How to buy the best Herschel backpack for school: our top picks

Best Herschel backpack for school
(Image credit: Herschel)

Picking a durable and stylish backpack is one of the most important back to school purchases you can make, so it's a good thing that Herschel Supply Co. produces some of the most popular and best backpacks around.

Herschel Supply Co. is a Canada-based designer with an emphasis on simple, timeless styles. The company's backpacks are mostly focused on offering the essentials, and they're a great fit for students.

With Herschel backpacks, you won't be overwhelmed by needless pockets or a crazy array of straps that can end up dangling loose or snagging on things. Instead, you'll find clever considerations, such as a bright interior lining that makes things easier to see what's inside. 

Herschel's stylish backpacks are also reasonably priced. This will of course vary depending on the size you're after, but all of them are capable of carrying your favorite tech gear safely and securely. They also come with a limited lifetime warranty, which shows that Herschel is standing behind its quality of construction and materials.

Most of the backpacks have fairly basic straps, though some include a padded back that can make longer commutes more comfortable. The backpacks below also come in a typical zipper style or foldover design.

Here's a look at the Herschel backpacks we think are best.

These are products that we haven't had in our test labs, but based on our experts' opinion and knowledge of the most reputable brands around, we think these are worth looking at.

Our selections, ranked from cheapest to most expensive, take into account online reviews, brand reputation, product capability and unique features, to help you pick through the maze of choices available to you.

(Image credit: Herschel)

Herschel Pop Quiz backpack

Everything you could need

Specifications

Key features: Fleece-lined laptop sleeve, front pocket with organizers, sunglasses compartment, waterproof zipper
Dimensions: 17.5 x 11.75 x 6 inches (H x W x D)
Volume: 22L
Weight: 1.11 pounds

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The Herschel Pop Quiz backpack is clearly designed with students in mind. It has a simple style and reasonable price, but comes with no shortage of features to meet your daily needs. It has a padded laptop sleeve with fleece lining to keep your computer safe, and its front pocket includes built-in organizers so you can keep all your school supplies in order. It even has waterproof zippers to help protect all your belongings. And, with a wide variety of styles, you can find a design that fits your personality.

(Image credit: Herschel)

Herschel Little America backpack

Premium foldover

Specifications

Key features: Spacious, Fleece-lined laptop sleeve, front pocket, contoured straps, mesh back padding
Dimensions: 19.25 x 11.25 x 7 inches (H x W x D)
Volume: 25L
Weight: 1.95 pounds (Shipping weight)

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Herschel's Little America backpack comes in multiple sizes, so you can go larger or smaller depending on your needs. With a foldover design, you also get a little more leeway to pack things that might be a touch too large. This is also a good pick if you walk longer distances or cycle, as the air mesh back padding should offer extra comfort and breathability while you're on the move.

(Image credit: Herschel)

Herschel Retreat backpack

Practical, foldover pack

Specifications

Key features: Fleece-lined laptop sleeve, magnetic strap closures, external sleeve, media pocket with headphone port
Dimensions: 17 x 12 x 6 inches (H x W x D)
Volume: 19.5L
Weight: 1.69 pounds

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The Herschel Retreat backpack is a straightforward foldover backpack. It doesn't go overboard with special pockets, and instead keeps most of its 19.5-liter volume dedicated to its main compartment – though there is a front sleeve and media pocket with a headphone port. The size should allow you to fit a number of school books with ease, while the padded, fleece-lined laptop sleeve can fit up to 15-inch laptops.

(Image credit: Herschel)

Herschel Heritage backpack

Classic style

Specifications

Key features: Laptop sleeve, affordable price, media pocket with headphone port
Dimensions: 18 x 12.25 x 5.5 inches (H x W x D)
Volume: 21.5L
Weight: 1.3 pounds

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Herschel's Heritage backpack is as simple as they come, with a truly classic design but a wide range of style options. It's one of the company's more affordable options, but still has decent space, covered zippers, a 15-inch laptop sleeve, and a front pocket with a handy clip for holding your keys. 

(Image credit: Herschel)

Herschel Classic XL backpack

Sheer volume

Specifications

Key features: Laptop sleeve, affordable price, high capacity, water bottle pockets
Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.5 x 6"(D inches (H x W x D)
Volume: 30L
Weight: 1.48 pounds (Shipping weight)

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The Classic backpack is another model with a simple style and affordable price, but it offers extra room in the XL model. With 30 liters of space, you can pack your books, your lunch, and more. There's a 15-inch laptop sleeve, and a front storage pocket to help separate items. Plus, if like to keep a drink handy, the two water bottle pockets can help you out.

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Back to School 2020 is certainly going to be different, and we’re here to guide you through what you'll need. Whether you’re truly going back to school or remotely attending classes online, we’re rolling out a series of in-depth guides for students, teachers and parents to ensure you're buying the right technology and accessories.

Adam Vjestica

Adam was formerly TRG's Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.