The 5 Best Backpacks for Nursing Students, According to Nurses

Beth Hawkes is a nurse, speaker, and writer. After trying several backpacks as a nursing student, she settled on the Herschel backpack as her favorite. “They have an incredible lifespan. They really last forever and are more premium and stylish than any other brand,” she says.

Herschel backpacks come in a range of prices to fit nearly every budget, from $32-$450. There is a range of designs in the mid-price range, from $69-$89. The Thompson Backpack costs about $75 and is made of a heavy-weight base fabric and recycled material.

There is space for a 15-inch laptop, contoured shoulder straps, and zippered lid pocket. An internal key clip can make it easier to find your keys quickly and dual water side pockets ensure you’ll stay hydrated.

Kelly recommends the Aether 65 Men’s Backpack. It sells for between $285-$400, depending on your size preference. Both sizes are designed to hold up to 60 pounds.

The backpack comes with a rain cover and floating top lid. The fabric is reinforced with upper and lower compression straps and a design to provide close-to-body contact to manage heavier loads. This backpack can easily maneuver your school supplies and a weekend camping trip.

Kelly thinks the JanSport backpacks are perfect for everyday use. JanSport backpacks range in price from $15-$85. The Main Campus FX Backpack was designed with college students in mind and costs between $50-$55.

It has room for large books and several compartments to organize your supplies. The backpack is available in several colors. It features S-curve shoulder straps, a fully padded back panel, and a laptop compartment with dual side water pockets.

The square design is perfect to fit books, and the compression straps keep everything in place.

The cost of Tumi backpacks starts at around $300. They have several designs for students—including the Carson Backpack which comes in three colors, has a pocket for your tablet, and zippered compartment for a 15-inch laptop. This backpack is likely for the student who has gone paperless since there is little room for books.

The Bina Backpack is made of nylon and offers a double-zip entry to the main compartment. The laptop compartment can accommodate a 15-inch computer. There is a quick-access phone pocket and a water-resistant water bottle pocket. And the mouth of the backpack is large enough to accommodate books.

The Hartford Backpack is sleek and stylish with a separate laptop compartment, quick-access phone pocket, and water bottle pocket you can access from inside or outside the bag.

The Matein Travel Laptop Backpack is less expensive than the other backpacks on this list, costing between $30-$70 depending on the size. There is enough space for books and a laptop. It also features a USB charging cable and back support with a ventilated pad. The adjustable straps reduce the strain on your back.

The backpack comes in many colors and two sizes. The smaller version accommodates a 15.6-inch laptop and the larger version fits a 17-inch laptop. The design also includes an antitheft back pocket and dual elastic side water bottle pockets.