your chaos in check, and even a little shoe bag (because yes, I’m that person who packs an extra pair “just in case.)” Whether I’m heading to the library, commuting to work or sprinting through an airport terminal, it holds up, holds everything, and holds it all together.

But its real moment to shine? My honeymoon to Hawaii. This backpack will serve as my carry-on, my mobile command center, and my zippered sanctuary of sanity. It’ll be loaded with all the essentials: passports, snacks, sunscreen, probably a small pharmacy — and will still have room for whatever airport souvenirs I impulsively buy. I don’t need another backpack because this one does it all, and it does it in style. Durable, lightweight, and somehow always looking fresh, the Dakota is proof that when you find the one, you just know.

Material: Premium neoprene, (Liner) 100% REPREVE recycled poly

This guide would be incomplete without a mention of Tumi, the unbeatable travel brand with exceptional on-the-go items. Notably, its Voyageur Celina Backpack is a splurge worth making as it features a laptop pocket, interior multifunction pockets and exterior zip pockets.

Materials: 100% nylon

Meet one of the best brands for luggage, backpacks and travel items. The CALPAK Terra Laptop Backpack is a tried-and-true Post Wanted favorite, featuring a range of colors. It also has a back slip pocket that’s designed to accommodate up to a 14-inch laptop.

Additionally, we love how it’s crafted from durable recycled ripstop nylon coated with TPU laminate coating, so it’s both trusty and sustainable.

Materials: Recycled Ripstop polyester with TPU coating

A chic backpack, found. The Longchamp Le Pliage Green M Backpack is slim but mighty, boasting plenty of storage space for your daily essentials. The top zippers and has a snap closure, while the interior is large enough for a 14-inch laptop.

New York Post Review: “Partner got me this for Valentine’s Day when I was looking for a chic work backpack. I didn’t realize how spacious and comfortable this bag would end up being. It’s similar to all classic Le Pliages — big open storage with one smaller pocket by the zipper. I love holding my work ID, perfume, chapstick, house keys in the smaller pocket while the rest fits my 13-inch laptop, notebook, an umbrella (if needed), and an extra sweater or cardigan for chilly office days. Because of the square design, lots can fit inside and it’s wider than you’d think; plenty of room for larger laptops or bulky cases.” — Michelle Moezam, senior commerce social media marketing manager

Materials: Polyamide fabric with a minimum of 70% recycled fibers, (Trim) Russian leather

The UGRACE Vintage Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port is an excellent value for the price. Clad with nearly 12,000 glimmering reviews, this carry-all is made with premium lightweight, tear-resistant oxford fabric that’s comfortable to wear and durable enough to last for years.

What’s more, it’s also water-resistant, securely fits your laptop or tablet and comes in a few shades to choose from.

Materials: Polyester

Structured and equipped for all of your on-the-go travels, the Monos Metro Backpack is an investment worth making, much ado to its sleek profile, water-resistant nylon and vegan leather details. It also features the brand’s patented QuickSnap Modular Kit System, allowing for interchangeable, streamlined packing.

The Monos Metro Backpack has been a longtime favorite travel backpack of our former manager of commerce strategy, Sophie Cannon. “I immediately fell in love with the color and material, opting for the brown vegan leather,” she said in her review of the backpack. “[It] felt soft, like I like my leather to be, but the actual structure of the bag [is] stiff enough to stand up on its own while I pack”.

Materials: Nylon and vegan leather

No backpack list would be complete without a recommendation for Fjallraven. A favorite of travelers, commuters and students, most of us have owned one of the brand’s backpacks at least once. Its Kanken Laptop 17″ Backpack is a favorite of Moezam, with its multiple zippered pockets, water-resistant exterior and padded laptop sleeve. Even if you don’t have a 17-inch HP to slip inside, the backpack comes in sizes that are just right for a 13-inch or 15-inch laptop, and is available in a myriad of standout colors.

