TechJunkie is a BOX20 Media Company

Home Reviews Computers & Accessories Ensure Your Laptop’s Safety With the Best Laptop Bag

TechJunkie Expert Recommendations

Ensure Your Laptop’s Safety With the Best Laptop Bag

TechJunkie is supported by our readers. When you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Read More.

Ensure Your Laptop’s Safety With the Best Laptop Bag

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The newsroom or editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.

Buyer’s Guide for Finding Your Next Laptop Bag

After you’ve spent money on a laptop, it makes sense to do everything you can to protect it from damage so it’ll last as long as possible. Thankfully, laptop bags are a great accessory that serves this purpose and more. Think of the laptop bag as insurance for an electronic device you’ve spent a considerable amount of money on. You’re going to want to make sure you’re buying a bag that’s sturdy, lasts long, and offers adequate protection for your laptop. Laptop bags come in a variety of styles, and different ones offer different features and levels of protection. We’ve put together a list of some of the top-rated laptop bags of 2023 so you can make the safest, most ideal choice.

Before you go ahead and buy a laptop bag, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. There are a number of options out there and it can be easy to get confused and overwhelmed. Just remember that you need to consider your needs before everything else; does the bag you have your eyes on suit those needs? To help, we’ve put together a few factors you should think about before you buy a laptop bag.

Considerations Before Buying a Laptop Bag

Size

Make sure the bag is big enough for your laptop, otherwise it’s going to be useless. Ideally, you should bring your laptop with you when you head out to buy the bag to ensure it fits well. If you’re planning on keeping papers, documents, and other things in the bag as well, go for a larger size.

Purpose

If you’re buying a bag for professional use, go for practicality, resilience, and convenience over aesthetics. You’re going to want something that’s easy to carry and can fit everything you need inside of it. It should also have extra padding to keep your device safe as you commute to work.  If you’re someone who travels on foot or on a bike often, choose a bag that’s more durable and, preferably, water-repellant. Comfort is something you need to consider here because, if you’re going to carry this bag for a large portion of your day, you need it to be easy and comfortable to carry.

Storage

Your bag can’t just have a single compartment for your laptop; it should have multiple pockets and compartments so you can store things like USBs, books, cards, cords, and documents in it as well. All these things need to be kept in a compartment separate from the one your laptop is in to keep it safe from scratches and bumps.

Quality

Your laptop bag will be something you’ll be getting a lot of use out of, so get one made of durable, lightweight, waterproof, and resilient fabric. It should have quality, long-lasting zippers and extra padding on both the bag and the shoulder strap to protect your device and for comfort while carrying. Adjustable straps are a big plus, especially if you’re choosing a more versatile design.

Types of Laptop Bags

Top load

The laptop needs to be loaded into these from the top to fit inside comfortably. They provide ease of access and typically come with several exterior pockets.

Briefcase

These have a more professional look than other laptop bags and come with special features like mobile phone pockets and card holders.

Messenger-style

These are a great choice for people who are constantly on the move. Not only are they convenient to use, but they are also super stylish. They can be carried as handbags or as crossbody bags.

Roller-style

These are another great choice for travelers, especially ones who’d rather not be lugging around bags over their shoulders or back.

Tote

These are more casual-looking and are available in various colors, fabrics, and patterns. They consist of many pockets and extra space for storing things like make-up, your wallet, your phone, and other small accessories.

Backpacks

These are for people who would rather have the weight of their supplies spread evenly across both their shoulders. They’re also considerably safer and come with more features than your average laptop bag.

01 Amazon Basics Laptop Bag

This nifty bag by Amazon Basics is super easy and comfortable to carry and use. It’s a slim shoulder laptop bag that is specifically designed to provide protection and portability for your electronics — your laptop and tablet, in particular.

The bag’s interior is padded and consists of a separate space to hold your laptop without adding any extra bulk. It also features a multi-compartment design that has room for smaller items like pens, your phone, charging cables, and more. Another storage feature is its front zipped pocket that allows you to store items you might need to access quickly, like your passport, wallet, or airline ticket. It also has a luggage pass-through that allows it to be attached easily to rolling luggage. Because of its convenient, spacious interior and comfort, we’ve chosen this laptop bag as the best on our list.

