There are many tech backpacks out there, though many of them seem to be aimed primarily at men. While we women don't necessarily need special "women's" tech backpacks, some of us enjoy having special features such as a wide variety of colors and patterns, a slimmer or lighter design, the ability to double as a diaper bag, or just a more stylish look. These backpacks will hold up any laptop up to a 15-inches and other essentials for the woman on the go.
Overall pick
This is my daily driver. It's comfortable to wear, has a slim and stylish design that's truly unisex, and goes with any outfit. It's lightweight, but it's sturdy and has a nicely padded laptop compartment. There are plenty of pockets and space for all of your other essentials, including a padded pocket suitable for an iPad. It's available in six colors.
Bare minimum
This bare minimum backpack is a laptop sleeve with straps. It does have two additional small pockets to carry your other gear, but this is for the woman who really just needs to carry a laptop comfortably and not too much else. The adjustable straps can convert the bag into a sling or messenger bag as well. It comes in two fun floral colorways.
Outdoor tough
Fjallraven backpacks are all the rage right now, and with good reason. Their water-resistant, dirt-resistant fabric is ultra-durable. Whether your adventures take you through the urban jungle or the actual jungle, your laptop will be safe in its padded compartment. These Fjallraven bags also come in tons of gorgeous colors.
Basic but colorful
This is a basic but well-designed backpack that comes in some pretty colors, as well as this practical grey option. Padded straps also make it comfortable to wear. Along with a laptop compartment big enough for a 15-inch laptop, it has lots of other pockets and a USB charging port.
Colorful and big
This larger-sized but still lightweight backpack has plenty of pockets and room for all of your stuff. The laptop compartment holds up to a 17-inch laptop. It has an external USB with a built-in charging cable that attaches to your power bank. It comes in some lovely, soft colors as well as more unisex options.
Stylish and flexible
Two large handles on top mean that you can carry this bag in different ways. It has a built-in USB port, laptop compartment, and tons of other pockets for carrying your gear. For when you travel, a luggage belt on the back makes it easy to slide onto the handle of your rolling suitcase.
Chic diaper bag
This stylish backpack comes in lots of pretty colors. The top opens wide for easy access to all your stuff. The padded laptop compartment holds up to a 15-inch laptop, and there are other pockets too. It's advertised as a diaper bag but is also suited to everyday use.
Pretty and functional
Don't let the pretty patterns fool you; this is a functional laptop bag with room for your 15-inch laptop, plenty of pockets, USB charging port, and built-in USB cable that attaches to your power bank. Choose from 10 colorful prints or a simple gray.
Which one should you choose?
You can't go wrong with any of these backpacks: they all have a compartment or sleeve that will hold and protect up to a 15-inch laptop.
When choosing a tech backpack, I look at a couple of key elements. It needs a padded laptop compartment that's large enough for my computer and comfortable strap that distribute weight properly (even a MacBook Air can get heavy if you carry it around long enough). Additional pockets are a must for organizing all of your other gear. The Winblo Laptop Backpack (opens in new tab) is a good example of a bag with generous pockets. Charging ports are a nice feature to have in a tech backpack, but not entirely necessary.
Because I'm a person who pays attention to my style, looks do matter to me. My backpack needs to go with my wardrobe and fit in with my overall look. I also need my backpack to carry all of my necessities; I don't like to carry a purse, too. I always recommend the Bellroy Classic Backpack (opens in new tab) to my friends, because I use it daily and love it. It's streamlined in both style and function, but it holds everything I need in its multiple pockets. The laptop compartment and the shoulder straps are both generously padded.
Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer, social media manager, and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for AppAdvice and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is a wife and mom (and dog mom) who is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to travel the world and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.
