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Whether you’re in college, high school, middle school or even just commuting to work, investing in a quality backpack is essential. You may be tempted to snag a travel backpack for its compact design, but space will be essential for packing all your pens, pencils, notebooks, laptop and books for class.
The best backpacks for students need to be comfortable yet spacious enough to hold everything without leaving you with back or shoulder pain. To help you find the perfect bag to carry around during the school year and beyond, we went straight to the source — you! We scoured the reviews to find the best backpacks for school and commuting (including a the viral JanSport backpack the Internet is obsessed with).
Stadium Status: Here Are 9 Venue-Approved Bags to Take to Your Next Concert
06/15/2023
Twitter has been blowing up over JanSport backpacks costing $60 (you can get a similar one on sale from Amazon for $38). The original tweet by @BigTucsonDad shows a photo of the backpacks and its price tag followed by the caption, “What the hell is happening in the backpack market rn.” Other Twitter users have responded, backing up the high price point based on the quality and lifetime warranty that comes with the product.
Twitter user @a_h_reaume even tweeted, “Okay. Hear me out. JanSport has a lifetime warranty on their backpacks. They will fix it or send you a new one for free if it breaks. I bought a JanSport backpack for the first time at 14 and I’m still using its descendants.”
Okay. Hear me out. Jansport has a lifetime warranty on their backpacks. They will fix it or send you a new one for free if it breaks.
I bought a Jansport backpack for the first time at 13 and I’m still using its descendants. https://t.co/ZIlCQKGRoP
— A. H. (@a_h_reaume) June 14, 2023
Keep reading to shop the viral JanSport backpack and more reviewer-loved picks below.
For additional product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best travel necessities, shoes for travel and handheld fans.
JanSport
JanSport Cool Student Backpack
$60
Not only does this JanSport backpack come with a stellar warranty but it has a 4.6 rating on Amazon with over 12,000 five-star reviews. Shoppers are obsessed with the washable material and the fact that it can “withstand [their] children’s heavy homework loads.”
Amazon
MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack
$29.99
Matein’s Travel Laptop Backpack is a No. 1 bestseller for laptop backpacks on Amazon — and we can see why. It has more than 65,000 verified five-star reviews that, according to reviewers, has “plenty of room for an iPad, magazines, snacks” and more. Plus, it’s comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
Walmart
Gamers will be praising this Super Mario Bros. backpack not only for it’s 4.6 rating, but the vibrant design featuring iconic characters from the game. It also comes with adjustable straps to customize to your liking and a laptop sleeve for safe storage.
Amazon
coowoz College Backpack
$18.99
If there’s one thing this college backpack isn’t lacking it’s storage. The design is built with two front pockets secured with front clips to keep your phone, keys, lipgloss and more from falling out. That doesn’t even include the side water bottle compartments and inner pocket for storing your books, extra clothes and more. And did we mention over 1,400 verified Amazon shoppers think it’s five-star worthy?
Walmart
Everest 16.5″ Classic Backpack
$11.60 $13.53 14% off% OFF
This eye-catching Everest Classic Backpack features a vibrant shade that is more than a stylish accessory. It’s considered a best seller on Walmart with a 4.6 star rating for its hidden zipper front pocket, spacious main compartment and convenient key holder to keep all you essentials in one spot.
Amazon
The North Face – Vault Commuter Laptop Backpack
$64.95
It’s no surprise this Vault Commuter Laptop Backpack is rated a 4.7 — it’s made with water-repellent material (for any rainy walks to class), contains a 15-in padded laptop sleeve and has an endorsement from the American Chiropractic Association.
Amazon
Herschel Little America Laptop Backpack
$84.00 $120.00 30% OFF
Keep your laptop and books secure in this Herschel backpack that not only features a main compartment and extra front pocket, but two leather straps to keep everything in place. It’s also rated a 4.7 out of five stars with shoppers raving over its strong material and ability to hold a laptop and mid-class snacks.
