The 23 Best Backpacks for Back to School and Beyond

Nothing makes you feel as low-key old as realizing that back-to-school shopping has already begun in earnest, and you’re out of the loop. But sure enough, Polyvore reports that searches for that back-to-school staple, the backpack, started spiking in June and July and are expected to peak in August. Apparently, the youth of today are a lot more organized about their school shopping than we were, when we made a first-week-of-September mad dash to the mall to grab the nearest Jansport and Trapper Keeper.

Of course, the interest in backpacks isn’t coming only from school kids. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the emergence of the fashion backpack: a sleek style pioneered by Mansur Gavriel, with its rainbow of cool pastel and neutral leathers. It’s a style that’s part ’90s club kid, part minimalist Kinfolk reader — and it’s definitely the most fashion-forward way to haul a large amount of stuff.

So whether you’re currently choosing classes for fall semester or you just want to keep your work commute hands-free, a backpack is the thing you need. Click ahead for our 23 favorite styles, from classic printed ripstop to swanky exotic leather. And banish that grubby Jansport from your memory once and for all.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.