The 15 Best Backpack Brands To Keep on Your Radar in 2024

• Pros: Affordable, has bags that are durable, has longevity, can choose multiple colors with bags
• Cons: Styling of the bags isn't as diverse as some other brands
• A standout backpack: Recon Backpack, $109
• A promising review: "I'm really surprised, but I shouldn't be. This is a best-selling bag from a bag empire (The North Face, Jansport, Eastpak, Kipling). I find the design and build set it apart. Better zippers. A thicker bottom panel. A smarter front compartment that doesn't intrude into the main compartment. A great laptop compartment and superior back panel. Even the straps are connected differently from most other brands, so they are both durable and flexible. This is my new favorite travel backpack and airline personal item. It's awesome." - The North Face Reviewer
• Warranty: One year
• Return policy: Within 60 days of purchase

The North Face has long been one of the top-rated brands to buy backpacks from over the decades. Having been around for more than 50 years, the company specializes in activewear and outdoor sports gear that includes a wide range of backpacks. Pictured above is The North Face Recon backpack which is stylistically attractive with ample room to match. This our number one pick out of best backpack brands around when it comes to balancing price, quality and style.

• Pros: Affordable, great quality, bags last a long time and are versatile
• Cons: Bags sometimes don't have as much space as other brands
• A standout backpack: Comfort Carry Portable Locker Pack, $89.99 - $109
• A promising review: "Very pleased with this bag! It has lots of space for my 13 year old son that refuses to use his school locker and therefore carries everything with him all day. It’s very comfortable and very high quality." - L.L. Bean Reviewer
• Warranty: One year
• Return policy: Within one year

L.L. Bean is another tried and trusted backpack brand that has been around for decades. As we personally owned a couple of L.L. Bean bags through our school years, we can attest to it being durable and the highest of quality. Made with an ergonomic design and the same attention to detail as their hiking packs, this bag is built to last you for a long time.

• Pros: Affordable, has lots of different color options, offers an adequate amount of space
• Cons: Bags may not last as long as other brands
• A standout backpack: adidas Prime VI Backpack, $70
• A promising review: "Great space to carry all my gym stuff and what ever else i need for the day." - Dick's Sporting Goods Reviewer
• Warranty: Within six months
• Return policy: Full refund within 30 days

Adidas has multiple good backpack options as well that are built for the long haul. Like the other brands listed, there’s no shortage of bags to choose from, with plenty of sizing and color choices. For our adidas selection, we’re rolling with the Prime 6 as it is very spacious, highly rated, and has tons of units available at your disposal.

• Pros: Durable, versatile, great quality, has multiple color options to choose from
• Cons: Bags can run on the pricier side
• A standout backpack: Patagonia Refugio 26L Pack, $109
• A promising review: "Overall nice pack. Good if you’re looking for something simple, casual and lightweight. Fits drinking bottles on sides easily. Removable, padded insert if you want to tote a laptop or tablet. Front pocket is a little awkward, zips up and down. Definitely need to remember to zipper it completely or stuff might fall out." - REI Reviewer
• Warranty: Lifetime guarantee
• Return policy: No set time limit, but item must be in new condition with tags attached

Trusted, respected, and high-quality detected. As usual, we have a couple of luxury options for those that enjoy finer things in life. While not in the upper echelon of luxury brands, the pricing of Patagonia does technically qualify as such. The most important thing, however, is the features and durability, which are excellent. Our favorite is the Refugio Daypack 26L, which comes highly rated.

• Pros: Durable, versatile, great quality, has multiple color options to choose from, is water-repellent
• Cons: Bags can run smaller compared to some other brands
• A standout backpack: New Crew Backpack 22L, $98
• A promising review: "Great quality! Its worth the price, spacious and used it while raining. Guess what? It's indeed water repellent!!!" - Lululemon Reviewer
• Warranty: Quality Promise
• Return policy: Within 30 days of original purchase date

Lululemon doesn’t just sell athletic/athleisure wear, they also carry backpacks as well for those that didn’t know. Tons of backpack and color options are available as well, with the pricing reasonable like most of Lululemon’s products are. The New Crew backpack is among our favorites, designed for being on the move, while also water-repellent.

• Pros: Stylish, versatile, can last a long time, has ranges of different styles and colors
• Cons: Tends to be pretty pricey
• A standout backpack: GG Supreme Pattern Backpack, $2,250
• A promising review: ⁦"Great bag, huge amount of storage space and looks brilliant!⁩" - GUCCI Reviewer
• Warranty: Two year warranty from date of purchase
• Return policy: Within 30 days of delivery date

If you really want to drop a bag (pun intended), you could go with any and everything Gucci. Gucci is Gucci, so not much else to be said as their bags are not only excellent, but a great investment. This visually stunning Gucci GF Black backpack pictured above is a black/gray combo enriched with Web straps and black leather trims that’s comfortable and easy on the eyes.

