The laptop is indeed one of the most valuable electronic items you’ll ever have to carry around. And since a good laptop can cost thousands of dollars, keeping it in good condition is crucial. My intent is to help you choose the best waterproof laptop backpack, for obvious protection reasons. But before we do that, you need to understand why some laptop backpacks are better than others. And to do that, this ninja is first going to explain how to choose the best laptop backpack. A waterproof one will differ from a normal one in terms of fabric that, obviously, keeps humidity away from your portable companion.

That being said, what are the characteristics of good laptop backpacks?

Choosing the best laptop backpacks

Before you go shopping for a laptop backpack, you need to think about it’s intended purpose. In other words, what do you need a laptop backpack for? How and where are going to use it? Will this backpack be exposed to elements, like rain or heavy sunlight? We’ll focus more on these characteristics later, when we move to the specific part about choosing the best waterproof laptop backpack.

Next, it’s important to determine the usage frequency. There’s a difference between needing a laptop backpack to carry it to school every other day and needing a backpack for traveling. The latter purpose is going to imply a lot of airport transportation, taking it to the subway, public transportation means and such. That bag will be pushed, pulled, stuffed, scratched and is going to suffer significant usage.

You should also know if you’re going to carry extra items in your laptop backpack. That means that you’ll need some extra space in there, besides the one designated for the actual laptop and its power adapter. If you’re a commuter, for example, you may need some extra space to carry some snack and a water bottle. If you take your laptop to school, then you’ll need some extra space for books and notebooks.

Proper dimensions

Most laptop backpack manufacturers have specific sizes that fit specific laptop models. The dimension of a laptop is a factor that must be taken into consideration before purchasing a backpack. It’s obvious that a 17.3 inch notebook isn’t going to fit a bag intended for a 14 inch model. At the same time, you wouldn’t want to buy a 17.3 inch notebook laptop backpack for your 14 inch notebook. From 11 inches and up to 17, remember the size of your laptop before looking into backpacks.

The best laptop backpacks have a dedicated compartment for your notebook. Manufacturers will often tell you the specs for this compartment and you need to make sure your laptop fits into that designated space. Important tip: make sure the compartment provides half inch of extra wiggle room in every direction, so you can easily fit the device in the given space. Another important tip: if you generally carry your notebook in a special sleeve, make sure that the sleeve fits into the compartment with the laptop inside. Make sure you measure the sleeve so that you can find a backpack with a suitable compartment size.

Fabrics and materials

Finding the best waterproof laptop backpack means paying really close attention to the fabrics used by the manufacturer. To keep you informed, I’m going to tell you about the most common materials which are generally used when fabricating laptop backpacks.

First on the list: seams and stitches. Stitches are important for everyone who is looking for a sturdy laptop backpack. Are the edges of the bag double-stitched? How thick are the threads? Are the stitches located inside of the seam (where they are better protected) or on the outside (where they are more exposed).

Second: materials. You can purchase laptop backpacks made of pretty much every item you can think of. Some of the cheapest laptop backpacks are made of nylon, but know that not all nylon is created equal. You have ballistic nylon, which is known for its excellent wear characteristics. Nylon is generally rated by the term “denier” which is a unit of thickness of the threads. Any exterior nylon material rated at less than 500 Denier (500D) may not provide adequate durability for regular use.

Another fabric commonly used in the fabrication of laptop backpacks is neoprene. In your mission for searching the best waterproof laptop backpack, you will discover that neoprene is often used in the interior of the bag, especially for the sleeves.

Do we have ninjas with big money to spend? Then you can redirect your attention to leather; one of the most expensive materials used in laptop backpacks manufacturing.

Let’s discuss lining. Since you’ll most likely bump your laptop backpack a lot, you should opt for a bag that incorporates protective lining. If you’ll be transporting the laptop in a sleeve placed inside the bag’s compartment, then it’s not important to look for a backpack with protective lining.

