The Six Best Laptop Bags For Back To School

Mini backpacks may be trendy right now, but they're not necessarily the most practical choice for a back-to-school bag. Particularly because of the pandemic and remote learning, laptops are becoming more and more necessary for students in high school and college (via The Washington Post). Having a way to safely carry around expensive computer equipment is a must. A school bag is also something that gets basically daily use and has to withstand all kinds of conditions — being shoved in lockers, opened and closed multiple times a day, and filled with books, notebooks, perhaps even a lunch bag and water bottle on top of a laptop. You want something that lasts, and for those in high school and college who've stopped growing, buying a good backpack or other laptop bag now means you could have something that's used for years.

These bags all have a dedicated section for a laptop in them, and — bonus — all of the brands give back to the community and the world in their own way.

Nisolo's Loreto Messenger Bag — 11.5" H x 16.75" W x 3.25" L and available in leather or waxed canvas — has got plenty of storage for back-to-school needs. Along with the interior padded laptop section, it has a dedicated spot for a water bottle along with other organizational pockets and an exterior pocket, via GQ.

Nisolo started by releasing handcrafted leather shoes, and it's expanded into other products, including bags — the focus for the Nashville-based brand is on fair trade and giving artisans a fair wage for the work that they do, per Medium. Nisolo product labels don't just tell you what the items are made of, but they also reveal what the impact of making that item has on the workers and the planet (via Glossy). 

CEO Patrick Woodyard explained why that label was so important: "The reality is that most consumers have almost no recognition, no knowledge of what happens to their product before it arrives at their doors."

Another roomy bag is the United By Blue Deadstock 25L Convertible Carryall — 15.5" H x 13.25" W x 5.25" D. It's made from deadstock, which is leftover fabric that can't be used for its original purpose. Even better than that, it's deadstock from (R)evolution fabric that's made from plastic waste. The padded laptop section fits up to a 15" laptop, and what's particularly cool about it is that you can wear it as a backpack or you can remove the backpack straps and carry it as tote. For a more classic backpack look and also in their (R)evolution Collection that uses recycled plastic, they have the 25L Transit Pack, which can fit up to a 17" laptop, per The Hollywood Reporter.

With every purchase from United By Blue, a pound of trash is removed from waterways, via Green Matters. Brian Linton, the founder and CEO of United By Blue, talked to The Good Trade about the company's cleanups, which happen across the country. "Rather than simply writing a check, facilitating and encouraging customers to participate in cleanups allows them to see in a very tangible way how their purchase impacts ocean conservation efforts," Linton said.