Stop Hurting Your Shoulders and Switch to These Backpacks
“On the fence? Don’t be. You need this. Just BUY IT.”
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Everyone knows I love backpacks. It’s a moot point by now. I would stop talking about it if I could, but now I’ve turned myself into an expert, so if you’re wondering about the best backpacks for women, I’m your girl.
For postural, sartorial, and practical reasons, a backpack is the way to go. Emphasis on postural. A leather tote is appealing, but a beautiful posture is hard to beat. Whether you plan to use it as a work bag, laptop bag, carry-on backpack or gym bag, there’s no limit to how you can make the most of a new option.
Vivenne Westwood Collab
Vivienne Westwood x Eastpak Padded Vivienne Westwood Planet’s Print Backpack
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I scouted out which backpacks on the market have both the style and function you need and also tapped my fellow editors for their personal recommendations to bring you this list of the 16 best backpacks for women. See them all below.
Vivienne Westwood x Eastpak Padded Vivienne Westwood Planet’s Print Backpack
Pros
- Sustainable
- Padded straps
- Included dust bag
- Collectible
Cons
- Won’t fit laptops larger than 13 inches
When shopping for a backpack, you often have to make a choice to go with a non-designer one that focuses on function or a fashionable one that might lack practicality. I love that Vivienne Westwood collaborated with bag brand Eastpak to bring you the best of both worlds.
Colors: Planet Print
Material: Recycled polyester
Dimensions: Height: 15.35 inches; width: 14.57 inches; depth: 7.87 inches
Pros
- Padded and insulated
- Monogrammable
- Stylish
Cons
- Pricey
- Won’t fit laptops larger than 13 inches
Lunch packers, I admire you deeply. Senior editor Alyssa Bailey recommends this style. “I walk to work and am regularly going to events for my job,” she says. “I needed a bag that could fit my laptop, a salad, and sometimes a change of shoes while looking fashionable. This one is it! Comfy, roomy but amazingly compact, Modern Picnic’s backpack has shown me I don’t have to give up style to have an actually good work backpack.”
Colors: Black, Cream, Black Croc
Material: Vegan leather
Dimensions: Height: 14.25 inches x width: 11.5 inches x depth: 6 inches
Pros
- Sustainable
- Luggage trolley
- Lots of organization
- Holds laptops up to 15 inches
Cons
- Pricey
I know of at least three people at ELLE who use this bag—myself included. “Some bags seem to weigh even more than my laptop does, but this MZ Wallace backpack is feather light,” says Sara Austin, executive editor. “I also appreciate the luggage sleeve that slips easily over my carry-on handle when I’m traveling.”
Colors: Black, Dahlia Camo, Dawn, Magnet, Silver Blue
Materials: Sustainable textile, leather trim
Dimensions: Height: 16.5 inches x width: 12.2 inches x depth: 6.9 inches
Pros
- Durable
- Stadium-friendly
- Affordable
Cons
- Won’t fit most laptops
Whether you’re hitting Fright Night at Six Flags, Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour, or you’re just into the transparent bag trend, this one’s for you.
Colors: 8 options
Material: PVC
Dimensions: Height: 12 inches; width: 11 inches; depth: 6 inches
Customer review: “Good bag. I bought it for a football game but ended up using it for work or running errands. Good size. Not too big or too small. I spilled mac and cheese it the other day and it wiped out super easy.”
Pros
- Fits laptops up to 15 inches
- Lots of organization
- Luggage trolley
Cons
- Pricey
“As a firm believer in backpacks for work, this Calpak bag is the one I get complimented on the most,” ELLE social media editor Carine Lavache tells me. “It’s chic, comes in a variety of colors, and has plenty of pockets to keep your things organized.”
Colors: 21 options
Material: Faux leather, polyester
Dimensions: Height: 15.5 inches x width: 11.5 inches x depth: 4.5 inches
Pros
- Durable
- Many sizes available
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- 15-inch laptop is a tight squeeze
- Not a lot of internal organization
- Straps are not padded
A classic fail-safe. These packs last forever and seem to match any outfit, which makes them great for dressing up or down.
Colors: 27 options
Material: Vinylon
Dimensions: Height: 14.5 inches; width: 10.25 inches; depth: inches
Customer review: “I got this to use on our family vacation, and I was so happy I did. It is lightweight and fits all I need for a day on the go with my family. The only thing that I would change would be larger water bottle pockets.”
Pros
- Fits laptops up to 15 inches
- Lots of organization
- Luggage trolley
- RFID pocket & anti-theft zippers
- Lightweight
Cons
- Small water bottle holder
This bag is ultra functional and very affordable while maintaining a sleek, versatile style. It’s also available in a 17.3-inch size.
