Best Backpack for Heavy Books of 2022: Finding the Right Fit

Whether you’re a college student, a high school student or just someone who likes to read books on their commute to work, carrying around heavy textbooks can be really tough. You want something that’s going to last and will allow you to carry all your books without weighing you down.

For these reasons and more, we’ve compiled the 7 best backpack for heavy books so that no matter what your needs are as an avid reader or bookworm, there will be one perfect for you!

Best Backpack for Heavy Books: Comparison Table

Best backpack for engineering students

Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Dimensions: 12.5 x 15 x 17.5 inches 
• Model number: 19033101
• Color: Black
• Fabric Type: Textile
• Material: Polyester

This Carhartt Legacy Deluxe backpack is fit for heavy books and has plenty of storage with a dedicated laptop compartment. It’s made from rugged synthetic materials that are water repellant and durable against abrasion.

The back panel is contoured to provide comfortable ventilated carrying to keep you cool while transporting your items. The shoulder straps are padded air mesh with a perfect fit for comfort – so they’re not just going to shrug on like every other pack out there!

You can be assured this school backpack will hold up through it all whether you need it for school; we promise Carhartt quality means durability!

What We Liked

• Durable – made from synthetic materials that are water repellant and durable against abrasion.
• Cool inside! It has a contoured back panel, padded shoulder straps, and an air mesh to provide comfort for carrying heavy items while keeping you cool.
• Plenty of storage with a dedicated computer compartment.
• Carries heavy books without discomfort with padded shoulder straps and air mesh.
• Plus, there is a hidden zippered pocket for secure storage!

What Could Be Improved

It’s not waterproof. However, it has multiple pockets to store your items elsewhere to avoid the elements.

Overall, this is a great backpack for carrying heavy books! It has plenty of storage, and the straps are comfortable to use. The only downside is that it isn’t fully waterproof.

Liwag Large Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 2.07 pounds
• Dimensions: 19 x 14.6 x 10.2 inches 
• Pockets: 20
• Color: Black
• Capacity: 50L
• Material: Polyester

Meet Liwag, the large and durable backpack specially designed to accommodate books! Made with high-quality materials, it comes resistant to water and tear with special features, including a USB Charging Port which will help charge your small electronics while on the go.

Say goodbye to bulky backpacks! With its unique design details like an Anti Theft Back pocket for storing even more necessities during hectic days at college, this is the bag that has everything you need all in one place so you can focus on everyday life!

It also has a comfortable padded shoulder rest with an ergonomic design intended to carry books less of a chore. With its lightweight polyester fabric, this school backpack will never weigh you down!

What We Liked

• Lightweight polyester fabric
• Comfortable shoulder rest
• Padded shoulder rest for ergonomic design
• No heavier than polyester fabric

What Could Be Improved

• Only One Color Choice, Black.
• Not a lot of pockets. Can’t store a water bottle on the side but can use the small pocket for ID and keys to be stored safely inside the bag. 

This heavy backpack is lightweight and comfortable to carry. It also has a lot of room for all your necessities without looking bulky or heavy in any way!

Oakley Men’s Kitchen Sink Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 8 x 14 x 20 inches 
• Model Number: 92060A-013
• Color Options: Available
• Capacity: 34L
• Holds Laptop: Upto 17 inches

Whether you’re carrying books to school or your toys and clothes for a little weekend trip – the Oakley Kitchen backpack is up to the task. It’s so durable that it can withstand schlepping heavy binders and textbooks, yet its padded and ventilated back panel makes it surprisingly comfortable.

The side access sleeve fits even a 17″ laptop with room left over for notebooks, pens – oh yes! – Snacks. If you want to unzip the back of your suitcase, there is a place for your feet. You can put them in the front part of the bag so that they are easy to get to.

The whole thing is designed for maximum comfort so you can feel great moving around like an Oakley light in every sense. With a padded side-access sleeve, and roomy front organizer panel, this school backpack has space galore so you can stay organized in the classroom–with a splash of style!

What We Liked

• It has a ventilated back panel for breathability and comfort.
• The backpack is durable so that it can last long with the use of time.
• Offers a padded side-access sleeve, and roomy front organizer panel.

What Could Be Improved

Some people say that the bag moves too much when you walk. This may be an inconvenience for some people who want a bag to sit still on their back.

This backpack is a lightweight solution for heavy books. The bag’s design makes it possible to take the weight off your shoulders and back, making this an excellent choice for carrying around heavy textbooks!

