19 Best Backpacks with Water Bottle Pockets
Let’s get real here – most backpacks have water bottle pockets. So why did we even bother writing this buying guide? The truth is that a lot of water bottle pockets just aren’t that great. And for those serious about staying hydrated this can mean trouble when you have no secure place to store something as simple as a water bottle.
In this buying guide we help you find the best backpack with a water bottle pocket that actually gets the job done. This means no flimsy mesh pockets and no tiny pockets that can barely hold your bottle. A good backpack with a water bottle holder should secure your bottle in place and also be roomy enough for various size bottles.
We have tested a lot of these backpacks ourselves and can confirm they are legit. The others have a great reputation for keeping water bottles secure. Either way, if you are looking for a backpack with a water bottle holder then you are in the right place!
Types of Backpack Water Bottle Pocket
This backpack buying guide is split into two main lists.
- Best backpacks with water bottle holders
- Backpacks with hidden water bottle pockets
Or daypack with water bottle holder
Backpacks with water bottle holders have your standard side pockets on the outside of the bag. Most backpacks with water bottle holders have this style of pocket.
Backpacks with hidden water bottle pockets offer a more discreet way to carry your water bottles. These pockets can be internal and completely hidden or can stow away with magnets or zippers so that they aren’t in the way when in use. We like these the best for protecting our drinking bottles from nasties.
Best Backpacks with Water Bottle Holders
Topo Rover Pack
Topo Designs
Topo is one of those backpack brands that just understands a well designed water bottle pocket. It’s such a simple design feature but so many other brands get it wrong. With the Rover Pack, Topo offers a deep gusseted water bottle holder on each side of the backpack. These pockets expand out and can accommodate larger bottles but they will compress down on smaller bottles to keep them in place as you move around.
Made for both outdoor hikes and everyday use, the Rover Pack really is the bag that can do it all. It has plenty of organizer pockets, an internal laptop sleeve and comes in a ton of different colors. It’s these features and more that makes the Topo Rover Pack a favorite water resistant backpack for college.
The North Face Recon
Buy on Amazon
If you are looking for a backpack with a water bottle pocket, North Face backpacks are some of the best around in our humble opinion. The brand uses this soft tight-knit mesh that hugs your water bottle and keeps it snuggly in place. It’s unlike other flimsy mesh bottle pockets and the high quality material really makes a big difference.
Read more about The North Face Recon
The North Face Recon is one of our favorite backpacks from The North Face thanks to its amazing 15” laptop compartment, fleece lined pockets and roomy 30-liter main compartment. If you are looking for a great backpack with lots of pockets then we definitely recommend checking out the Recon.
Since its water bottle pockets are made from an incredibly stretchy nylon mesh, the North Face Recon can hold large 1-liter and 32oz water bottles easily as shown in the photo above. The mesh snaps back into place when not in use.
Under Armour Hustle 5.0 Backpack
The Under Armour Hustle 5.0 is a workout and school backpack for those with busy schedules. This backpack includes a large main compartment, front organizers and a separate bottom compartment for shoes. As a backpack with water bottle holder, the Hustle includes two extra large mesh pockets on either side that can hold big bottles. This backpack comes in over a dozen colors and designs so you are sure to find one you like.
King Kong PLUS26
King Kong Official
The PLUS26 by King Kong is a workout backpack that has some serious features for both the gym and daily carry. What sets this backpack apart from most others is that the water bottle pockets are massive! You can hold big shaker bottles, tumblers and extra large water bottles here with no trouble. The pockets themselves are gusseted with elastic to keep the bottles in place and they are also very deep.
We recommend the King Kong PLUS26 to anyone looking for a great gym backpack with a shoe compartment that can also be used for work or travel thanks to it’s clamshell main compartment and laptop sleeve.
Read more about the King Kong PLUS26
Made for gym enthusiasts who need to lug around water and shakes, King Kong offers oversized water bottle holders in the PLUS26. We found that a large 32 oz Nalgene water bottle swam inside the water bottle pockets. This is great news for those who have larger bottles and need a secure place to store them.
The side pockets are held in place by an elastic and snap back into place when not in use for a low profile.
Patagonia Refugio
Patagonia
The Patagonia Refugio is a daily backpack that offers large stretchy water bottle pockets on each side. In addition to the mesh water bottle pockets, the bag’s compression straps also act as holders to strap in the bottles so that they don’t fall out you are on the move.
We highly recommend the Refugio to anyone looking for a reliable backpack for daily use or travel. Available in both a men’s fit and women’s fit, the Refugio has enough room to pack for a short trip and its various pockets are great for organizing your daily carry.
