My former go-to backpack was compact and seafoam green. Though it clashed with some outfits, it was cute and did the job. Still, it was small, and its thin, unpadded straps dug into my shoulders, even when I thought I’d packed lightly. When I tried taking it on trips, it quickly met its limit. It could hold only a laptop, a book, and a wallet before I felt as if I were carrying heavy weights around.
Clearly, I needed something more versatile, spacious, and stylish. So when I had the chance to long-term test one of our picks, Everlane’s The ReNew Transit Backpack in a pale gray, I pounced. (We recommend the streamlined, surprisingly roomy bag in our guides to the best school backpacks and laptop backpacks.)
For more than two years, the 27-liter ReNew Transit has dethroned my former favorite, handling my commutes with ease and becoming the first bag I reach for when I travel. Gone are the packing days when I need to carefully budget what I put inside.
From weekend trips to my parents’ house to road trips and flights to Vermont and California, this backpack has come along on multiple excursions. It saves my back as I transition from work to travel, it goes with everything, and there’s no wear or tear in sight.
Our pick
This streamlined, 27-liter backpack is versatile and especially roomy. It has a magnetic top closure, a luggage-handle pass-through strap, and an exterior laptop compartment that accommodates laptops up to 15 inches.
