Best Herschel Backpacks (School, Work & Travel) ⋆ Expert World Travel (2024)

Most Versatile

Herschel Mammoth

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Best For School

​Herschel Pop Quiz

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Best for Travel

Herschel Travel Backpack

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​​Herschel Ultralight Daypack​

The Ultralight Daypack by Herschel Supply Co. is a very interesting daypack option. This pack is collapsible; when you want to store it, you can fold the entire pack in its top pocket. Which makes it excellent for travel; you can bring an additional bag but without using any extra space in your suitcase.

This Herschel backpack is made from ripstop nylon. It is very durable and water-resistant, so it’s a great versatile option. It features an adjustable drawcord closure and a clip-fastened storm lid for easy access to your items.

And it has an internal storage sleeve, a front storage sleeve, dual water bottle pockets, and a self-storage pocket, for easy organization. In addition to that, the Ultralight Daypack comes equipped with a sternum strap, a hipbelt, a hydration compatible port, and the Prusik loop system.

That last one is basically just a daisy chain on the shoulder straps, which allows you to attach anything to them with a carabiner.

The downside is the back panel; in order to make this pack so lightweight and packable, Herschel had to sacrifice the breathability and support of the backpanel. Meaning that you don’t get padding or ventilation on any part of the pack’s harness. Everything is made from the same lightweight material.

If you’re looking for a portable Herschel backpack, this is definitely one of your top options. It is amazing for traveling since it can literally fit into the pocket of your jacket. It takes up virtually no space, and it is an additional bag that you can bring on your trip – great for the exploration of new cities.

But, it’s definitely not the best option if you want a premium backpack that you can carry around every day.

Herschel Classic Backpack

The Herschel Classic Backpack is the best option for lots of people. It’s a very simple school backpack, with a decent price tag. It is frequently discounted and certain styles are always cheaper than others, so you can usually find a good deal on it.

ThisHerschel backpack is timeless because it has that very basic backpack design that will never go out of style. Streamlined shoulder straps, pockets, and shape make the Herschel Classic something that will be in style forever.

It is made from polyester, which is a pretty sturdy material. And it has a storm flap that will help protect your belongings in wet weather. That’s pretty useful, considering that the Classic pack does not have any water-resistant features. It also lacks padding and ventilation on the backpanel, so it’s definitely the most comfortable Herschel backpack you can buy.

The main compartment of this pack is very bigand can fit a lot. It has a small slip pocket inside, which is super close to the headphone port – you can keep your phone there and listen to music while it’s inside the pack. However, that’s about the only internal pocket you get, which is a shame.

Especially since there’s only one more external zippered pocket. There are two additional water bottle pockets on the sides, but they’re less useful since you can’t completely close them.

Overall, the Classic Herschel backpack is a good choice if you want something simple and timeless. It has the basic features of any school backpack, but it does lack some modern-day commodities like a laptop sleeve. Check out the other Herschel backpacks for something more feature-packed.

Most Versatile

Herschel Mammoth

If you want a Herschel backpack suitable for both the indoors and the outdoors, consider the Mammoth. It is made from 210D Nailhead Dobby nylon with 1,500mm water-resistant coating, so it can survive pretty much anything you put it through.

The Mammoth pack features a padded and ventilated backpanel, which makes it suitable for all sorts of weather conditions. It will keep you cool and dry during hot summer days, and it won’t get soaking wet in the rain or snow. Plus, you get a rain cover with the Mammoth, for extra protection on rainy days.

And it’s not just the materials that make this pack suitable for the wilderness. It’s also the features; the Mammoth has a strap and clip system, as well as a port that is all compatible with hydration bladders. And you can put the bladder in the 15” laptop sleeve.

There are two stretch side pockets on this pack, designed to hold water bottles. And there’s also a large zippered pocket on the front panel, for any items you want to have easily accessible. This is a feature you can use both in the office and on the trails, so it’s pretty cool.