Colors: 6 options
Material: N/A
Dimensions: Height: 17.3 inches; width: 11.4 inches; depth: 6.1 inches
Customer review: “I searched high and low, expensive and cheap and this bag is almost perfect!”
Pros
- Includes great accessories
- Lots of organization
- Trolley sleeve
- Fits laptop up to 15 inches
Cons
This backpack comes with a pacifier pouch, smell-proof bag for soiled clothes, a portable changing pad, AND a silicone teething ring. But even still, many reviewers say they don’t even use this as a diaper bag. It’s just an all-around good bag.
Colors: Grey, Black, Navy
Material: Nylon twill, vegan leather
Dimensions: Height: 15 inches; width: 12 inches; depth: 7.7 inches
Customer review: “On the fence? Don’t be. You need this. Just BUY IT....I truly do 100% recommend this!”
Pros
- Available in small, medium, or large
- Sustainable
- Lots of organization
- Vegan
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Laptop may not fit depending on bag and device sizes
You can’t go wrong with Dagne Dover. Every item I’ve tried has been super high quality, and customers love that this backpack comes in various sizes.
Colors: 6 options
Material: Neoprene, REPREVE
Dimensions: Height: 13 inches; width: 9.5 inches; depth: 5 inches (for small size)
Customer review: “Great backpack! Comfortable and has a lot of space and useful pockets/features. I use it for school, work, and traveling, and it’s great for all of these functions. It’s also stylish and really soft.”
Pros
- Bottom half is a spacious cooler
- Durable
- Water repellant
Cons
- Cooler cuts into main compartment space
- Won’t fit most laptop
The bottom of this backpack is a cooler, making it perfect for packing summit beers on your next hike or hard seltzers on your next trip to the beach. Or, you know, your packed lunch on a daily basis.
Colors: Grey, Brown, Black
Material: Polyester
Dimensions: Height: 17.8 inches; width: 12.5 inches; depth: 8 inches
Customer review: “When I received it, I liked it so much I had to get one for my husband as well! The insulated bottom is huge! My husband packs two one-liter water bottles, snacks, his lunch and an energy drink/pop daily. The top backpack part is a little smaller since it has the cooler on the bottom, but still holds so much. The bag is incredibly durable and lightweight also.”
Pros
- Stylish
Cons
- Small capacity
If you don’t need a high capacity bag that can house your laptop and other bulky items, this smaller sling is a great style.
Colors: Black
Material: Leather, cotton
Dimensions: N/A
Customer review: “Love the size! Strap is adjustable which is great since I’m short:) Beautiful leather too! A definite must have!”
Pros
- Very stylish
- Lots of pockets
- Under $100
Cons
- Small capacity
- Probably not durable
I did not expect to want to purchase (yet another) backpack while researching for this story, but here I am.
Colors: Brown
Material: Polyurethane, polyester
Dimensions: Height: 11 inches; width: 9.8 inches; depth: 8.3 inches
Pros
- Stylish
- Monogrammable
Cons
- Pricey
- Won’t fit a 15-inch laptop comfortably
Personally, my mom’s hand-me-down leather bags are some of my favorite—and highest quality—possessions. This option will age like fine wine.
Colors: English Saddle
Material: Leather
Dimensions: Height: 15.5 inches; width: 11.4 inches; depth: 4.75 inches
Customer review: “The sizing and style is perfect. Simple yet extremely spacious. I use it for work, school, and everything in between. It houses my 13 in. MacBook along with other books, hydroflask, and misc. items perfectly. Price is quite hefty but you really get what you're paying for.”
Pros
- Stylish
Cons
- Small capacity
- Pricey
This little brown number reminds me of something Aunt Becky from Full House would wear. And I’m into that.
Colors: Cocoa
Material: Faux leather
Dimensions: Height: 10 inches; width: 9.5 inches; depth: 4.5 inches
Pros
- Stylish
- Sustainable
- Lots of organization
Cons
- Small capacity
- Pricey
Can you ever go wrong with Prada? Simply put, no. The external pockets on this are a total bonus.
Colors: Black, Light Blue, Desert Beige
Material: Nylon
Dimensions: Height: 11 inches; width: 9.2 inches; depth: 4.7 inches
Pros
- Great for travel
- Sustainable
- Lightweight
- Trolley sleeve
- Waterproof
- Collapses into pouch
Cons
- Not meant for regular daily use
- Pricey for what it is
As someone who tends to carry a collapsible reusable shopping bag, I’m very interested in getting one of these for myself. This option is so ideal for hiking, traveling, shopping—the list goes on.
Colors: Teal, Navy, Black
Material: Recycled nylon
Dimensions: Height: 18.1 inches; width: 11 inches; depth: 5.9 inches
Customer review: “Really convenient, especially when traveling in case you return with additional souvenirs!”
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