30(ish) Wirecutter Picks for Heading Back to School at Any Age
Best for…
With its padded mesh straps and back panels, this sporty-looking pack makes carrying heavy loads lighter and comfier. It also has the easiest-to-use water-bottle pockets of any bag we’ve tested, as well as a removable laptop sleeve, but it could use more interior organization.
If you’re looking for a backpack that will last you for the next few years, we have a few recommendations. For a more sporty look, we recommend the Patagonia Refugio Daypack 26L, which is the most ergonomic bag we tested. It provides a padded laptop compartment, a roomy interior, and two side pockets for water bottles.
Best for…
This compact, durable laptop backpack is big on nostalgia and aesthetic appeal. But while its straps are lightly padded — a significant upgrade from the original Kånken — it still isn’t ideal for carrying extra-heavy loads.
Simplicity is what makes this bag cool, and it comes in a plethora of colors and patterns, whether you’re looking to stand out or blend in. Though it has a roomy laptop sleeve, you won’t find any fancy protection or organizational features inside this pack.
If a chic, simple bag is more your vibe, we recommend the Fjällräven Kånken Laptop or the Herschel Classic Backpack XL. Both have a laptop sleeve, and both lack some of the internal organization that other backpacks offer. However, both offer distinct, classic designs that come in a wide-range of colors for a little flair.
Best for…
A sleek design and utilitarian features (such as a luggage pass-through and magnetic top closure) make this sophisticated laptop carrier feel pricier than it is. But unlike our other picks, it isn’t backed by a warranty.
As sensible as it is stylish, this durable polyester pack has plenty of storage options, though there’s only one outer side pocket, which is too small for larger water bottles. Be aware that the popularity of this pack has made it prone to frequent stock issues.
For a stylish backpack with more internal organization, we recommend Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack or the Eastpak Padded Double. Both have laptop compartments, great internal organization features, and comfortable straps.
Top pick
This cute, two-tiered bento box is ideal for multi-part lunches, and it comes in a variety of appealing colors. It isn’t leakproof, but we think that’s okay for the types of foods you’re likely to use it for.
For a bento-box lunch, we recommend the Takenaka Bento Bite Dual, which is ideal for multi-part lunches and is easy to clean. It isn’t perfectly leakproof, but it is easy to clean and capable of carrying a hearty meal. For a smaller bento box, consider the Bentgo MicroSteel Lunch Box, which we also recommend in our guide to lunch boxes.
Top pick
This uncomplicated lunch bag comes in six charming prints and does a great job of keeping food cool. Its soft, flexible sides help it fit in most backpacks, but it may not protect your lunch from getting squashed.
Some smaller coolers make great lunch boxes. We think this Carhartt lunch box also makes a great cooler. But it’s the biggest of our picks and may seem unwieldy to some people.
A classic insulated lunch box might be your preference, and in that case, we have a few options. For something simple, stylish, and flexible, we like the Baggu Puffy Lunch Bag, which comes in a variety of charming prints. It’s an ideal size that can accommodate most bento boxes or other container types, but since its walls are soft, it may smush unprotected soft foods.
We also like the Carhartt Insulated 12 Can Two Compartment Lunch Cooler. This extra-roomy model can fit a hearty meal and then some, and though it can be a little unwieldy to carry, it’s perfect for loading up on food, drinks, and snacks if you’re spending all day on campus.
Top pick
This budget digital alarm clock does so much for so little. It has the largest numerical display of the clocks we tested, plus two USB ports and easy-to-use tactile controls that take the guesswork out of changing settings.
With high school starting earlier in the day than middle school, your new wake-up time may not come naturally yet. To aid with early mornings, make an affordable alarm clock like the DreamSky Compact Digital Alarm Clock your bestie. It has a big display, two USB ports to help charge your tech overnight, and easy-to-use, tactile controls.
Top pick
This large, versatile notebook has sturdy twin spiral rings, premium paper, and perforated pages.
Budget pick
This simple journal-style notebook offers all the basics and a better writing experience than the more-popular Moleskine notebooks it mimics.
Any old notebook from the store will work perfectly fine, but we think it’s okay to treat yourself to high-quality notebooks. You might like the Maruman Mnemosyne N194A Notebook, a soft-covered, spiral-bound notebook with perforated pages that allows you to tear out a sheet for in-class assignments. Or perhaps you’d prefer a hardcover notebook, such as the inexpensive Paperage Hardcover Lined Journal Notebook, which has thick, bright pages that handle a variety of pen types with little to no smudging.
Top pick
This planner offers a seemingly infinite number of customization options, so you can create one that’s truly your own.
High school and college mean more homework, projects, and tests, likely coupled with a job, a sport, or an extracurricular activity. A customizable planner to keep track of all of that is essential, and we’re partial to the Agendio Planner for its customization options. It comes in three sizes and three paper thicknesses, and when you order, you can customize the page layout to make the planner work well for you. You have to make lots of decisions just to do that, though.
Top pick
With its fast-drying ink, this pen is our go-to for everyday writing on any kind of paper.
Upgrade pick
This comfortable pencil has a replaceable eraser, an incense-cedar barrel, and a smooth, dark core. But it costs over twice as much as most writing pencils, and you can’t use it on standardized tests.
Perhaps you’ve graduated from a classic Dixon Ticonderoga #2. In that case, the Palomino Blackwing 602 Pencil is the upgrade for you. It writes beautifully and has a replaceable eraser, which is a nice feature for a student. But you can’t use it on standardized tests, so we recommend keeping at least one #2 pencil in your arsenal as you take AP, SAT, and ACT tests.
For students comfortable and confident in their writing, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT has been our favorite everyday ballpoint pen for over a decade. The ink dries quickly and almost never smudges, and the pen comes in a wide range of tip sizes and ink colors.
Top pick
This compact E Ink tablet covers all the bases, offering a smooth writing feel, a sophisticated notes app, a built-in Kindle app, and a robust drawing app. The stylus, sold separately, starts at $65.
For the techiest students, a digital notebook like the Supernote A6 X2 Nomad might be more your speed. This compact device provides a lot of storage, has a pleasant pen-on-notebook feel that takes some getting used to, and offers robust writing features.
Top pick
This versatile, over-ear pair sounds great, has a long battery life, and offers premium features at a lower price than its competitors. Some controls are a bit sensitive, though.
A pair of wireless headphones is an essential item for commuting to school, watching videos for homework, or drowning out noisy study groups at the library. The JBL Tour One M2 pair provides great sound, has long-lasting battery life, and is light and comfortable to wear. It also offers decent adaptive noise-cancellation, which is a nice bonus.
Top pick
The Vivobook S 14 has category-leading battery life, a vivid OLED display, and a fun customizable RGB keyboard, all in a thin-and-light body.
The M4 MacBook Air is a slim, powerful Apple laptop that has a notably upgraded 12-megapixel webcam.
At this stage in your academic career, you’re likely in need a laptop of some kind for typing up papers, doing research, making presentations, and more. If you prefer a Windows interface, you can’t go wrong with the Asus Vivobook S 14 (Q423SA-U5512), which is thin, light, sturdy, and blessed with terrific battery life. If you’re interested in — or already part of — the Apple ecosystem, we recommend the Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025), which has a terrific display, an upgraded webcam, and a sleek, slim design.
This article was edited by Maxine Builder and Catherine Kast.
