11 Best Backpacks with Shoe Compartments in 2024
Even though shoes are a necessary travel item, they tend to take up a lot of space in your bag. That is, unless your bag comes with a designated compartment to store your shoes (and keep them away from your clean clothes). If you’re looking for a smarter way to carry your kicks, keep reading for our recommendations on the best backpacks with shoe compartments included.
We’re reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). These are products we’ve heavily researched and stand behind. You can read through our full affiliate disclosure here.
11 best backpacks with a shoe compartment: our top picks
1. Best overall backpack with shoe compartment: Troubadour
How gorgeous is this Troubadour backpack, right? The brand’s Aero Backpack is the perfect example of function, style, and performance — thanks to features like its zip-top opening, laptop compartment, and ergonomic shoulder straps (that prioritize your comfort). But maybe the best feature of all is the dedicated shoe pocket with “waterproof, breathable, and antimicrobial lining.” That way, your shoes stay looking (and smelling) as fresh as the day you bought them.
Price: starting at $295
2. Best affordable backpack with shoe compartment: VECAVE
This VECAVE backpack is loaded with practical features every traveler will love. For starters, this large capacity pack comes with 2 compartments for laptop storage, plus a waterproof wet bag to help you separate your wet and dry items. Then, there’s a shoe compartment to make sure your dirty shoes don’t get anywhere near your clean clothes, as well as a built-in USB charger and internal charging cable. That's a whole lot of functionality for under $40!
Price: starting at $26
3. Best gym backpack with shoe compartment: Ytonet
Don’t head to the gym without a great backpack in tow! The Gym Backpack from Ytonet is made from high-quality, water-resistant polyester and boasts 2 side pockets, 1 anti-theft pocket, and tons more interior storage for your laptop or gym essentials — headphones, deodorant, towel, etc. Along with that, there’s a shoe compartment to fit a pair of sneakers or another pair of shoes for after you wrap your workout. Even better? That price is pretty hard to beat.
Price: starting at $42
4. Best backpack with shoe compartment and luggage sleeve: Lo & Sons
The Hakuba by Lo & Sons is a versatile backpack suited for travel, commuting, and exercise – a true all-in-one solution. Its functionality is outstanding, boasting a bottom compartment with an inner shoe pouch, a luggage sleeve, and an array of pockets, including side pockets, double-layered top pockets, and a dedicated laptop pocket. And in true Lo & Sons fashion, this backpack is made with the best materials, such as durable water-resistant zippers and a recycled poly exterior made from recycled plastic bottles.
Price: starting at $275
5. Best anti-theft backpack with shoe compartment: Pacsafe
Safety is a top priority whenever (and wherever) you’re traveling, which is why we’re such big fans of Pacsafe’s Venturesafe® Anti-Theft Travel Backpack. This pack is equipped with amazing anti-theft technology — from its lockable and puncture-resistant zippers, to the RFID-blocking materials that’ll protect your most important info from unwanted scans. As an added bonus, this anti-theft backpack also has a designated shoe pocket on the front for easy access and reliable storage.
Price: starting at $269
6. Best organized backpack with shoe compartment: Solgaard
Solgaard makes it easier than ever to stay organized on the go. Their Lifepack Endeavor backpack can convert from “everyday use to travel mode in seconds.” This bag is engineered with Solgaard’s award-winning closet system, which comes with a removable, hanging closet to keep a week’s worth of clothes (and shoes) organized and readily accessible. To top it all off, there’s even deluxe, drop-proof laptop storage so you can take your work on the road.
Price: starting at $245
7. Best camping backpack with shoe compartment: Mardingtop
This tactical backpack from Mardingtop is a great choice for campers. That’s because this 28L pack can store everything you need for a few days off the grid, and it even has a ventilated compartment (separate from the main compartment) to hold your shoes or dirty clothes. Essentially, the ventilated design “can keep the stink out” — which is a convenient feature to have. Better yet, there’s also an elastic string on the front panel to stash your wet clothes.
Price: starting at $42
8. Best hiking backpack with shoe compartment: Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is a trusted brand for all things outdoors. Their Allpa 28L Travel Pack is the perfect hiking companion with its light and agile design — as well as its weight-distributing, low-profile harness system. Not only that, but this pack has a full-wrap zippered opening along the outside (just like you’d find in a traditional suitcase). Inside, you'll find zippered, subdivided mesh compartments, with the top left pocket serving as a great place to store your shoes.
Price: starting at $170
9. Best in-town backpack with shoe compartment: Lululemon
Lululemon has designed a terrific backpack for all your day outings and in-town adventures. Their City Adventurer Backpack has a “discreet, exterior water bottle pocket” for quick access to hydration as you move from work to workout (or vice versa). In addition, this bag also comes with reinforced strap construction to support your comfort, an expandable pocket to hold your sweaty gear, and a zippered bottom compartment to store a change of shoes.
Price: starting at $128
10. Best water-resistant backpack with shoe compartment: Dagne Dover
The Dakota Backpack from Dagne Dover is built with water-resistant, neoprene materials to make sure all your belongings stay nice and dry (no matter what the weather has in store). This fashionable pack comes in 8 colors and 3 different sizes — and offers a laptop sleeve with elastic closure, 2 interior air mesh pockets, and a self-contained shoe bag. That is, the shoe bag hangs out on its own, and can be totally removed from the backpack (if needed).
Price: starting at $195
Check out our list of the best Dagne Dover dupes here.
11. Best hybrid backpack with shoe compartment: Aer
Aer’s Duffel Pack 3 design is a hybrid backpack concept that’s designed for both the gym and the office. More specifically, this bag has “separate compartments for your gym gear and smart organization for all your work essentials.” That way, you can go straight from the gym to the office with everything you need stored safely (and without looking out of place at either location). And of course, there’s also a special, separate spot just for your shoes to hang out.
Price: starting at $179
Backpack with shoe compartment - common FAQs
Is a shoe compartment necessary?
While a shoe compartment isn’t totally necessary, it’s a valuable addition to any travel bag. That’s because shoe compartments let you pack your shoes separately from clean clothing items. This way, your clothes stay looking their best for the duration of your travels.
What travel brands carry backpacks with shoe compartments?
A shoe compartment helps you separate your shoes from your clothing (to avoid getting said clothes dirty). The best travel brands for backpacks with shoe compartments include Troubadour, Pacsafe, Solgaard, STATE Bags, and Dagne Dover.
How do you carry shoes in a backpack?
The best way to carry shoes in a backpack is with a shoe bag or shoe compartment that separates your kicks from your clean clothes. That said, if the shoe compartment is on the bottom of your backpack, try to evenly distribute the weight in the rest of your pack (to make it easier to carry).