Millican Smith Roll Pack
Buy on REI
The Millican Smith Roll Pack is great for anyone looking for a high quality backpack that is built to last. The water bottle pockets on this backpack are incredibly deep and are also gusseted to accommodate larger bottles. At 25 liters, the Millican Smith Roll Pack can be used for outdoor adventures, traveling or even daily wear thanks to its padded laptop sleeve and internal pockets for an iPad, documents and more. Because of Millican’s commitment to quality and simplicity, it’s no wonder why the brand has made it to our list of favorite backpacks like Fjallraven.
Pacsafe Vibe Anti-Theft Backpack
Pacsafe
As far as anti-theft backpacks go, few brands offer as much innovation and smart design as Pacsafe. With their 20 liter Vibe Anti-Theft backpack, Pacsafe offers a creative take on the daily backpack by giving you plenty of anti-theft features like anti-slash fabrics and the ability to lock the bag to a table or chair leg when needed.
The water bottle pockets on the Vibe are made of a tight-knit mesh that keeps your bottle snuggly in place and is deep enough to secure your bottles if you were to lean over. And because this mesh is incredibly stretchy, you can accommodate a variety of water bottle sizes without worry.
Osprey Quasar Backpack
Osprey Packs
Osprey’s water bottle pockets are some of favorites thanks to their stretchy mesh construction that can accommodate larger bottles and tumblers. The Quasar features a water bottle holder on each side that snaps into place and stays out of the way when not in use.
Designed as backpack for daily carry, the Quasar is packed with awesome features like a dedicated laptop sleeve and a quick-access organizer compartments for small items. For a women’s specific fit, make sure to check out the Osprey Questa.
Jansport Superbreak Plus
The original Jansport Superbreak is one of the best affordable backpacks you can use for school, commuting or travel but unfortunately it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to modern features. Jansport changes the tide by offering the Superbreak Plus. This updated Superbreak gives you the best the original had to offer with the addition of a 15” laptop sleeve and side pocket, making the Plus a perfect option for anyone looking for a Jansport backpack with water bottle pocket.
Gregory Resin Backpack
Buy on Amazon
The Gregory Resin is a backpack designed to be as versatile as you are. In addition to having an amazing array of daily carry and travel-friendly features, the Resin even includes a weather-resistant design making it perfect for outdoor adventures.
Each Resin Pack includes a stretch mesh side pocket that compresses the bottle to the bag. This means you can carry either slim and large bottles without worry of slippage. If you are on the hunt for a thoughtfully-designed backpack with water bottle holder then we highly recommend giving the Gregory Resin Pack a closer look.
The North Face Surge
Buy on Amazon
The North Face Surge is 31-liter backpack made for those who want one bag to rule them all. In addition to lots of clever pockets, the main compartment is large enough to pack for an entire school day or a weekend trip. As far as water bottle holders go, this backpack features generous stretchy pockets that do an amazing job at holding your bottles in place as you go from point A to B.
If you want to see how the Surge compares to the Recon, make sure to check out our North Face Surge vs Recon hands-on comparison!
Read more about the North Face Surge
The water bottle pockets on the North Face Surge are made from a very stretchy nylon mesh that snaps back into place when not in use. We found that large 32oz and 1 liter bottles can easily fit into these pockets. A huge benefit of this stretchy material is that very small and slim water bottles can also be held securely in place since the mesh hugs the bottle to keep it secure against the backpack.
Herschel Classic XL
Herschel backpacks are usually pretty solid but for some reason it doesn’t seem like the brand is a big fan of water bottle pockets. Some of their best selling bags are suspiciously missing a place to store your drinks. If you like the Herschel Classic but can’t live without a water bottle holder then make sure to go with the Herschel Classic XL. This version of the Herschel Classic is one of the few Herschel backpacks with water bottle holders and it’s a great sweet spot between the backpack you want and the backpack you need.
REI Co-op Rucksack Recycled Daypack
Shop REI
Made of tough recycled ripstop nylon with a water resistant finish, REI Rucksack Recycled Daypack offers the swiss army knife of backpacks for daily commutes, short hikes and busy travels. Pockets for a laptop, smaller items and special security pockets make this daypack ideal for whatever life throws at it.
The side water bottle pockets are also made of recycled nylon but include a strip of elastic mesh that can hold up to a 40oz Hydroflask. These deep pockets do an excellent job at keeping your water bottles in place for ease of mind when on the move.
The REI Co-op Rucksack Recycled Daypack is available in a standard 28 liter size and smaller and larger sizes. They also come in separate men’s and women’s versions for the perfect fit.
The Nomatic Backpack
Nomatic
The Nomatic Backpack is a daily bag for those serious about tech protection and organization. In fact, its 15-inch laptop sleeve and separate large tablet sleeve also makes it one of our favorite dual laptop backpacks.
