The 10 Best Commuter Backpacks and Bags Under $50

I, like millions of other people across the globe, stepped into an office for the first time since the pandemic recently. Aside from having to navigate a new work commute and the anxious butterflies that come with meeting your colleagues face-to-face, building a proper work wardrobe has been one of the more… unexpectedly difficult tasks of leaving my work-from-home lifestyle behind. Finding a commuter-friendly bag that keeps me organized without costing an arm and a leg has been even more of a challenge.

Recently, though, I began digging for one on Amazon, and I’m happy to report that I’ve already found 10 contenders that put organization and function at the forefront. The best part? They’re all under $50. From tech-friendly commuter backpacks to sleek, multi-pocket storage totes, the following bags have all made it into my Amazon wish list. With so many individualized features, they’ll suit your daily needs and even come in handy for travel.

Beraliy Hanples Extra Large Travel Backpack

I love how compact this $40 travel backpack is. It’s small enough to fit TSA’s carry-on size restrictions and has four buckle straps on the sides that, when tightened, can help compress bulky clothes and items you’ve packed inside. Available in nine colors, it can fit up to a 17-inch laptop and has all the bells and whistles you could wish for in a commuter bag: an adjustable chest strap for back support, a charging cable opening for your phone, a shockproof laptop compartment, multiple pockets, a mesh water bottle holder, and handles on the top and side for easy carrying.

Yorepek Travel Backpack

Available in eight different colors, this $28 extra-large travel backpack from Yorepek has earned over 38,000 five-star ratings, and for good reason. Not only does it have a built-in USB charging port, a separate padded laptop sleeve, and numerous hidden compartments, but it also can hold up to six days’ worth of travel clothes at once. I love how many individual pockets this bag has; the front zipper pocket alone has four differently-sized pockets meant to hold your wallet, keys, smartphone, and favorite pen. 

Light Flight Travel Backpack

This travel backpack from Light Flight is proof that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice style for function. Available in two sizes and 10 different colors, this bag is gorgeously minimalistic on the outside while providing maximum storage opportunities for tech gear inside — like a padded laptop sleeve, a padded tablet sleeve, a computer mouse pocket, a keyboard pocket, and a charging cable pocket. A hidden anti-theft pocket at the back is perfect for stashing your phone, while the hidden USB charging port pocket on the side gives you easy access to your smartphone charger. This backpack might just be the smallest commuter bag on this list, but one reviewer shared that “it proved to be a great size” and was more spacious and durable than they imagined it would be. Score! 

Hap Tim Travel Backpack

This tech-friendly waterproof backpack stands out in a crowd thanks to its asymmetrical design features and unique color combinations. It’s roomy enough to hold anything and everything you’d need for a weekend trip away or commute into the office and has plenty of individual compartments made to keep your laptop, tablet, notebooks, and files tucked neatly away. The padded shoulder straps and back panel provide comfort on longer treks, and the wide opening of the main compartment allows for easy access to your belongings. 

Lovevook Travel Backpack

Lovevook has several different commuter-friendly bags featured on its Amazon storefront, but this $37 travel backpack, available in 35 different colors, might be my favorite of the bunch. It has plenty of design details that many other travel backpacks do not, including exposed golden metal zippers, a bucket-style zippered top, and a beautiful striped lining inside. The main compartment expands to fit everything you need for the day: It can comfortably hold a laptop, a tablet, a water bottle, an umbrella, over-ear headphones, and multiple notebooks all at once. The luggage strap, USB charging port, and hidden wipe compartment add extra convenience for work commutes and long-haul flights alike.  

SwissGear 3598 Backpack 

SwissGear is an industry leader in the travel bag space, and this commuter backpack further proves it. Equipped with reflective safety strips for nighttime visibility, this backpack was built for all-day comfort, featuring padded shoulder straps and a padded, airflow-promoting back vent panel that’ll keep you cool while biking, hiking, and walking. It comes with multiple individual pockets, including a padded tablet sleeve, a mesh water bottle pocket, and an easy-access front panel pocket constructed to hold your pens, charging cables, phone, and beyond. According to this reviewer, the SwissGear 3598 earns bonus points for being incredibly lightweight. Thanks to this and the padded design, it helped the same reviewer use “this backpack on a six-hour hike through rough terrain and never felt that it was uncomfortable to carry.”

Nubily Laptop Tote Bag

This chic commuter tote bag looks deceivingly simple on the outside — open it up, however, and you’ll find a bevy of different organizational compartments perfect for hauling your belongings to the office. Hidden inside is a padded laptop compartment, a tablet compartment, a wallet-sized interior zip pocket, pen slots, slip pockets, and a larger zippered compartment perfect for keeping important documents safe. The exterior, made with a waterproof PU leather material, is quite beautiful. Featuring shiny metal hardware, an adjustable and removable shoulder strap, protective metal feet on the bottom, and adjustable buckled shoulder straps, this luxurious bag only costs $35. 

Elektronik Travel Duffel Bag

This $26 travel duffel bag is great for long commutes, but it also works well as a weekender bag, a gym bag, or even a carry-on. Available in 16 fresh colorways (the purple and light green shades are my favorites), this waterproof nylon bag hosts a built-in USB charging port, a vented shoe compartment at the bottom, a luggage trolley strap for attaching to a rolling suitcase, a padded adjustable shoulder strap, and a removable toiletry bag. Reviewers love the quality of this bag in comparison to the low price point, with one reviewer saying, “Whether I’m tossing it in the trunk of my car or stashing it in an overhead bin, I have full confidence that this bag can handle whatever life throws its way.”

Kalesi Duffel Backpack

I lift weights every day before work, so I’ve been looking for a commuter backpack that can double as a gym bag. This heavy-duty Kalesi duffel backpack, priced at $40 and available in 23 different colors, might take the cake. Not only does it have a padded sleeve for laptop safekeeping, but it also has a hidden shoe compartment that’s perfect for stashing my lifting sneakers in. Made with a waterproof and scratch-resistant Oxford fabric, this versatile duffel backpack has removable back and shoulder straps that allow you to transform it into a shoulder bag or crossbody bag. Equipped with two water bottle side pockets, a roomy main compartment, and multiple different zippered pockets, this bag is perfect for housing your work belongings and the gear you use outside of your 9 to 5 job.  

Lovevook Work Tote Bag

This Lovevook tote bag is sleek and functional. Made with a water-repellant PU leather material, it comes with a built-in USB port that you can connect to a power bank for hands-off phone charging and adjustable, detachable straps that turn it into a shoulder bag. Inside the main compartment is a padded laptop pocket, a water bottle pocket, and multiple smaller pockets along the sides. The front zippered compartment’s pockets are specifically made to hold pens, smart pads, a smartphone, and a wallet.

Organizational details aside, this bag is undeniably gorgeous. Available in eight colors, it can be worn to work, the airport, and beyond. One five-star reviewer wrote, “I love all the compartments for organization, the size is perfect, and it’s really stylish and classic. I get a lot of compliments, too.” 

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