For college students, there’s no item more essential and frequently used than a backpack. Whether they’re toting around books and materials during a long day on campus, bringing schoolwork home over breaks, or packing essentials for a weekend trip, college students always find ways to make good use of a high-quality backpack.
The best backpack for college is functional, versatile, and stylish. Everyone has different needs and preferences, so there are a few types of bags to investigate before buying.
Why do backpacks make great gifts for college students?
The average college student uses their backpack every single day for their entire tenure in school. A typical school day starts bright and early in the morning and includes three or four classes—each requiring separate notebooks, textbooks, folders, and tools—leaving many students on campus for hours at a time, if not the whole day. That means their backpack also needs to fit a water bottle and snacks. Add a laptop to the mix, and suddenly, that backpack is getting heavy. After classes, an evening trip to the library or the gym means it’s time to bust out the backpack again.
There’s no better gift than an item the recipient will use every day. Even if the student in your life already has a backpack, a functional, high-quality one is always useful. Backpacks come in many different colors, styles, and sizes, and each can be ideal in different scenarios. Variety in backpack choices helps college students pick what’s most practical for their lifestyle while also allowing for self-expression.
Top features to look for in a college backpack
Sufficient storage
The best backpacks for students offer storage space without weighing them down. There should be enough room for books, a computer, a water bottle, snacks, writing tools, and a light layer on cool days, but the bag itself shouldn’t be bulky or unwieldy.
Most bag capacities are measured by volume in liters. A good size for a minimalist day bag—the style often used for trips to the gym or a single class—is about 13 liters. For students with long days or lots to haul around, a bag as big as 30 liters would be more appropriate.
Comfort
A backpack is only as practical as it is comfortable. A bulky or poorly designed backpack can cause neck, back, and shoulder pain that will make the bag more of a nuisance than an asset. Features like an A-frame, padded shoulder straps, and an adjustable chest strap help distribute weight evenly across the torso. This avoids putting undue pressure on the shoulders, which, in addition to being uncomfortable, can also lead to long-term issues.
EDC functionality
EDC stands for “everyday carry” and is used to label backpacks that can fit a person’s essentials for a full day and keep those belongings organized. EDC bags typically have several compartments for items of various sizes, such as a laptop or tablet sleeve, card slots on the shoulder straps, a water bottle pocket, mesh pouches, pen pockets, and a slot for headphones or sunglasses.
Style
Backpacks aren’t simply practical; they’re also a fashion statement. Backpacks made with high-quality materials, fashionable designs, and beautiful colors will stand out from the pack.
Choosing the best backpack for college students
For the minimalist
Students who make do with less and prefer to carry as little as possible will be best suited by Able Carry’s Thirteen Daybag. This compact and efficient EDC bag fits 13 liters of storage and features stretch pockets, dividers, a document pocket, an upper zipped pocket, and a laptop sleeve.
This backpack also includes a secondary pocket and an external pocket for easy access to important items. It’s perfect for commutes, day trips, short study sessions, or visits to the gym.
For the tech-savvy student
The 21-liter Able Carry Daily Plus bag makes an ideal gift for students who always have their laptop, tablet, or portable game console with them. It takes the philosophy of the Thirteen Daybag and expands it to increase space.
This bag has dedicated laptop and tablet sleeves, a hidden external water bottle pocket, front pocket dividers, cushioned shoulder straps, an ergonomic A-frame, and an air channel facing the wearer’s back for ventilation and comfort.
For the active student
For busy days on campus, longer trips, or simply carrying a whole lot of stuff, we recommend the Max EDC bag, which boasts a massive 26-liter capacity and a versatile three-compartment design. The laptop sleeve has its own compartment, and the main hold has a clamshell opening and flat wall to make loading large items easier. The front compartment holds up to 8 liters and is ideal for clothes, shoes, or other soft goods.
For backpacks that perform on campus and look stylish around town, count on Able Carry to check all the boxes on your student’s list.