What makes this backpack special is it’s dozens of pockets throughout the bag including two discreet side pockets that are held against the backpack with magnets. Once undone, they reveal a mesh water bottle pocket we found can securely hold a larger 32 ounce bottle.
Read more about the Nomatic Backpack
Looks can be deceiving with the Nomatic backpack. A minimalist exterior doesn’t exactly prepare you for the flurry of awesome pockets that meet you once inside the pack.
The same can be said about the Nomatic’s two exterior water bottle holders. These pockets look pretty small but we were surprised to discover that they can actually hold up to a 32 ounce Nalgene bottle as shown in the photo. The bottles in these pockets are held firmly in place thanks to the mesh and stretchy elastic that hug the bottle.
Backpacks with Hidden Water Bottle Pockets
Able Carry Daily Backpack
Able Carry
The Able Carry Daily is a lightweight daypack for those who are serious about organization of tech and daily essentials. The Daily Backpack is equipped with a 15-inch laptop sleeve and plenty of internal pockets for organization – all housed inside a minimalist outer design. This backpack forgoes a traditional water bottle holder for a roomy front pocket that can store large water bottles, giving you a smart hidden water bottle pocket that keeps the outside of the bag looking sleek.
Learn more about the Able Carry Daily
The front compartment on the Able Carry Daily is one large open pocket that can store even extra larger water bottles. We found our 1-liter and 32-ounce water bottles fit inside with room to spare. Because of its design, the water bottles are wedged between the outer fabric and the main compartment so there isn’t a lot of movement once you have the backpack on.
Day Owl Backpack
Day Owl
Use code BACKPACKIES20 for 20% OFF your next Day Owl order of $100 or more!
The Day Owl features eco-friendly and recycled materials as well as an innovative design to bring you a stylish backpack for daily carry and travel. In fact, Day Owl’s commitment to quality and design is why it’s one of our favorite recycled backpacks.
The Day Owl features an internal side water bottle pocket that is completely hidden from the outside, leaving the bag’s profile clean and minimal even when it’s packed full. This pocket is even lined with a spill-proof material to prevent accidental leaks.
Read more about the Day Owl
The water bottle compartment on the Day Owl is on the slimmer side which means you will have a hard time fitting in large diameter bottles such as a 32 oz Nalgene bottle. But we did find that this entire compartment is very tall and can fit taller slim water bottles or even an entire wine bottle! Both the Smaller and Larger versions of the Day Owl have the same size water bottle compartment.
One of the features we like about this pocket is that it is lined with water-repellent neoprene. This means that the compartment itself is entirely leakproof in case of an accidental spill. Not only does this give you some extra peace-of-mind but it can save you a ton of heartache if an accidental spill were to happen.
To learn more make sure to check out our full in-depth Day Owl backpack review.
eBags Professional Slim
Buy on Amazon
The eBags Professional Slim is one of our favorite work and travel backpacks thanks to its insane amount of organization compartments and clever pockets that allow you to have everything in its right place. This is one of those backpacks that we highly recommend to people who need a backpack with lots of pockets.
The single water bottle pocket is hidden with a zipper on the side of the backpack. The compact look of the water bottle pocket can be deceiving as we found that the stretchy elastic and mesh can accommodate even a larger diameter 32 oz Nalgene bottle.
Osprey Apogee
Osprey Packs
Made for urban commutes and the occasional outdoor trek, the Osprey Apogee offers you a comfortable and stylish way to carry your daily gear.
The Osprey Apogee ditches a traditional water bottle holder and for a smart side stretch pocket that allows you to hold the water bottle in place against the pack. This gives you a completely hidden water bottle pocket that blends into the pack. Not only does this pocket shield your drinking bottle from dirt and debris but gives you a cleaner look overall when carrying your coffee or water bottles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you put a water bottle pocket on a backpack?
5 DIY Water Bottle Holders for Backpacks Straps
- Use Your Backpack’s Trekking Pole Attachment OR Buy One Online for Cheap. …
- Turn 2 Hairbands into a Simple DIY Water Bottle Holder. …
- Use a Koozie & a Zip Tie. …
- Make a Paracord (or Shoelace) Jug Knot. …
- Buy an Aqua Clip.
What size water bottle fits in backpack pocket?
The Hydro Flask 24 oz bottle is the Standard Mouth version of a hugely popular line of insulated bottles. The Standard Mouth has a narrow mouth for easy sipping that doesn’t drench your shirt, and the bottle is slim enough to fit in any cupholder or backpack pocket.
How do you put a water bottle pocket on a tote bag?
If you are adding the pocket to a finished bag, start here. Simply fuse the soft half of the Velcro about 4″ apart, on top of the pockets. Then simply put your pocket in place by lining up the Velcro.
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