JanSport laptop backpack review

A lifetime warranty on a $56 bag, and the reason people keep buying them.

Specifications

Specifications above come from JanSport's published product listing. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• The lifetime warranty is the product. A zip failing on a $56 bag would normally mean buying another one, and here it means a repair or a replacement. Over four years that is real money.
• Two full compartments, which is the difference between a bag where the laptop is protected and one where it is pressed against a textbook corner.
• S-curve straps follow the line of your shoulders rather than running straight down, which matters once the bag is loaded with books.
• It looks like nothing. In a lecture hall a plain black backpack attracts no attention, which is a mild security benefit over an obviously expensive bag.
• Fifty six dollars. Nothing else in this roundup costs so little and lasts so long.

Where it falls short

• There is no hip belt. Above about eight kilos, the load hangs entirely from your shoulders, and if you carry a laptop plus three hardbacks every day you will feel it. A hiking-style pack transfers that weight to your hips, and no amount of shoulder strap padding substitutes.
• The back panel is padded but unstructured. Loaded badly, hard corners press into your back, and there is no frame to stop it.
• The laptop sleeve fits 15 inch machines, which is tight for a 16 inch laptop. Measure yours.
• It is not waterproof. A rain cover or a dry bag for the laptop is a sensible addition in a wet climate.
• The organiser pocket is basic. If you carry cables, chargers and pens and want them separated, you will be adding pouches.

What owners report

JanSport packs have one of the longest owner-report records of any consumer product in this roundup, and the theme is durability at a price. People routinely report bags lasting through secondary school and into university, and reports of the warranty being honoured appear often enough to treat as reliable rather than theoretical.

The consistent criticisms are about carrying comfort under heavy loads and about the absence of structure. Owners who carry laptops plus multiple textbooks report shoulder fatigue, which is the predictable consequence of no hip belt. A recurring practical complaint is that water resistance is minimal.

The other repeated observation is about sizing. Buyers describe the various JanSport models as more similar in capacity than the names suggest, so check the stated litres and laptop size rather than the model name. Our backpack versus tote comparison is worth reading first if you are still deciding on the shape of bag at all.

Who it suits

• Students carrying a laptop and a couple of books between classes.
• Anyone who wants a bag that will survive a whole degree without thought.
• Buyers who would rather spend the money on a chair or a monitor.

Who should skip it

• Students carrying heavy loads every day, who need a hip belt and a structured back panel.
• Anyone with a 16 inch or larger laptop.
• People who cycle in the rain, where a waterproof roll-top is the right tool.

Alternatives worth considering

Common questions

Is a JanSport still a good backpack for college?

For most students, yes. Two compartments, a laptop sleeve and a lifetime warranty for around $56 is difficult to beat, and the bags demonstrably last. The case against it is load carrying: there is no hip belt, so if you walk a long way with a heavy bag every day, a technical pack will be more comfortable.

Backpack or tote bag for university?

A backpack if you carry a laptop or more than a couple of books, because two shoulders beat one and the asymmetric load of a tote is what causes shoulder and neck complaints. A tote is fine for a light day. Our backpack versus tote comparison covers where each one is genuinely the better tool.

Will a 16 inch laptop fit?

The sleeve is specified for 15 inch machines, so a 16 inch laptop is at best a tight fit and at worst will not go in. Measure the actual dimensions of your laptop rather than trusting the marketed screen size, since thickness and bezel vary a lot.

How much weight should a student backpack carry?

The common guidance is to keep a loaded pack under about 10 to 15 percent of your body weight, and to use both straps with the bag sitting high on your back rather than slung low. If you have persistent back or shoulder pain, that is a question for a doctor or a physiotherapist rather than for a bag review.

Is the lifetime warranty real?

Owner reports consistently describe JanSport repairing or replacing bags with failed zips and straps, which is the most common failure mode. Read the current terms on JanSport's own site before relying on it, since warranty conditions change and normal wear is usually excluded.

Keep reading

• Backpack vs tote for study
• Rain Design mStand review
• Kindle Paperwhite review
• Building a study environment that works
• Study essentials roundup

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.