We hope you enjoy our recommendations! Some recommendations may be samples, but all recommendations are independently selected by our editors. FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may receive a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Positive review: “This backpack is compact, well made and has great colours! This is one of the best backpacks I’ve ever used for many reasons: it’s compact, well made and has great colours. It’s a compact backpack which is perfect if you don’t want to carry anything bulky (which is great for flights). It has plenty of room for your computer, tablet, gaming device (my 3DS), their cables etc. It’s worth noting that due to its narrow design the compartments don’t open up like a traditional backpack so it took me a while to get used to it. The backpack itself and the straps are well made and feel sturdy overall.” – James
Brevite is a small, family-owned company based in Brooklyn, New York that makes camera and everyday gear backpacks that are functional and stylish.
Rave Reviews: “This is what I’ve been dreaming about! I’ve bought three or four camera backpacks over the last three years and could never find one that met all my needs. This one has it all! Lots of pockets and space! I’ll definitely be buying another one!” – Taliena K.
“Wonderful! I always complain that whenever I have an opportunity to take a great photo, I forget to bring my camera. Now I can take my camera and everything else I usually carry with me and I’m always ready to go! There’s plenty of room inside, I love the color, and it looks like a completely unassuming school backpack so I don’t have to lug around a camera bag. This is definitely my favorite carry-on bag! ! ! ” — Charles M.
Get it on Brevite for $169.99+ (available in two sizes and 10 colors) or on Amazon for $169.99 (available in two colors).
There are eight (!!!) pockets in total, half of which are on the inside and half on the outside. There are also two bottle pockets and a “parent pocket” for easy access to other essentials. This mini changing bag comes with an easy-to-clean vegan leather changing mat that has its own zippered pocket for extra cushioning when carried in a backpack.
Itzy Ritzy is a small family-run business producing a wide range of baby products and other essentials for parents.
Rave review: “I did a lot of research to find the best diaper bag for babies. My daughter is 2 and I just couldn’t stand her lugging around such a big bag. This is it!!! It’s super cute and petite but holds so much more than I thought. I think it would even work as a newborn diaper bag! I use one of the organizers from the travel set to organize her wipes/diapers and I think it holds more.” – Caitlin
Britt Rose, a former BuzzFeed Shopping columnist, said: “I recently returned from Italy. As someone who usually prefers a small backpack over a handbag, I found this to be a great peace of mind purchase as I spent hours wandering around different cities. I’m happy to say that after two weeks of daily use, I’m convinced I’ll be taking this with me on every trip from now on. It’s small enough that it doesn’t feel bulky or uncomfortable during the day, but there’s enough room for everything you need on the go – my wallet, sunscreen, glasses case, hand sanitizer, water bottle, snacks, even a small umbrella – and still have room to spare! And it opens at the back, meaning someone would have to really work to get it open to get to the valuables. I got the medium one in black faux pebbled leather, which is pretty cute considering the price!”
Rave review: “I bought this backpack to use as a purse on vacation, and it works great. The main compartment is secure when I’m out and about because the zipper is protected by the back. It also has two zippered side pockets: one for my phone and one for my sunglasses and other things I want easy access to. I love that I can wear it as a purse to dinner and use it as a backpack during the day so my shoulders don’t get too tired. Highly recommend!” – Allison
Rave review: “I love this backpack! It’s the perfect size for my school notes, iPad, water bottle, notebook, etc. It’s beautifully made, the stitching and zippers are great, and the leather smells great. I hope this backpack lasts a lifetime.” —LKH18
This backpack features a protective laptop compartment, a spacious main compartment, a front compartment with internal organization, a secure zippered pocket, and a padded tablet compartment. Additionally, the backpack features two external water bottle pockets and a fleece-lined external pocket for valuables like your phone, keys, or sunglasses.
Rave review: “My daughter ordered this backpack for school. When it arrived, she was able to fit all of her school supplies in it and still have room to spare. The Chromebook compartment is spacious and secure. She found the many compartments to help her organize her school supplies and stay organized. The colors and styles are perfect for her.” – Megan
They can be purchased from The North Face for $99 (available in 9 styles) or on Amazon for $98.95 (available in 24 styles).
The bag includes a main compartment with an internal pocket, two internal slip pockets, two side pockets and a front zipped pocket. The anti-theft design means the bag opens from the back instead of the front, ensuring your belongings are always safe and secure!
Rave review: “I love everything about this convertible backpack. It has enough room for all my essentials for my trip to Australia – I was able to fit small toiletries, my Kindle, power bank, charging cables, and snacks on the plane. It’s light enough to fit my water bottle as a carry-on when traveling around town. I love that it zips up in the back so I don’t have to worry about someone stealing my money, cards, or passport. And it’s so cute! My aunt loves it so much she wants one for herself!! Overall, a great buy!” – Whitney Wynn
This lightweight and durable laptop backpack is made from water-resistant polyester fabric and features a separate compartment for your computer. It can hold a laptop with a screen diagonal of 13 to 15.6 inches. It also has a spacious storage compartment where you can keep other essentials close at hand. The front compartment features several pockets and a hook for keys. It also has a USB port, so you can plug in a power bank and charge your device* in the hidden anti-theft pocket and keep it safe!