• Pros: Offers a variety of bags for different outdoor activities, bags are spacious, great quality, multiple colors and styles to choose from
• Cons: No real con, but some of the bags can sell out fast
• A standout backpack: Talon 11, $140, $105
• A promising review: ⁦"This is a fantastic pack! The design is very comfortable and sturdy! I only wish it had more external pockets as the top pocket feels a little awkward in its positioning." - Osprey Reviewer
• Warranty: Will repair any damage or defect free of charge during the first five years from the date of manufacture
• Return policy: Within 30 days from receipt of product

Osprey has been around for the better part of these last fifty years, certainly earning the respect of both avid and casual backpack wearers. Made with the outdoors in mind, these bags can be used for hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and more. They even have backpacks for skiing and snowboarding! Since we’ve yet to feature a bag meant specifically for winter outdoor activities, we’ll go with the Mutant 52, which is one of their best.

• Pros: Bags are durable and affordably priced, versatile, can last a long time, has multiple color and styling options
• Cons: Bags run smaller compared to some other brands
• A standout backpack: Nike Hayward Backpack, $57
• A promising review: ⁦"Great middle school backpack with plenty of room for my 8th grade son." - Dick's Sporting Goods Reviewer, $57
• Warranty: If Nike shoes or apparel develop a material or workmanship flaw within two years of the manufacture date they will repair
• Return policy: Can return within 60 days of purchase

Nike is another athletic/athleisure brand that provides options in the backpack scene (though they seem to be more geared towards book bags for sports). Sometimes you need different bags for different occasions, and Nike is obviously great for their gym/sports oriented products. We’ve mentioned the Nike Hayward Backpack on a few occasions as we feel this is a solid medium-sized backpack that is certainly cool for the gym.

• Pros: Bags are durable and affordably priced, bags are spacious, offers bags for various different outdoor activities
• Cons: Doesn't have as many color choices for certain bags as other brands do
• A standout backpack: Deuter Speed Lite 21 Pack, $80, $59.93
• A promising review: "Love this backpack, just returned from a two week trek to Scotland. This was perfect for carry on and for hiking around. It holds much more than you would think. I also have put my iPad pro in the compartment and it didn't make the pack too heavy." - REI Reviewer
• Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty for damages and defects
• Return policy: Can return within 30 days of delivery

Deuter is a German brand with a knack for providing sturdy well produced backpacks. While not a “household” name persay, you better believe that they can hang with the best of the best. Whether you are looking for a hiking bag, or even just something for the office, Deuter has you covered. Our recommendation would be the Deuter Speed Lite 21 Pack.

• Pros: Bags are durable and affordably priced, bags are spacious, offers bags for various different outdoor activities, versatile
• Cons: Can run on the pricier side
• A standout backpack: Allpa 35 L Travel Pack, $200
• A promising review: "Love this travel pack, super sturdy, very sleek looking and packs a lot of stuff. I also love that it has the waistband that can be tucked in during transit, if needed. This bag even fit all overhead storage in all my flights to eastern europe, but it wasn't fully packed so I was able to squish it in with one of the super small airlines." - REI Reviewer
• Warranty: Will attempt to repair any and all damage caused by accidents or wear and tear from normal use, for the functional life of the product. 
• Return policy: Accepts returns or exchanges within 60 days of purchase

Figured we’d throw something in that’s specifically for travel as Cotopaxi is a company that designs bags specifically for traveling. Cotopaxi's motto is “Start Here. Go Anywhere,” which should be enough to get you searching for your next trip. With its intuitive hip design, Allpa was created with organization and minimalist features in mind. Perfect for impromptu road trips and international voyages. 

• Pros: Bags are stylish and functional, durable, versatile, has multiple color and style options available
• Cons: Can run on the smaller side in terms of space compared to other brands
• A standout backpack: Nordace Siena, $155.09, $97.40
• A promising review: "This is my 3rd Siena Backpack. The only reason I have had to replace it as my young dog keeps chewing the straps if I forget to put it away. Maybe she thinks I can’t leave her if it’s broken. Otherwise love the compartments for traveling, does not feel bulky yet has lot of space for packing items and comfortable for travel." - Nordace Reviewer
• Warranty: Warranty of one year on production malfunctions
• Return policy: Within 30 days of receiving order

Speaking of backpack brands that go down the minimalist route, Nordace is another hip suave brand to browse. A slightly less expensive option, Nordace bags are crafted in a modern square silhouette, while featuring roomy well-crafted designs. Most of their bags are pretty similar in terms of look, so it’s really just about picking the one that best suits what you are looking for. Listed above is the Nordace Siena, which we like a lot for its style and functionality.

