20 Best Herschel Backpack For College (2023 Updated)

Contemporary bag with style. Really looks great. But, it needs more compartments and separation so that items can be stored safely. Very stiff material. Oddly so. The top portion that covers and closes the bag should have had a zipped pocket of some kind, its wasted space.

When carrying heavy books, laptop – it’s just not that comfortable. Looks great no doubt, but it’s disappointing that it doesn’t deliver. We use it for light items now only.

easily the greatest backpack I’ve ever owned. I’ve had mine for nearly a decade, using it every day. this has been used as everything from a carry on travel bag to a daily work bag. As a carry on, I can cram so many things into it (toiletries, electronics, several outfits) and it still holds everything well.

I easily pack it with 40 pounds of travel supplies each time and the integrity of the bag is still holding up. no loose stitches, no tears or broken zippers. I used it every day in college, and loved that it had a decent pocket for my laptop (nicely padded and protected from being directly at the bottom of the bag on the ground).

and now it is a daily work bag, carrying my lunch, coat, extra shoes, etc. my only grievance is that with it lasting so long, I can’t justify a picking a new colour for a style change. I swear this backpack looks like it could survive another decade of daily wear.

I own two of the Little America Mid (in Arctic Blue and Picante). If you are looking for a pack with plenty of compartments, or one spacious enough to accommodate plenty of tech, a thick jacket, gym shoes and gear and multiple textbooks, this is not it.

The website informs us that this is 17L, which puts this in the small-medium size category for a backpack. While the drawstring style allows you to cram in more stuff, doing so will detract from your enjoyment of use.

You will need to take things out from the top in order to get to other things. What I have in my Little America Mid currently are: 13 inch Dell laptop and about 50 sheets of A4 documents in padded sleeve, 3 pens and one highlighter in one of the internal side slip pockets, 2 cereal bars in the other one, foldable umbrella, 500 ml water bottle, one-quart Ziplock bag containing extra surgical masks, feminine hygiene products, plasters, antihistamines and ibuprofen, thin cardigan, A5 notebook and 400-page paperback novel in the main compartment.

The front pocket holds travel-sized hand lotion, hand sanitizer, key pouch, lanyard and access card, mobile phone and mini wallet. If you don’t need to carry more, and you love the vintage ‘mountaineering’ look, it’s a good buy if you can find a colour and texture you like for a discount.

Ordered a Hershel backpack for the first time for my 5 yr old for school. I’ve heard amazing things about Hershel and know of the quality. After sifting through the styles and the sizes we landed on the heritage youth (mainly on description of age range for sizing).

When I got the bag (and lunch box) 2 days later (holy fast shipping!) I took note of the great quality and zippers. However the size of the bag is smaller than I was hoping for. There’s no way a kid 8yrs old would be able to utilize this bags size for school.

I could really only get her pop quiz lunch box, one folder and one extra uniform in the bag. Concerned for the days of Canadian weather to try to shove in her rain boots or snow pants (that ain’t happening).

I’ll keep the bag and make due because it really is a beautiful bag, my daughter LOVES the print/colours and honestly the exchange/refund process is to much of a pain to deal with.

I bought this backpack for an upcoming trip with Flair airlines where I was too cheap to pay for any additional carry on. This backpack is the exact perfect size to count as a free personal item on Flair, Lynx and Swoop.

I can fit enough clothes for a weekend and the adjustable straps let me fit in a pair of shoes on the way back once! I also use it as my work bag when I’m not jet setting and while my laptop does not fit in the designated pouch, I still find it secure and put my note books in the pouch.

A little bit of fraying on some of the seams right off the bat but I have been heavily using it for months with no additional wear and tear damage visible. Straps are thick and comfortably cushioned for walking from one end of the airport to the other.

I’ve since had two friends purchase this same bag!.

Bought this backpack for my nephew who’s 5 years old and got the kids-sized backpack and although it says 4-7 years old, the backpack is way too small and could barely fit his lunch kit. The unfortunate thing about returning Herschel products is that you have to pay to ship it back to them and I had to return it and get the next size up.

It’s a bit of a tedious process and I expected the descriptions to be more accurate. I love Herschel products because of their quality but I’d consider looking at reviews/pictures for more accurate sizing.

I’m rating lower due to the inconvenience and misleading information and really hope they are able to update their descriptions more accurately.

I don’t have any offspring of my own that needs diaper changes. What I do have is a Fujifilm X-T30 DSLR camera that I want to quickly access whenever something cool shows up. The side access pocket allow me to do just that without having to dig through my bag and grab the camera.