06/15/2023
To their children, these stars are mom or dad first, world-famous musicians second.
06/15/2023
Ben Carrillo came to the United States from Guatemala as an undocumented immigrant when he was 15 years old. Today, the young man who crossed the border completely alone is a rising producer and singer-songwriter, managed by Fabio Acosta and Vibras Lab. He has worked with Sky Rompiendo and Mosty, recorded with Thalia and Bruses, opened concerts for Bad Bunny and, this month, released his Broken Hearts Anthem EP.
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But beyond his success, Carrillo hopes that his extraordinary story of work, self-improvement and motivation will serve as an inspiration to other immigrants who arrive in the United States — or anywhere in the world — with only dreams as luggage. “We are not illegal aliens; We’re dreamers,” says Carrillo. This is his story, in his own words.
Thousands of immigrants try to cross the border looking for new opportunities. Many of them die on the way, or are victims of violence and rape, others are caught — and those of us who manage to get there are met with great opposition. There are laws that discriminate against us, isolate us and cut off opportunities, when all we want is to work, to be able to help our loved ones. We are not criminals, nor rapists; we are honest people in search of a better future.
I was born and raised in a beautiful country, Guatemala. But it is a country where violence, corruption and poverty are on the rise. From a very young age I was the man of the house. I had to take care of my brothers, study, work and do all the errands. My father was a musician and choreographer. We had a relationship, but he had no sense of responsibility, and my mother, single with three children, did the best she could. The environment in which we lived and what she experienced caused us to suffer great mental and emotional damage and it is only now that my brothers and I are healing.
When I was 15 years old, my father was killed; my mother only got worse. I saw myself at a point where I no longer had a future in Guatemala: Either I would have to take to the streets to seek opportunities, or I would look for a better future in the United States, as many of my relatives had already done. Getting a visa was impossible. We were poor, I didn’t have my parents. I went to the fields and worked with my grandfather on his farm, cutting sugar cane and bananas. There I raised a little money and at the age of 15, on January 2010, I made the decision to cross the desert to the United States, in pursuit of the “American dream.”
It took all of 30 days. Almost three weeks crossing all of Mexico and five in the Arizona desert, where we went through swamps and ran between highways. After many cramps, blisters, bloody feet, days without food, very cold nights and very hot days, I managed to get there.
I talked to different attorneys to see if there was a way to get documented, but the laws were and still are very rigid. It didn’t matter that I was fleeing my country, for now I had to live here illegally. Years went by. I attended high school in Texas.
There I discovered rock, country music and hip-hop. I learned English and graduated. Up to this point, I was an undocumented immigrant. I suffered racism and discrimination, not only because of my skin color, but also because of my legal status.
I started working illegally washing dishes in a restaurant. It was thanks to that, that at the age of 18 I managed to rent my first apartment and create my music studio. Since I didn’t have money to study, I looked for YouTube tutorials and that’s how I learned to record myself, compose and do my own mixing.
After five years of being illegally in the United States, my uncle heard an ad on the radio that spoke of the opportunity to obtain papers for those who were under 21 years of age and who did not have their parents or who had been abandoned/mistreated. That was my case. And that’s how I got a Green Card, or legal resident status.
That same month, I traveled to Medellín looking for opportunities with different producers. I met Sky Rompiendo, Mosty, Feid, Ovy Oo the Drums, Rolo, Jowan and many people from the industry who were essential to my artistic growth. Now that I had my papers, I was able to return to Guatemala to see my family, and I realized that they were in the same difficult situation that I had been in when I lived there. I knew I didn’t want to put them at the same risk of crossing the desert, but I couldn’t just watch them having such a hard time in Guatemala.
In February 2019, I moved to Los Angeles. I took down all my music from digital platforms, knowing that one day I would return. But my focus now was to help my brothers. I got myself three jobs, working from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., and that same year I became the person in charge of all of them. I rented a house in Guatemala — and with the help of my aunt, my dream of helping them came true, and to date they are under my care.
