The Five Best iPad Backpacks

You would think it would be easy to find a quality, stylish iPad backpack at a reasonable price. It's not! There is a great range of iPad bags and cases of all kinds but, so far, too many manufacturers have been ignoring the interests of anyone looking for a backpack.

The good news is that the few backpacks available are stylish and very well made. The not so good news comes if you are looking for an economy backpack. I could only find one and if you don't like it then you are out of luck!

Drop a link in the comments below if you come across a backpack for the iPad that I missed- we will all love you!

What an iPad Backpack should deliver.

For most of us there are four essential features:

• Style
• Comfort
• Durability
• Practicality

Practical is important if you don't want your iPad wiped out by rain, flood and acts of falling over in the snow- this will happen if you live anywhere North of Texas (and a few places in Texas). When it does, you will be glad of well-conceived design and the padding any good bag will have.

Also, for me, a pet issue is size. I don't like carrying a bag than is bigger than I need. I don't like bags that you need to force things into, either. A good fit means a happy customer.

I recognize that some people want a roomier backpack for carrying many other things with their iPad so I have included a few of these too!

MacCase Premium Leather iPad Backpack- slim, durable, beautiful.

The MacCase can be used as a backpack or a flight case. It is made of good quality leather so durabilty is guaranteed. Leather is also one of the best materials for protection- especially when coupled with generous padding, as it is here.

There are few bags of any kind where organizing accessories is so easy or the results so neat. There is no excuse for losing anything and you should never be tipping everything out of the bag just to find a charger!

The front storage pouch can be removed and the front-flap gives instant access to smaller items.

Removable front storage pouch. Under flap accessory storage.

There is a sturdy top handle for carrying as hand luggage- ideal for air travel. It can also be used as a shoulder bag.

It is available in black or vintage leather finishes.

Timbuk2 Small Fry 3-In-1- an Economical iPad Backpack

Timbuk2 are famous for durable and well priced shoulder bags and messenger bags for laptops and net books. The Small Fry was originally designed for 10-inch netbooks but happens to be perfect for iPads (or Kindles).

It has molded foam interior protection for your iPad.

There is a small pocket for essential accessories.

It can be adjusted for use as a shoulder bag or as a simple iPad sleeve.

You can choose black or tan and gray.

Booq Mamba Shift M Backpack

There is big price jump to the Booq Mamba at around $150 but this is a backpack that will carry plenty of accessories- including a full size keyboard.

The truth is that it is designed for netbooks and laptops up to 15 inches so it breaks my best fit rule. At the same time, if you want a place for iPad external batteries, a keyboard, adapters, or even a portable printer and handheld scanner, plus room for a books, paper and your cell phone this is a perfect size.

The ballistic nylon exterior is very tough and will keep out the rain. YKK zippers will give long service. It has quick access side pockets as well as a removable accessory pouch.

Each bag has a unique ID number which will help if it is lost or stolen.

The manufacturers give a five-year warranty which is a fair reflection of the long service you can expect from a backpack of this quality.

Leather Ladies Backpack from LeDonne

It is a pity that this is called a ladies backpack. It is well designed, the leather is a good quality and the overall look is a long way from girly. Perhaps the makers think that if something has plenty of pockets and catches and there are no bull horns the guys will run.

Anyway... The inner pocket is lined and holds your iPad above the bottom so if you drop it there is no danger of sensitive electronics hitting hard surfaces. The outer cell phone pocket is very convenient and the two main compartments give plenty of room for wallets, books, gloves and whatever...

For what it offers, the price is pretty reasonable at under a hundred dollars.

STM Bags Small Revolution Backpack- roomy, secure and weather proof!

This is one of the most secure backpacks for any netbook or the iPad. It has a unique system for adjusting the interior pocket so that whatever tablet or laptop you want to carry is a good fit and also suspended above the bottom of the bag- great design if you drop your bag.

The iPad pocket is also well hidden so any sneak thief will have to look long and hard to find it.

The main compartment is for books and bigger accessories. There is an organizer panel for smaller accessories like drives, batteries or charger.

A tuck away rain flap offers extra protection against bad weather. There are also tuck away sternum and waist straps for better weight distribution on longer walks.

There is even a special elastic strap to hold a cycle helmet!

Belkin Slim Backpack

This Belkin has real minimalist, unfussy style. It may be slim but it has plenty of pockets and compartments for pens, electronic accessories and credit cards plus there is a removable pouch for essentials like chargers.

It is also a comfortable backpack with plenty of padding on the straps and for your shoulders. Breathable mesh in the straps means no unpleasant damp patches!

A nice touch is a grommet to fix headphone cords with an internal, weatherproof pocket to allow secure use of an MP3 player or smartphone.

It is one of the bigger backpacks on this page- as you can see from the photo right.