The Backpack Guide: How to choose the right backpack for you
A good backpack should make getting out of the door feel effortless. It should carry everything you need for the day ahead, sit comfortably from morning commute to evening return, and still feel like a considered part of your outfit rather than an afterthought.
Whether you’re heading into town, escaping for the weekend or simply looking for an everyday bag that keeps life in order, the right backpack is all about balance — shape, size and practicality.
At Orla Kiely, backpacks are designed with this in mind: functional, considered pieces brought to life with our signature prints, tactile materials and shapes inspired by vintage design details, reworked for modern everyday life.
Choosing the Right Backpack
Before choosing a backpack, it’s worth thinking about how it will move through your life with you. A commuting backpack has different demands to one used for travel or lighter everyday days.
A few things to consider:
- How much you carry, and how often
- Whether a laptop needs its own dedicated space
- Comfort in the straps (especially on longer days)
- Internal organisation: pockets, compartments, easy access
- Weight and structure of the bag itself
- How it feels as part of your personal style
Some days call for something compact and unfussy. Others need a little more room for notebooks, layers, or the inevitable extras that find their way in.
The Work Companion: Backpacks for Commuting
For busy days, structure and organisation make all the difference.
The Acre Backpack is designed with exactly this rhythm in mind - sleek in shape and built for everyday journeys. With a large internal pocket, it keeps essentials in place, while the coated cotton finish helps protect against the unpredictable weather.
A backpack like this works especially well when you’re carrying:
A laptop or tablet
Chargers, notebooks and daily essentials
A water bottle and lunch
A change of clothes or gym kit
An easy access poppered closure and comfortable straps help it stay effortless to wear, even on the busiest days.
Light Days: Everyday Small Backpacks
Not every day needs to be fully packed. For lighter moments, a smaller backpack feels easy, relaxed and just right.
The Mini Lotta Backpack is perfect for those days when you want to travel light but still stay organised. It’s designed for the essentials.
Ideal for:
Wandering city streets
Weekend errands and shopping
Travel days where less is more
Hands-free, easy everyday wear
Its smaller silhouette slips seamlessly into both casual and more polished outfits, making it one of the most versatile shapes in the collection.
Going Further: Backpacks for Travel & Weekends Away
When you’re heading further afield, space and comfort become the focus. A well-designed travel backpack should hold everything you need without feeling overworked or heavy.
The Axis Backpack is designed with this in mind — a roomy, practical shape with considered compartments and a lightweight feel. Made using recycled materials, it’s designed to move easily between everyday use and travel days, whether that’s a train journey, a weekend escape or a flight away.
A larger backpack like this is ideal for:
Weekend breaks
Day trips and long journeys
Carry-on travel essentials
Days when you simply need more space
Internal organisation, easy-access pockets and durable construction all help keep everything exactly where it should be, wherever you’re heading.
Materials That Work Hard
A great backpack isn’t just about shape, it’s also about how it performs day to day.
Lightweight construction, water-resistant finishes and recycled fabrics all play their part in creating something that feels easy to live with, whatever the weather or schedule throws at it.
A backpack is often the most hardworking piece in your wardrobe, so it should feel like part of your style, not separate from it.
Print brings personality to simple outfits, while softer, more neutral tones slip quietly into everything else you wear. Orla Kiely’s graphic language — bold, playful and rooted in mid-century design — is created to feel timeless rather than trend-led, designed to be loved season after season.
Finding Your Fit
Ultimately, the right backpack depends on how you live day to day.
For commuting: choose structure, organisation and laptop space
For lighter days: opt for compact, easy silhouettes
For versatility: a mid-sized shape with thoughtful compartments
For travel: prioritise comfort, capacity and durability
Explore the full collection of Orla Kiely backpacks and find the shape that fits your everyday.
