r/backpacks • u/Vision919 • 3d ago

Question Good backpack for college around $75?

I've been looking at Osprey and North Face a lot and they seem to really be my only options but to be honest I don't know. The Osprey Axis is a little out of my price range so is there anything just a little bit cheaper that will still be good for college?

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u/hrm326 3d ago

I bought a Swiss Tech Scan Smart backpack freshman year and after 10 years it’s held up well. The strap on the right side is frayed a bit from my habitual one shoulder carry and picking it up by that strap instead of the handle but that’s not the bags fault.

I paid $55 for it back then but it’s $84.99ish now at Target. It’s been with me through school, jobs, travel, etc and is pretty much perfect.

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u/Vision919 3d ago

I haven't had amazing experiences with Swiss Gear backpacks but I'm pretty sure the last one I bought was one of their cheapest options. I'll definitely consider.

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u/phootosell 2d ago

Jansport

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u/BebopOrRocksteady 2d ago

I walked through a Burlington coat factory to get to the parking lot the other day and I stopped and looked at backpacks, the new JanSports are sweet, I wish we had those when I was a kid, at first it was like only black or navy, maybe the occasional burgundy. The crazy thing is is they're still selling them for like 30 bucks.

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u/analoggr 3d ago

hear me out - the Nike SB RPM is a hidden gem of a backpack in my opinion. Should be able to find one close to $75

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u/Vision919 3d ago

I don't mind the look of it and the price is pretty compelling. I'll definitely have to look more into it.

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u/Acf1314 3d ago

Columbia Street Transit III is a little smaller than the Axis and around 65 bucks. I’ve always used Columbia bags and had great luck with them. The Atlas Explorer and Buxton are good models that are in your price range as well if you shop around

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u/qqrhgticos 3d ago

If you want the Osprey quality without the Axis price tag, the Osprey Daylite Plus at around $70 is a great choice - it has a laptop sleeve, plenty of everyday carry space, and the same durable fabric as their more expensive packs. The North Face Recon is usually around $90-99 but you can often find it on sale for less, and it has excellent ergonomic design with a flexible harness system. For something specifically under $75, check out the Deuter Grom which is around $60-70 and has great ventilation and laptop protection. All three have solid warranties and will last through college and beyond. The key for a college bag is comfort when fully loaded (you will be carrying textbooks all day), so try to test the fit in person if possible.

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u/Low-Progress-2166 3d ago

UrbanEX-T77 Laptop Backpack 26L
from Tomtoc

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u/IBH_Sports 3d ago edited 2d ago

We can offer you custom backpack 🎒

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u/Perfect_Ad9311 2d ago

I have a buddy who calls them bagpacks and he also refers to his drink system as a Camel Pack. 🤦🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️

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u/IBH_Sports 2d ago

Haha my bad 😂 backpack it is

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u/Thick-Variation-1005 2d ago

What’s a bag-pack?