I think of lululemon as a company that started as a design studio by day and a yoga studio by night. Chip Wilson founded it in Vancouver in 1998, and the first standalone store opened on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano in November 2000. Backpacks came later, as the brand moved from the studio into the commute, the gym and the airport, and the lululemon backpack range now has a shape for each of those days.

 

The Everywhere backpack is where most people start, and it is the first shelf below. The Everywhere Backpack 22L is the one I would hand to someone who wants a single bag for work and weekends, and the Metal Hardware version changes the hardware finish. The Mini 4L and the Nano go the other way, small bags for essentials only. Wear the Mini for a day of walking and you will see why a bag that size gets forgotten on your back.

 

A simple test before you buy any of them: pack what you carry on a normal Tuesday, then add a layer and a water bottle. If the 22L closes without strain, you have your size. What I would skip is the Nano as a first backpack, because it is closer to a small pouch than a bag for a full day.

This shelf is the working core of the range, and it is where the litre number matters most. The New Crew comes in a 22L and a 30L, which is the gap between a daily commute and a bag that also carries a gym kit. The Cruiser 26L, the Triple-Zip 28L in tech canvas and the Roll-Top 22L in metallic ripstop each trade the plain Everywhere shape for a different way of closing and carrying.

 

The Wunderlust 14L and 25L are the ones to look at if the bag lives on trips, and the 2-in-1 Convertible 21L is for days when you want a backpack that can change how it is worn. The Parent 17L and 22L suit anyone packing for more than themselves, and the All Sport 10L sits at the small end for a class bag. The Triple-Zip and Roll-Top are the ones I would look at for a laptop commute, and the 2-in-1 Travel Duffle Backpack 45L converts from a duffle to a backpack, which is why it earns a place here and is the one to take on a plane.

 

Test the straps with a loaded bag before deciding, because a litre figure tells you volume and not comfort. I would skip the 30L Crew for a short commute, since a bag that large tends to get filled.

The last shelf covers the shapes that sit between categories. The Everyday 21L is the straightforward daily option, and the New Crew 22L is the smaller sibling of the Crew in the shelf above. The Scuba 32L with paracord leans sporty, and the Cruiser Travel 35L is the one built for a weekend away.

 

If you already own an Everywhere, this is the shelf that fills the gaps it leaves, mainly extra capacity. Check airline carry-on limits before relying on a 35L bag for a flight.

 

I would skip doubling up. Two 22L bags in different colours do the same job, while the Cruiser Travel or the Scuba gives you a different one.

Start with litres. As a rough guide, 4L and under holds a phone, keys and a wallet, 10L to 14L covers a class or a day out, 21L to 26L is the commuting range with a laptop and a layer, and 28L and above is for travel or gym kit. Check the product page for the laptop sleeve and side pockets before you buy, since those matter more than the colour.

 

Buy for the heaviest day you have regularly, not the lightest. I would skip the largest bag in each family unless you know you will fill it, because an empty big backpack sags. If you are between two sizes, the 22L Everywhere or the 22L Crew is a safe middle. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Lulu Backpack, Worth the Money and The Nike Elite Backpack V2 Is Built For Gym Bag Chaos.