Best 20L Commuter Backpacks with Laptop Sleeves
There are generally two extremes into which most work bags tend to fall: They are either too small for your chargers and papers to remain cluttered on top of your laptop, or too big, and you find yourself carrying unnecessary space with you wherever you go. The 20-litre capacity seems to be the right choice.
It allows you to pack an entire day’s stuff-laptop, charger, notebook, and a water bottle- without having to carry a bulky bag on your shoulder. The relevance of packing such a capacity is even more critical if your day includes going up and down a few flights of stairs or taking a packed bus ride, or even walking all the way from the car park to the office building.
A few designs by Bag Plus of the same capacity are given below. They all have a separate padded compartment for storing your laptop safely inside the bag.
What to look for in a commuter bag
But let’s begin with what matters first in the practical world of everyday life in Sri Lanka.
A dedicated padded compartment. The laptop must have its own compartment to be safe from being damaged by lunch and file boxes.
Water-resistant. The weather in Sri Lanka is very capricious. A spontaneous rain shower on your way to the bus stop may spoil your unprotected laptop. Pay attention to water-resistant material, at least.
A ventilated back panel. Humidity in Colombo can be high. A ventilated or mesh back panel will prevent your shirt from becoming soaked on the way to the office.
Anti-theft features. These can be hidden zips, lockable pulls, or a back panel pocket for your wallet and phone because pickpockets are always possible on crowded buses and trains.
The correct size of your laptop. Check bag sleeve sizes before buying. 20-litre bags usually fit from 14 to 15.6 inches, but some of them have sleeves up to 17 inches.
Our top picks from Bag Plus
A great budget choice at Rs. 7,400. This is a compact and light bag that is meant for everyday use, featuring waterproof material and a padded pocket designed to carry a 15.6-inch laptop. The organisation of your laptop accessories in separate pockets saves you time from rummaging around a single large pocket at the bus stop.
With a price tag of Rs. 4,990, this is one of the cheaper items in the series. The bag is designed to carry a 14-inch laptop and includes a built-in USB port that lets you charge your mobile when connected to a power bank. The construction of this backpack out of polyester makes it lightweight.
Priced at Rs. 12,450, this bag is aimed at those who wish to have extra security with it. The backpack offers anti-theft features such as a back pocket, an external USB port, and a laptop pouch that accommodates laptops up to 15.6 inches. There is a luggage strap at the back of the backpack that can be used to connect it to a suitcase.
This is the most versatile bag of all, as it can hold a capacity of anywhere between 20 and 40 liters depending upon your packing pattern. This bag also costs Rs. 12,450 and is manufactured using rip-proof nylon material. It has a padded compartment that can be used to store a 15.6-inch laptop, along with a chest strap to make sure that the luggage remains balanced while on the move.
With Oxford and PU fabrics, the bag weighs 1.23kg and can accommodate up to 15.6-inch laptops in its primary compartment, while a front compartment stores small items. It comes with ergonomic straps and a breathable back for even weight distribution, making it comfortable for long commutes to the office or for walking to the workplace.
For anyone who uses public transport in an open area or travels by bike or tuk-tuk to their workplace, this bag will be useful for you because it features a sturdy EVA shell and a completely waterproof construction, ensuring that the laptop and documents do not get wet during rains. The capacity of the main section accommodates laptops measuring up to 17.3 inches.
A few Sri Lanka-specific tips
The monsoon season occurs from May to September in the south-west and October to January in the north-east of Sri Lanka. If you use public transport in the above-mentioned periods of time, having a water-resistant or waterproof backpack becomes not only desirable but necessary. There can be sudden showers during the dry season as well.
While traveling by bus or train during peak hours in Colombo, you will appreciate having a smaller bag that takes up less space than a larger backpack designed for hikes. This is one of the reasons why the 20-litre capacity becomes quite suitable in such a case. It will carry all necessities during the whole day without being too cumbersome on crowded buses 138 or 154.
In case you ride a motorcycle or tuk-tuk, get yourself a backpack equipped with a sternum strap.
Final thoughts
A good commuter bag should disappear into your routine. It should protect your laptop, survive the rain, and not get in your way on a crowded bus. Each of the picks above does that job, at a range of price points to suit different budgets.
You can browse the full range of backpacks, including these and other laptop backpacks, on the Bag Plus website, or visit the showroom in Maharagama to try one on before you buy.