Choosing The Best Commuter Backpack

If you’ve followed Pack Hacker for a while, you probably know a thing or two about Aer—we’ve tested almost every bag they’ve released since they launched their Kickstarter in 2016. Out of all their daypacks, the Aer Pro Pack 24L is a solid commuter bag for several reasons. First, it has stellar internal organization that doesn’t eat into the amply-sized main compartment, so you can be organized and still bring the important stuff with you, like your lunch, a camera cube, or a stuffed tiger. There’s even a separate laptop compartment (16-inch computers welcome), so you don’t have to fuss around with anything to get to your computer. Second, the materials are durable as heck. It features super thick 840D CORDURA®, so you don’t have to worry about your bag getting beat up while getting to and from work.

In testing, the Aer Pro Pack 24L did pretty well. In the paper water test, a few small areas of the paper were damp but far from wet. It repels water pretty well, but most of the protection is because the materials are thick. This means that it’ll take a little longer to dry once the water soaks in, too. On the organization details chart, it scores high, as there’s a ton of internal organization, including a valet pocket. However, the perk here is that there’s still a large main compartment to work with, so you can bring that stuffed tiger along for the ride. Where do you work that you need that, anyway?

• Lots of organization without bogging down the sizable main compartment
• The materials are highly durable and look professional

• The harness system feels tight on users with larger frames and broader chests (6’2” and 200 lbs)
• There aren’t many colorway options available

Best For: A comfortable fit

EVERGOODS is one of our most recommended brands because they make backpacks that work for multiple uses, which is handy when looking for a commuter bag that’s useful beyond weekdays. The more versatile your pack is, the more you can use it when heading to work, the gym, or the library, which is why the EVERGOODS Civic Half Zip 22L (V2) made this list. This is one of the most comfortable packs we’ve tested thanks to the contoured back panel, well-padded shoulder straps, and aerated harness system. There’s ample, smart organization that doesn’t get in the way. We like this for travel, commuting, and car trips; however, you must be ready to do some leg work on your own with packing cubes, a tech pouch, and other organizers. The laptop compartment works with computers up to 16 inches, which works for most devices on the market.

In the paper water test, the slip of paper we slid inside the bag was completely dry, which indicates how well the 420D ballistic nylon works to keep the elements out. It repels water better than most packs; however, the materials will eventually soak and take some time to dry afterward. We’ve given the organization a ranking of seven, as every piece of gear can have a home, but you may want to use some of your own organizational gear to ensure you can find everything quickly!

• The carry comfort is stellar thanks to a contoured back panel and shoulder straps
• There’s enough organization for most items, but it still has a large main compartment for a lunch box and change of clothes

• Certain the pockets share space, making it more challenging to access some (namely, the laptop compartment) when fully packed
• Your back can get warm on sunny days, as the pack is all black

Best For: Avoiding a sweaty back

The game-changer regarding the Osprey Aoede Airspeed Backpack is the back panel, which is lifted, which is huge for airflow and ensuring you aren’t too sweaty on a hot ride or walk into the office. This is huge because nobody wants to turn around in their big pitch to the new marketing firm and show off a super sweaty back! The recycled polyester is bluesign® approved—solid for sustainability-focused commuters—and you can stow a 16-inch computer inside. The bag can feel top-heavy when fully packed, especially when balancing on a bicycle; however, we got used to this fairly quickly. At times, it feels like a hiking pack.

In testing, a small bottom portion of the paper inside the bag was damp, which isn’t awful considering how much water we dumped onto it. In real rain, you likely aren’t going to get hit with that much water at once, though your gear may get a little damp if you get sprayed by a taxi like people who are having a bad day do in the movies. The materials do a solid job of repelling water, but they will soak eventually and take a reasonable amount of time to dry. If you set it out near a fan or moving air, it would likely be dry enough to stow your gear inside again for the ride home! The pack doesn’t have as much organization as some of the others on this list, landing a six on our scale, but with packing cubes, a tech pouch, and other organizers, it feels perfectly segmented. Plus, it has a detailed admin panel with solid organization.

• The back panel is raised to promote airflow
• The materials are durable without sacrificing a sleek look

• It can feel like a top-heavy hiking pack at times
• You can only access the laptop compartment from one side, which is frustrating at times

The North Face Recon is a popular daily carry bag for good reason. It has ample quick-grab pockets to hold various gear you’ll need throughout your commute and make it easy to access at a moment’s notice. The bag offers a comfortable carry, and you can stow up to a 16-inch laptop inside. The look is a little sporty, and there aren’t any strap keepers on the harness system, which can sometimes feel (and look) like a little too much. Still, it’s a widely available pack that will comfortably get you from point A to point B; what else can you ask for?

Well, since you asked, here are a few things! In the paper and water test, the paper came out mostly dry, though a small section near the bottom was quite wet. We can’t figure out why this happened—our theory is that water pooled in that area for a few moments before rolling off. We were surprised that the materials didn’t repel water very well and soaked fairly easily. They are lighter weight than others we’ve tested, though, so they dried quicker, too. Ultimately, if rain isn’t your main concern, this bag is great for other reasons. There are enough organizational features for most users; however, the main compartment is mostly open, so we scored this pack a six on the organizational details scale. It has enough for most users to get by without using extras; however, some commuters might want a little extra help to stay organized.