You also get plenty of organization features inside the backpack, in addition to a dual-use laptop sleeve. There are a key clip and a few pockets inside the backpack, which are handy features to have on any backpack.

And you also have a sternum strap, which will keep the backpack from moving too much while you’re walking around with it. Overall, this is a great Herschel backpack; the minimalistic exterior and highly functional interior make it a viable option for all sorts of adventures. Even if it’s just carrying books to class.

Best For School

​Herschel Pop Quiz

The PopQuizbackpack is easily one of the most popular Herschel backpacks (full review here). And that’s because it is a great option for school – it’s large enough to fit all your books, notebooks, and tech inside, and it looks pretty cool on the outside. It is also available in lots of colors and prints so that everyone can pick up a design they actually like.

It’s not the most feature-packed backpack out there, but it checks all the basic boxes. The shoulder straps are padded and ventilated, there are two big external pockets, an internal laptop sleeve, and a headphone port so that you listen to music while your phone is safely in your backpack.

In addition to that, the front pocket of the pack features an organization panel with a key clip, pen slots, and several pockets for all your smaller necessities. And what I really like is that the zipper to this pocket is barely noticeable, thanks to the storm flap.

The storm flap also protects the main compartment – not just from thieves, but from any rain that ming be drizzling down the pack. This is a legit concern since the exterior of the Pop Quiz is not water-resistant.

I’m also not a fan of the fact that the backpanel is not ventilated at all and that you don’t even get a sternum strap. But I can get over those things since they’re not a necessity in this type of backpack. Water resistance, however, is something I generally look for in any bag.

Herschel Barlow

The Barlow is one of the lesser-known Herschel backpacks, but still ​a versatile option. It is the backpack you get if you want to be able to carry it everywhere, from Monday morning classes to trails in the woods. It is made from a mixture of 210D Nailhead Dobby nylon and 300D polyester, with a 1,500mm water-resistant coating.

This makes the Barlow a very durable backpack, able to withstand even the harshest of conditions. Like hiking in a snowstorm. In addition to that, you get a rain cover with this backpack, so that you can shield it from wet weather if you don’t feel like risking it.

The great thing about this Herschel backpack is that it looks very stylish, but has some seriously rugged features. The drawcord closure is typical for outdoorsy backpacks, as are the external compression straps. They help you tighten up the pack when it’s not entirely full, which makes it much more stable while you’re carrying it around.

It also has a sternum strap that helps this stay put on your back. And the backpanel is pretty amazing; with heavy padding and breathable mesh throughout both the backpanel and the harness, the Barlow backpack will be comfortable to wear in all sorts of weather conditions.

The pack doesn’t disappoint when it comes to storage and organization either. There’s a 15” laptop sleeve with a key clip inside, as well as side water bottle pockets. The laptop sleeve is inside the backpack, and there aren’t many other internal pockets to speak of.

But that’s pretty much the only downside; if you want a backpack that’s suitable both for the outdoors and the classroom, the Barlow is definitely one of the top options.

Best for Travel

Herschel Travel Backpack

In addition to making awesome school backpacks, Herschel is also pretty popular for their packs for travel. And their Travel Backpack is a really cool option for all tech-savvy people. It has a TSA-friendly laptop compartment in the back, which will help you go through checkpoints in a matter of minutes.

That compartment is heavily padded and lined with fleece, and it will protect any 15” laptop from scratches. The padding also helps with impact resistance; in case your backpack falls or you drop it, your laptop shouldn’t get damaged.

The main compartment of this Herschel backpack is very spacious and features several storage sleeves. This is very helpful if you’re traveling with lenses, hard drives, or action cameras since all the padding helps protect your tech.

There is also a front compartment with an organizer panel, for all the smaller items you like to have handy. You can use it for your passport, wallet, keys, and whatnot.

