A teacher backpack gives teachers better ease of movement, more comfort, and better posture. To make it to our list, the backpack had to be highly rated, hold a laptop, and have small pockets for smaller accessories. We looked for affordable backpacks that look professional and stylish and could double as a travel or a day backpack.
What to Look for in Teacher Backpacks
While some teachers prefer traditional bags or tote bags, others prefer teacher backpacks with extra features. Some popular features include a built-in USB charger, padded laptop sleeve, and carrying handles. However, there are three main features to look for when buying the best backpack or teacher bags. These features include size, a professional look, waterproof material, and enough pockets to stay organized.
Size
It is essential to find a laptop backpack that is not too big or too small. The right size for you depends on what you wish to carry. If you are taking a laptop to school, you want a backpack with a separate padded compartment for laptops. You must also consider school supplies such as papers, accessories, books, water bottles, and lunch boxes. If you plan to travel, you may also want a backpack that fits personal items.
Professional Look
When purchasing a teacher backpack, you want one that looks professional. A traditional backpack is often the most professional-looking, with enough storage space. The backpack should match professional attire and be flexible enough for casual use.
Organization
Teachers need a lot of stage space. They carry large items like laptops and folders and small items like pens and keys. Substitute teachers have their backpacks filled with even more. It is vital to purchase a backpack to organize everything you need.
Small pockets are great for pens, pencils, flash drives, chargers, and more, while large backpacks are ideal for laptops, books, papers, and teachers’ editions. The built-in storage capacity is essential.
Another vital aspect of the organization is ensuring it is not overpacked to help keep the carrying weight lower.
The 8 Best Teacher Backpacks at a Glance
- Overall Best – Modoker Vintage Laptop Backpack
- Largest on the List – Yorepek Extra Large Travel Backpack
- Best Design – Kroser Laptop Backpack
- Our Choice – Matein Travel Laptop Backpack
- Best Commuter Backpack – TUMI Laptop Backpack
- Most Colorful – Vera Bradley Signature XL Backpack
- Best All-Around – OGIO Metro Street Computer Backpack
- Most Durable – Ruzioon Vintage Buffalo Leather Backpack
Our 8 Best Backpacks for Teachers Reviewed
1. Modoker Vintage Laptop Backpack
This Modoker Vintage Laptop Backpack is the perfect backpack for teachers who need several pockets for small school supplies. It is made of water-resistant material and comes with a laptop compartment that fits up to a 15.6-inch laptop. It is armored with an external USB port and a set-in charging cable. To help keep you organized, this pack has six compartments.
The padded backstrap gives adjustability. It is lightweight, scratch-resistant, and anti-tear and the leather belts keep the main zip pocket extra secure.
Our Thoughts
The look of this water-resistant laptop bag is modern and a perfect fit for a stylish teacher. There is plenty of space in the six compartments to hold your teacher’s needs, including laptops, tablets, teacher editions, papers to grade, and a grade book. There are no divider pockets for pens and pencils, so you may look into purchasing a pencil case.
The zippers tend to get stuck, but it is nothing that inhibits the bag’s overall life. We love this backpack’s charger feature; however, you must supply the power bank to charge your phone or tablet. Overall this backpack is durable, lightweight, and straightforward. There are few bells and whistles, but it is affordable and will get the job done.
2. Yorepek Extra Large Travel Backpack
This is a standard basic black backpack but deserves a spot on our list of the best backpacks for teachers. The Yorepek Laptop Backpack has anti-theft zippers, a super large backpack, a built-in USB port, a headphone hole, and a water-resistant one. The laptop backpack opens to lay flat at 180°.
Available in two sizes, this backpack will fit a 17-inch laptop. Made from polyester with a nylon lining, you have six colors to choose from. It is TSA-friendly, which means it can quickly scan while flying. It has two mesh pockets on the site and a mesh pocket at the front that holds a power bank, pen case, and anti-theft features. In addition, this backpack has two side pockets that can hold umbrellas and water bottles.
Our Thoughts
This is a great teacher backpack for teachers who carry a lot of books. It is durable and unisex. The main compartment is spacious and great for multiple teacher editions and assignments that need grading. It is comfortable to wear and has an ergonomic design. It is affordable and has anti-theft zipper pockets. We love this feature mainly for traveling. It is well made and very affordable.
The only downfall of this teacher backpack is the capability to overstuff the large capacity and make it heavy to carry. But the oversized padded straps make this backpack comfortable to hold.
3. Kroser Laptop Backpack
Available in two sizes, the Kroser Laptop Backpack comes in seven colors and patterns. With a nylon lining, this laptop backpack has a framed wide-open mouth to allow easy access.
There is a separate built-in laptop compartment in the main compartment. The laptop sleeve will fit a 15.6 laptop. The PU, high-quality leather handles give another way to carry the backpack. There is a luggage strap to help with travel and attach it to a suitcase.
Like other teacher backpacks on this list, there is a built-in USB charging port and well-padded shoulder straps. There are several front functional pockets for smaller items, making it perfect for any substitute teacher—two side pockets for objects you need easily accessible, like a bottle or umbrella.
Our Thoughts
Unlike the Modoker and Yorepeck laptop backpacks on our list, this bag is geared toward any teacher. It is stylish and professional and ideal for someone looking for a shoulder bag. We like the different carrying aspects, whether on the back or by the handles, you will find comfort in carrying it. The medium size of this backpack can be troublesome, especially if you have a larger laptop.
A 17″ laptop will not fit in this backpack. The open-top design makes it easy to find your items providing convenience and comfort. This mid-range, highly-rated pack is versatile and professional and makes it one of the best teacher backpacks on our list.