Now I was at a point in which I didn’t know how I was going to start my musical career again. One day, as I walked into my job as a waiter in Los Angeles, I ran into Fabio Acosta [founder of Vibras Lab and former manager of J Balvin]. I approached him to ask for an opportunity to show him my music and incredibly, he gave me his email. After sending him a lot of music for two years, at the end of 2021 I signed my first management contract with him and Vibras Lab.
I am now 28 years old. Many things have happened that the 15-year-old Ben who crossed the desert could not even imagine. I have a song with Thalia, I sang in front of 40,000 people opening the Bad Bunny concert in Guatemala, and my music is being increasingly recognized.
I look back and I don’t believe all that’s happened to me. I wonder how a boy from Guatemala, with few resources, who lived 5 years illegally in the United States, has achieved all this. It’s not only due to all my effort and dedication, but life has led me to opportunities that are only seen in movies, such as getting my legal residency and meeting Fabio.
I know I have angels watching over me. I know I have a duty, and it is to tell my story and show my Latin people that it doesn’t matter where you come from, what matters is where you are going. Everything that happens to us in this life has a purpose. All trauma can be turned into self-love and love towards others. And with hard work, discipline and perseverance, EVERYTHING is possible.
This is something I write from my heart, for all those people who are crossing or have already crossed, to tell them that YES you can, that the road is not easy, but the reward is sweet. We are not “ILLEGAL ALIENS”, WE ARE DREAMERS. — Ruben Gonzalez Carrillo “Ben Carrillo”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Modern footwear plus the British Invasion makes for a perfect match in the newly launched Skechers x Rolling Stones collection. Two iconic brands are joining forces for an epic shoe collab for fans to rock all year long.
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The Rolling Stones x Skechers signature capsule collection, which arrived Thursday (June 15), features a handful of different designs outfitted with the band’s iconic lips-and-tongue logo in a range of silhouettes in men’s sizes and women’s sizes, including the Skechers Uno, Skechers Roadies and more priced from $80-$90. The shoe sizes range from 5-11 for women’s shoes and 7-14 for men’s shoes.
The first part of the collection launched Thursday via Skechers.com and will be available in select Skechers stores. Additional pieces will launch next year.
Shop the collection below.
Skechers
A lace-up court style shoe that puts the Rolling Stones logo in the spotlight. The Classic Cup Euro Lick features the logo in Union Jack detail with a perforated leather, synthetic upper in a trendy black-and-white colorway.
Skechers
Skechers x Rolling Stones Marley $80
Skip the laces and slide into the Skechers x Rolling Stones Marley sneaker. The shoe boasts a denim upper with rock ‘n’ roll flair from its frayed detailing and embroidered version of the Stones tongue logo with a laceless silhouette that’s both comfortable and cool – plus it’s designed with a Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam cushioned insole for an even comfier fit.
Skechers
Skechers x Rolling Stones Uno (Women’s) $90
Numero Uno! The tongue logo shines on the Skechers x Rolling Stones: Uno women’s shoe. Available in black or white, the lace-up sneaker comes equipped with comfort insoles along with the brand’s trademarked cushioned Skechers Air Memory Foam with Skech-Air clear airbag midsoles.
Skechers
Skechers x Rolling Stones Roadie Surge (Women’s) $90
The Roadie Surge features a shimmery tongue logo on a canvas upper with a synthetic rubber toe cap and double laces printed with some of The Rolling Stones’ greatest hits, including “Gimme Shelter” and “Paint It Black.” The shoe includes the signature Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam insole and the brand’s classic lug sole.
Skechers
Skechers x Rolling Stones Classic Cup – Stones Invasion (Men’s) $85
Classic but sporty, the Classic Cup – Stones Invasion men’s shoe centers the Rolling Stones along the side of the shoe. Its classic cup outsole pairs perfectly with its suede overlays, a synthetic duraleather upper and cushioned insole.