Rave review: “Hey everyone, I love this backpack! I fell in love with it from the moment I got it. There are so many great things about this backpack, but if I had to pick one, it would be that it looks small on the outside but holds everything. It’s amazing that it fits my 15.6″ laptop (trust me, it’s huge) and it has so many little pockets for small items. If you’re looking for a backpack that holds everything you need, distributes the weight evenly across your shoulders, has room for a water bottle, and a USB port, you’ve found it! I’m so happy with my purchase!” – ban
Panda UA is a small company from Ukraine that specializes in the production of handmade products from 100% genuine leather.
Rave reviews: “I love my bag! The workmanship is great, the leather is gorgeous and the colours are beautiful. The inside pocket is the perfect size for my laptop. And the separate pocket on the front is perfect for my phone. I am very pleased.” – Kirsty Baker
Get it from the Panda UA shop on Etsy for $98.50+ (originally $197+, available in five sizes, ten colors, can be personalized or not).
Rave review: “This backpack is durable and comfortable for everyday use. I use it as a commute bag and it fits my iPad, lunch box, wallet and a few other small items. It also has two side drink pockets that are perfect for water bottles and coffee cups. The small front pocket is perfect for a small pack of wipes, hand sanitizer and keys. Very happy with this purchase!” – Megeisky
This compact backpack features two external zippered water bottle pockets, two stretch mesh side pockets, and an internal Velcro pocket on the back panel. There are four loops on the front for attaching a carabiner or flashlight clip.
Promising review: “I bought the Stowaway Packable 20L backpack. It’s lightweight and durable. Perfect size and amount of pockets. I go to the gym every day and it fits my sneakers, weightlifting gloves, towel, snacks, water bottle (in the outside bungee holder), phone, keys, wallet, etc. and it’s the perfect size. Lots of color options. So glad I bought it!” -East Coast, Westbound
The bag features a large zippered compartment for a tablet, a small zippered pocket for a phone or wallet, two mesh pockets on each side for a water bottle or umbrella, a multi-functional storage compartment, and an accessory compartment with a functional pocket.
Rave review: “I carried this Mosiso bag all over Italy for two weeks! Lightweight… lots of room… I used the two mesh side pockets for sunglasses and computer gear. On rainy days, I used a small travel umbrella instead of sunglasses. The clip keeps a water bottle handy, and I sometimes tuck a light jacket into the clip. The bag has three compartments of varying depths and an extra mesh pocket to protect my iPad Pro. I wore it over my shoulder like a backpack and sometimes tucked my wrist under the clip. The strap is adjustable and can be fastened on either side. I always had quick access to my iPhone. It was so convenient and I finally felt truly organized! I got so many compliments… what a find!” – Jean Knapke
Features a dedicated laptop compartment, external zipped pocket with rotating key clip, large internal divider and elastic side pocket for water bottle or umbrella.
Positive review: “This bag holds so much stuff. I use it for documents, as a suitcase, and it also holds my laptop, water bottle, travel toiletries, charger, water bottle, and a bunch of travel medicine pouches. I use it every day and will buy more when this one breaks.” – LOVE
Baboon to the Moon is a small company that makes fun and functional adventure gear made from high quality materials.
Rave review: “This bag is amazing – it’s tiny but holds an incredible amount of stuff! A lot of bag companies make the side pockets too small, but this bag fits a 24oz water bottle. The top pocket is small and great for keys/lip balm or anything else you need to grab quickly. The main compartment opens up for easy access to everything, which is perfect. This bag is amazing!” – Natasha T.
The inside of the bag has a secure zipped pocket and an additional zipped compartment. The bag has six outer pockets, a large zipped front pocket, an additional zipped pocket, a front side pocket, two side pockets for small water bottles or an umbrella, and a hidden back pocket. The luggage strap is designed to make it easier for you to attach it to the handle of your suitcase.
Rave review: “This backpack is exactly what I needed for my recent travels. It has lots of zippered compartments on the inside and lots of really handy compartments on the outside. It’s the perfect size for your everyday essentials and has plenty of room for extras you buy. It’s nice, sturdy, lightweight, and the adjustable straps are comfortable. I love the zipper on the back for a wallet and other valuables. After looking at a lot of backpacks, I’m so glad I bought this one.” – Lee Ann
One zipped pocket and one open pocket inside the main compartment. Open side pockets on the outside for water bottles. There are also two separate zipped pockets on the front of the backpack.
Rave review: “I love this backpack so much! I got the pink one and it’s so pretty! I love that there were so many colors to choose from when I ordered it! It’s just the right amount of room for a lot of stuff without feeling like a suitcase.