First step to choosing a backpack that you expect will last you a long time is deciding what you need from it. How many notebooks and binders will you be carrying? Will you be commuting? How durable do you need it? Does it need to have some sort of water protection? Will you be carrying a laptop? How much does the look of it matter? Make a list of everything you need the backpack to have, and then start searching.Ā
The prices Iāve listed are not exact, depending on the store you buy from, they could run more or less expensive. My brother found the Herschel Little America Mid Volume on sale at theBay (Canada) for $60, so keep an eye out and save some money! Also Iāve used the black version of all of these backpacks so pretty colours arenāt an extraneous variable.
Fjallraven Kanken 16L (80USD/100CAD)Ā
Appearance, Size & Material:
This backpack has become everyoneās new favourite and I kid you not, I see at least two every single day. Itās is the smallest out of the ones Iāll be mentioning. This backpack is waterproof, so if you live in a more rainy climate then this may be a good idea! The thick material is very durable and can probably take some throwing around.
Itās got two compartments, one main and one small one as well as two open side pockets. The smaller compartment is sort of on the tiny side, and if you want something thicker like a heavy duty portable charger to fit, it might be difficult. This is a good option for those individuals who may not have many textbooks, notebooks or binders. If most of your life is on your electronic device, this will be a good option for you.The original version we are talking about does not have a laptop sleeve (on their website, they do have a laptop version for 115USD/153CAD, that fits a 15inch laptop or smaller), but the back padding is quite thick, so your laptop should be okay in a good quality sleeve. It also comes in a very wide array of colours.
Herschel Little America Mid Volume 17L (99USD/110CAD)Ā
Appearance, Size & Material:
Itās very small, despite the fact that it's a decent size. The zipper and magnetic clasp closure on the small pocket is very annoying, as is the drawstring closure on the main compartment. I find myself being extremely rough with it because the opening and closing isnāt very practical, especially if you donāt have a surface to set it on. Iāve only had it for a year and a half and itās condition isnāt as good as my Jansportās condition, after owning it for seven years. This bag is water resistant and waterproof.
It has two compartments, the larger of which has a pocket for a 13 inch laptop. The smaller compartment is quite small, and can barely hold my phone and portable charger comfortably (for reference, I have the iPhone 8 Plus). The most that Iāve been able to fit inside this backpack is two notebooks and one textbook. This is probably better for those who donāt have much to carry. Or, this would again be a good choice for someone who does most of their schoolwork on their laptop/ipad.
Herschel Dawson 20.5L (69USD/75CAD)
Appearance, Size & Material:
This backpack is quite aesthetically pleasing, with a more minimalist look to it. My opinion on the drawstring is the same with this backpack too, I hate it, but slightly less because instead of having two clasps, it only has one. The material of this bag does mean itās waterproof, which again, is advantageous to those living in a place where they get a lot of rain.
It has a laptop compartment that fits a 13 inch laptop. It has two smaller compartments, both of which have a clasp enclosure, unlike in the other backpacks Iāve talked about, the small compartment of this bag isn't horizontal, it is vertical. Theyāre quite deep pockets, and fit a good amount of stuff. Itās one of the bigger laptops in this category, and can fit around 3-4 notebooks and a binder or two. This is really good for people who have different weights to carry each day, because this is comfortable in both situations.
Jansport Superbreak 21L (36USD/40CAD)Ā
Appearance, Size & Material:
This is hands down the best quality of backpacks that Iāve encountered given the price. It ās neither waterproof nor water resistant though. It also comes in a wide variety of designs and colours and are probably the most easily available backpacks on this list. One reason I like this bag is because itās got a very basic design, so if you get a solid coloured one, itāll look very chic and the black colour will go with everything.
It has two compartments, one main and one small one. This backpack doesnāt have a laptop compartment, but the backing on it is very thick and sturdy, so even if you put your laptop in a sleeve, itāll be pretty secure. The large compartment is almost never ending (kind of like Hermioneās bag in The Deathly Hallows). Itās held six binders, four notebooks and two textbooks on one occasion for me. The small compartment is also quite spacious, and has a small built in organizer for pens and other smaller knicknacks. There are no water bottle holders on the sides.
