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Woman & Home
Woman & Home
Lifestyle
Jess Beech

The best work backpacks for women: we pick practical and stylish commuting bags

The best work backpacks for women.

If you're commuting on a regular basis then the best work backpacks for women are an essential for your daily needs. While they might be most associated with back-to-school vibes, they offer a smart and easy way of carrying items. With that in mind, we've found a luxe range of backpacks in top fabrications and designs that will take you from work to weekend in style.

While we love the best designer bags for unrivalled sartorial style, when it comes to the practicality of a day-to-day commute, sometimes we have to admit defeat and opt for one of the best work backpacks to lug our essentials around. The best work backpacks for women have space for everything; from laptops to gym kits and even your lunch, you can team one with any of the best crossbody bags to keep your wallet, phone, and keys close by too. Backpacks also offer added health benefits as they spread the weight of what you're carrying across your back, leaving you largely hands-free. The padded straps can help prevent digs and pain too, making them all together a more ergonomic wear.

When shopping for the best backpack, consider what you'll need to fit in and when you'll use it to ensure you get the right fit and style for you. According to the British brand Aspinal of London, the average woman carries 17 items in her handbag at any one time, weighing roughly the same as three bags of sugar. So getting a good fit is a must! These are our best work backpacks for women, from super stylish to waterproofed fabrics and practical fastenings.

Best work backpacks for women, as chosen by our fashion team 

The best work backpacks for women should combine style and practicality. Versatile designs can also double up as the best weekend bags, with waterproof detailing making them also ideal companions for camping and adventure. The best backpacks should be roomy enough for your essentials, with plenty of practical storage solutions to help you organise your life, but without compromising on design. These are our favourites.

FAQs

How we tested the best backpacks

While we have not rigorously tested each bag, our selection of the best work backpacks does take into account the most popular styles from leading accessory and fashion brands. We have also spoken to writers and editors who own a number of the bags in the list to get their honest opinion on their purchases, and we've monitored which styles are popular on various retailers.

How to choose work backpacks

Size is obviously the biggest consideration, so think carefully about how much you carry round on a day to day basis. If a heavy laptop is on the list for every day then you need to prioritise your own comfort - carrying heavy items on one shoulder can lead to injuries.

Look for timeless styles and good quality fabric that will last. Strathberry founder Leeanne Hundleby tells us "for work bags I’d look for practicality paired with style. I love a timeless and versatile design which can effortlessly complement any outfit, along with exceptional quality in the craftsmanship of the bag, meaning it will keep up with a busy life. I’m always running about between work and family, so this is an essential for me!"

Smythson's Creative Director Luc Goidadin agrees "other than looking beautiful, a good backpack should be comfortable and, above all, functional. When designing our backpacks, we spend a lot of time fine-tuning each style to make sure they are lightweight, have perfectly padded leather straps, and feel capacious enough to carry everything."

What backpacks are in style right now?

The beauty of a good backpack is that it will never go out of style. However, if you want a bag that you can rely on to always look trendy and chic, we recommend sticking to classic black, cream, camel, or grey. However, you can take inspiration from the spring/summer fashion colour trends 2024 if you want to go for something a little more daring for the season ahead.

In terms of shape, you can't really go wrong no matter what you pick. But this year, backpacks with a roll top are becoming increasingly popular, as are styles with flaps at the top. As long as your backpack of choice can comfortably hold everything you need and fits in with your personal wardrobe, it's a winner.

Are backpacks appropriate for work?

In the age of hybrid working, most commuters are carrying laptops around with them, which means backpacks are commonplace. Depending on your office dress code, you might want to go towards the smarter end of the spectrum, but truly, the backpack is the new briefcase.

Our experts:

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