Though its monochrome color scheme won’t win you any points with the fashion police, this dual-compartment backpack can carry your laptop on business days and your gym clothes on weekends, thanks to a removable notebook sleeve that provided our laptop with more padding than any of the others we tested. All this extra padding also made it one of the heavier bags in our group. With plenty of quick-access front-panel zippers, it’s never a hassle to find your keys. The bag’s iPod sleeve is also a nice touch, but we especially liked its hidden headphone-cord canal that keeps your headphones from getting tangled.

Why just carry your gadgets when you can charge them too? APC’s Travel-Power Backpack is the only bag with a built-in TravelPower Adapter that, when plugged into any air, auto, or AC power outlet, can simultaneously charge your notebook, PDA, and cell phone while they’re still inside your bag. Small enough to fit in an overhead compartment, yet big enough to tote your 15-inch laptop, the TravelPower is an ideal backpack if you plan on taking more than one of your toys on the road. However, we wished the bag had more padding and a more direct way of managing the wires reaching out to your gadgets.

Weekend warriors who can’t bear to part with their notebooks won’t want to miss out on this one. Though slightly bigger than your average bag, Targus’ heavily ventilated backpack has enough room to house both your laptop and your cross-trainers. This rugged backpack can even hold Apple’s 17-inch PowerBook, with ample room for more of your favorite gadgets. An over-the-front flap protects your gadgets from a downpour, and there’s a removable cell phone holder on one of the padded straps. Unfortunately, if it’s a low profile you want, this bag’s oversized design and multitude of straps won’t cut it.

Contoured shoulder straps and a heavily padded back make this Samsonite backpack ideal for carrying that widescreen notebook back home on weekends. Made entirely of nylon, the Sport Backpack is equipped to withstand the elements and won’t tear with time, despite its lightweight design. Both casual and stylish, this backpack is right for just about any adventure. We just wish it weren’t so boxy.

Though it’s the smallest and lightest of the bunch, Sumdex’s heavily padded backpack keeps your 15-inch notebook out of harm’s way. Clad entirely in black, the water-repellant bag provides two storage compartments—both of them with just the right amount of padding to securely shield your notebook. It’s this mix of padding and compactness that makes the eTech Explorer our must-have backpack.