Best Cheap Rolling Backpacks
Rolling backpacks -- that common-sense design innovation -- are the perfect choice for students of all ages, travelers, sales people, business people, and just about anyone needing to cart around heavy cargo. They're doubly convenient because they can easily be transformed into a traditional backpack when rougher terrain is encountered. Rolling backpacks costing $60 or more are easy enough to find; locating a good cheap rolling backpack requires a bit more effort. The good news for thrifty shoppers, though, is that $35 or less will buy you a backpack that's roomy, sturdy, and stable.
Travelers Club Metropolitan Rolling Backpack Review
Shoppers posting Travelers Club Metropolitan Rolling Backpack (starting at $33, Amazon) reviews at Walmart award this model nearly five stars for its overall design and functionality. They say it has tons of room for textbooks, overnight gear and more, plus it's easy to maneuver, comfortable to carry, and made of durable material. This is the only cheap rolling backpack we found that actually has a separate laptop compartment, although one consumer who posted a review on Buzzillions considers the 15-inch maximum laptop size a disappointing limitation.
One of our picks for best cheap rolling backpack, the Travelers Club Metropolitan is made of 600-denier polyester and sports in-line skate wheels and a single-rod telescoping handle. The backpack straps and top carrying handle are padded, and the bag's moderate weight (less than the 6-pound shipping weight) won't add too much heft to your load. Additionally, the Travelers Club Metropolitan is equipped with interior and exterior compartments, a water bottle holder, and the aforementioned laptop compartment. It comes with a two-year limited warranty, which is rare in cheap rolling backpacks.
We consider the two-year warranty a sign of quality and were hard-pressed to find any other cheap rolling backpacks that even come with a warranty. Users highly compliment this rolling backpack's size and ease of use. Overall we give it an A+.
CalPak Awestruck Review
Users are wild about this model, according to CalPak Awestruck reviews on Luggage.com. They report it holds lots of stuff, rolls easily, and efficiently wheels over and around obstacles like curbs and stairs. Reviews posted at BagKing.com agree, noting that the many compartments make it easy to organize your stuff, the hideaway backpack straps are convenient and aesthetically appealing, and the bag is sturdy and holds up well. Users commenting in reviews on Amazon echo such praise; one writes that the high quality was apparent as soon as she actually got her hands on it.
The CalPack Awestruck (starting at $24, Amazon) is made with ripstop polyester, which, as its name implies, is designed to stop tears before they happen. It also features in-line skate wheels; self-repairing zippers; a double-rod, retractable, locking handle; and padded backpack straps. It contains multiple compartments, a water bottle holder, and a solid bottom to prevent the bag from sagging under the weight of heavy textbooks. Somewhat heavier than our other pick for best cheap rolling backpack, the CalPack Awestruck weighs in at 7 pounds.
We're partial to this cheap rolling backpack because of the durable ripstop polyester and solid bottom. Users likewise sing its praises, saying it's surprisingly durable and can be loaded with books and still have room to spare. For a budget rolling backpack, this one sits at the head of the class.
Olympia 18-inch Rolling Backpack Review
Shoppers searching for a good, cheap rolling backpack found this one, according to Olympia 18-inch Rolling Backpack (starting at $27, Amazon) reviews on Overstock.com. One user says the handle is easy to manage and the bag rolls smoothly over different terrains. Another asserts that if the rolling backpack can hold up under her son's rough-and-tumble care, it surely must be a high-quality product. The only minor gripe we found in reviews concerns its tendency to fall forward from a standing position when full, which is a common occurrence with this type of backpack. In Olympia 18-inch reviews on Walmart, users also express satisfaction with this model, saying it maneuvers easily and holds mounds of stuff, although some note the wheels tend to get noisy after a while.
The Olympia 18-inch Rolling Backpack has a shipping weight of 6 pounds and is made of supreme polyester. It has a double-rod retractable handle that locks in place, and is equipped with in-line skate wheels, a self-repairing zipper, and a water bottle holder. The bag has padded shoulder straps and several zippered compartments.
This inexpensive rolling backpack meets all of our must-have requirements and is overall a very good deal. Despite comments about tilting forward and noisy wheels, users, for the most part, find the bag easy to haul around, roomy, and built to last.
Port Authority Wheeled Backpack Review
Port Authority Wheeled Backpack (starting at $28, Amazon) reviews are limited, and those we found are mixed. In reviews on Amazon,and a second Amazon page, a couple of users report that the backpack is quick to fall apart; that is, the wheels and the zippers break. BigNTallApparel.com gives this bag a three-star rating without justifying why (user and/or the site's own assessment are not accessible).
The Port Authority Wheeled Backpack is made from 600 denier polyester and features in-line skate wheels and a single-rod pulley system for the handle. It's equipped with several zippered compartments, backpack straps in case you don't feel like rolling it, and a water bottle holder. Manufacturer specifications do not indicate the weight.
We're hesitant about this backpack partly because we don't know how much it weighs but largely because of user complaints about failing wheels. The whole point of a rolling backpack is just that -- wheels that go round when you need to get your stuff from place to place -- and if you can't count on its rolling functionality, why bother?