A work bag has a lot to do. It carries your laptop, lunch, water bottle and the jumper you took off on the train, often in the rain and usually five days a week. If you're looking for a recycled backpack that can keep up, here's an honest look inside the Hackney range: what each size holds, which laptops fit, and the small details that make a difference on a busy commute.
Why a backpack for work?
Totes and sleeves have their place (we compared all three in Best Laptop Bag for Commute: Backpack, Tote or Sleeve?), but a backpack spreads the weight across both shoulders and leaves your hands free for coffee, tickets and handrails. If you walk or cycle part of the way, or carry a laptop most days, that matters more than it sounds.
The current Hackney Backpacks are made from recycled plastic bottles, with a water-resistant fabric that has no PFA coatings. The medium, for example, is made from 17 recycled plastic bottles.
The three sizes at a glance
Medium Hackney Backpack
- Size: 33 x 25.5 x 12.5cm, plus a 12cm roll top
- Capacity: 10 litres, or 14 litres with the roll top extended
- Laptop: padded laptop pocket that fits most 13" models
- Made from: 17 recycled plastic bottles
This is the everyday option for most office days: laptop, charger, lunch, a notebook and a water bottle in the side pocket. If your laptop is 13" or smaller and you don't tend to carry a gym kit as well, it's the size to start with.
Large Hackney Backpack
- Size: 38 x 30 x 14cm, plus an extendable roll top
- Capacity: 19.7 litres, or 23 litres with the roll top extended
- Laptop: padded laptop pocket that fits most 13" and 16" models
- Made from: 21 recycled plastic bottles
Choose the large if you work on a 16" laptop, or if your bag often doubles as a gym or overnight bag. The extra depth is useful for a packed lunch box and a spare layer without everything pressing against your screen.
Hackney Mini Backpack
- Size: 26 x 22 x 12cm, plus a 12cm roll top
- Capacity: 6.8 litres, or 10 litres with the roll top extended
- Tablet: padded back pocket for an iPad or tablet
- Made from: 12 recycled plastic bottles
To be clear, the mini isn't a laptop bag. It's for hybrid workers who carry a tablet, a notebook and the essentials, or for days when the laptop stays at home. It also has an elastic strap inside to hold a water bottle.
The details that help on a commute
A roll top that grows with your day
On the medium and large, the roll top closes with a zip and strong magnets, so you can open it quickly at the ticket barrier without fiddling with buckles. Unroll it when you need more room, such as on the way home with a bit of shopping, and roll it down again when you don't.
An anti-theft pocket
There's an anti-theft pocket between the back padding and the main compartment. It sits against your back while you're wearing the bag, so it's a sensible place for your phone, cards or keys on a crowded train.
Side pockets and hooks
On the medium and large, two side slip pockets hold a water bottle on one side and an umbrella on the other. Two hooks, one inside and one on the strap, keep keys or a purse where you can find them. It sounds small, but it saves a lot of rummaging.
Padding where it counts
The back panel and shoulder straps are padded, with a recycled lining. Carry handles have hidden magnets that keep them together, so the bag is easy to grab off a desk or a luggage rack.
What the Hackney won't do
Honesty helps here. The fabric is water-resistant, not waterproof, so it'll handle a drizzly walk to the station but not being left out in a downpour. If you're cycling in heavy rain, a rain cover is still a good idea. And only the large fits a 16" laptop, so check your laptop size before choosing the medium.
Choosing your size: a quick guide
- Check your laptop. 13" or smaller: medium or large. 16": large. Tablet only: mini.
- Think about your heaviest day. If you carry a gym kit or lunch for the whole day a couple of times a week, size up.
- Consider how you travel. On a packed train, a smaller bag is easier to manage. On a longer walk or cycle, the padded straps on any size will help.
- Pick a colour you'll enjoy every day. The range comes in plenty of shades, from neutrals to bolder colours, so it's worth choosing one you'll be happy to carry for years.
Looking after it
All three sizes can be machine-washed at 30°C on a delicate setting, with a spin of 600 to 800 rpm. Please don't tumble dry. Empty every pocket, let it air dry fully before you pack it again, and give it a gentle wipe between washes. Our guide on how to wash a recycled bag without damaging it goes through it step by step.
Find your Hackney
A good work backpack is one you stop thinking about: everything has a place, your laptop is protected, and it still looks smart in a meeting. You can compare every size and colour in the Hackney Collection, and see what other customers think on our reviews page.