Shoulder straps

Just because a laptop backpack is sturdy and protective, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be comfortable as well. Since a good laptop backpack shouldn’t make you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders (see what I did there?), straps are an important chapter in the quest for choosing the best waterproof laptop backpack. Since we are interested in durability, the shoulder strap itself should be made of a wear-resistant material. In other world, you need to pay special attention to the leading edges to see if they look like they’ll fray over time.

The shoulder pad is the part that’s going to make a soft or difficult transition of the backpack’s weight to your shoulders. This is why should pads should be 3 things: adjustable, thick and non-slippery. It’s important to choose should pads which are adjustable because the strap itself should be adjusted to better fixate or loosen the backpack itself. Thickness is important because cushions need to distribute the weight evenly on your shoulders so you don’t start experiencing back pains when carrying the backpack for longer periods of time. Last, but not least, make sure the shoulder straps don’t slip. You’ll need to look for materials such as rubber, which makes sure the backpacks doesn’t wobble on your shoulders.

Now that we’ve established what makes a good waterproof laptop backpack, let’s look at some specific models.

Kopack Business Laptop Backpack

This specific Amazon laptop backpack is made of nylon and comes with a dual-access zipper, equipped with anti-theft design. It’s not the best water resistant backpack on the market, but it does its job and comes with an affordable price, especially for customers who are not looking to spend more than $50 for such an item. A very important thing that I have to underline here is that this laptop backpack is NOT waterproof, but water resistant. You need to make a very clear distinction between the 2 categories, as they provide different grades of protection. The bag does repel water, but if you wear it while it is raining (on a bicycle or motorcycle), you will be dumping out the water once you get home.

Since the product dimensions are 19.7 x 6.7 x 13 inches, you can carry a 17 inch laptop with it with no problems whatsoever, In fact, this model is recommended for students not only for laptop carrying, but also because of it’s 2 huge compartments that will allow you to carry even notebooks and books. There is also a third compartment right under the straps and it will fit your laptop if you don’t have a laptop sleeve. There are two bottle pockets on the side and they fit large water bottles. Lastly, there is a “secret” compartment toward the bottom of the backpack. You can use it for keys and wallet and other items.

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Outdoor Foundry 100% Waterproof Backpack

People that own the Nootka will tell you that this is the best waterproof laptop backpack out there. Why? Because it’s actually designed for adventure travel/hiking/whatever-you-want-to-do-in-the-middle-of-nature sort of thing. The bag is 100% waterproof and it has even been tested with brief underwater immersions. That still doesn’t mean you should put your laptop underwater, but if you drop the bag into water for a short period of time, your laptop should be safe.

Even if this backpack is not advertised for laptop users, it does come with a internal laptop sleeve. There is a removable internal liner that includes a padded laptop sleeve. It can hold laptops up to 15.6 inches. There is also an extra pocket, fit for a tablet. Some pockets are especially designed to hold IDs, so you won’t end up searching for them at the bottom of the bag. These liners are super-easy to clean, since you can zip them out. The front pocket comes with a water resistant zipper.

The item’s dimensions are 24 x 8 x 12 inches. The length from waist belt to top of shoulder straps is 16 inches. The straps have a large adjustment range and can accommodate a back length up to 27 inches. The top opening of the bag is approximately 7 x 13 inches and it tapers down to approximately 6 x 9 inches. It is a little difficult to get an exact measurement because the sides are flexible. The mesh side pockets are sized to take a standard bike water bottle or one of the “clean kanteen” or similar tall, metal or plastic water bottles. The water resistant zippered front pocket is sized to accommodate a 2 or 3L hydration bladder.

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Koolerpek Waterproof Business Backpack for Laptop

Available in blue, grey and black, the Koolerpek is quite the slim-looking laptop backpack. Good-looking and waterproof? Sounds like a winner. Let’s go over some of its major specs.

The fabric of this laptop backpack is thick. The stitching all throughout the item seems robust. The zips are double-ended and of great quality. It has a lot of very useful pockets inside and the walls (inside and out) are well-padded. There are also adjustable straps on both sides, to support the side of the bag. The straps are also adjustable, making it super comfortable to use this backpack. The shoulder strap also has a strap with snap closure for securing it around your waist and it helps manage the weight of the bag. The bag also has a top handle, with a rubber insert in the middle, making it comfortable to carry this bag even with your hands.

