The best laptop backpacks for your crew

I carried the same backpack I had since college…until I tested out a few new options.

I may be an adult now, but looking at my old bag, you wouldn’t have guessed it. It was time for an upgrade. Something comfortable, practical, and still stylish.

So, we went all in. We explored the most popular designs, talked with our customers and team, and tested more than 30 backpacks in real-world conditions. The result is a curated lineup of standouts that look good, work hard, and make the workday just a little better.

Depending on who you ask, there are anywhere between 3 and 17 different categories of backpacks. Next time you’re on a bus or subway during rush hour, look around, you’ll be surprised at how many different types of bags people use for work. For ease, we’ve broken them down into several categories:

We’ve said this before, but the best swag is “sticky”. This means that your recipients are going to use your item for years to come. Think of how many eyeballs will see your backpack if it gets used five times a week for over a year. ASI estimates that bags account for 1,940 impressions over their lifespan. We argue that with tasteful design and execution, commuter backpacks far exceed that estimate.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a promotional item with more utility than a bag, but what makes this type of bag so attractive? Simply put, they’re for everyone. Commuter backpacks tend to be stylish, gender neutral, and useful for all. If your company assigns laptops for the road, the bags make for a great insurance policy, keeping expensive laptops protected. 

New Hire Kit – Backpacks also make for an excellent part in any new hire kits. Not only do new hires likely need the means to transport items to the office but giving new employees a physical item deepens the relationship they have with their employer. They’re now part of the club and will feel appreciated from the get-go. And of course, what better way to package a new hire kit, filled with drinkware and other items, than a great looking backpack?

As we hinted at earlier, you have a few options in terms of decorating on backpacks. Most companies will opt for logo placement on the larger compartments of the bag.

Embroidery: For backpacks, the most common decoration is embroidery. Since bags are subjected to more wear and tear than a t-shirt, embroidery is a good option to ensure your design lasts and fits the look of a quality bag. Embroidery can often be decorated on several parts of the bag, but keep in mind the limitations each bag may bring. Since we run our own print shop, we know about these limitations firsthand. The main consideration is if the embroidery hoop and arm of the machine will fit within the pocket or location you want. If that sounds too technical, just know there may be some testing required to double check if a particular spot works for embroidery (or if the logo size needs adjusting).

Patches/Labels: Another great option with a very retail look is a patch or woven label. They come in all different types and materials from faux leather to PVC. Most labels and patches can also hold more detail than embroidery, so if you need to retain small text, this could the method for you. Again, the limitation here is how the sewing machine can get into and around the bag in order to sew on the label. Yes, we do this in-house too.

Limitations: Some bag brands limit what decoration type and locations are allowed. Herschel is quite specific about additional branding – only heat transfers are allowed and only within a specific imprint size and location. The Presidio stipulates the co-branding must be embossed on a specific leather patch. These rules do seem limiting, but the brand is simply trying to protect the overall look of their item.

Heat Transfers: As we just mentioned with the Herschel bag, heat transfers are another option. The benefits are a variety of transfer material options, but the fabric of the bag must be considered and even tested to see what works best. The heat press pallet will also need to fit within the bag for proper pressing.

As with most products, we encourage our clients to take a more creative approach to designing bags. Instead of massive logo placement, consider adding more subtle branding or using a sewn-on patch. Not only do these design choices look better, but it’s more likely that the recipient of the product will get more use out of the backpack.