New York Post Review: “I bought this initially for a weekend trip and nicknamed it the ‘never-ending backpack’ because it seriously fits so much. When flat on its back, the front zipper opens almost all the way, so you can see every nook and cranny, which makes packing it up so nice and efficient. Similar to how you can see inside a duffel, this sort of design makes it so you can rearrange as [needed]…There is a slide-in pocket in the back and a completely separate compartment for a laptop with extra cushioning for support. I loved this detail and was the reason I bought it. I normally travel with multiple tech elements: Kindle, a Nintendo Switch, and a laptop. The laptop pocket being completely separate also makes for a quick and easy grab at airport security.” — Moezam

Materials: 100% vinylal, (Lining) 100% polyamide 70D (recycled)

For a unique but stylish backpack, you can’t go wrong with The Backpack from Rothy’s. We’re obsessed with how effortlessly cool its style is, and it’s highly functional with its interior laptop pocket and exterior zippered pocket. Best of all, it’s mostly made from ocean-bound marine plastic, meaning you’re helping yourself and the planet when you choose it over another backpack.

New York Post Review: “It felt like Mission Impossible to find a backpack that checked all the boxes: stylish, spacious enough for my 16-inch laptop, lightweight (and doesn’t look like a teenager’s). Was it too much to ask for eco-conscious as well? Rothy’s delivered all that and more with this lightweight, cabernet-hued backpack that I use for my public transport commute to our NYC office — but will also be my under-seat bag next time I fly. Perfection.” — Erica Radol, Page Six commerce writer

Materials: Marine plastic

We also love the Modern Picnic’s The Backpack — coming in multiple colors, smooth to the touch and great for storing your laptop, an umbrella and other odds and ends. Its vegan leather straps give it that ultra-designer feel, too. And when you want to use it like a tote, take the sturdy handle on this women’s backpack purse in hand. From the front, no one will even suspect it doubles as a backpack!

Materials: Vegan leather

With great durability comes great reward, and it’s called the Alo Yoga Stow Backpack. Back in stock and ready for all of your on-the-move activities, it holds with it that easy-to-carry style that isn’t as big as your average-sized backpack. Plus, its water-resistant neoprene is easy to clean.

Materials: Water-resistant matte neoprene

Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack is a feel-good carrier that you’ll be glad you took with you on your next flight. Though great for a variety of occasions, it’s especially perfect to take with you before you’re flying in the sky.

What’s the hype? It features a 15-inch exterior laptop pocket for easy TSA access, catch-all zip pockets for passports and tickets, interior slip pockets for magazines and notebooks, two water bottle holders and a convenient magnetic closure. There’s even a pass-through strap that attaches to rolling luggage. Yes, it’s that good.

Materials: 100% Recycled polyester with a water-resistant finish

The adidas Weekender Backpack is an excellent option for traveling from school to work to play. It has a sporty look without looking too much like a gym bag, and certainly doesn’t compromise the storage space.

With plenty of zip options, it’s the ideal carrier for supplies and all of your athletic essentials, too. With a sportier look, you’ll be glad that it’s easy to clean; simply wipe down the lining and be on your way.

Materials: Nylon

Absolutely. In fact, the right backpack can even enhance your outfit in the same way the wrong one can take away from it. 

Think about it? How often have you taken an hour to plan the perfect ensemble for work, only to have it ruined by a giant, clunky backpack? 

While we love a tote or purse, backpacks are often the most practical choice, especially when you have multiple things to carry. The good news is that there are a variety of fashionable backpacks for women to choose from.

Modern Picnic’s Picnic Backpack ($210) is a minimalist dream. From the front it looks like a slim and sleek tote, but if you check out the back, there are handy straps to carry on your back. An insulated compartment inside works perfectly for your lunch, and there’s also a laptop sleeve. Made of vegan leather and available in three colors, it’s as stylish as they come.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous women’s commuter backpack, go for the Tumi Voyageur Celina Backpack ($475). It has adjustable straps, a laptop sleeve and multifunctional pockets for every lipstick, tube of SPF and notebook you need. More important, it has lovely metal detail.

Another one worth checking out? The Mancio Vintage Laptop Backpack($20). Besides being slim and compact, it has a USB charging port, is made with tear resistant Oxford fabric and is available in six different colors.

Certain items never go out of style and backpacks are one of them. They’re an accessory staple that’s not only a necessity for back to school but many adults who rely on them for work. Unlike a purse, they can hold a laptop, an extra set of clothes, snacks and other things you can’t leave behind.

In terms of fashion, not all backpacks are made with style in mind. However, the ones on this list are.

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.