4. Matein Travel Laptop Backpack
This is an awesome teacher backpack. Here is why: packed with features, the Matein Laptop Backpack has a USB charging port with a built-in charging cable, a laptop sleeve, elasticized pockets, a front-side pocket, and a rear-padded pocket.
This backpack is available in two sizes and ten colors with a comfortable, sturdy handle, hanging clasps, adjustable straps, and a multi-panel airflow back.
Just like the backpack from Yorepek, it fits a 15.6 laptop or a 17″ laptop. It is travel-friendly and easy to carry. A spacious main compartment will fit teacher planners, folders, and a lunch box. The front pocket will hold numerous pens, keys, a cell phone, and anything a teacher carries from home to school.
Our Thoughts
This awesome backpack is affordable, durable, great for organization, and our top pick. We love this backpack for teachers. It exceeds our expectations as it is water-resistant, has excellent storage, is sturdy for heavy-duty, and is lightweight.
It sits nicely in the back of the wearer, especially for shorter carriers. All the pockets are made of high-quality material. It looks very professional and versatile. This backpack is somewhat masculine, but the solid dark colors will suit any outfit. It is excellent for work, travel, and school. This comfortable backpack will not disappoint.
5. TUMI Voyageur Carson Laptop Backpack
If you don’t want a bulky teacher bag, check out this stylish backpack. With a similar design to the Kroser laptop, the Tumi backpack is available in four colors. It has a zippered tech padded laptop compartment that can fit a 15” laptop. It also has a padded tablet pocket. Like other teacher backpacks on this list, the Voyageur Carson has a sleeve to attach to a suitcase handle.
This laptop backpack has multiple exterior pockets and is water-resistant. The pack also features lockable zippers, detachable leather keyrings, padded straps, a top carrying handle, and a hidden cell phone pocket. It also comes with a bottle pocket and is designed from nylon and textile lining. It has a 14.5” shoulder drop and Tumi Tracer. Tumi Tracer is an exclusive complimentary program to help find lost and stolen items.
Our Thoughts
This high-dollar backpack is functional, purposeful, and practical. This chic backpack has a design that doesn’t compromise style. The spacious layout allows teachers to take home everything they need to work from home, including laptops, supplies, grade books, and a planbook. It is gorgeous and has a stunning design. The Voyageur Carson has an excellent carrying capacity, adequate storage, and professional design.
6. Vera Bradley Signature XL Backpack
This is the only backpack on our list made from 100% cotton and polyester lining. The Vera Bradley Signature XL Backpack has a quilted pattern that is lightweight and durable. It comes in 12 different colorful designs; everyone should find their favorite color.
Tech essentials are safe, with two interior mesh slip pockets for laptops and tablets. It also has two side-slip pockets, a front zipper pocket, a main compartment, a front compartment, a laptop compartment, and a hidden back zip pocket.
The front zip pocket has four slip pockets, three pen slip pockets, and an ID window to keep your supplies organized and quick to grab. Vera Bradley also has a Signature Backpack that is not XL, but the XL fits a 17″ laptop.
Vera Bradley offers a separate lunch bag that matches this backpack.
Our Thoughts
The Vera Bradley Signature XL Backpack is a feminine, stylish, chic, and beautiful teacher bag. We love the ease of packing this backpack and the endless organization possibilities. It has fun patterns and is comfortable to wear. T
his bag is highly rated and is easy to clean. You throw it in the washer on a delicate cycle. The zippers are smooth and sturdy. The padding makes for comfortable wear, even for prolonged periods.
This is a great teacher bag for teachers who like to express their personalities when choosing from the numerous patterns.
7. OGIO Metro Computer Backpack
Unlike other teacher backpacks on this list, the OGIO Metro backpack has a side-entry padded laptop pocket that will fit a small laptop. There is also a power cord and mouse storage pocket. It is weatherproof with a fleece-lined digital pocket with a headphone exit port.
Not only does this backpack have adjustable shoulder straps, but it also has an adjustable sternum strap. A larger-style backpack has a large capacity and is affordable. There are a wide variety of sizes of internal and external pockets, which makes organization easy. It has a zipped water bottle pocket.
Our Thoughts
This backpack has excellent quality and is worth every penny. It will last a long time as it is durable and sturdy. The sharp corners of binders won’t put holes in this backpack.
OGIO has excellent customer service and wants its customers to be satisfied. Some may think it is a masculine backpack, but in my opinion, it is a unisex and professional-looking backpack; however, the larger size and heavier weight make it more suitable for a man. We love the zipped water bottle pocket as it holds rather large water bottles.
8. Ruzioon Vintage Buffalo Leather Backpack
This Vintage Leather Backpack has five front pockets and two side pockets. The main compartment has one padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15.6” laptop. There are also two inner pouches, two pen loops, one internal zipped pocket, and one inner compartment.
It has a carrying handle and backpack carrying straps, and the back has a comfortable and breathable material. The straps of this heavy-duty backpack can be adjusted to help reduce the weight burden. Ruzioon designed the Vintage Leather Travel Bag, and they give a one-year quality commitment with their bag.
Our Thoughts
This beautiful leather backpack is a quality leather bag that will last a while. We love all the external pockets, which are handy for carrying many small items and are a worthwhile investment. This bag is versatile and casual and deserves a spot on our list of the best teacher backpacks. It is perfect for school as it is spacious and durable for taking schoolwork home.
The stitching is high-quality, and the zippers are smooth. You will get plenty of compliments on this bag. Some may think it has too many pockets, but we quite like the as the multiple pockets offer enough room for little items to stay organized.
