Gear

Best Backpacks & School Supplies

4 min read · Updated 2026

A backpack gets replaced every year for a reason: cheap ones fall apart under the weight of laptops and textbooks. The two below are the ones worth the money — plus the geometry kit that belongs in every STEM student’s bag.

Backpacks that hold up

For daily use, the KEOFID classic backpack has a padded laptop compartment, USB charging pass-through and a water-resistant shell — everything a commuter actually needs. If you are buying for a whole class, club or study group, the Sherr bulk backpacks come in a 30-pack of neutral colors and are light enough to use as spare or giveaway bags.

The geometry kit nobody remembers until the exam

Math and engineering exams love diagrams. A shatterproof geometry set with protractor, compass and sharpener lives at the bottom of your bag for years, and an architectural scale ruler is required for drafting and design courses — both cheap enough to replace without guilt.

Bottom line: buy one good backpack that lasts, and keep the small supplies in a dedicated pocket so they are there when the exam rolls around.

Recommended gear: a laptop backpack for daily use, plus a geometry set for exam season.

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