Skechers
Skechers x Rolling Stones: Mark Nason Palmilla Marquee $85
Skechers’ Mark Nason shoe gets a rock ‘n’ roll makeover in the form of the Palmilla Marquee. The men’s streetwear sneaker — available in white and red colorways — has a lace-up, perforated toe and quarter side printed with the Stones tongue.
After jokingly expressing a desire to launch an X-rated candle line inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow, Emmy-nominated producer, rapper, and actor Nick Cannon took his social media pages in a much more wholesome direction as he celebrated the birthday of his twin boys, Zion and Zillion, on Wednesday (June 14). “Can’t believe it’s been 2 years […]
Wham! is the latest group to get the documentary treatment. On Thursday (June 15), Netflix shared the first trailer for its upcoming film about the duo — consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley — about their road to stardom and the success that followed throughout the ’80s. “We met when I was 11 and […]
For Brooklynites looking to start celebrating New York Pride early this year, LGBTQ non-profit organization Queer Capita has just the event. On Thursday (June 15), the organization announced the official lineup for its annual Pride party Queer & Now. Taking place on Tuesday, June 20, in Brooklyn, the event will feature performances from rising LGBTQ […]
When Duran Duran set out to play their first major U.S. show in March 2022 they knew it had to be epic and it probably had to be in Los Angeles. “When we kind of casually sauntered into the project built around a one-off show that we did there as we deepened the concept it seemed we naturally found ourselves talking about our experiences,” bassist — and 30-year-Los Angeles resident — John Taylor tells Billboard about the sky-high location for last year’s A Hollywood High docu-film.
The movie that premiered in November is moving to Paramount+ on June 21 and in advance of its streaming debut, Billboard spoke to Taylor about capturing the moment, the importance of paying tribute to the embattled people of Ukraine, the set list curation and why he thinks the English New Romantic band has been able to stick it out well past many of their peers.
A Hollywood High was filmed atop the Aster Hotel in Los Angeles and it opens with the band describing their first visit to Hollywood and the city’s enduring importance to their musical journey. The 12-song set opens with their 1985 James Bond theme, “A View to a Kill,” and features such classics as “Notorious,” “Come Undone,” “Ordinary World” and “Hungry Like the Wolf,” as well as a handful of songs from the band’s most recent album, Future Past.
Check out the chat with Taylor below (answers editor for clarity and length.)
Why was it important to open the movie with all that background on L.A.’s influence on the band and your enduring love affair with the city?
I don’t know that it was important… but as a guy who has lived there for last 30-plus years, my first experiences there were all in the 1980s and it never left much of an impression on me. I never could have imagined myself settling there. But I can’t see it any other way now… I had to spend real time there to appreciate its pleasures.
[Singer] Simon [Le Bon] says in the into that “Rio” was inspired by your first trip to America. I had no idea that’s what “from the mountains in the north down to the Rio Grande” meant.
For me the idea of “Rio” literally encapsulated a world, a culture we had yet to tap into, which is South America. That first year I was a kid who didn’t have a passport before the band began. My first experience of leaving my country was with the band in 1981 when we came to the States for the first time. But when we got back to Birmingham and toyed with ideas for the next record we talked about the next level of exotic. Simon had a working title, “Rio,” and we had to make a song out of it.
The iconic rounded Capitol Records building plays a big part in the movie and in the intro it’s noted that it looks like the Rotunda from your hometown.
I suppose it does. Birmingham is the one other city with a landmark circular building [laughs]. Being on Capitol Records was pretty cool at the time. It was fortunate and it definitely helped our cause. For me there’s a certain nostalgia for the first couple times we came into America, that innocence to what we were doing. We were still under the radar here, we could make friendships with guys you’d meet at a radio station and end up hanging out and listening to music.
