The urban backpack is the one that goes through it all: the morning commute, the unexpected downpour, the laptop you carry around, the detour to the gym, or the spontaneous weekend getaway. A good model becomes invisible; a bad one reminds you of its presence every day — straps that dig in, soaked belongings, endless rummaging for keys. Here's how to choose the best urban backpack for your daily life, along with our selection to get straight to the point.
The essential in one sentence: a good urban backpack combines a capacity of 20 to 25 litres, genuine waterproofing, a padded laptop compartment, and comfortable carrying — the rest is a matter of style and use.
Our Selection of Urban Backpacks
Three models cover the essential profiles: the all-purpose waterproof favourite among our customers, the roll-top with adjustable volume for those who alternate between light and heavy days, and the premium model dedicated to laptops for work commutes. You can also browse our entire collection of men's backpacks to compare styles:
What Makes a Good Urban Backpack?
An urban backpack is neither a hiking pack nor a school bag: it lives in the city, and the city has its demands. First, the weather — between metro stations or on a bike, rain doesn't wait, and water-repellent fabric with protected zips makes the difference between a dry laptop and a very bad day. Then, the pace: you open and close it twenty times a day, so quick access (front pocket, wide opening) is as important as volume. Finally, the style: it follows you to the office and the café, so it should be up to the task. This triple requirement — protection, practicality, style — distinguishes the good models.
How to Choose Your Urban Backpack
Before falling for a look, scrutinise the backpack against your real daily life. The points that truly make a difference:
- Capacity. 20 to 25 litres are enough for a laptop, a water bottle, a jacket, and daily essentials. Beyond that, you're entering travel size — and if your backpack also needs to fly, our guide to the best carry-on backpack will help you kill two birds with one stone.
- Waterproofing. Water-repellent or waterproof fabric, clean seams, covered zips: it's the non-negotiable criterion if you carry electronics in all weather.
- Laptop compartment. A dedicated padded pocket, placed against the back, in the right size (13 to 15 inches): the laptop should never float among your belongings.
- Carrying comfort. Wide, adjustable straps, padded back, regularly lightened load: chiropractors remind us that a backpack worn on both shoulders and well-adjusted distributes weight and spares the back — good habits are detailed in this guide from the National Spine Health Foundation.
- Organisation. Key pocket, cable pass-through, water bottle net, quick-access pocket for badge or phone: the details that save time every day.
A final reflex: think about your "borderline" uses — a backpack that also handles weekends or city trips will save you from buying two. If your journeys often extend beyond the city, our guide how to choose the best travel backpack takes over where the urban one stops.
Security in the City: The Anti-Theft Advantage
Crowded metro, café terrace, turned back for two seconds: the city exposes your backpack's contents more than you might think. Anti-theft models respond with concrete solutions — hidden or lockable zips, a pocket against the back for valuables, reinforced anti-slash fabric, sometimes an integrated USB port for charging without opening. It's not a gimmick: it's one less mental load daily, especially if you carry a laptop and documents. Our collection of anti-theft backpacks gathers these models, and this one ticks all the boxes:
180,90 $
Pay in 4× 45,23 $ interest-free with Shop Pay
And for Women: The Chic Urban Version
The urban backpack doesn't just come in dark canvas and technical lines. On the women's side, the same demands — protected laptop, smart organisation, comfort — blend with more elegant lines: structured faux leather, sober tones, a format that transitions from office to restaurant seamlessly.
The technical criteria don't change one bit: padded compartment to fit your laptop, comfortable straps, pockets designed for daily use. What changes is the balance between style and practicality — and the good news is, you no longer have to choose. Recent models hide a true 14-inch compartment behind a handbag silhouette, with a secure pocket on the back for phone and cards. Our collection of laptop backpacks brings together both worlds, and this model is the best proof:
139,90 $
Pay in 4× 34,98 $ interest-free with Shop Pay
The Recap for Choosing Well
To see clearly at a glance before deciding, here are the criteria that truly matter for an urban backpack. No need to tick every box: start from your real daily life — your city's weather, what you carry, your commutes. A cyclist in the rain won't choose like an office pedestrian in air conditioning; one will prioritise waterproofing and stability, the other elegance and organisation. Just keep in mind that carrying comfort and laptop protection are never negotiable: they are what make you keep a backpack for years. The recap:
| Criterion | Worth a look | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 20 to 25 L for daily use | Enough for your laptop, water bottle, and a jacket — without turning into a hiking backpack |
| Water resistance | Water-repellent or waterproof fabric, protected zips | Essential if your laptop travels with you in all weather |
| Laptop compartment | Dedicated padded pocket for 13-15" | Your laptop should never float among your belongings |
| Carrying comfort | Wide straps, padded and ventilated back | The criterion you regret neglecting from the first trip |
| Security | Hidden zips, back pocket, slash-resistant fabric | On the subway or at a café, the anti-theft feature eases your mind |
| Organisation | Thoughtful pockets: keys, badge, water bottle, cables | Everything in its place = no more searching while walking |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best urban backpack for men? The one that fits your daily life: for versatility, a waterproof 20-25 L model with a laptop compartment remains a safe bet; for style, the roll top; for intensive work commutes, a premium model dedicated to laptops.
What capacity for an urban backpack? 20 to 25 litres cover the daily essentials (laptop, water bottle, jacket, daily items). Below that, you quickly run out of space; beyond that, you're carrying empty space most days — better to have a real travel backpack.
Can an urban backpack go in the cabin? Yes, in the vast majority of cases: a 20-25 L fits the carry-on dimensions of most airlines. Just check the exact measurements of the model against your airline's requirements before you leave.
How to wear your backpack to avoid back pain? Always on both shoulders, straps adjusted so the backpack hugs the upper back without dropping to the lower back, and load sorted regularly: most of the perceived weight often comes from carrying unnecessary items.
