Welcome to our skater guide to choosing the best skateboarding backpack. In this guide, we share the top 5 best skateboarding backpacks for shortboards, longboards, cruisers, and the newer electric boards that are making a splash.
I’m an old-school manual rider, but I do know a thing or two about the electric boards that kids are riding these days. Either way, a deck is a deck, depending on the length of your board, there are packs in our top 5 to accommodate your needs, wants, and desires.
Below are several key considerations we made when choosing our top 5 selections:
- Secure carry straps (no weak velcro here)
- Width and length restrictions
- Laptop compartment
- Comfort
- Style
- Functionality
- Smell-proof
- Anti-theft features
- Materials
- Pocket arrangements
Now, let’s check out the packs!
| Backpack | Features & Highlights |
| #1 Skunk Nomad Smell-Proof Backpack
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| #2 GoRide Tech Electric Skateboard Backpack
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| #3 Monark Supply Longboard Sling Bag
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| #4 Nike SB RPM Skateboard Backpack
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| #5 Dime Bags Skatepack
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How to Choose the Best Backpack for Skateboarding
When choosing a pack, there are several things to consider before you make your final selection:
- Your board type
- Board dimensions and weight
- Planned uses (e.g. everyday, school, cruising around the city)
- Extracurricular activities (if ya get my drift)
- Style
Depending on which type of board you own, there are packs in our Top 5 that suit your needs.
If you own a shortboard, there’s no reason to use a longboard pack. As a matter of fact, the longboard sling bag above won’t hold a shortboard. We recommend the Skunk Nomad, Nike SB RPM, or Dime Bags Skatepack for shortboards.
The GoRide pack has the most secure board locking system with its double-strap design and wide velcro closure. The GoRide pack is also suitable for longboards if you choose to add an additional strap to hook into the existing load distribution straps at the top of the bag
Style and Function
Style matters. The reason we didn’t load this list up with a ton of packs is the lack of style in a lot of skateboarding backpacks.
We checked out Dakine, Element, Burton, DC, and several other popular skate brands. The appearance of the bags in those collections just doesn’t match the stylish appearance of the Skunk, Nike SB, and Dime Bags packs.
What do you plan to use your bag for?
Before you buy, take a second to brainstorm how you plan to use your bag and where you plan to wear it. One of the downsides of the Skunk Nomad bag is the word “Skunk” on the strap. It’s probably not the best bag to wear in more conservative parts of the country or to school.
The beauty of the Dime Bags logo is it’s removable and allows you to add your own custom velcro logo. Obviously, Nike is A-OK to wear anywhere, including school. For this reason, we chose the Nike SB RPM as our #1 everyday pack and/or daypack for skaters.
Laptop Compartment/Sleeve
Outside of the Monark Supply sling bag, the packs in our Top 5 are also the best skateboard laptop backpacks currently on the market. They all hold laptops up to 17″.
If your laptop is larger than 15″, be sure to double-check that the pack of your choice will accommodate laptops larger than 15″ before you buy.
Comfort
We don’t choose packs for any of our guides that don’t meet our comfort requirements. If we find negative trends regarding an uncomfortable experience, we won’t include the bag in our guide.
Of the bags in our Top 5, the Nike SB RPM and GoRide packs have the most comfortable load distribution systems w/ adjustable sternum straps.
One feature we like about the Nike bag is the vertical adjustments on the sternum strap. This allows people of varying heights to find the sweet spot that’s most comfortable for them.
Bottom Line
We’re confident that our Top 5 picks are the best skateboarding backpacks currently on the market and won’t be dethroned anytime soon.
No matter what type of board you own – shortboard, longboard, cruiser, old school, or electric – the packs in our Top 5 will secure your board and give you a comfortable fit.
Keep in mind, the Skunk Nomad pack has a combination zipper lock at the main compartment to keep your possessions safe while you’re away from your bag or in transit. We’re big on anti-theft backpacks to keep those pesky pickpockets at bay.
