MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack, 15.6 Inch College School Computer Bag, Grey

Why it's worth it

The MATEIN holds a 15.6-inch laptop, has more organization than its price suggests, and includes a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back panel plus a luggage pass-through strap. It's polyester rather than ballistic nylon, but owners routinely get years out of it.

This is the pack that shows up on more backs than anything else here, and there's a reason. You get a separate laptop compartment that fits 13- to 15.6-inch machines, a roomy main section, and a front compartment stuffed with pen slots and small pockets. If you like knowing exactly where your charger, your badge and your pen live, this gets you most of the way there.

The hidden pocket on the back panel is genuinely useful in a crowded subway car. It sits flat against your body, so nobody can open it while you're wearing the bag. Controlled pickpocket simulations by SafeWise found that hidden back-panel zippers cut theft success to near zero, while standard external-zipper packs were opened in more than 80% of crowded-transit attempts. It's the one anti-theft feature that reliably earns its keep.

From our review of 7 laptop backpacks for commuters, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +This is the pack that shows up on more backs than anything else here, and there's a reason
• +The hidden pocket on the back panel is genuinely useful in a crowded subway car
• +It's also the lightest pack we recommend, at roughly 1.6 pounds empty
• +Owner feedback runs long here, and the pattern is consistent: people report carrying these through multiple years of school or…

What to know

• –It's water-resistant polyester, not Cordura or ballistic nylon, and that's where the price shows
• –There's no lifetime guarantee, no premium hardware, and the look is functional rather than sharp