• Pros: Stylish, functional, offers comfort, has multiple styles and colors to choose from, offers versatility
• Cons: Can run on the smaller side in terms of space compared to other brands
• A standout backpack: Neoprene Backpack, $195
• A promising review: "I purchase this for a family member and they have like using it. The straps are comfortable and the pockets are useful." - Dagne Dover Reviewer
• Warranty: One year from time of purchase if there's a defect
• Return policy: Within 30 days of shipment

Dagne Dover. Just rolls off the tongue doesn’t it? This is a brand for the organizationally challenged with its next level space and pockets. Simply put, there’s absolutely no way that you can lose or misplace any of your belongings with a Dagne Dover brand. You can go with their Nova Sling Bag if you are looking for something smaller, or their Dakota Neoprene Backpack if you want something slightly bigger. The choice is yours.

• Pros: Stylish, functional, offers comfort, has multiple styles and colors to choose from, offers durability
• Cons: Can run on the pricier side for certain bags
• A standout backpack: Little America Backpack, $130, $77.99
• A promising review: "I got the backpack primarily for work but also as a day pack for general purposes. I'm pleased to say it works great for both! I firstly love the style which can fit both professional and casual environments. Definitely stands out among the pack. The space is also great for all the essentials with accessible pockets for keys, wallets, water bottle. The laptop sleeve feels secure and protective. For day-to-day use, I think it's the perfect allrounder." - Herschel Reviewer
• Warranty: The Apparel Limited Warranty is valid for 5 years, beginning on the date of purchase 
• Return policy: Within 30 days of purchase date

Herschel is another brand that actively keeps nature lovers in mind as well, with bags for men, women, and unisex. They are also very popular on Instagram if you need a little extra convincing to purchase. Since we mentioned nature, we have to include the Herschel Little America Backpack, which is a fashionable sized-down take on some of their bigger bags. Should you need a bigger backpack, Herschel has plenty of options available for you as well, so make sure to check out their website.

• Pros: Athletic, comfortable, has plenty of styles and colors available, affordable
• Cons: Can run on the smaller side for certain bags compared to other brands
• A standout backpack: UA Hustle Sport Backpack, $45
• A promising review: "This is big enough for clothing and a pair of shoes. Got it for my high schooler and it’s so little but I think it would work for elementary kids or just to use for working out/sports. Very nice bag and under armour bags really do last. Great price too." - Under Armour Reviewer
• Warranty: Can be returned or exchanged FREE within 60 days with proof of purchase. Items must be in their original condition and accompanied by the original Under Armour proof of purchase
• Return policy: Free returns within 60 days of purchase

Under Armour is a little slept on in the backpack department as well. Like Nike and adidas, they have a lot of great selections such as this UA Hustle Backpack. Doesn’t this bag look cool? Like you’re about to go into outer space? While it appears small, it’s actually quite spacious (big enough to fit a basketball). It’s also water-resistant, has breathable air mesh, removable strap clips, and a laptop sleeve. You can find this and similar backpack options for a great bargain at Under Armour.

• Pros: Stylish, versatile, offers plenty of storage space, has lots of styles available, durable
• Cons: On the expensive side
• A standout backpack: Crazy Horse Leather Backpack, $458
• A promising review: "I have owned this bag now for roughly 7 months and have used it almost everyday for work and school. he buckles and overall quality of the leather is far superior than luxury backpacks double its price. As soon as I opened the package, the sweet smell of leather instantly grabs your attention. 7 months after and the smell of leather is still there. My only gripe so far has been the leather’s structural rigidity. When I first got the bag, it stood erect and more firm. The top of the bag slouches now. I will probably try to stuff it with towels and apple the Yukon Bags leather cream to see if it can return to its original shape." - Yukon Reviewer
• Warranty: Warrants products to be free from manufacturing defects for a period of 18 months from the original date of purchase.
• Return policy: Within 30 days

We’ve never seen backpacks that look like wooden floors before. That seems to be the theme amongst Yukon bags, and it is certainly very interesting. The Yukon backpack can take you from school to work, has a ton of room, and additional features including: zippered compartments, roomy open pockets, and built-in keychain holders amongst others. This is certainly one of the best backpack brands for the more aesthetic-oriented student in your life.