This backpack also features dual water bottle pockets and an additional front compartment for any last-minute items you remember to pack. The luggage strap in the back allows you to mount this on top of your suitcase and means you don’t actually have to carry it on your shoulders at the airport.

Additionally, the lower part of the backpanel is both padded and ventilated, so it should keep you comfortable even during hot summer days. The only downside to the Travel Backpack is that it doesn’t feature a hipbelt or a sternum strap. These features are nice to have on packs like this, which tend to get heavy when they’re full.

​Herschel Dawson

Another popular option in this range of Herschel backpacks is the Dawson backpack. It is a very stylish everyday backpack, perfect for those of you that really like to keep everything about your outfit trendy. The Dawson is also available in several different colors, so you can easily get something that suits your usual style. In addition to that, it is discounted in the basic styles.

The pack has a 13” laptop sleeve, which is the perfect size for almost anyone with an ultrabook. The sleeve is heavily padded, and it will protect your computer from any scratches or bumps.

The Dawson also has a very secure closure. It features a buckle belt with magnets, in addition to the drawstring in the main compartment, which will put off most thieves.

The backpanel is very basic, without any additional padding or ventilation. But that’s not such a big deal because this backpack is so small and lightweight. With a capacity of 20 liters, you’re hardly going to put enough stuff in it to need additional carrying support. Unless you decide to pack a couple of bricks in this Herschel backpack.

There are two external pockets on the Dawson. They both have a magnetic closure, so even the items inside should stay perfectly safe.

Overall, this is a great backpack for all of you that carry smaller laptops, and don’t need anything too large for your stuff. Maybe you work out of the nearest coffee shops, or don’t need books and notebooks for your classes. But you still want a bag that’s stylish.

Herschel Little America

Little America is another really popular backpack from Herschel and we have reviewed it in detail before. It’s actually one of their best-sellersand a backpack that many people choose to get because it is very versatile. The exterior of the backpack is made from 600D Polyester, which is a very sturdy material. It features a drawstring closure with magnetic buckles, so the main compartment is very secure.

The interior of this backpack has the classic Herschel lining and features a padded laptop sleeve. It will fit laptops up to 15”, which is okay for most people. One thing I really like about the laptop sleeve is that it is lifted from the bottom of the bag. That way, if you happen to bang the bottom of this backpack on something, your laptop is not absorbing all the impact.

There is also a pretty spacious external pocket on the front of the bag, suitable for most of your smaller necessities. And you will find a slip pocket inside, which can fit your phone or pens. This pocket is located just below the headphone port, so it’s actually the perfect spot for your smartphone – you can listen to music without taking out your phone.

The backpanel and shoulder straps are heavily padded and covered with breathable air mesh. This should keep you comfortable most days, even when your Little America backpack is filled to capacity.

Overall, the Little America backpack is one of the reasons why Herschel is such a popular brand nowadays. This is one of the crowd favorites, and it’s easy to see why. It’s comfortable, spacious and very stylish.

Other Herschel Backpacks

Above is our pick of the best options Herschel has to offer. However, because their range is so extensive, I thought it was worth mentioning a couple of other options you might want to consider.

Herschel Heritage Backpack

This is one of the simplest Herschel backpacks they have to offer and is great for anyone looking for something no fuss (similar to the Fjallraven Kanken if you know it).

It has a simple “school backpack” style design with a large zippered opening. Inside is a slot for a laptop or tablet, and on the front a simple pocket to store your smaller items.

It has padded shoulder straps, but no hip belt. So, it’s not ideal for a heavyweight.

All in all a no-fuss pack.

Herschel Retreat Backpack

This Herschel backpack is very similar to the Little America with the faux-leather straps on the outside, giving it a very old-school look.

It also has the drawstring on the top of the interior, which is accessible via a flap on the top of the backpack. Again, the Retreat backpack is quite simple, like most Herschel backpacks, but it is a slightly different design to the others, in case you like options.