Between books, binders, tablets, lunch, and school supplies, backpacks can fill up quickly! This can be a troublesome burden for students who need to lug around their bags as they work their way across campus. For any student carrying endless supplies, our list of the top five best rolling backpacks might be a helpful resource and reduce some of that heavy load.
It is an incredibly common sight in schools all over the world; students rushing home or between classes carrying backpacks filled to the brim with textbooks and notebooks. Homework is a big part of most teachers’ lesson plans, and that means students must lug their books home after most school days. Now, a new study has established just how much backpack weight is too much. Researchers from the University of Granada and Liverpool John Moores University have determined the maximum weight that children, more specifically elementary school students aged between seven and 12, should be allowed to carry in their bags: 10 percent of their body weight when using a traditional backpack, and 20 percent of their body weight when using a rolling backpack.
Aside from providing a lighter load, rolling backpacks add an element of fun and practicality to everyday life. Their smooth, gliding wheels make navigating through crowded hallways or bustling streets a breeze, allowing you to effortlessly transport your belongings with a playful ease. Plus, they often come in an array of vibrant colors and stylish designs, making them a fashionable accessory for students, travelers, or anyone on the go. Whether you’re rolling through school or the airport, there’s an undeniable joy in the convenience and whimsy that rolling backpacks bring to your daily routine.
A great rolling backpack might be just the thing to strike one worry off the list. After all, a well-prepared student will have an advantage when they tackle their educational day. From budget-friendly rolling bags to fancier deluxe models, our list of the top five best rolling backpacks lays it all out for you. Let us know your favorites in the comments below!
The List: Best Rolling Backpacks, According to Experts
1. Matein 17-inch Rolling Backpack
Rated number one by several of our sources and top-rated by all, the Matein Rolling Backpack comes highly recommended. This bag is praised for durability, meaning that buyers could be set for years to come. Reviewed raves, “Sleek, waterproof, and perfectly sized to double as carry-on luggage, the Matein 17-inch Rolling Backpack is an Amazon reviewer favorite with over 4,000 happy buyers awarding it 4.6/5 stars. With a compartment for folders, a mesh water bottle pouch, and a dedicated storage area for laptops, there’s much to love about this bag.”
“This bag helps students organize everything they need without causing back or shoulder problems. It’s got enough space to carry a 15.6-inch laptop, which is more than enough for most students. It also comes with multiple pockets protected with water-resistant zippers. You can easily walk in the rain without worrying about your books or tech getting wet and damaged,” praises Upgraded Points.
“The bag is designed with smooth and excellent skate wheels that move without a glitch on any surface… The biggest compartment comes with compression straps to securely hold your clothes. The front compartment has organizers to hold small objects like keys, pouches, pens, and your phone. The rolling luggage backpack comes with a height-adjustable aluminum telescopic handle and a durable padded grab handle,” exclaims Mom Junction.
2. Rockland Double-Handle Rolling Backpack
The versatile Rockland brand backpacks come in a wide variety of appealing prints from fuchsia paisley to simple black. Mom Junction compliments the brand, “The school rolling backpack comes with a large compartment that holds many books, and a small organizer compartment for erasers, pens, pencil cases, and other small objects. The rectangular pulling handle gives your kids a good grip while pulling the trolley while the padded shoulder straps make it easy for them to carry the bag on their backs.”
NBC Select opines, “If you’re looking for a good-quality rolling backpack on a budget, this Rockland option is made from durable polyester and equips a heavy-duty plastic stand on the bottom to keep it upright. You can choose from several patterns and designs, including polka dots, pink chevron, multi-colored hearts and leopard.”
“The wallet-friendly Rockland Double Handle Rolling Backpack is an excellent choice for adults and kids alike. Note that it’s slightly smaller than average, but the compact design makes it all the more portable. This backpack-suitcase combo is made of durable polyester with a plastic stand and a metal telescoping handle,” details The Spruce.
3. JanSport Driver 8 Core Series Wheeled Backpack
This bag is more luggage than backpack. However, the overall quality of this bag makes it a popular choice for buyers willing to spend a little more in exchange for greater durability. “The padded shoulder straps easily tuck away when used as a rolling backpack. The large 80mm wheels make cruising around with this rolling backpack easy. The backpack itself can hold a ton, including a laptop in the padded laptop sleeve,” says Momdot.
“The JanSport Driver 8 Backpack is a rolling, tech-ready pack that is suitable for high schoolers. It is solidly built from 600D polyester. This is the top-selling American brand for school bags and its other, non-rolling backpacks got great (if not top) marks from the French consumer testing organization and reviewers. The JanSport lifetime warranty is excellent,” according to Minimalist Travel.
“Whether you are a student or a professional, the JanSport Driver 8 Rolling Backpack and Computer Bag has everything you need. Its spacious design, sturdy construction, and convenient features provide an excellent carrying solution for your belongings,” adds The Green Voyage.
4. High Sierra Wheeled Backpack For School
In considering the rolling backpacks, our sources gauged the overall durability of key bag parts like the wheels, handles, and interior compartments. The High Sierra scored well in all major categories. Backpack Guider states that, “High Sierra is a stylish-looking rolling backpack… made up of lightweight durable fabric, which will help you in carrying your schooling stuff easily and comfortably. Apart from that, the water-resistant coating on the backpack can also help you in protecting books and other schooling stuff from any extreme weather.”
Bright Link Prep adds, “For a great all-rounder, this backpack by High Sierra takes the lead. It is big but not so big that it gets bulky… [the] design is straightforward, and you get a large main compartment for laptop, a secondary compartment for books, and two smaller zippers on the front.”
NBC Select adds: “For students who carry tech like laptops and tablets, this option from High Sierra comes with a padded laptop sleeve that can accommodate a 15-inch laptop, according to the brand. Kids can store supplies in the backpack’s organizer compartment that comes with multiple pockets, including a zippered mesh pocket, pen pockets, a media pocket with a USB port and a key fob hook.”
5. J World New York Sundance Roller Backpack
This J World offering boasts added padding and larger storage capacity. They are ideal for students that have several books, plus there is enough space to accommodate multiple pieces of tech like laptops and tablets. Mom Junction chimes in with positive feedback: “Stack books, a hoodie, and lunch boxes in its wide… storage compartments and carry your laptop with you in its padded laptop holder case. The front compartment of this travel rolling backpack has an organizer to hold your pens, phone, wallet, and other small items.”
Reviewed cites Amazon customer satisfaction as a key indicator of quality: “If your child likes to showcase their own sense of style, then you can’t go wrong with the J World New York Sundance Rolling Backpack. Available in 21 bold designs, this wheeled backpack is known for having a large capacity that can easily fit a large laptop or adaptive equipment. With over 7,000 Amazon ratings giving it 4.2/5 stars, this bag definitely gets an A+ from us.”
“Unlike other bags, this option is large enough to also hold multiple books, notebooks, and more. The telescopic handle can also lock at multiple heights, so it can last years as your child grows. In fact, its tallest height is suitable for people who are 6 foot 3 inches tall. Each bag also has reflective tape in its design, so it’s safe to use at night,” according to Upgraded Points.
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Sources:
- Reviewed
- Upgraded Points
- Mom Junction
- NBC Select
- The Spruce
- Momdot
- Minimalist Travel
- The Green Voyage
- Backpack Guider
- Bright Link Prep
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.