I Took Myself Back-to-School Shopping to Find the Best Commuter Bag

What I Tested…

• Portland Gear Cascade Backpack ($109) 

• Jansport SuperBreak® Plus ($50) 

• Caraa Stratus Large ($250) 

• Bagsmart Zoraesque 14L Featherlight 13.3 Inch Backpack ($45.99) 

Why I Tested…

How I Tested...

I wore each backpack for a week to and from my daily commute and took notes on their material, weight, capacity, style, and comfort. 

Test Results...

• Portland Gear Cascade Backpack: I’m giving this backpack the “Heavy Duty” award for its thick, weather-proof, grime-resistent material, doctor bag-style top handles, and perforated water bottle side sleeves that won’t collect condensation. I feel like this backpack will last for years. It has dedicated pockets for everything — like your phone, snacks, wallet, or loose cash — and a hidden zippered pocket on the back for valuables like a passport or ID. I stuffed it with four boxes of unopened tech and skincare products, a wallet, and a notebook, and felt comfortable toting it around by hand instead of wearing it on my back. However, I do appreciate that it’s optimized for travel days, with a luggage sleeve and a chest buckle for added support. ($109) 

• Jansport SuperBreak® Plus: This backpack brought me right back to my high school days. The bag’s overall structure and design hasn’t changed over the years, but the prints are next-level cute now. I like how no-nonsense this backpack is. It has one water bottle pocket on the side, a small exterior pocket, and an interior laptop sleeve that fits my 15-inch work computer with ease. The material is super lightweight and the back is fully padded for comfort, even when it's stuffed to the brim. For days when I was running late to the office and just wanted to toss my essentials in a bag without a second thought, this was the backpack I reached for. ($50) 

• Caraa Stratus Large: I’ll be honest, I got this backpack for the aesthetic. I love its puffer-like design that’s both unique and minimalist. It’s made with recycled nylon that’s both waterproof and antimicrobial (a huge plus). It comes in two sizes and has 12 total pockets and compartments. I had no trouble sliding my laptop into the dedicated padded sleeve, and absolutely loved that it came with a shoe pouch and a key leash. It’s also the bag I got the most compliments on. This is another great option for travel, since it has a luggage sleeve and a hidden zippered pocket for your passport. ($250) 

• Bagsmart Zoraesque 14L Featherlight 13.3 Inch Backpack: This bag is a very cute option for younger students with fewer items. The material is the softest, butteriest I’ve felt on a backpack. True to its name, it’s also the lightest of the four I tested. It has all the right pockets (two side pockets for water bottles and quick-access items, front storage pockets, and a hidden back pocket) and a very thick mesh back panel that protects both your back and your 13-inch laptop. I also really like its lightly worn texture, which makes it feel like more of a stylish accessory than a functional piece. ($45.99)

Sidenotes…

• Portland Gear Cascade Backpack: This backpack comes in two sizes, both of which fit under a standard airplane seat. While the 21-liter is the largest, most spacious backpack I’ve tested, I will say it is the least flexible. If you’re using it for work or travel, you’ll love how roomy it is and the fact that it stands up on its own. However, for back-to-school classes and activities, the stiff structure and top upright handles may feel a bit cumbersome. 

• Jansport SuperBreak® Plus: Comparatively, this backpack is the most flexible one I tested. The material is on the thinner side, but if there’s anything we know about Jansport bags, it's that they’re built to last. I liked this bag for its simplicity and its lightweight design. Without my laptop inside, I would often forget that I was wearing it. The adjustable straps are sufficiently padded. However, there is no additional padding or protection at the bottom, so I would be wary if you — or your student — likes to toss it on the ground. 

• Caraa Stratus Large: This backpack was the one I was most excited to receive, due to its simple-yet-trendy design and multitude of thoughtfully placed pockets. However, it is on the pricier side. You can tell by the stitching and thicker waterproof nylon fabric that it’s built to last for years, but I did have to do a little extra math to feel better about its cost per wear. 

• Bagsmart Zoraesque 14L Featherlight 13.3 Inch Backpack: While I love how lightweight and soft this backpack is, I couldn’t manage to fit my 15-inch laptop in the insert. I should’ve known this, given that the name of the bag includes its measurements. That being said, a 13-inch laptop or any sized tablet fits just fine. This is the smallest backpack I tested and therefore the one that fits the least amount of items. On the plus side, it’s also the most wallet-friendly and has the most padding at the back for comfy, all-day wear.

The Fine Details...

• Portland Gear Cascade Backpack ($109) 

• Jansport SuperBreak® Plus ($50) 

  • Psst…from now until September 1, you can save up 30% on select styles at Jansport.com.  

• Caraa Stratus Large ($250) 

• Bagsmart Zoraesque 14L Featherlight 13.3 Inch Backpack ($45.99)