8 Best Laptop Backpacks for Biking in 2022


Just because you work a corporate job doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun, and riding a bike has many benefits. It’s a great way to exercise, it’s good for the environment and it’s cheaper than driving a car. But, you need something to keep your valuables while riding your bicycle and a bike basket may not be your thing. That’s why you’re reading this guide on how to find the best laptop backpacks for biking on the market.

As you’ll soon see, these backpacks are designed to keep your laptop safe and protected from impact, and they’re the perfect size to store not just your laptop but other essentials as well. Some even come with extra pockets, key clips, and reflective stripes for safety.

Read on to find out more.

Bike Laptop Backpack Reviews

Without further ado, here are the best cycling laptop backpacks for biking to work, including options of different sizes and types.

1. Thule Pack-n-Pedal Commuter Backpack

First on our quest for the best laptop backpacks for biking we have this protective and durable backpack from Thule. This is one of the most well-known outdoor accessories manufacturers.

In addition to providing storage for your laptop, it has dedicated pockets and compartments for things like your sunglasses and helmet. It even comes with a protective rain shell.

The backpack offers decent weight distribution and comes with a breathable back panel and straps to ensure optimal comfort. Also included in this is a padded removable sleeve that’s designed to offer added protection in case of impact and for those long rides.

It’s so big that you can easily fit your laptop, diary, planner, textbooks, a binder, your lunch box, and even some gym clothes without squeezing anything too tight. You may also remove the laptop sleeve if you like so that you can use it as a normal backpack.

Pros
  • It’s comfortable to carry
  • Comes with a lot of awesome organizational features
  • Rain shell comes with a stow-away system
  • Features a protective laptop sleeve which you can remove
  • Can fit a 15-inch laptop
Cons
  • It’s on the pricey side

2. Timbuk2 Rogue Laptop Backpack

Next up, we have this budget-friendly laptop backpack from Timbuk2. It’s large enough to comfortably fit a 15-inch MacBook and features a flexible internal pocket.

But, there’s plenty of storage besides the main compartment. This makes it the ideal backpack for anyone who plans on carrying this for school or work. It’ll fit your laptop, books and other electronics. It even comes with a breathable back panel to make sure that you don’t sweat when it’s hot, as well as a custom-fit strap to keep it in place no matter how fast you go.

You’ll be glad to know that there’s a convenient bottle opener attachment to store your hydration, while the front of the bag features durable webbing. This is a reliable place to attach your helmet when it’s not in use. Then you’ve got the sternum strap which is detachable as well.

Basically, this is one of the best laptop backpacks for biking for anyone who cares about keeping a laptop safe.

Pros
  • It comes with a breathable back panel
  • The outside is made from water-resistant tarpaulin
  • Comes with a bottle opener attachment for your convenience
  • Features a front zip pocket for smaller items
  • There’s a top-loading daypack for daytime weekend explorations
Cons
  • Comes with design flaws

3. Chrome Industries Barrage Cargo Laptop Backpack

This bike laptop carrier from Chrome Industries is a versatile product that you can use for a pedal bike and as well as a motorcycle as well. It’s large enough to fit a 15-inch laptop and has a lot of nice extra pockets to boot.

It’s constructed from HD ballistic nylon material on the exterior with a 600D military-grade truck tarpaulin liner on the inside which is what makes it waterproof.

Not only is this backpack made to last, but it features an incredible EVA foam back panel for comfortable carrying. It also comes with a strong harness to keep the bag securely strapped to your back.

Pros
  • Comes with an easy access U-lock holster
  • Features a rolltop closure and watertight compartment to protect your valuables from water
  • It has the most durable 100% waterproof rolltop
  • Features a comfy EVA foam backpanel and breathable shoulder strap
Cons
  • Poor customer service

4. Oakley Men’s Kitchen Sink

Oakley is the best at making durable action sports accessories and products, and they don’t disappoint with this bike laptop backpack, aptly called the Kitchen Sink Backpack.

What makes this the best laptop bag for cycling is its sheer size. It’s big enough to fit a 17-inch laptop among other items.

It comes with a lot of great features like a dedicated shoe compartment and this being Oakley, you bet there’s a dedicated eyewear compartment. This is in addition to a hard case media compartment designed to store smaller electronics like an MP3 player or an iPod.

The internal components are organized so well that everything is easy to see and access. You’ll always know where everything is.

Pros
  • It comes with adjustable shoulder straps and a compression-molded back panel
  • Features mesh optics pocket and accessible front organizer panel
  • Large side-access sleeve to fit a 17-inch laptop
  • Brushed media pocket for protective storage
  • It’s machine wash friendly
  • Comes with a zipper closure
Cons
  • It’s quite heavy

5. Tzowla Store Travel Laptop Backpack

The Tzowla Travel laptop backpack is made for those who often find themselves on the road. It’s another budget-friendly option that offers loads of organizational storage which is protected by rugged zippers, multiple pockets, and even a charging station.

This backpack offers incredible weight distribution properties no matter how many items you put in there, and it feels lightweight and comfortable to carry. It’s ideal for a 15-inch laptop and slim electronics like a tablet. It even comes with a charging station which you can purchase a separate battery pack for.

With all that said, this backpack doesn’t have the most durable construction. But, that doesn’t mean that it’s not made to last. In our experience, it can take a lot of abuse without suffering too much wear and tear. It has lasted for over a year with daily use and it’s still hanging on.