The extra exterior mesh pocket stores hand sanitizer and a spare mask, the water bottle holder fits my insulated water bottle perfectly (and is tall enough to prevent it from falling out), and there is a divider in the middle attached to the laptop sleeve that splits the main compartment into two, if needed.

The laptop compartment holds both my 13 inch MacBook and my iPad Pro, heavily protected with a thick-ish keyboard case, with room to spare. All of that, and there’s still ample room to hold many books for school.

I did feel like some of the space near the top has been wasted though. A fleece lined sunglasses pocket would be great there, the two mesh pockets could’ve been a little deeper, and a key clip in the front compartment with some extra organization would have been a great feature as well.

Overall an excellent purchase, highly recommend (maybe get a pouch or something to hold your smaller knickknacks though!).

I have used Herschel for many years! I loved the quality and style of their products. Well that’s all gone out the window! I just purchased and received my backpack yesterday and I am so disappointed and quite honestly disgusted with the company and quality of their items.

I honestly could have purchased a better quality and less expensive bag from Walmart. I items zipper is completely plastic and the whole bag sounds like a trash bag. I went to return this product and was greeted by customer service with sale items are final and that I should gift this to someone.

I’m sorry but there’s no way in heck that I would gift this to anyone! I honestly feel cheated. No where when selecting the item or when checking out does it say sale items are final sale! Customer service states that it’s in their FAQ page.

if I’ve been using Herschel for years why would I go read your FAQ page? I just wanted a good quality backpack! You think the company would be smart enough and large enough that if sale items are going to be final sale, they would have it kn big bold red letters saying sale items are final! I guess they just want to be sneaky and cheat you out of your money.

I will not be purchasing from Herschel again and it really makes me sad because the previous items I purchased years ago are amazing.

I had seen reviews online about this backpack, and thought at the price that it looked like good value for a “dad” diaper bag/backpack. I was really pleasantly surprised when it arrived! Firstly, the zipper is really sturdy, with large teeth.

Don’t ask why that stood out, I just like a zipper that doesn’t feel like it might break every time I open or close it. Next, and probably the most handy feature for me: There is what looks like a random velcro strip on the inside of the back.

Not random at all! Actually, a flat part in front of the laptop holder section (I originally thought it was just more detailing on the laptop holder) can fold down and attach to the strip. This basically splits the interior of the backpack into two compartments – a top section accessible from the main zipper, and a bottom section accessible from a side zipper around one of the external bottle holder pockets.

I can keep the changing mat, diapers, wipes, even a bottle or two in the bottom section while keeping my regular backpack contents in the top section, preventing any leaks or spills from getting onto a sweater, laptop, or anything else.

Love it.

Had hershel bags before which were quite flimsy, this one is definitely more waterproof and can fit so much in. Perfect for work/ uni/ school.

The design is really beautiful and I love the white theme of this backpack

Very big, good quality and finishes. Well partioned

I am extremely disappointed in this purchase. The backpack hangs uncomfortably low (I am 5’6) and due to a “minimalist design choice” the straps only be tightened slightly, so even at the tighest setting the weight sits very awkwardly on my back.

I had it measured and it sits nearly SIX INCHES below my shoulders, and the bottom sits far below my hips! The recommended positioning for backpacks is one to two inches below the shoulders and sitting at the hips.

If I filled this backpack with books or groceries, it would be a recipe for back pain. When I contacted customer service about how this backpack hangs, they told me that this is a design feature and I would have to pay shipping to have it returned.

This has been an extremely disappointing experience and I will not be shopping at this site again. Beware of this backpack!.

When I first purchased the backpack was concerned that it would be too big. Once I took the backpack out the package and tried it on, it was the perfect size. I’m so glad I went with this one over the Standard.

Do believe the standard would have been a little too small. The XL can fit all my essentials for school including my MacBook Pro as well as gym clothes. This backpack has become a staple backpack even during school breaks.

I’ve taken it on a couple of trips as well and it’s been the perfect asset. I’ve had it for about 7 months now and haven’t had an issue at all so I’d say it’s pretty durable!.

I have bought a cheap backpack every 1-2 years for the last 10 years and they always break really quickly. I use them to lug around my laptop, book, water bottle, lunch and whatever else I think needs to come on an outing that day, and the straps always fray, zips break and straps dig into my shoulders.

This backpack is a gamechanger and I wish I had bought it sooner! It fits everything I mentioned above, and some. The front pocket is amazing for keeping everything I need to easily access, and the main pocket is super roomy so always holds whatever I need.