The North Face Womenās Borealis 28L (89USD/110CAD)Ā
Appearance, Size & Material:
This isnāt what Iād refer to as a cute backpack. Itās got this criss cross design on the front made with what they refer to as a bungee system, if needed, you could probably stuff a sweater in this area. Otherwise, itās just kind of there. It comes in some nice colour combinations. There is also removable buckles, which are probably useful if youāre carrying a bunch of stuff. The straps look the thickest out of all the ones Iāve talked about, and that leads me to believe that theyāre much more padded.
This is a large backpack. Itās got three compartments, one very large one with a laptop sleeve that could fit a 15 inch laptop, and the middle one has a bunch of internal divisions for organization, it could fit a calculator, a bunch of pens, even a few notebooks. This divider also has a padded tablet/ipad sleeve. There are two extended mesh water bottle pockets, one of which has quick-draw cell-phone access. The main compartment is very large and could easily fit a large number of books and binders alongside your computer. This is ideal for people with a lot to carry, or commuters who donāt use their own cars.
The North Face Womenās Jester 28L (70USD/80CAD)
Appearance, Size & Material:
This is again, not the most cute backpack on the list. It has the same bungee cord on the front, and on their site they state: ābungee cords crisscrossing the front of the pack are perfect for stuffing your jacket and bike helmet under for convenient, hands-free walks from class to classā. The bungee cords are more narrow than on the Borealis. There is also some light reflective particles on the backpack, especially the sleeves, which are probably there to make it safer to walk around at night.
There are two compartments, both of which are pretty big. The front pocket has some internal organization the way the Borealis does. It also has a padded compartment for your ipad/tablet. There are two side mesh pockets for a water bottle or just smaller necessities. The larger compartment has a laptop sleeve again, and it fits a 13 inch laptop. The same compartment still has enough room to accommodate textbooks and binders. This is ideal for people with a lot to carry, and as stated in the other review, probably best for commuters who need to be on campus for a lot longer.
Jansport Big Student 34L (48USD/55CAD)
Appearance, Size & Material:
This is a BIG backpack. Itās got the most volume out of all of the ones weāve spoken about today, but itās also physically much wider than all of them. Thatās a negative for me, because if you ever fill it up completely, you kind of resemble those middle schoolers in television shows that have backpacks on that are bigger than them. I find that I can fit almost everything from this backpack into one of The North Face ones, and they arenāt as wide. Itās much more minimal looking than The North Face ones.
It has six compartments and two mesh side pockets, perfect for a water bottle. One of these compartments at the very back of the bag is made for a 15inch laptop (I have found this pocket on the American version but not the Canadian version). The other two large compartments can easily hold a multitude of notebooks and textbooks. In ninth grade, where I live, we had to bring seven notebooks and five textbooks every single day, and I found that everything fit in those two zippered compartments. And they were not thin textbooks. The next pocket coming towards the outside of the bag is kind of a reach and grab one in my opinion, it isnāt too deep, and ends at about five or six inches down. Perfect for a cellphone. The next one has a built in organizer for pens and smaller trinkets, as well as enough space for a pencil pouch or a bullet journal. The last compartment is quite roomy too, and would probably be best for gum, hair ties, lip balm, etc. This backpack would be ideal for anyone carrying a buttload of stuff.Ā
Jansport Right Pack Digital Edition 31L (65USD/70CAD)
Appearance, Size & Material:
This is pretty cute for being such a large backpack. It looks a lot like the Superbreak bag from Jansport. I definitely prefer this look to the Big Student. The colours I can find online are pretty limited in comparison to other Jansport bags. In this specific bag design there is a suede bottom, claiming to help with durability. Also, itās thicker than the average bottom so your electronics would be more secure and safe from breakage.
There are three compartments. The main compartment has a designated and separate space for both a 15inch laptop and an ipad/tablet, the former of which actually has a strap to lock it into place, as well as some additional room for textbooks and notebooks and such. Thereās not really much to say about this pocket because itās very basic and straightforward. The first smaller pocket has a built in organizer, perfect for putting pens, pencils and other small objects in. This is much better than the one in the Superbreak and looks more like the one in the Big Student. Itās got a zippered compartment inside the organizer as well. The final compartment is just a stash pocket for things like your phone or earphones, etc.
The winners are solely based on the grading system, which is quite subjective. I may not like largeness of the Jansport Big Student, but you might love it. Iād recommend giving your own scores and seeing which one is your winner!
Medium Sized: Jansport Superbreak
Large Sized: The North Face Womenās Jester