Pros
  • Features lots of pockets and organizational features
  • Well-priced
  • Comes with a variety of useful features
  • Available in so many colors
  • USB interface
Cons
  • It’s not as well-made as other options on this list
  • It sports a slim profile that can only take slim items

6. North Face Borealis Backpack

The North Face Borealis laptop backpack is the next option on our list. It has more than enough space for your laptop and some books as well. Comes with a massive main compartment, a separate pocket for your laptop, and accessible pockets for everything else.

It comes with a lot of great add-ons that we’ve found to be incredibly helpful for trail biking and city slickers alike. This versatile backpack is suitable for running errands, traveling, going to school, and work. It’s made from durable weather and water-resistant materials with an obviously rugged exterior that says a lot about its durability.

We’ve found that the breathable back panel can be scratchy if worn directly on bare skin. But, this is a small price to pay for a budget-friendly option such as this one.

Pros
  • Made from durable water and weather-resistant materials
  • It has a lot of storage space
  • Versatile and suitable for different applications
  • Makes it easy to keep everything organized
  • Comes in many colors
Cons
  • It doesn’t have that modern urban stylish aesthetic

7. JanSport Right Pack

JanSport Right Pack is very popular among children of school-going age. This is especially since many of them have to use mini-laptops and tablets at school.

It has a massive interior compartment that’s designed to handle things like textbooks and binders without getting phased.

Has a 31L carrying capacity which is enough to fit a 15-inch computer, some gym clothes, a water bottle, and multiple books and binders. It’s also a budget-friendly option that’s easy to use, hence it’s so popular with students.

However, it doesn’t have the most protective laptop sleeve. But, you can get around this problem by putting your laptop inside a foam protector. You’ll need to clean up the bottom regularly too, as it tends to accumulate dirt a lot.

Pros
  • It’s well priced
  • Classic style
  • Easy to put on and off
  • Offers loads of different storage options
  • You can choose from a wide range of colors
Cons
  • It can be uncomfortable to carry when it’s full of stuff
  • It’s not super durable

8. Incase ICON Laptop Backpack

The Incase ICON laptop backpack is the best laptop backpack for bike commuting, as it comes with convenient organizational compartments for office workers and students alike. It has a 17-liter carrying capacity with a padded interior to protect your items from impact.

It’s large enough to hold your laptop, smartphone, books, tablet, lunchbox, and even your gym clothes. You can keep everything separated and organized with the provided trio of compartments. This backpack is great not just for biking to work and school but for the gym or for traveling as well.

However, if you’re not a super-organized person, then this backpack might feel a bit too organized for you. This is especially if you’d rather keep your stuff in a single compartment.

Pros
  • Super stylish and chic
  • Comes with a dedicated protected area for your tablets or laptop
  • Offer optimal weight distribution properties to keep you comfortable
  • Durable and well-made
  • Comes with different compartments for optimal organization
Cons
  • It’s pricey (but you can get it on sale)

How to Find the Best Laptop Backpacks for Biking

Cycling laptop bags for bicycle aren’t all made equal. Here are a few important features that you need to look out for in the best laptop backpacks for biking.

Style

What you find stylish depends on your unique preferences. However, to determine how stylish a bag is in the general sense we considered modern trends and rated each bag against that.

At the end of the day, you should get a bag that compliments your unique lifestyle, attire, and setting in which you’ll be carrying the bag.

Laptop Compartment

Another important feature to look out for is where the laptop compartment is within the backpack. It should ideally be positioned to offer maximum protection from the elements.

It doesn’t matter what kind of backpack you use. The most important thing is to have peace of mind knowing that your laptop and other valuables will be safe.

Comfort

You should also ensure that your laptop backpack is nice and comfortable and easy to carry. That’s because you’re probably going to carry it for more than just a few minutes.

You should be able to carry it everywhere, perhaps even all day while running errands without feeling like your back is about to give out.

Padding

Your laptop is an investment, whether you use it for work or school. So, you need to protect it from impact and potential dings and scratches to prevent it from getting damaged.

It’s crucial to consider a backpack’s laptop compartment to determine how good it is at protecting your machine. It should have some sort of paddings such as sheaths or foam pads.

Usability

We started writing this list with the intention to bring you the best laptop backpacks but we found that most of these bags can handle a whole lot more than that. They can hold other items like books, gym clothes, shoes, jackets, water bottles, binders, and journals.

We made sure to point out which bags have a higher carrying capacity. So at this point, you have a good idea of what each option has to offer in terms of carrying capacity and the variety of applications that it can be utilized for, which are myriad in most cases.

Storage

The most useful good biking backpacks are those that come with different organizational compartments to effectively store and organize your items.

Plus, there are different sizes and shapes for you to choose from.

Waterproof

We’re happy to say that a lot of the bags that we tested are actually either waterproof or water-resistant.

This is nice because at least you know that they’re able to provide some protection for your electronics, books, gadgets, and other valuables. This is important if you find yourself cycling in the rain.

To test each bag’s water protection qualities, we put them under a shower for a couple of minutes to see what would happen. This is a great way to figure out how hard the bag is against rainwater conditions.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! That’s how you find the best laptop backpacks for biking. If we were to choose just one option, it would be the Timbuk2 Rogue Laptop Backpack.

It’s built for the outdoors as well as for the daily commute. It’s large enough to fit all of your electronics and academic accessories, and it comes with a breathable back panel for comfort.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with my pet bunny when not out doing about every kind of biking and experiencing the occasional tumble. Ready to share the ride with you.

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