Backpacks Price Comparison 2026
Compare 737 backpacks from Fjällräven, Thule, Eastpak and more — find the best price across top UK retailers in one place.
Few product categories split as sharply between the bargain bin and genuine quality as backpacks. Our catalogue spans 737 models, from a bare-bones rucksack at 6 £ to expedition-grade packs pushing 120 £ — and the gap in real-world performance between those extremes is enormous. What's striking when you look at the data is how much of the market clusters around the 48 £ mark: that's where brands like Fjällräven, Eastpak and Targus compete hardest, and where most buyers will find their sweet spot.
Fjällräven dominates sheer catalogue depth here, with 93 products averaging around £119 — a reflection of the brand's cult status and its refusal to discount aggressively. Thule sits in a similar bracket and earns its premium through genuinely thoughtful suspension systems and laptop protection. At the other end, Eastpak keeps prices accessible without sacrificing the bar-tack stitching and YKK zips that make a bag last a decade. It's worth noting that Makita and Stanley also appear in this category — their tool-carrier rucksacks are a niche but legitimate choice for tradespeople who need a hardwearing, compartmentalised pack on site.
The material question matters more than most buyers realise. Vinylon — used in Fjällräven's iconic Kånken — offers a compelling mix of water repellency and colour fastness, while standard 600D polyester is the workhorse of the mid-range. If you're buying for outdoor use, look for a PU coating at minimum; a fully waterproof roll-top closure is worth the extra spend for anything beyond a light shower. For commuters, a padded laptop sleeve and a ventilated back panel will make the daily grind considerably more bearable. You can also pair your backpack with a dedicated backpack cover for added wet-weather protection.
One thing our price tracking consistently shows: backpack prices fluctuate significantly around Black Friday and the January sales, with premium brands like Fjällräven occasionally dropping by 20–30%. If you're not in a rush, setting a price alert is a smart move. For those travelling light, our duffel bags and waist bags sections offer complementary options worth comparing alongside.
How to Choose the Right Backpack
With prices ranging from 6 £ to 120 £ and use cases spanning the daily commute to week-long hiking expeditions, picking the right backpack isn't as straightforward as it looks. The three questions that actually matter: how much do you need to carry, how far will you carry it, and in what conditions? Everything else follows from those answers.
Capacity for your actual use case
Capacity in litres is the single most important spec — and the one most often misjudged. A 15–25L daypack is genuinely sufficient for commuting, a laptop, and a packed lunch. Step up to 25–40L for weekend trips or gym-plus-work combos. Anything above 40L is expedition territory: useful for multi-day hiking or travel, but unwieldy on the Tube. Don't be tempted to buy bigger 'just in case' — a half-empty large pack distributes weight poorly and encourages overpacking.
Suspension system and back comfort
Basic padded straps are fine for light loads and short durations. The moment you're carrying more than 8–10kg, or wearing the pack for over an hour, a hip belt becomes essential — it transfers load from your shoulders to your hips, where your body handles weight far more efficiently. Ventilated back panels (mesh or air-gap designs) are worth prioritising if you commute by foot or cycle: they make a real difference to how sweaty your back gets. Budget packs almost universally skip this feature.
Material and weather resistance
Nylon and polyester dominate the mid-range for good reason: they're light, durable, and take a PU coating well. The denier rating tells you how tough the fabric is — 600D and above handles daily abuse without fraying; ultralight packs use 200–400D and save weight but sacrifice longevity. For outdoor use, a PU-coated or PVC-coated fabric is the minimum we'd recommend. Fjällräven's Vinylon is a notable exception: it's not the most waterproof material on paper, but it's remarkably resistant to fading and holds up beautifully over years of use.
Laptop and tech protection
If you're carrying a laptop, check two things: whether the sleeve is padded (not just a fabric divider), and whether it's suspended off the base of the bag — a 'floating' sleeve absorbs impact if the bag is dropped. Targus and DICOTA, both well-represented in our catalogue, engineer specifically around laptop protection and are worth shortlisting for commuter use. Also check the zip quality: YKK zips are the industry benchmark and a reliable indicator that the rest of the bag's hardware is up to scratch.
Compartment layout and organisation
A single cavernous main compartment sounds practical but quickly becomes a black hole. Multiple compartments — a main section, a front organiser pocket, and ideally a quick-access top pocket — make a pack genuinely usable day-to-day. For outdoor use, hydration bladder compatibility (an internal sleeve with a tube exit port) is worth having even if you don't use a bladder immediately. MOLLE webbing on the exterior is a bonus for those who want to attach pouches or accessories modularly.
Weight of the empty pack
An expedition pack that weighs 2kg before you've put anything in it is already a liability. For everyday use, aim for under 1kg empty. Ultralight packs come in under 0.8kg and are excellent for travel where airline carry-on weight limits matter. The trade-off is usually thinner materials and fewer features — acceptable for light use, but not for rough terrain or heavy loads. Check the spec sheet, not just the marketing copy.
- Budget picks (From 6 £ to 32 £) : Expect basic polyester construction, minimal padding, and no-frills organisation. Fine for occasional use or children's school bags. Brands like Xiaomi and VidaXL appear here — functional, but don't expect longevity under daily stress. Not recommended for carrying laptops or heavy loads.
- The sweet spot (From 32 £ to 48 £) : This is where the market gets genuinely interesting. Eastpak, Highlander, and entry-level Fjällräven Kånken models sit here. You get proper YKK zips, decent material quality, and enough compartments to stay organised. The Kånken in particular punches well above its price in terms of durability and style longevity.