JanSport Big Student Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 1.02 pounds
• Dimensions: 13 x 7.5 x 17 inches 
• Model Number: TDN71F8
• Color Options: Available (35 colors)
• Capacity: 34L
• Fabric Type: 600D Poly Fabric

Carrying heavy textbooks with this JanSport Big Student Backpack ensures organized, protected, and comfortable carrying.

The 600D Polyester makes it extra durable for when you’re heading back to school and tucking in your winter coat on a windy day.

There are two zipper pockets. One is at the top, and the other one is at the bottom. You can put small things in these pockets, like keys.

The ergonomic S-curved shoulder straps make the backpack feel like part of your uniform as you head to class. The front pocket has an organizer that fits all of your electronics with an easy access headphone port, so you never miss a call or update again!

What We Liked

• Durable
• Most Lightweight backpack
• Comfortable to wear
• Plenty of storage for electronics and textbooks, with an easy access headphone port.

What Could Be Improved

It’s not the cheapest option

We found this one is a good option who wants to carry all the heavy books. All the variable color options with extra-large capacity assist you to store all the bulky books easily. And if you are looking for something more affordable, check out the Liwag Large Backpack.

SwissGear 1900 Scansmart Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 3.50 pounds
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 18.5 x 13.5 inches 
• Model Number: 19004415
• Color Options: Available
• Capacity: 31L
• Fabric Type: 1200D Polyester

The Swiss Gear 1900 ScanSmart 17 inch laptop backpack is for students who have to carry heavy textbooks. It helps their back feel better because the bag has padded straps and a waist belt.

With an accordion file holder and removable key/fob clip, this backpack has plenty of space, so all your necessities are easily accessible. The bottom half of the bag includes a quick-access pocket to securely place small items like keys, which helps when going through security at airport terminals too.

There’s also plenty of space on the top section with two mesh side pockets if you need additional storage for drinks or other miscellaneous things!

What We Liked

• Padded straps and waist belt
• Accordion file holder
• Removable key fob clip
• Quick access pocket for easy security checks at airports
• Has a water bottle holder

What Could Be Improved

• Ykk zippers are a little flimsy
• The conventional handle takes up too much of the bag’s length

SwissGear 1900 Scansmart Backpack is a great choice for carrying heavy books because it’s durable and spacious with plenty of pockets to store your things.

Under Armour Storm Hustle II Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Dimensions: 17.72 x 13 x 7.87 inches 
• Holds Laptop: Upto 15 inches
• Color Options: Available
• Capacity: 30L
• Pockets: 8 (5+3)

The Storm Hustle II Backpack from Under Armour features UA Storm technology with a highly water resistant finish. This robust, heavy duty backpack can carry up to 90 pounds for strongmen looking for the best gear.

Children and adults alike will love this dependable bag thanks to its soft lined laptop sleeve that holds any PC or smaller laptop (up to 15″). And the adjustable sternum strap for added comfort on longer hikes over rough terrain or through rainy weather.

Your things are safe in this bag. There are 8 pockets, 3 which are inside and 5 that are outside. They can hold small things like phones or pens.

What We Liked

• The Storm technology is very water resistant and will protect your other electronics from rain or being splashed with water
• Has extra pockets to store items
• Adjustable straps for added comfort

What Could Be Improved

• The bag is heavy when not fully loaded.
• Not the best for carrying items with wheels (like a rolling suitcase).

If you are looking for a backpack that is best for carrying heavy books and your laptop, then this Under Armour Storm Hustle II is the right one. It’s not too expensive and does everything you need to do!

High Sierra Freewheel Wheeled Backpack

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Specifications

• Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 20.5 x 13.5 x 8 inches 
• Holds Laptop: Upto 15 inches
• Color Options: Available
• Capacity: 34.4L
• USB/cable port: Yes

You’ll be able to ride almost anywhere with ease when you have the High Sierra Freewheel Wheeled Backpack, which features a molded kickplate for extra protection.

It’s made of durable 600D Duralite Ripstop, and Waffle weave materials that are water resistant and perfect for heavy duty books. With an organizer compartment featuring a zippered mesh pocket, pen pockets, a lidded media pocket, and a key fob hook, there is no end to what can fit in this backpack.

This rolling backpack also has dials for adjusting its size from a wide open or closed laptop compartment that resists spills up to 2-liter max fill completely padded shoulder straps. So it feels comfortable on your shoulders all day long. Hitch your way around campus while you carry all your heavy books in style.

What We Liked

• Adjustable for different sizes
• Easy to use, durable and spacious
• Offers excellent protection for your laptop with a padded compartment in the back of the backpack

What Could Be Improved

Does not have any straps that can be tucked away, which may become frustrating when carrying heavy books

With the ease of use, durability, and comfortable design, we recommend this backpack as best for carrying heavy books.

