Finding a reliable one strap backpack for school can be a challenge. The truth is that most sling backpacks are too small for many students.
As a school bag, a sling backpack would ideally have the following features:
Organization – Pockets for pens, pencils, calculator, hand sanitizer, etc.
Tech Compatible – Compartment for a small laptop, iPad/tablet and chargers
Large Main Compartment – Enough room for notebooks, binders, folders and books
We recommend one strap backpacks to students who like to keep things light. Tech focused students will benefit from having a smaller bag to carry their tablet and other essentials. Those who only carry a few folders and notebooks will also benefit from the ease of use of a sling backpack for school.
In this list we will focus on finding the best sling bags and one strap book bags for school. If you are looking for a laptop specific sling bag then we recommend taking a look at our list of Best Sling Backpacks for Laptops and Tablets which focuses on tech carry.
Best One Strap Backpacks For School
SEEU Plus School Sling Backpack
The SEEU Plus is one of the few one strap bookbags on the market that is specifically designed to carry bulky items like books, binders and even a large 17” laptop. This large sling backpack has a massive 28 liter main compartment and an ergonomic one strap design. Available in a few different colors, the SEEU Plus is the one strap backpack for school that can truly carry it all.
GULU Made Chagemaker Sling Pack
GULU MadeThe GULU Made Changemaker makes a great sling backpack for school thanks to its 13” laptop compartment and main compartment that is large enough to fit notebooks and smaller books. All GULU Made products are handmade in Uganda and include a lifetime warranty.
Mouteenoo Sling Backpack
Mouteenoo offers a large sling backpack that can fit multiple books and binders for school as well as a 15” laptop inside its protective sleeve. One strap book bags can get pretty heavy when loaded up and we think Mouteenoo does a great job at offering a lightweight sling with great ergonomic features. The single shoulder strap is cushioned and fully adjustable to fit you just right.
KAVU Rope Sling
Buy on AmazonThe KAVU Rope Sling has enough room inside its main compartment for a tablet or small laptop as well as a few small books and notebooks. Unfortunately, the KAVU Rope Sling might be a bit too small for binders and large textbooks – so keep this mind if you are looking for a crossbody backpack for school.
The KAVU Rope Sling is available in dozens of colors and designs so you can really pick one out that matches your style.
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Leaper Canvas Sling Bag
Leaper offers a one strap backpack with a vintage look with their Canvas Sling Bag. This sling backpack is available in two different sizes – medium and large. Make sure to choose the large size (internal dimensions 10.2” x 13.6” x 4.4”) which gives you enough room for a 13” laptop and smaller books and notebooks. This bag also offers plenty of pockets to organize your tech accessories and school supplies, making it the perfect sling backpack for students who want to stay organized.
OutdoorMaster Sling Bag
The OutdoorMaster Sling Bag is a versatile bag for outdoor weekend adventures and school days alike thanks to its roomy main compartment and numerous pockets that line the outside. This one strap backpack can fit a laptop or tablet up to 12.5” and small notebooks and books. Its ergonomic teardrop shape and padded shoulder strap gives you the comfort you need to conquer a busy day.
Vera Bradley Reactive Sling Backpack
Tech-focused students will love the Vera Bradley Reactive Sling Backpack. Unfortunately we found the interior dimensions to be too small for an A4 Notebook or folder but it can easily fit a 10” tablet, charger and smaller school items. Alongside with a main compartment, Vera Bradley also includes plenty of pockets for pens, a phone and other smaller items.
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VGOAL Anti-Theft Sling Bag
Modern and sleek, the VGOAL Anti-Theft Sling Bag makes a great one strap backpack for students who carry lots of tech. This is thanks to its external USB charging port, laptop and tablet sleeves and a variety of pockets for tech accessories. If you are looking for an affordable and feature-packed Amazon sling backpack, the VGOAL Anti-Theft Sling Bag will definitely check all the right boxes.
Pacsafe Vibe 325
PacsafeThe Pacsafe Vibe isn’t a one strap bookbag, but it can be used for essentials. The internal capacity is great for students who need to carry an iPad or Chromebook and there is plenty of organization for smaller items like a phone, pens and tech accessories. If you want a lightweight sling bag with some pretty cool anti-theft features then we highly recommend the Pacsafe Vibe 325 to students for its great quality and organization.
Patagonia Atom Sling
PatagoniaThe Patagonia Atom Sling is a great choice for students who like to keep things light. You can easily carry an iPad, a small notebook and personal items inside its 8 liter capacity. Unfortunately, most folders and binders won’t fit inside the main compartment – but for tech-centered students you cannot beat the quality and comfort that Patagonia has to offer here.
A great underrated feature are the two cinch down straps found in the front of the Patagonia Atom Sling. These straps allow you to expand your carrying capacity by attaching items to the front of the sling when needed.
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Can you use a one strap backpack for school?
Using a one strap backpack for school is a great option if you are a student who doesn’t have to carry many large binders or books. This is because many sling backpacks are designed to have a smaller footprint than a traditional two strap backpack. The smaller size of many sling backpacks is something to consider when choosing a new bag for school.
Students who carry tablets or small laptops may benefit the most from using a one strap backpack since have padded sleeves for tablet-sized devices. School items like pens, small notebooks, calculators and tech accessories are easily accessible with a one strap backpack since you can simply sling it around to grab what you need.
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Going with a large sling backpack
If you find yourself carrying mostly books and binders make sure to go with a one strap book bag that has an oversized main compartment. These large sling backpacks ensure that your books, binders and notebooks will all fit securely.
When choosing a large sling backpack for school it helps to know the internal dimensions of the main compartment. Some large sling backpacks can have odd shaped bodies that can cut into the corners of notebooks and folders – creasing important papers and documents.
When to choose a backpack instead
The truth is that most sling backpacks don’t make the best school bookbags since their main compartments are often too small to fit large binders and folders. Sling backpacks may be great for light school carry (iPad, a few notebooks) but we have found that many are still smaller than a regular school backpack. There are a few large sling backpacks on the market, some which we feature in this page, but those options don’t compare to the hundreds of school bookbag options available today.
If you are having trouble finding a one strap backpack for school in the size you need then we highly recommend going with a regular old backpack. The two-strap design is helps distribute the weight across your shoulders evenly for a more comfortable experience when lugging around multiple heavy books and binders.
Sling Alternative: Crossbody Messenger Bags
A messenger bag is great alternative to a tradition school backpack as it can work as a kind of crossbody backpack that rests around the hip. Messenger Bags usually feature larger main compartments that can fit a full sized laptop and large folders and binders.
Herschel Gibson Laptop Messenger Bag, Raven Crosshatch, One Size 
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