Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Afrik Armando

It can be difficult to find a backpack that’s great for both everyday use and travel—one that’s durable enough for daily commutes, yet roomy enough to pack the essentials for a vacation.

For senior updates writer Sri Rain Stewart, this sleek and spacious backpack does that double duty quite well. It’s well designed with a magnetic top closure, a built-in luggage pass-through strap, and padded, adjustable shoulder straps. And despite its minimalist design, this backpack doesn’t sacrifice on storage.

Says Sri: “It saves my back as I transition from work to travel, it goes with everything, and there’s no wear or tear in sight.”

Plus? It’s very cute→

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Photo: Connie Park

A backpack is our preferred way to carry and protect a laptop and other necessities. It’s more ergonomic than a tote or messenger bag, it holds more than a briefcase, and it looks more stylish than a rolling bag. Since 2015, we’ve tested more than 75 laptop backpacks to land on a few favorites—from an office-to-gym workhorse to a structured, polished option.

For your commute→

All the headphones we recommend We’ve tested several hundred pairs. Here are our favorites→

Our favorite paper planners Including a great, student-focused one for the academic year→

The very best pencils For the Sunday crossword and beyond, you’ll want a pencil that writes clearly and fluidly→

Photos: Wirecutter Staff

We’ve spent more than 180 hours evaluating the best bedding, appliances, and other essentials to help make dorm rooms both cozier and more efficient. Our picks are durable—but not too expensive.

The best bedding, bath, closet, and cleaning essentials for college→

Did you hear? We’re launching a podcast.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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