Lifestyle Outdoor: 10 Backpacks for Work, School, and Trail

Sometimes you just want useful gear that looks good in the outdoors. This week, Lifestyle Outdoors looks at some of the hottest backpacks for fall 2018.

Gone are the days of boring rucksacks made purely for carrying gear. Today, you can find a backpack for every style and use.

While these 10 backpacks are not designed for technical pursuits, they are most certainly versatile. Use them for carrying laptops, paper, and pens for work or school. And then take them on the trail for weekend day trips.

Pictured top is the Arcane Large Daypack from Osprey.

Work, School, Trail: 10 New Backpacks for Fall 2018

Fjällräven Greenland Zip

While everyone knows the Kanken, most all of Fjällräven’s packs are built with the same longlasting and stylish design. Keep your everyday essentials well protected within Fjällräven’s Greenland Zip Backpack. Available in 23- and 16-liter options, the Greenland Zip is made with durable and waxed recycled polyester and organic cotton fabric.

Filson Rugged Twill Bandera Backpack

Filson keeps it simple and durable with the Rugged Twill Bandera Backpack. Announced this summer, Filson crafts the pack with abrasion-resistant Rugged Twill. So if you drop or scrape your pack, this one will likely last. The only pockets on the Rugged Twill Bandera Backpack are the main compartment, an exterior zippered pocket, and an interior laptop pocket.

Herschel Supply Co. Barlow Backpack

A utilitarian and stylish option, the Herschel Supply Co. Barlow Backpack both looks good and boasts technical features. It has a water-resistant coating, reinforced base, two mesh water bottle pockets, a breathable back panel, and contoured shoulder straps. This season’s color is the ever-popular Arrowwood, or mustard yellow.

Lander Commuter Backpack

If organization and comfort are top priorities, consider the Commuter 25L from Lander. I’ve been using the Lander 25 for the summer, and it has stood up to daily commutes. My gear stays organized within its multitudinous pockets, my laptop remains secured in a dedicated sleeve, and my back and shoulders stay comfortable thanks to its padded back panel and plush shoulder straps.

Patagonia Arbor Pack

Patagonia redesigned a classic with its new Arbor Pack Collection. The brand used an original design and updated the manufacturing to be more eco-friendly. Now, the collection uses 100 percent recycled materials. Each pack reuses eight-and-a-half plastic bottles. And the fabric is solution dyed, which saves a half-gallon of water per bag.

Solo Draft Backpack

Urban pack-maker Solo New York released the latest color to its Draft Backpack this summer. Now available in gray, the Draft Backpack offers a lot of organization in a super-sleek package. The whole pack weighs just over 1 pound, yet it can fit a 15-inch laptop, folders, and more everyday essentials.

Sierra Designs California Collection

Sierra Designs introduces a new line of apparel and backpacks designed and manufactured entirely in the brand’s native California. Made in the USA, the California Collection features 20- to 30-liter packs, daypacks, and 50-liter duffles. The brand claims all of the packs suit active lifestyles and a multitude of uses. The backpacks launch this month and ship October 1.

Osprey Arcane Series

Known for advanced backpacking packs, Osprey branches into the urban world with its Arcane series. Three bags are in the line: a top zip and two daypacks of different sizes. Each has a minimal aesthetic, with a laptop sleeve, waxed cotton fabric, and a removable shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can detach and reattach around objects for added security in busy places.

Boundary Supply Errant Backpack

After amassing more than $2 million on Kickstarter and Indigogo campaigns, the Boundary Errant backpack will become available for consumers this October. The Errant is a feature-rich everyday backpack. Inside are compartments, dividers, and pockets for different pursuits, be it work, photography, or the gym. And to top it off, Boundary Supply crafts its packs with sustainable Blue Sign materials.

United By Blue Rift Pack

United By Blue makes the Rift Pack entirely from recycled plastic bottles. On the outside is a DWR finish to resist the occasional rainstorm. And the inside houses organizational pockets and a padded laptop sleeve. There’s also an external water bottle sleeve and a sternum strap for more comfortable carry.

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