I have also taken it to the beach and it held all of those essentials with room to spare! The shoulder straps are nice and cushy too, making it really comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I also adore the striped lining, it makes it SO easy to find things in the bottom of the bag.

I don’t know why I never forked out for a Herschel bag sooner, I would’ve saved money in the long run and had a cute, good quality bag to see me through the years. I can’t wait until we can travel again, I just know this will be the perfect carry-on bag!.

Was looking for a Herschel bag for airline travel. Ultimately I settled upon this bag. I debated upon other black bags of the same design from Herschel. What I did like about this one is that most bags have faux leather straps, while this model steps are made of a hard plastic.

I think this version might be more durable, but either way I prefer the styling choice. Inside you have plenty of space for a 15″ laptop sleeve and separate compartments for smaller storage items. The bag is a little bit bigger than your standard size backpack.

I bought this to use as a diaper bag and I really want to love it but I don’t. The zippers are soo toothy that it’s impossible to get into or close up one-handed. The bag is fairly narrow but still tall, and despite the leather bottom and the very stiff canvas it doesn’t hold it’s shape well, so it tips over very easily.

I thought it would be a little smaller over all but it’s standard height, just narrower. As far as I can tell the bag is well made, and I like the double loops on top hence the 3 stars. I think we’ll be returning it in favor of a jansport.

I have another Herschel backpack I like, a Parker, for it’s durability, slim size, and laptop sleeve which is great for my daily commutes on public transit. Though I’ve used that bag for over 2 years, it was lacking a water bottle pocket which I could really use.

So I was excited to see this Nova backpack come out with the water bottle sleeves and such a cute design. Sadly, when you put a 20 oz water bottle into the sleeve (or even a small umbrella) it cuts into space from the main portion of the bag.

The water bottle sleeve is also very tight so it is a struggle to get the bottle in and out. I was also excited to see this bag came with a front pocket and key strap. Sadly the key strap is 1 inch long and to use it you have to rub up against the rough zippers of the front pocket.

Why not make the key strap a few inches longer and much more usable? Also the front pocket is not very big, it doesn’t even fit my normal sized wallet. Overall I like the style of the bag and the durability of Herschel products, I just wish some of the features that drew me to the bag were more functional.

Classic Herschel Backpack. Great Canadian company! They stand behind their product so if a zipper breaks they’ve got your back. Iv’e got 2 of these backpacks and I just love them. Perfect for school, gym and travel.

The laptop sleeve pocket is a nice touch.

It’s stylish, sturdy and fits everything I need. It can hold my notebooks, pencil case and tablet with room for extra things. The sleeve is also big enough to fit my 15. 6-inch laptop. The opening is a bit small though, so it’s hard to put bigger items inside.

I understand that some of you may be looking for a small bag to carry your essentials, however any child that is need of a backpack for school should be VERY cautious when ordering this one. My son will be starting Pre-K and I thought this would be the right size for him.

This bag CANNOT hold a folder. This bag is advertised for kids that are starting school. Most kids need a place for a take-home folder and this one won’t hold one without bending the corners or folding it half.

I wish the next size up came in the same colors or else I would have ordered that. Now, I am having to return this one (AND COVER THE SHIPPING) while we are out of the backpack we wanted in the first place.

Ordering my son the larger one so he can at least fit his lunch box and a folder inside. I reached out to customer service to see if there was any way to fix this or a quicker exchange but there isn’t.

We will have to use a different backpack until our new one arrives. Again, I understand some of you are looking for a smaller bag and it may work for you but for those that need their kids to take home a folder this one will not work.

I bought this bag for high school about three years ago. Because I had heavy books my freshman and sophomore years, the straps began to fray. Also, at the start of the school year, my zipper broke in the middle of the day, which was difficult to repair and still makes wear noses when you zip it.

I wish it had more pockets and a larger, more cushioned pocket for a laptop. I also disliked the fact that the bag had no shape. Overall, I’d say it’s a great bag for everyday use and if you don’t need to carry anything particularly heavy in it.

This is not a school bag.

Really like this backpack. The size is perfect for me (5’2 and 107lbs so I didn’t want anything too big. It’s narrower than most packs which for me is a plus and it hangs snugly to my back; there is padding on the back I think designed for air flow and so the full pack isn’t stuck to your back.

Well padded shoulder straps. Handy pocket inside for my tablet, hook and small pocket below it, I’m guessing for the keys to dangle in (. or holds an epi pen). Just discovered that there is a zippered pocket on top outside of flap which fills the whole flap so very handy for wallet, phone etc, things you want handy, and the zipper is located at the top up at your neck so it would be a challenge for someone to open it without you noticing.

