I recently retired the bookbag I’ve been using since 2016. She was a good one, but all of her zippers finally busted, and now I’m in search of a new daily bag that can hold my laptop, lunch, makeup pouch, umbrella, water bottle, books, notebook, and all of the various sundries I’ve been carrying around for the last seven years.

Of course, when it’s time for a new bag, it’s also time to question if you need to have so much stuff in your bag. If those makeup wipes are still in the packet so many years out, chances are I probably can go without toting them around every day. But this is not about cleaning out bags; this is about finding a new bookbag that is functional, durable, comfortable, and, if not stylish, at least utilitarian.

Since we’re in the throes of the back-to-school shopping season, there are many options out there. I find the best bags are college bookbags that have room to store all of my essentials and are tough enough to endure the trek across the quad on the snowiest of days. So, here’s a rundown of the college backpacks I’m considering.

First up, JanSport! A classic never goes out of style, and thanks to the brand’s lifetime warranty, it doesn’t have to. If you have an old JanSport from the 90s, consider trading it in for the Main Campus Backpack that features a padded laptop sleeve, a large main compartment, a secondary compartment with an organizer panel, a side water bottle pocket, and a front organizer compartment for maximum storage needs. It also comes in up to two dozen colors and patterns. I couldn’t find out if the bag itself is machine washable, so I’d advise staying away from lighter colors that tend to show wear more readily.

For a more outdoorsy extreme bag, there’s North Face’s Borealis Backpack. This bag features American Chiropractic Association-approved shoulder straps and a curved back panel. I also like that it has two side pockets, perfect for the water bottle on one side and umbrella on the other. It also has a sternum strap and waist belt if you’re really trekking about, and the bungee wrap design is perfect to carabine-attach other totes or items for you pack horses out there.

Over at Amazon, there is the CYUREAY Convertible Daypack with a USB charging port, perfect for on-the-go technology needs. This water-resistant bag can be worn as a bookbag or a shoulder bag and has double side sleeves, a laptop sleeve, a main compartment, and two zippered front pockets. I am really liking the blue shade (it comes in six) because I think this will match up nicely with my navy puffy winter coat, which is another thing to consider when picking a bag. How well or not will it go with your outerwear?

Another USB Port bag also available on Amazon is the VANKEDAN Laptop Backpack. The quilted front pocket and gold zippers make this a very stylish option, and it feels a bit more grown-up and sophisticated for an office versus a campus setting. The sleek fabric is waterproof and scratch-resistant, and the shape is spacious, with several compartments, pockets, and sleeves.

However, if you want to lean into the collegiate aesthetic, there is the Herschel Heritage Classic Backpack, which, unlike some of the above options, has fewer tech frills but makes up for it in the details like a top carrying loop, roomy exterior pockets, and key clip. While you’re on the company website, peruse their luggage collection in case your suitcase is in need of an upgrade. I already have an extra-large tote bag from this brand that’s proven to be quite durable.

Another brand that I already have a bag from is Everlane. I currently sport their ReNew Transit Fanny Pack when I’m out and about on weekend errands and am now eyeing their ReNew Transit Backpack. This bag is designed for travel, featuring a strap on the back to slip through a luggage handle. However, with several easy-access pockets and sleeves, it makes a good college/everyday pack with its exterior laptop pocket, several interior pockets, and two water bottle holders.

Lastly, there’s the Carhartt Classic Laptop Daypack. You can get this bag in the heritage workwear brand’s signature orange-brown shade, teal blue, or marmalade. It boasts a water-repellant exterior, a large main compartment, a laptop sleeve, a side pocket, and a front zippered compartment.

A good college bookbag, whether you’re hauling it to the lecture hall or the workplace, will have room for digital and analog devices, snacks, maybe some gym clothes, and a change of shoes. It should also be polished enough for networking events, internships, meetings, and even interviews. For those of us with our school days long in the past, a college backpack can serve our functional and hopefully stylish needs for the daily 9-to-5.