Pros

  • High-volume storage
  • Adjustable shoulder strap and handle
  • Convenient and easy to carry

Cons

  • Inner padding may not be sufficient
Amazon Basics Laptop Bag

02 E-Tree Laptop Bag

The E-Tree Laptop Bag is made of Oxford material with a customized metal zipper to hold your laptop. The main laptop compartment features convex foam padding that will keep your device safe from accidental collisions and jerks. The bag can be used either as a regular briefcase with a leather-wrapped handle or as a shoulder bag with a detachable shoulder strap.

As for storage, it features multiple pockets for your possessions. The main compartment is partitioned into two large pockets, with one for your laptop and the other for charging cables, a mouse, books, documents, or a tablet. This laptop bag also comes with a luggage strap, making it suitable for business travel.

Pros

  • Good safety padding
  • Versatile, lightweight design
  • Excellent storage features

Cons

  • Poor bottom shock-padding
E-Tree Laptop Bag

03 Targus Laptop Bag

This laptop bag by Targus is perfect for those looking to carry their laptop or tablet in a stylish, convenient manner. It’s very versatile and can be carried normally on a single shoulder, held as a briefcase, or used as a crossbody bag. The bag also comes with a trolley strap so you can even attach it to your rolling luggage while traveling.

Best of all, it offers a decent amount of space for people who aren’t looking to travel with too much paperwork. The slim look adds to its overall appeal but does not compromise its ability to keep your possessions safe.

Pros

  • Shock-absorbent
  • Slim, versatile design
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Tight fit for larger laptops and tablets
Targus Laptop Bag

04 Lenovo Laptop Shoulder Bag

The Lenovo Laptop Shoulder Bag T210 is a modern-looking, budget-friendly laptop bag made of water-repellent nylon. Not only does it look good and comes in a variety of different colors, but it’s also super effective for keeping your laptop or tablet safe. The bag can fit a laptop up to 15.6 inches in size in its main compartment, which is well-padded and has a velcro strap to hold your device in place. The bag may not have many compartments, but it does promise maximum protection for what you can fit inside it.

This laptop bag has a single external pocket with an invisible zipper where you can store files and documents, along with an adjustable shoulder strap that can be detached if you need to carry it as a handbag. In case you want to hold it like a briefcase, it comes with a pair of detachable nylon handles as well.

Pros

  • High-quality fabric
  • Water-resistant and lightweight
  • Great price for the quality

Cons

  • Small capacity
Lenovo Laptop Shoulder Bag

05 Voova Expandable Laptop Bag

This laptop bag by Voova is a business briefcase-style laptop bag that features a padded compartment for laptops up to 15.6 inches. The cushioned inner laptop sleeve comes with a velcro strap to secure your laptop in place, preventing it from moving around as you carry it. Its outer material is water-resistant and extremely durable, while the inner lining is made of a soft silk-like fabric that makes accidental scratches on your device next to impossible.

One of the best features of this bag is its expandability. The invisible expansion zipper is located at the bottom of the bag and when unzipped, adds an extra 1.77 inches to its inner space. It can also easily be converted into a briefcase, a shoulder bag, or a handbag.

Pros

  • Compact and easily convertible
  • Sleek, durable design
  • Expandable size
  • Multiple compartments

Cons

  • Strap often slips off the shoulder
Voova Expandable Laptop Bag

People Also Asked

Whatu2019s the difference between a laptop backpack and a laptop bag?

The main difference is that you can carry a backpack on your back, while you have to carry the bag on one of your shoulders or grip it in your hand. Many backpacks have removable straps and can be used as single-shoulder bags as well, so buying a backpack is preferable.

Do I need to place my laptop in a sleeve before placing it in my laptop bag?

You don’t need to, but if you’re paranoid about the protection the bag will provide for your device on its own, there’s no harm in adding a sleeve. That said, it’s advisable to invest more money in a laptop bag with better padding for that extra protection.

How do I wash my laptop bag?

You won’t need to wash your laptop bag unless it’s become stained with something that can’t be removed with a wet cloth or some dusting. These bags aren’t typically meant to be washed because of all the padding they contain, so you should be extremely gentle if you do need to wash them. Washing instructions are different for all materials, so you need to take a look at the instructions included with your bag.

Denise McNamara

Jun 14, 2022

85 Articles Published

Our Process & Method

We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.

Level Up Your Data Storage With the Best Micro SD Card Adapter

Read More

More