The Best Urban Daypacks and Backpacks

The street fashion or ‘urban’ game can be hard to navigate. More often than not, there’s all too much hype and too little substance to justify the hefty price tag. But that’s where we come in. This selection of best urban daypacks and backpacks has been churned through our Carryology filter. There’s points for street cred and dialed-in aesthetics, for sure. But these backpacks have a little more going on under the hood – build-wise and feature-wise – so they’ll have your back when you’re swaggering through the streets.

Ucon Acrobatics Brandon Backpack (~US$ 85)

The Brandon Backpack is a great option for minimalists, with its low-key aesthetics and just enough organization to keep the essentials tidy without cluttering things up. It’s also made with weatherproof recycled materials and fits up to a 15″ laptop.

Buddy x B: MING by BEAMS Play Backpack (~US$ 130)

The Play backpack offers a solid mix of street style, quality weatherproof construction and convenient access. Made in Japan, the bag has a front pocket for ready access to frequently used items, along with a wide-opening main compartment to easily pack and retrieve your gear.

The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack (US$ 139)

The Conceal Pack is built tough to tackle whatever the day or night may bring, with hard-wearing 1000D Cordura and water-repellent YKK AquaGuard zippers. Combine its ruggedness with a sleek exterior and useful interior organization for your tech and smaller EDC, and you’ve got a reliable companion for the commute and travel alike.

F/CE No Seam Zip Lock Bag (US$ 185.13)

If protection from the elements is a priority, look to the waterproof No Seam Zip Lock Bag. With its welded construction and zip lock rolltop closure this pack is equally at home on city streets in a shower or sailing out at sea, all the while keeping your gear safe and sound in pared-back style.

Arc’teryx Arro 22 Backpack (US$ 200)

The Arc’teryx Arro 22 has been a street staple for over 10 years, and is a prominent pack in Japanese street culture. Seen in so many variations and collabs, this is about as classic and timeless as you can get. A considered mix of urban styling and outdoor technical design makes it equally adept at conquering the city or a weekend hike. An interior sleeve fits up to a 15″ laptop or hydration bladder, while exterior front and side pockets are ideal for stashing items you want close at hand.

Helinox TERG Daypack Anotherday (US$ 250)

Looking for a pack that moves smoothly from the streets to the hills? Meet the TERG Daypack Anotherday, which offers excellent access to gear throughout the bag by fully unzipping the front panel. There’s also a dedicated laptop compartment and a choice of exterior pockets for ready access to your day-to-day or outdoor essentials.

master-piece WAP No.02520 (~US$ 253)

Roaming with smaller loads? Consider the WAP No.02520, which is well suited to day trips or EDC use with an 11L volume and a range of pockets to keep smaller items in check. Made in Japan, the pack salutes the outdoors with its exterior rope attachment but is equally ready for a day on campus, at the beach or a lazy weekend meander.

MAKAVELIC 4th Anniversary Bind Up Canvas Backpack (US$ 269)

Tokyo brand MAKAVELIC find a great balance of street style and everyday functionality with this pack. Durable construction and handy quick-access pockets and straps keep you well prepped to handle a range of EDC or travel needs.

Lexdray Ibiza Pack (US$ 269)

Lexdray teamed up with DJs to design the Ibiza Pack, and if you dig organization this pack will definitely be your jam. There’s multiple compartments and a host of interior and exterior pockets to keep all your bits and pieces tidy and easily accessible. Plus with backpack straps and tote-style handles, you can haul in the way that best suits your changing needs.

master-piece Slick Series Ballistic Backpack (US$ 295)

The clean silhouette of master-piece’s Slick Series Ballistic Backpack stands out in any urban setting. But take a closer look and you’ll also find top-notch Japanese craftsmanship, simple organization and the versatility to move smoothly from work to play.

Haerfest Arch Backpack (US$ 295)

The slim, stylish profile of the Arch Backpack delivers an instant hit of street suaveness to your carry setup, backed up with a durable build featuring Japanese jacquard cotton, leather detailing and brass hardware. But there’s more than just appealing aesthetics, with a convenient front pocket and space for up to a 15″ laptop in the main compartment.

F/CE Travel Backpack (US$ 298)

From work to the weekend, the F/CE Travel Backpack has you well covered with a versatile design that can stash your day-to-day gear or travel essentials equally well. The 33L pack includes an interior sleeve that fits up to a 15″ laptop, as well as a variety of internal and exterior pockets and attachment points to secure your gear on the go.

AS2OV Waterproof Cordura 305D Backpack (US$ 310)

Looking for a refined balance of durability and functionality? Japanese brand AS2OV deliver with this pack, which merges quality craftsmanship, organization for smaller items, and understated aesthetics that look equally good on the streets, in the office or on your travels.

