Backpacks for Laptops and Everyday Use: A Comparison of Ucon Acrobatics, Kind Bag, 7clouds, Margelisch, and Craighill
A backpack for a laptop and everyday use needs a padded laptop compartment, a capacity of 10 to 20 liters, a weight of less than one kilogram, and a material that keeps out the rain. Six models from the One Horizon lineup meet these requirements in different ways: Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper (roll-top, 16 liters), Kind Bag Backpack Medium (13 inches, 10 to 14 liters), 7clouds Novis 7.1 (15-inch, 12 liters), Margelisch Lirn-001 (15-inch, 18.5 liters), and Craighill Arris (21 liters). The comparison shows which one is best suited for which commute.
What to Look for in a Laptop Backpack for Everyday Use
Four things determine whether a backpack will still be used every day after a year. First, the laptop compartment: padded, positioned vertically, and as close to your back as possible so the weight doesn’t pull on you. Second, the capacity: 10 liters is enough for a laptop, charger, wallet, and lunch; 16 to 20 liters is enough for a day out with gym clothes or groceries. Third, the material: If you commute by bike, you need a water-repellent outer shell, not cotton canvas. Fourth, the weight of the backpack itself: if it weighs more than a kilo, you’ll notice it even before you put anything inside.
A roll-top or zipper is a matter of personal preference—with consequences. A roll-top expands as you add more items and is more waterproof in the rain, but it takes two hands to open. A zipper can be opened with one hand, but it’s a fixed size.
Backpacks for Laptops and Everyday Use: A Comparison of Six Models
| Model | Volume | Dimensions (H × W × D) | Weight | Laptop | Material | Closure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ucon Acrobatics Hajo Medium | 16 l | 50 × 30 × 12 cm | 1.03 kg | Neoprene compartment, padded | 100% recycled PET | Roll-top with Velcro |
| Ucon Acrobatics Jasper Medium | 16 l | 49 × 32 × 12 cm | 1.03 kg | Neoprene compartment, padded | recycled PET | Roll-top with metal buckle |
| Kind Bag Backpack Medium | 10 L, 14 L with roll-top | 33 (+12) × 25.5 × 12.5 cm | Not specified | 13 inches, padded | 18 recycled PET bottles, PFA-free | Roll-top with a magnet and zipper |
| 7clouds Novis 7.1 | 12 l | 38 × 29 × 11 cm | 0.9 kg | 15-inch plus 10.5-inch tablet | Boat tarps and recycled PET | Zipper |
| Margelisch Lirn-001 | 18.5 liters | 45 × 26 × 16 cm | 0.95 kg | 15 inches, padded | 98% recycled PET, GRS | Zipper with a flap |
| Craighill Arris | 21 l | 46 × 30 × 23 cm | 816 g | waterproof laptop sleeve | double-layer nylon, acrylic-coated | Zipper |
A seventh model doesn’t quite fit the mold, but it’s still worth considering: The Notabag Original is a carry bag that converts into a backpack, weighs 140 grams, folds down to the size of a jacket pocket, and has no laptop compartment. It’s no substitute for a laptop backpack, but it’s the second backpack you always have with you.
Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper: The Berlin Rolltops
The Ucon Acrobatics Hajo Medium was designed in Berlin and made for the daily bike commute: 16 liters, 50 × 30 × 12 centimeters, 1.03 kilograms, made entirely from recycled PET bottles on the outside with a smooth, water-repellent surface. The roll-top closure uses Velcro and expands as the contents increase; a side zipper opens the main compartment without having to unroll the top. The laptop compartment is made of neoprene and has two mesh pockets for a cell phone and wallet. There are three front pockets for a bike lock and umbrella, and a bottle holder on the side.
The Ucon Acrobatics Jasper Medium is the more streamlined version: same volume, same weight, 49 × 32 × 12 centimeters, but with a metal buckle instead of Velcro and a vertical quick-access pocket on the front. If you find the Hajo too sporty, go for the Jasper, available in black or almond. Both are the perfect choice for anyone who cycles daily and doesn’t want to spare their backpack—even in the rain.
Hajo Medium Rucksack
Minimalistischer Rolltop-Rucksack von Ucon Acrobatics aus recycelten PET-Flaschen. 16 Liter Volumen, Rolltop mit Klettverschluss und seitlichem Schnellzugriff aufs Hauptfach. Mit…
Kind Bag Backpack (Medium): 18 bottles, 13 inches, anti-theft pocket
The Kind Bag Backpack Medium is made entirely from 18 recycled PET bottles: the outer fabric, lining, labels, and zippers are all made of recycled plastic, and the waterproof surface contains no PFA. 33 centimeters tall (45 with the roll-top extended), 25.5 centimeters wide, 12.5 centimeters deep, 10 to 14 liters. The laptop compartment is padded for 13-inch devices and includes two small interior pockets and a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back. The carrying handles fasten together with magnets, so you can also carry it as a bag. Long side pockets hold a water bottle or an umbrella.
At 13 inches, it’s the perfect model for a MacBook Air, a tablet, and light luggage—not for a 16-inch work laptop. However, available in Beige, Poppy Red, Bottle Green, Burgundy, Navy, and other colors, it’s the friendliest backpack in the comparison and the only one that can be machine-washed at 30 degrees.