The main compartment is very spacious and it can easily fit any A4 folder. The laptop compartment at the back has a wide stretchy elastic to fit the bigger-sized laptops and to keep them secure inside. The second compartment has a special pocket designed for tablets, compartment which is also padded. There is enough space here to put in notebooks and pads. There is another pocket on the front of the bag, which has spaces designated for pens or calculators or your smartphone. There is also a strap, useful for securing keys. On the top of the bag, there is another pocket which has an earphones port, so it’s designated to place cell-phones.

Even if it’s advertised as being waterproof, it’s not. It may very well be the best water resistant laptop backpack you’ve seen, but it’s not waterproof. It will repel water for about 5 to 10 minutes, but if you leave it in the rain for more than that, it will start absorbing it and the items you carry will be exposed to water and humidity.

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LUXUR 37L Nylon Waterproof Laptop Backpack

Made of durable polyester fabric, the LUXUR backpack is definitely a top choice for many consumers. It comes with no less than 12 pockets that are made for several purposes. It can carry any laptop with a max dimension of 15.6 inches, thanks to its padded cushion, designated to protect your notebook. The shoulder strap is heavy padded, making it comfortable to carry this baby around. With 19.68 x 13.3 x 8.4 inches in dimension, this backpack is ideal for business and school purposes, as it can easily fit books and notebooks/notepads.

In order to maintain the backpack in good condition, you should wash it in normal water temperatures. Hot water and alkaline detergent are not recommended. When you’re leaving the backpack out to dry, make sure it’s not directly exposed to the sun. It’s also recommended that you don’t wash the backpack together with other clothing items, in order to avoid staining.

Even if the backpack looks very slim, it’s quite roomy. This makes it idea for people who commute a lot, especially by bike or train, because it doesn’t occupy a lot of space. Thanks to the design which was conceived for maximum efficiency, you can even charge your phone from your laptop while you’re holding them both in your backpack. This makes it a perfect addition for people that are on the go and don’t have time to stop by a coffee shop and look for a power outlet.

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Mancro Business Water Resistant Polyester Laptop Backpack

From dark indigo to purple, the Mancro laptop backpack seems to have it all. With 20 x 12.2 x 5.7 inches in dimensions, this laptop backpack is ideal for notebooks that measure 17 inches max. The side pockets are both sealed, which makes it ideal for you to carry your laptop or wallet in here.

The manufacturer advertises an external USB with built-in charging cable. Before you get too excited about this feature, let me explain how it works. You just need to have a portable battery. You can charge your bag at night and then use the port when you’re on the go. Otherwise, without a portable battery, You have to plug it into a wall, then you’d have to plug your device into the USB port. At that point, you might as well just plug your device into the wall. The idea is you don’t have to take the device out of your bag, so you just plug the backpack in. This is quite inconvenient without a portable battery.

The anti theft feature is pretty nice. You get a combination lock with 3 digits, which could turn out to be very helpful when you’re in a bus crowded with people and someone might attempt to open your backpack in all the crowding and confusion. Just as the name suggests it, this is not a waterproof laptop backpack, but a water resistant one. This means that carrying it under heavy rain will eventually damage whatever contents you may be carrying around.

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Verdict

When you’re looking for an item with such variate specs, like a waterproof laptop backpack, it’s very difficult for someone else to give you a verdict. While we have given you some of the best choices in terms of waterproof and water resistant laptop backpacks, you are the most suitable one to give the best verdict in this case. The best water resistant backpack for YOU will be chosen according to:
How much weight your shoulders can support.
How big/small your laptop is.
How many pockets the backpack has (which can allow you to carry more or less items, depending on your needs).

Out of all the backpacks we mentioned above, our favorite is the Outdoor Foundry 100% Waterproof Backpack. Thanks to its size and fabrics used, it is ideal for a lot of situations, from commuting to hiking.

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