What was it like setting up on that roof and then looking straight at the Capitol building? It being lit up in blue and yellow is a nice permanent reminder of the war in Ukraine.
My first thought was, “we gotta light that f–king building!” I wanted to light it with the Ukraine colors, so we moved very quickly to make it happen. Here we [more than a year later] and the war continues and every night we still dedicate “Ordinary World” to the people of Ukraine. At that moment it felt like a statement, a show of solidarity. Duran Duran has never been a political band, but to make that kind of statement halfway through the show… there’s something very cool about that. And with our old friend the Capitol building.
Why use this as a stunt to announce your U.S. tour?
We were looking to do something that was going to announce our [2022] U.S. tour and there were variable ways to do it. You got back to the Rolling Stones’ Fifth Ave. truckscapade [the Stones famously shut down New York’s 5th Ave. in May 1975 with a truck parade to promote their American tour], which was the greatest of launches. We talked about that, we talked about a truck at the Roxy and then everyone got nervous about setting up gear on a truck. So, we looked for a fixed position and this place came up that none of us knew about it. Our manager said if we perform here we’d have the Hollywood sign behind us and the Capitol building in front.
Was there significance to opening with “View to a Kill?”
I think because it’s a Hollywood thing, a movie thing. It’s a shake-and-bake opener, it’s easy to play, a here-we-are kind of thing. We hadn’t played a show in quite a few months and we wanted to start with something not too difficult.
You really leaned into the most recent album with five songs out of the 12 you played. Why did you push the new material so hard during this one-off?
I think at show like that.. You play in Nashville to 10,000 people who payed for a ticket, parking, a babysitter and they come to hear the hits. But the fans who were there are superfans and they’re more interested in hearing new songs than “Girls on Film.” It was fresh for us and easier because when we’re playing bigger venues you have to lean away from the new material, probably only two bathroom breaks there.
You are one of the few groups from your era to still be touring this much, recording music and films and staying super-active. Why do you think you’ve been able to endure for so long?
I think we have a very particular inner dynamic. We fire off each other in a way that drives our engine. It’s not a love fest when we’re on stage, but it’s a dynamic where we push against each other all the time and are very competitive with each other. That is what drives the engine which moves the machine. I think of Sting and Peter Gabriel, who have an extraordinary body of creative works. Where are they now? They’re both on tour but it’s one guy sustaining that kind of creative energy, which is f–king hard. There are some things that are easier for an individual, like social media. That’s definitely easier for one guy, but in the long haul I wouldn’t trade it for the band.
Duran Duran recently launched their 2023 U.S. tour. A Hollywood High will be released on DVD/Blu-Ray on August 4.
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John Williams surprised the audience at Wednesday night’s (June 14) Hollywood premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. According to Deadline, the five-time Oscar-winning 91-year-old composer was joined by a full orchestra for a performance of several movements from the movie, including the main title theme and “Helena’s Theme,” which he wrote for […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Normani is entering her next chapter. The singer teamed with Bose to give fans a preview of her new single “Candy Paint” in a dance-themed commercial dropping Thursday (June 15).
“I’m really excited to partner with Bose, especially going into this new chapter,” Normani told Billboard during a phone interview on Wednesday (June 14). “In terms of my career and my music, I know the wait has been extensive but it’s definitely going to be worth it, and I just feel like the partnership couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It just felt like it was so in alignment with where I am musically and creatively,” she explained. “The Bose team [were] really hands on and allowed me to be hands on and take leadership in terms of the creativity. It just felt authentic and enjoyable, honestly. It was probably one of the most seamless experiences [for a partnership] thus far. It was fun! The energy was great the day of [the shoot] and it just felt easy.”
The Bose visual takes viewers on a trip through Normani’s creative process, from jotting down lyrics to recording and coming up with choreography — all while sporting Bose Quiet Comfort headphones and Quiet Comfort earbuds. In some of the more personal moments, Normani opens up about misconceptions people have about her and striving to be her most “authentic” self.