The stitching is good quality. The material is rugged and I think will withstand abuse that backpacks usually suffer. It is waterproof and while I haven’t been in a downpour yet I do believe my stuff inside would remain dry, also there is a waterproof cover stuffed in a zippered pocket at the bottom.

There are two side pockets on the outside door waterbottle, phone, whatever you want and they are a good size. My only concern is the material of these pockets, it’s a nylon material, I think, very lightweight and thin so not sure how well they will stand up to time ( I worry they will become stretched after use and become useless although the elastic at top of each is pretty strong) but as I said I haven’t used it much yet so only time will tell.

Maybe they used this material here for the breathability. I will review again in time. The only negative is that the interior is black and so unless you have a light shinning overhead it is really hard to see what’s inside the pack.

It took me a bit of time to see the small pocket. Hard to see what is in the pack so have to feel for things. I would have liked to see a few more small pockets inside maybe along the sides. Other than one negative I am really happy with my Herschel pack.

And I love the colour. The blue is so nice. The black is stratigically placed on the bottom and top where it would receive the most dirt from handling so it won’t show. I would recommend this product.

I am giving it a 4 star rating because of the interior colour making it hard to see what’s inside which makes it almost perfect not perfect.

Was super excited to see return of the real canvas fabric bag. Addition of side pockets for water bottle was excellent and quality was what I expected. But, the interior is all black, unlike previous version — lined with a lighter fabric.

Not a fan of all black as I can’t see into the bag. A fussy personal preference so I returned. Still love the real canvas line tho.

A Backpack that keeps your stuff organized! The zipper inside key compartment could be of better quality though. If the stitching wears out near the zipper’s threading, the zipper can fall off of its track, making it a hassle to put back on.

Otherwise, I enjoy the simplicity and outer durability of this bag. The zippers that are used to access the compartments get easier to use over time when the outer fabric softens and the zipper covers are more flexible.

The elastic bands that hold the adjustable straps helps to get those excess straps out of the way, but can fall out of place if enough friction is applied. The iconic logo patch is really nice but the corners will bend over time and some of its stitching can pop out if not properly maintained.

The backpack is also stylish and can add flair to your outfit. If worried about appearance, the backpack can tend to look vaccum-sealed and may require you to pull open the pockets to make it look neat.

I’ve used the backpack for school, work, and travel and it hasn’t failed on me yet. It is also airport-friendly, fitting under the seat and supports locks. Overall, a backpack that gets the job done, but could freshen out the wrinkles.

I purchased the pop quiz backpack in black and was initially impressed with it. The bag is packed with many storage compartments. However within a year the plastic buckles (used to adjust the strap) broke apart.

In order to continue using it, I have had to tie a knot in order to hold the strap in place, resulting in an uneven slanted fit (The local chiropractor will love you). Additionally, the faux leather used underneath the backpack and on the handle strap started peeling off, leaving scattered faux leather everywhere you go.

I have had to completely peel the remaining leather off to stop this from happening. For a product priced around AUD$150-the quality is not the best. Can do better!.

We bought this for my daughter for school. After less than 2 months this bag looks like something I wouldn’t even donate. All the leather (pleather) is completely ripped and literally peeling off. Horrible quality and even worse customer service.

I am on my 3rd month of waiting for a 2nd reply for them to give me a “credit voucher” for the crap quality bag. Literally a joke! My daughter went back to her old jansport bag which is still in perfect condition after 2.

5 years of use. Never again with Herschel. Learned my lesson. Jansport only from now on.

My 4 year old is very pleased with his new backpack. The size is perfect (he is big for his age, more around a typical 6 year old) – not so big he can’t wear it when packed, not so small that he can’t fit his stuff for an overnight at Grandma’s.

Colours are vibrant, material is heavy duty and it is constructed well overall. Cleans easily with a damp cloth. The exterior, side and inner pockets are handy. Perfect padding on arm for comfort, but not too bulky.

I expect we will enjoy this for years to come, or until he no longer loves butterflies.

I ordered a backpack for my little one based in a folder I have at home, so it could fit, It did not! I hate when they don’t show actual pictures of a little kid using the backpack so you can tell how big I could be.

Now I’m dissatisfied with the order and had to pay for the return. It was 11. 60 more than a third pars of the price I paid for the backpack. Horrible return policy. It’s better if you go personally to buy one at local stores so this won’t happen to you.

I’m so upset I’ll just buy another north face kids backpack, my son has had his for 2 years and looks like new. Well, this Herschel one my little one got, seemed good quality. But I’d rather avoid a bad customer service company.