• There are a ton of quick-grab pockets for gear you need on your commute, including straps on the bottom that can hold a yoga mat or camera tripod
• The pack is readily available, often in-store

• There are no strap keepers on the harness system, and we’re not a huge fan of how all the dangling straps look
• It’s a sporty backpack that doesn’t translate to every professional setting

Best For: Cycling to work without fenders

The Thule Chasm Laptop Backpack 26L is one of the more unique-looking packs on this list, and it performs pretty well, too. The front face is highly water resistant, which keeps your gear dry and safe. The laptop compartment can stow two computers, even those up to 16 inches in size. This is handy for people who work two jobs or like to bring their personal computer for after-work activities. The admin panel can be challenging to access if you’ve got the bag fully packed, but we got used to it pretty quickly and only placed thin items here to combat this.

In testing, the pack’s front face did a stellar job keeping water at bay. However, the side materials aren’t as water resistant as the front, so water was able to sneak in there. This led to a piece of mostly dry paper but with a few damp and wet areas in testing. Still, we’re generally happy with the performance. Regarding repellency and soak-ability, the front face is excellent, but the sides don’t perform as well. There isn’t much organization here, so we gave this pack a five on that scale. This isn’t necessarily bad, but you may have to do some of the segmentation yourself. The top pocket has a soft-liner for tech, but the party is inside the main compartment.

• The front face is highly water resistant
• It has dedicated space for carrying two laptops

• The admin panel can be a little hard to access when the bag is packed, especially the key leash
• The sides aren’t as water-resistant as the front, so water can sneak in

Best For: Wet climates

The REI Co-op Commuter Pack is a solid pack if you often get caught in the rain, but that comes with a caveat: if you want increased rain protection you’ll have to attach the included rainfly. This isn’t always possible to do quickly if you’re riding your bike down a crowded street or running to catch the train, though it does okay without the rainfly if you’re caught in a quick storm. Plus, if you’re a planner and look at the weather daily, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you aren’t, your gear still might get damp. More on that later, though!

The REI Co-op Commuter Pack has a handful of quick-access pockets on the exterior. There are compression straps on the sides, which are helpful for making the pack more manageable and holding down large gear you stow inside the water bottle pockets. The compression straps can slow down access to the main compartment; however, we think they’re a worthy addition.

We knew the rainfly would keep your gear dry, so we tested the bag natively to see how it would hold up if you got into an unexpected rain storm. The paper inside got wet on a few corners, but the bag held up okay. It repelled water well enough, and the materials soaked up water pretty easily, but the bag didn’t stay wet for that long. The rainfly negates this research; however, as mentioned, it isn’t always the easiest thing to engage if you’re on a bike or trying to catch a train. In terms of organization, we rated this pack a five. There are solid external pockets, but the organization other than that is limited, so you may have to use packing cubes or other segmentation devices to ensure you stay organized.

• It comes with a rain fly to help keep your gear dry
• There are compression straps on the sides to attach gear and reduce the bag’s profile

• The side straps can slow down access to the main compartment, even if they are useful for other things
• Without the rain fly, the pack isn’t nearly as water resistant

Best For: Bike commuting

Timbuk2 makes backpacks designed for commuting, so it’s no surprise that one of their packs ended up on this list. The Timbuk2 Spire Laptop Backpack 2.0 has webbing on the front that can stow a U-Lock, which is essential for cyclists who can’t take their bike into the office or their apartment with them. The pack looks like a commuter pack (and it is one) because of features like the front webbing that can be used to transport gear on your bike. The bag can look a little bottom-heavy when fully packed, but it’s a comfortable carry, which is the most important thing. Plus, it can handle up to a 17-inch computer, which is larger than most of the packs we tested.

In the testing and research phase, the paper we stuck inside the pack stayed completely dry, which is a massive success. The bag is good at repelling water, and only the sides will soak up liquid, as the front is very water-resistant. As far as organization goes, we gave this pack a five. It has some organization details (including an admin panel and a front pocket), but to stay completely organized, you might need some extra help from a tech kit or other pouches.

• Front webbing can store a U-Lock
• Materials are stellar at repelling water

• Can look a little bottom-heavy once it’s all loaded out
• The technical look is hard to disguise

Best For: Rainy commutes

The Able Carry Daily Backpack comes in multiple materials; however, we’re focusing on the XPAC version, as it offers extreme water resistance, which is key for commuting. The pack looks sleek but has multiple pockets for storage on the exterior so that you can stow snacks, daily essentials, and other goodies for quick access. A larger version, the Daily Plus, offers more gear storage, but we’re into the standard model because of the balance between size and style. It only has a 15-inch laptop compartment, which should work for most commuters.

In testing, the piece of paper we stowed inside the pack was completely dry thanks to the X-Pac exterior, which is excellent at repelling water. Regarding organizational details, we gave this pack a six, as it’s easy to find a home for most of your gear, but certain trips may require packing cubes or a tech pouch to keep everything organized. Due to the sleek design, it can be challenging to get used to the organization; however, as mentioned, we think the juxtaposition between style and usability is a fair one.

• Lots of hidden storage on the outside, so it looks sleek without losing out on quick access to gear
• The materials are some of the most water-resistant we’ve come across

• Laptop compartment is a bit of a tight squeeze for a 15” laptop
• The X-Pac material can sound a little crunchy