Côte&Ciel Nile Memory Tech Backpack (US$ 325)

The Nile Backpack immediately draws the eye with its draping form, but look beneath the casual-chic style and you’ll find plenty of practical features too. A padded laptop compartment keeps your tech safe while the front compartment is ideal for bulkier items. And if it rains, the water-repellent fabric and integrated rain hood help keep you and your gear dry.

Alchemy Equipment X Carryology AEL222 (~US$ 340)

Our goal when we teamed up with Alchemy Equipment was to create a sleek all-rounder that could move from the city to the mountain and beyond. The Alchemy Equipment X Carryology AEL222 fuses tailored style and functionality to embrace the office, the weekend and outdoor adventures. It’s crafted with a combination of subtle and water-resistant Cordura® Canvas CD Camo Jacquard and top-grain leather. The bright orange lining in our signature collab colorway makes the contents easier to quickly identify. There’s dedicated storage for a 15″ laptop with a useful ‘eject’ pull-tab, plus a range of additional pockets for handy organization.

master-piece × Tadaomi Shibuya COLLABORATION SERIES No. 01990-ts (~US$ 378)

master-piece teamed up with illustrator and designer Tadaomi Shibuya for this collaborative pack which sports a distinct take on urban camouflage with straight lines. The eye-catching looks are complemented by a water-repellent and abrasion-resistant build featuring a hard-wearing combination of leather, polyester and Cordura fabric.

hobo CELSPUN® Nylon Sherpa Backpack by ARAITENT (US$ 389)

Tough and adaptable, this Sherpa backpack is made in Japan with CELSPUN nylon and leather detailing. The pack features a drawstring main compartment and interior sleeve for storing your tech or documents, while a choice of exterior pockets ensure frequently used items stay at the ready.

Atelier de L’Armée Flight Pack (US$ 435)

Ruggedly stylish, this Flight Pack is handcrafted in Italy with water-repellent Swedish M90 Camouflage fabric and vegetable-tanned leather. The pack offers front and side exterior pockets, as well as further interior pockets for storing a laptop and smaller items. And with its multifunctional design you can easily alternate between day-to-day use and overnight trips.

Y-3 Large Backpack (US$ 460)

Stemming from a collaboration between adidas and Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, the Y-3 Large Backpack combines a sleek athletic feel with everyday functionality. The pack includes a range of pockets for stashing smaller essentials, in a design that looks equally at home in work or workout environments.

WANT Les Essentiels Kastrup Backpack (US$ 495)

Want low-key elegance to carry the essentials? The Kastrup Backpack provides a considered blend of fashion and function, with a sleek exterior, wide-opening main compartment for easy access, and sufficient organization to keep your tech and small items tidy without sacrificing the minimalist-chic style.

Arc’teryx Veilance Nomin Pack 2.0 (US$ 763)

The revised Nomin Pack definitely falls within premium pack territory, but the superior construction will take a beating for years to come, while those uber-sleek aesthetics will draw more than their fair share of admiring glances. The weatherproof backpack provides two compartments and a selection of organization options to keep tech, documents, and small EDC or travel items in order.

bagjack NXL Skidcat (~US$ 825)

Handmade in Berlin, the NXL Skidcat is a tough and weatherproof pack with a variety of useful features to make carrying easier. The bag stands upright for easy packing and unloading, and features a range of pockets including two removable inner pockets to tailor it to your needs. And with quick and easy magnetic Fidlock buckles access is simple too.

visvim Suede-Trimmed Cordura Nylon Backpack (US$ 860)

There’s no denying it’s pricey, but visvim’s 20L backpack is a definite classic on the streetwear scene. This version features a durable and stylish combination of Cordura nylon and suede, brought together with careful Japanese craftsmanship. The pack includes an interior pocket and laptop sleeve, along with quick-access pockets to keep essentials close at hand.

foot the coacher x Porter Back Pack (US$ 872)

Is this bag expensive? Yes. But do you get a lot for your hard-earned bucks? Heck yeah. Born from a collab between foot the coacher and Porter, this pack offers a great combination of urban tactical style, meticulous Japanese construction, and practical versatility to suit a range of carry needs. Front, side and hip belt pockets keep smaller items within easy reach, while the main compartment can be accessed from the top as well as through a side zipper.

Porter by Yoshida Counter Shade Backpack (US$ 1088.35)

Hailing from one of Japan’s most respected carry brands, the Counter Shade Backpack delivers on multiple fronts, with dialed-in urban styling, solid craftsmanship and a versatile design that lends itself to EDC, travel and more. A mix of exterior pockets are on hand for frequently used gear, while an interior sleeve takes care of your tech on the move.