- Considered upgrade (From 48 £ to 65 £) : Thule, Targus Cypress, and mid-range Fjällräven models dominate this bracket. Laptop sleeves become properly padded, back panels gain ventilation, and suspension systems start to include hip belt options. A sensible spend for daily commuters or weekend travellers who use their pack hard.
- For the serious user (Over 65 £) : EVOC (averaging £171) and premium Fjällräven touring packs live here, alongside specialist camera bags from Vanguard. You're paying for Cordura or technical fabrics, anatomical frames, and genuine load-carrying capability. Overkill for city use — but if you're hiking multi-day routes or need a pack that lasts a decade, the investment makes sense.
Top products
- Fjällräven KÅNKEN backpack Navy Polypropylene (PP), Vinylon (Fjällräven) : The benchmark lifestyle pack — Vinylon construction genuinely outlasts cheaper alternatives, and the navy colourway is timeless. Not the right choice if you need laptop padding or back ventilation, but for everyday carry it's hard to fault.
- Makita E-15481 backpack Rucksack Black, Grey, Teal Plastic (Makita) : A niche pick that earns its place: purpose-built for tradespeople carrying tools on site, with compartmentalisation that general-purpose packs can't match. Overkill for office use, but excellent if you need a hardwearing work pack.
- Targus Cypress backpack Grey (Targus) : Our top commuter recommendation in this price bracket. The suspended laptop compartment and clean organisation layout make it genuinely practical for daily use. Styling is understated rather than exciting — which suits most offices perfectly well.
- Xiaomi Mi Casual Daypack Dark Blue (Xiaomi) : The best-value entry in the catalogue by some margin. Don't expect longevity under heavy daily use, but for light carry, travel, or a secondary bag, it's remarkably capable at this price point. The most popular budget option we track.
- Vanguard Range T45M backpack City backpack Beige (Vanguard) : A specialist pick for photographers and content creators — the internal layout is designed around camera bodies and lenses, not laptops. If that's your use case, it's excellent. If it isn't, the price is hard to justify against a general-purpose alternative.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What size backpack do I need for daily commuting?
For most commuters, a 20–25L backpack is the ideal size. It's large enough to fit a 15-inch laptop, a change of clothes, and daily essentials, whilst remaining compact enough to carry on public transport without inconveniencing other passengers. If you regularly carry gym kit as well, consider stepping up to 30L — but be aware that larger packs encourage overpacking and become heavier than necessary.
Is the Fjällräven Kånken actually worth the price?
Yes, for most people — but not for the reasons often cited. The Kånken's Vinylon fabric is genuinely UV-resistant and holds its colour far better than standard polyester over years of use, and the construction quality justifies the cost over a cheap alternative you'll replace in two years. That said, it lacks a padded laptop sleeve and a ventilated back panel, so it's not the right choice if you're carrying a MacBook daily or sweating on a long commute. It's a lifestyle pack done exceptionally well, not a technical commuter bag.
What's the difference between water-resistant and waterproof backpacks?
Water-resistant means the fabric has a coating (usually PU) that repels light rain for a short period — adequate for a British drizzle, not for sustained downpours. Waterproof implies a fully sealed construction, typically using a roll-top closure and taped seams, that keeps contents dry even when submerged briefly. Most backpacks in the 32 £–48 £ range are water-resistant at best; genuinely waterproof packs tend to sit above 48 £ and are more common in outdoor or cycling-specific ranges.
Should I avoid cheap backpacks under 32 £?
Not categorically, but go in with realistic expectations. Sub-32 £ packs typically use thin polyester (under 400D), basic stitching at stress points, and generic zips that fail within a year of daily use. For occasional use, a school trip, or a child's bag, they're perfectly adequate. For anything you'll use five days a week, the false economy is real — a mid-range pack at 48 £ will outlast three budget ones and cost less in the long run.
Are laptop backpacks from Targus or DICOTA better than general-purpose ones?
For laptop protection specifically, yes. Targus and DICOTA engineer their packs around device safety — suspended, padded laptop compartments, cable management, and often TSA-friendly layouts for airport security. General-purpose packs from lifestyle brands may have a laptop sleeve, but it's rarely as well-padded or as thoughtfully positioned. If your laptop is your primary concern, a dedicated tech pack from Targus or DICOTA is the smarter choice over a fashion-forward alternative.
How do I know if a backpack's suspension system is good enough for hiking?
Look for three things: a padded hip belt (not just a thin strap), a load lifter strap connecting the top of the shoulder straps to the pack body, and some form of ventilated back panel. Without a hip belt, loads above 8–10kg sit entirely on your shoulders and cause fatigue quickly. The load lifter strap fine-tunes the angle of the pack against your back. Brands like Thule and EVOC invest heavily in suspension engineering; budget outdoor packs often include the components but execute them poorly — check reviews from Which? or TechRadar before committing.
What does 'MOLLE compatible' mean on a backpack, and do I need it?
MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) refers to a grid of woven webbing strips on the exterior of a pack that allows compatible pouches, water bottle holders, and accessories to be attached and repositioned. It originated in military kit and is now common on tactical and outdoor packs. For most buyers, it's unnecessary — but if you want to customise your carry setup modularly, or you're buying for fieldwork or outdoor activities where quick-access pouches are useful, MOLLE compatibility is a genuine advantage rather than a gimmick.