Laptop Backpacks for Air Travel

Air travel happens every day for many people. We travel for business, vacation, and family visits. If you’re tied to your laptop, the right travel laptop backpack will be a necessary purchase. You’ll want to identify the ways you’ll use the pack and what features it must contain to make traveling easier. It’s got to be versatile and the perfect size. A padded compartment inside to hold your laptop securely is important, too.

Other features you may want in your travel laptop backpack will vary depending on your lifestyle and where you’re headed. How about one that gets you organized? Multiple compartments and pockets help you stash away small items and fragile cargo in your backpack. Security is another item to consider. Getting through that initial airport check needs to be a smooth experience. In some cases, you may want to consider a pack that locks or has a tough exterior that’s difficult to slash open. You also may want a bag that’s made of softer material and is easy to squeeze into an overhead bin.

Things to Know When Searching for a Travel Laptop Backpack

Here are some questions to answer when searching for a travel laptop backpack:

  • What size laptop will you be carrying?
  • Are you using the bag for a commute or business situation?
  • Will it need to hold up to rough handling?
  • How important is having an airplane- and airport-friendly laptop bag?
  • Are you an overhead bin or underseat flyer?

Best Airplane Commuter Backpack Style

If you’ve figured out a way to make commuting fun without your laptop, well, congratulations. For the rest of us, buying a commuter backpack and loading it up with entertainment makes more sense. It also needs to look stylish and hold all the other things we deem necessary to take us through our day.

Dakine Split Adventure 38-Liter Backpack

Dakine Split Adventure 38L Backpack

At first glance, the Dakine Split Adventure backpack may seem like overkill for a commute. However, it has so many features that make it a perfect choice for anyone driving, walking, or flying to work. It has two viable ways to safely commute with your technology. One is a fleece-lined stash pocket up front that fits a tablet. The other is a TSA compliant padded 15-inch laptop sleeve which is located on the back of the bag. Not only can you get through airport security easily, you can access your laptop quickly during a flight.

The bag packs like a suitcase and has your need for versatility covered. There’s room here for gym shoes, clothes, and an extra sweater or jacket. A foam panel and the ergonomically designed padded shoulder straps make this backpack comfortable and easy to carry.

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Best TSA-Friendly Backpack

A carry on backpack should make an airport trip easier not more difficult. When the pack is poorly designed, you’ll likely spend too much time visiting with a TSA employee. We don’t recommend doing that. Your alternative is to find a pack that meets the technology requirements to get you through the inspection line quickly.

Arc’Teryx Blade 28 Backpack

The Arc’Teryx is the all-in-one travel backpack you’ve been dreaming about owning. There’s no digging around for your laptop when carrying this bag. Instead, there’s a dedicated, padded zip compartment on the front of the bag just for laptops up to 15 inches. You’ll also have an additional sleeve to carry a tablet. You pack the Blade 28 like a suitcase, and it can carry lots of clothes, shoes, and toiletries inside. An internal panel allows you to organize with a secured zip pocket and a fast-stash pocket. This is an easy-in and easy-out backpack.

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Arcteryx Blade 28 Backpack

Best Business Travel Laptop Backpack

Looking professional is a priority for many of us. The right business backpack should boost the polished look you want. But if you’re aiming to get the most from a business backpack, it must have multiple uses. It’s wise to look for a bag with utility built-in to its design.

Swissgear 5625 Getaway Weekend Laptop Backpack

Swissgear 5625 Getaway Weekend Laptop Backpack

Our choice of the Swissgear Getaway Weekend Backpack is based on the versatility and room in this bag. This is a great all-around laptop backpack that has a tailored exterior and a well-designed interior. Its padded laptop pouch fits most 15-inch laptops. It also has a dedicated tablet sleeve and a series of internal divider pockets for a cell phone and passport.

There are many hidden zip pockets on this bag for safely storing valuable items. Plus, you’ve got lots of room to pack it with clothes, shoes, and toiletries. Carrying options include a side handle, a top handle, and padded straps for over the shoulder transport. This bag has external straps that allow you to slide it over the handle of a wheeled suitcase. It’s a great quick escape or cruise bag to leave by the front door.

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Best Fit Under the Seat Backpack

When there’s no room in the overhead bin, you have to slip your backpack under the seat in front of you. It means your underseat luggage has to be pliable and sturdy to survive the process. That’s a tall order for a laptop bag because there’s always the possibility your computer could get damaged.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack

The Farpoint is the combo travel pack you can rely on for comfort and laptop safety. Inside is a protected padded laptop sleeve that holds up to a 15-inch computer. There are mesh stash compartments on the front along with a lined zip pocket on top for smaller items. Compression straps are found on the inside and the outside of the pack. You’ll be able to easily compress the bag down to fit smaller cargo areas.

Without a doubt, the best feature is the concealed suspension system. You won’t have dangling straps or a unruly hip belt to deal with. Instead, the straps and belt remain hidden underneath a zip panel at the back until you want the support. There are also side and top handles for those who don’t like a traditional backpack.

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Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack

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