How to Keep Your Backpack Organized: Tips and Tricks
Sep 26, 2022
Organizing tips might not seem like they’d make that much of an impact on your life.
But think about it: You’re on campus about to start your first class of the day, but no matter how hard you try, you just can’t find your favorite pen—or any pen—and the professor has already started talking. Or maybe you’re in the airport security line, about to head on spring break with your friends. The ID that you tossed in earlier has fallen to the bottom of the bag, and the agent is beckoning you forward.
Yes, there are few things more frustrating than having to rummage through your backpack to find what you’re looking for when you need that thing right now.
Psychologically, clutter and disorganization contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety, and could even be detrimental to your overall mental health. Luckily, the opposite is also true: An organized backpack can bring peace, calm, and just as importantly, the things you need right where you need them. When you open your backpack and everything is just so—not in a big jumble of objects—you’ll see what we mean.
To be more organized in your day-to-day life, there’s no better companion than a JanSport backpack. From dedicated laptop sleeves and built-in organizer panels to front zippered pockets for all the essentials, these bags are ready to help you get organized. Enlist the help of these easy organizing tools for your backpack.
How to Organize a Backpack
Before we get into the specifics, there are a few overarching tips to keep in mind that will help you reach organized-backpack Nirvana:
1. Keep essentials like your phone, wallet, and keys in easy-to-reach pockets or caddies.
2. Laptops and other tech should go in a separate, padded compartment.
3. Use small, internal pouches to group things together.
4. Place heavier items closer to your back for better balance.
5. Clean your backpack out regularly to avoid clutter build-up.
6. Keep your water bottle in a dedicated outside pocket.
7. Choose a backpack style you like so you’ll want to keep it clean.
8. Pack only what you need—be discerning!
Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s go a little deeper on your organizational journey.
Tips for Small Items
Think about the last time you emptied out a backpack. What did you find? A veritable wasteland of pen caps, gum wrappers, hair ties, and other (often random) bits and pieces, no doubt. That’s why we love the Cinch Caddy as a catchall.
It helps you keep all the tiny yet important items in the top-tier spot they deserve. The drawstring caddy is designed to sit on the top of your backpack’s main compartment, cinching to the shape of the rounded top, and it has an internal organizing pocket to hold your chargers and other essentials in place. It’s lined with mesh pockets so you can see everything more easily, and it’s even lightly padded to protect any delicate items that you may have in there. Plus, it has 100% recycled dyed lining—so you can feel good about your buy, too.
Or if you’re interested in something a little less bulky, there’s also the Basic Accessory Pouch. This handy organizer accomplishes the same tasks of keeping your important items in a distinct spot—only this time it’s with a simple single compartment.
Ideas for Your Accessories
Whether you need your hair ties, different earrings, a compact mirror, or even a travel-sized lotion or sunscreen on hand, having a separate compartment for your accessories within your backpack is really the move. And if you like more traditional organizing tools—especially one you can show off in gorgeous cottagecore prints like Neon Daisy and Bad Bows—go for the Perfect Pouch.
This roomy pouch has a single compartment with dividers that create three separate spaces, and they’re perfect (no pun intended) for all your loose accessories. There’s even a middle velcro pocket to keep valuables from moving around too much. The traditional rectangular shape of this pouch tucks nicely into your bag—but as an organizing tip, try to avoid letting it fall to the bottom of your bag where it will be crushed by other items. Instead, place it vertically, so you can grab hold of it by the web haul handle.
Tips for Your Organized Compartments
Okay, we’re not all suited to multiple inserts in our backpacks. That’s okay: There’s a solution out there for everyone. If you can’t trust yourself to keep track of a bunch of pouches and caddies, then you’ll need a backpack with a strong internal organization system. The Hatchet Backpack is one of JanSport’s bestsellers—for good reason.
Not only does it have a padded 15-inch laptop or tablet sleeve to protect your tech, but it also has two water bottle pockets. As we like to say, “this thing’s pockets have pockets,” with multiple dedicated and zipped organizing compartments. And don’t forget the zippered quick stash pockets on the front and top flap. This backpack can’t help but keep you organized, even when you’re rushing on your daily commute.