What Quality Should Have for The Best Backpack for Heavy Books?

The best backpack for heavy books should have a few qualities. First, it must be adjustable to different sizes, easy to use, and durable. It also needs to offer excellent protection with padded compartments in the back for your laptop and other important items.

Finally, we recommend any straps on the bag be tucked away not to get caught up or pulled when carrying heavy books. A good quality backpack will allow you to carry all of your belongings without struggling!

Adjustable to different sizes

The best quality of a bag is an adjustable one as this allows for different sizes in height and girth. It also decreases the chances of feeling uncomfortable or experiencing pain because of its restrictive nature.

Without these features, the user might experience discomfort while carrying heavy books, which could lead to injury over time. A good adjustment system will allow for better comfort and less strain on your body when carrying heavy books around during commute times!

Adjustable straps

Straps should be able to adjust according to one’s size (height, width). These straps help distribute weight proportionately.

Wide straps

This allows the user to wear a backpack more comfortably and decreases pressure on their back.

Padded shoulder strap

A padded strap helps relieve some of the weight you are carrying by cushioning it well. It also helps prevent any discomfort while wearing one’s bag because it takes much of the strain off of one’s arm, in turn causing less pain over time. An added bonus is that this feature is very inexpensive to add to your top choice backpack frame! So don’t forget it!

Padded back

A padded backpack will help prevent one from getting sore over time. The heavier the carrying, the more padding you should consider adding onto your frame to make things a little easier on yourself.

Lumbar support pad

This pad is designed for people with lower back pain or injury and provides extra support when carrying heavy books around. It also helps distribute weight evenly across both shoulders rather than concentrating all of it in just one shoulder strap, which further prevents discomfort as well as strain/pain on your arms after long periods of use (such as during commute times).

Heavy duty zippers

These are helpful because they keep everything inside secure while preventing rainwater and other elements from seeping into your backpack.

Multiple compartments

Having multiple compartments allows you to keep your items more organized, and even if they’re not as big, smaller pockets help too!

Handle Bars/Hands Free Mode

If weight isn’t an issue but the size is (perhaps you need somewhere large enough to fit both textbooks and notebooks), consider a backpack with handles or a hands-free mode. This will allow you to carry more items in your bag without having the weight on your shoulders and back all day long, which can cause severe discomfort and pain after a while.

Sufficient space

If you’re only going to be using this backpack for school, then size may not matter as much. But if you plan on taking it with you everywhere and also want other items such as a laptop, water bottle, etc., you should get one that has more space than what is necessary for textbooks/notebooks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much does a backpack full of books weigh?

A backpack full of books typically weighs about 25-30 pounds. This is the weight carrying capacity that most backpacks are made to carry, as it’s a very standard weight for many people. And if you’re someone who carries around an excessive amount of heavy textbooks on your commute to work or school every day, this is definitely something important to consider.

How many compartments do you need for heavy books?

You should not be looking for a backpack with more than two compartments if you plan on carrying heavy books. You can do so, but it will only make things much more difficult as you won’t be able to rest the bag down at any point without having an open compartment and risking everything spilling out of your pack.

How do you carry heavy books?

You can carry heavy books in several ways, but the most common way is on your back while holding one in each arm. This will allow for easy movement and will make it so that you don’t have to bend over or reach as far down – which makes carrying a backpack much more comfortable.
A second option is to wear a backpack on your front while holding one in each arm. This will allow you to walk without difficulty due to the weight being more evenly distributed, and it makes it so that you can easily reach into the backpack for a book if needed.

How heavy is too heavy for a backpack?

The weight of your backpack should be about 15% to 30% of the total weight you plan on carrying with it. What this means is that if your heavy books weigh 50 pounds, then a good rule to follow would be no more than an overall pack weight between seven and fifteen pounds. If you exceed these percentages, some backpacks will not be able to carry the weight, and it may cause you injury.

Our Final Thoughts

The best backpack for heavy books is a sturdy and supportive one. While most backpacks are made to hold textbooks, they often can’t handle the weight of heavier texts without sagging or collapsing.

We recommend looking for a bag with adjustable waist straps that will distribute the load more evenly on your shoulders. If you want something gender-neutral, we suggest our favorite Carhartt Legacy Deluxe pack!

Mandy is a veteran blogger who has been writing about outdoor fashion and gear for over ten years. She’s constantly on the lookout for new products to share with readers, and she rarely turns down an opportunity to check out what’s new in this growing field. Mandy loves being outdoors as much as possible, which is why she spends her free time sharing tips and tricks with other active people looking to improve their lifestyle.

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