Backpack Medium
Der Kind Bag Rucksack vereint Nachhaltigkeit und Funktionalität. Aus 18 recycelten Plastikflaschen hergestellt, bietet er einen Rollverschluss, extra starke Magnete…
7clouds Novis 7.1: Boat Cover with a 45-Degree Cut
You can recognize the 7clouds Novis 7.1 by the 45-degree cut at the top of the backpack. The outer shell is made of waterproof boat cover tarpaulin and recycled PET polyester; the interior features a cotton lining and accents made of vegetable-tanned leather. 38 × 29 × 11 centimeters, 12 liters, 900 grams, featuring a padded 15-inch laptop compartment in portrait orientation plus a compartment for a 10.5-inch tablet, and it can hold an A4 folder. The shoulder straps are made from automotive seat belts and attached to D-rings so they can be adjusted to fit the shoulder. If you find the Novis too narrow, consider the 7clouds Nusin 7.1 with 17 liters of capacity or the more compact Neldem 7.2 with 9.7 liters. The brand’s history is detailed in the 7clouds profile.
Novis 7.1
Stadtrucksack aus recyceltem RPET-Polyester und wasserdichter Bootabdeckungsplane. Gepolstertes 15"-Laptopfach, Tabletfach und flexibles D-Ring-Schultergurtsystem. 12 Liter, 0.9 kg – ideal für…
Margelisch Lirn-001 and Craighill Arris: The Big Two
If you’re on the go all day, you’ll need more than 12 liters. The Margelisch Lirn-001 has a capacity of 18.5 liters, measures 45 × 26 × 16 centimeters, and weighs 950 grams; it features a separate 15-inch laptop compartment, two exterior side pockets, two interior pockets, a padded back panel, and an adjustable chest strap. The material is 98 percent recycled PET with GRS certification and a waterproof PU/TPU coating; even the buckles and D-rings are made of recycled polypropylene. Six color combinations, ranging from petrol-fog gray to lime-white.
The Craighill Arris is the lightest backpack in this comparison and also the largest: 21 liters, measuring 46 × 30 × 23 centimeters, and weighing 816 grams. Double-layer nylon with an acrylic coating, quilted in 2.5-centimeter-wide channels, a waterproof laptop sleeve in the main compartment, a double-reinforced bottom, replaceable zipper pulls, and a rubberized mesh handle. No logo, no jumble of straps. Available in black and navy blue, and unlike the others, it should only be cleaned with a damp cloth—never in the washing machine.
Laptop-Rucksack Lirn-001
Der sportliche Laptop-Rucksack Lirn-001 aus GRS-zertifiziertem RPET hat eine wasserdichte PU/TPU-Beschichtung. Das gepolsterte 15-Zoll-Laptopfach schützt dein Notebook, 18,5 Liter und…
Which Backpack for Which Commute
Biking in any weather, 13 to 15 inches: Ucon Acrobatics Hajo or Jasper. Commuting and office use, light luggage, 13 inches, preferably colorful: Kind Bag Backpack Medium. Office use with A4 folders and a 15-inch laptop, compact: 7clouds Novis 7.1. All-day use with sports gear, 15 inches, chest strap: Margelisch Lirn-001. As light as possible, plenty of volume, minimalist: Craighill Arris. And for shopping on the way home, the Notabag is in the side pocket. All 58 backpacks in the collection can be found in the Backpacks category.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laptop and Everyday Backpacks
How many liters should a backpack for a laptop and everyday use hold?
10 to 14 liters is enough for a laptop, charger, wallet, and a lunch—the Kind Bag Backpack Medium or the 7clouds Novis 7.1 (12 liters) can handle that. If you’re carrying gym clothes, groceries, or a jacket, you’re better off with a 16- to 21-liter backpack—such as the Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper, the Margelisch Lirn-001, or the Craighill Arris.
Which backpack is suitable for a 15-inch laptop?
The 7clouds Novis 7.1 and the Margelisch Lirn-001 feature a padded compartment specifically designed for 15-inch devices. The Kind Bag Backpack Medium is designed for 13-inch devices. The Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper feature a padded neoprene compartment, while the Craighill Arris has a waterproof laptop sleeve in the main compartment.
Roll-top or zipper: Which is better for everyday use?
A roll-top bag expands with its contents and provides better protection from the rain, but requires two hands to use. The Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper, as well as the Kind Bag, feature roll-top closures, some with quick-access zippers on the side. The 7clouds Novis, Margelisch Lirn-001, and Craighill Arris close with zippers and can be opened with one hand.
Which laptop backpack is waterproof?
None of the six are truly waterproof, but they are all water-repellent. The 7clouds Novis 7.1 has a cover made of boat tarpaulin, the Margelisch Lirn-001 has a waterproof PU/TPU coating, and the Craighill Arris has a waterproof laptop sleeve. Ucon Acrobatics and Kind Bag use coated recycled PET, which easily keeps rain out on your commute.
Which backpack is the lightest in this comparison?
The Craighill Arris weighs 816 grams and has a capacity of 21 liters, making it the lightest of the six, followed by the 7clouds Novis 7.1 at 900 grams and the Margelisch Lirn-001 at 950 grams. The Ucon Acrobatics Hajo and Jasper each weigh 1.03 kilograms. The Notabag Original, weighing 140 grams, is not included in the ranking, as it does not have a laptop compartment.
Can these backpacks be washed?
According to the manufacturer, the Kind Bag Backpack can be washed at 30 degrees on the gentle cycle. The Craighill Arris should only be wiped down with a damp cloth; machine washing damages the acrylic coating. For the other models, clean with a damp cloth and air-dry; specific instructions are listed on the respective product page.
The backpack you’ll still be carrying in five years
Five of the six models are made from recycled PET, one from coated nylon, and all are built to last beyond a single season. If you can’t decide, go with the Ucon Acrobatics Hajo Medium in black. It’s the backpack against which all the others had to compete.
Neo Abgottspon, One Horizon, Raron. As of September 2026.