The visual will appear on Bose.com and the brand’s social media accounts.
“At Bose, we’re a community of music lovers, and we partner with artists to help showcase the power of sound during the moments in their career that matter the most,” said Jack Daley, VP, global media & partnerships at Bose. “Like her music, Normani is a force in the industry — we’re excited to premiere this track with her and for what our relationship will hold in the year ahead.”
Normani spoke further with Billboard about what she enjoyed most about the Bose collaboration, the inspiration behind “Candy Paint,” and what the next chapter looks like.
Billboard: What inspired ‘Candy Paint?’
Normani: It’s Texas, all the way! I really wanted to create a record that allowed me to show my personality. I feel like there’s a misconception; it probably has everything to do with my social media. [Laughs] I think that people think I’m so serious, which is the complete opposite [of me]. Anybody that really knows me knows that I’m really funny. I’m a goofball! I love to twerk. [Laughs] I’m just regular. I really wanted to create a record that encompassed that and allowed my personality to shine. It’s a performance record first, which I know my fans have been waiting for, for a very long time. It’s fun, energetic, bossy. It’s bold. It’s sassy but assertive, and yeah, I’m really excited to shoot the music video.
How long did it take to put together?
I would say it came pretty quickly. I had been working with Starrah, who I’ve been working very closely with just on the project overall, I feel like she knows me better than anybody. And the cool thing is we’re able to push each other. The idea came organically. I remember playing it at an event — my family and friends were there, and [my choreographer] was like, “Should we play it?” We ended up teasing it, and it was undeniable! We were like, “OK, this is it! This is the one!”
Normani
Bose
What I love about the Bose spot is that it feels very authentic to who you are.
I’m really grateful that that’s how it was captured. Shout-out to the creative team, because you really get a peek into who I am — not only as the artist, but also me being able to wear so many different hats. I feel like a lot of people still know very little about me, and I think that through the [Bose] spot you get to know a little bit more.
I learned that you moved from New Orleans to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. I didn’t know that!
Yeah, I was 9 years old at the time. I was a baby.
It really speaks to your resilience.
Thank you. I’ve been through a lot, just in my personal life, you know? Even just talking about my parents and what they’ve been through on top of COVID and trying to get the project out I’ve just – I’ve had a lot up against me, but I always manage somehow to pull through as best as I can, and honestly that’s by the grace of God and him just giving me the strength to endure and persevere.
You also mention trusting yourself. How has that shaped your career thus far?
I started in a girl group [Fifth Harmony] when I was 15. I remember that being one of the lowest points for me in terms of my confidence. We’re young, we’re trying to figure out who we are on top of having to do that in front of the rest of the world, while they pit us against each other, and then the things that people project on you, you kind of start to believe. Not just musically, but in my personal life, it’s easy to let those things creep in and for you to allow everybody’s perception to become your identity. But I’ve worked so hard in my adult life [over] the last two to three years. It’s a daily fight. I can’t say that every day is the same, but I’m just really intentional. I speak words of affirmation to myself. I’ve gotten a lot closer to God and I know that through that I’m able to know who I am and who I’m called to be versus the things that people put on me.
I’ve been really intentional with my time. Spending a lot more time with myself and getting to know myself and doing things anyway — even if I’m afraid. I can wholeheartedly say that through a lot of my career I know that I’ve been afraid. And that’s a vulnerable moment for me to even be honest with you and express, but yeah, just leaning into it and doing it anyway and knowing that God has a plan and it’s all going to work for my good. It’s the moments that you feel uncomfortable, the moments that you’re unsure or maybe even moments of chaos that he’s able to do what he does best and make something out of nothing.
What would you title this next chapter?
“Transformative.” In the season of actually stepping into who I am called to be.
Check out a preview video below.