Ideas for High-Tech and Heavy Loads
If your organizing woes are tech-heavy, we feel you. Chargers, wires, hard drives, external batteries, backup external batteries—the tech-loving life can really weigh down your backpack. That’s where the Agave Backpack, ideal for keeping your tech organized and safe with its heavily padded design, comes in.
There are two large main compartments to help organization stay top of mind and side compression straps so you can keep it all in one place—tech doesn’t really like to be bounced around. There’s also a front utility pocket made for storing items you need to grab quickly and a plush-lined sleeve for your tablet and laptop. If you need to pack, well, just a little too much, the hip belt and sternum strap help distribute weight. It can even double as a great hiking backpack on the weekends, with a reservoir for up to three liters of hydration.
Tips for Carrying a Laptop
Whether you’re commuting to work or class, it’s likely you’ll need your laptop by your side. While many of the backpacks on this list have space for your laptop, none marry that space with organizational potential quite like The Granby.
First off, there’s the dedicated 15-inch padded laptop compartment with a zip closure and a fully padded back panel to ensure your laptop is completely safe—and comfortable to carry. Then there’s the huge main compartment that fits most of your other stuff inside. And as if that weren’t enough, there are no less than five external organizer pockets to keep your essentials right where you want ‘em. Check it out in Travertine or Mauve Haze Corduroy. So cute.
Ideas for Keeping Things Lightweight
Maybe your goal for getting organized is to cut down on the load you lug with you on the daily. That’s a wonderful goal to have! Sometimes, less really is more, and that’s what’s at the heart of The Half Pint Mini Backpack. Aside from being exactly what you’re looking for, it’s honestly adorable.
But this small and light wonder doesn’t sacrifice our goal of organization just because it’s little. Indeed, it has a spacious main compartment, small pockets on the front, and an additional slip pocket on the side for all your valuables. And to make it even easier to carry, the webbing shoulder straps adjust to reach varying carry lengths and the webbing grab handle on top makes it easier to maneuver.
Tips for Fun Times
You may not realize it but behind every good event or party is a highly-organized person making sure there’s always enough food and refreshments for everyone to keep the good vibes flowing. If that sounds like you, the good news is there’s a backpack for that. The Driver 8 Backpack is a fantastic tool for staying organized when you and your friends hit the beach or campsite for a good time.
This bag has the space for it all—its capacity is 36 liters. And should you pack too much to carry, you can go from backpack to roller in a second with easily tucked-away shoulder straps. There’s also a single mesh bottle pocket that stretches to fit large bottles. Add to that not one, but two main compartments and you’ve got optimal space and organization for all the fun times ahead.
JanSport Bags That Make Organization Easy
We would be remiss not to mention some other organizational bags that we know from experience will help you on your journey to a clutter-free, stress-free life.
The Best JanSport Backpack for Organized Travel
The Landings Pack is designed for comfort while traveling with plush ergonomic shoulder straps and a super soft back panel. It has a huge main compartment, a gear loft compartment with an extra organization panel, and zippered mesh pocket to keep everything in its place. Plus, there’s a luggage attachment, so you can pop it on top of your suitcase.
The Best JanSport Backpack to Stay Organized at School
The Big Student kind of says it all in the name. This backpack comes with a zip-enclosed 15-inch laptop sleeve and two spacious compartments: say, one for notebooks and textbooks and one for accessories, pens, and chargers. And the organization doesn’t stop there with two exterior zippered stash pockets.
The Best JanSport Backpack for Organized Style
The Cool Student is for, well, the cool kids who have an eye for fashion. Just because we’re talking organization doesn’t mean we’re sacrificing style. This backpack comes in 17 different colors and styles, like Platinum Puddles and Painterly Mushrooms, so you can find whatever goes best with who you are. It also has two main compartments, a front pocket with an organization panel and two outside stash pockets.
With additional reporting by: Kelly Meehan Brown
