A backpack’s shoe compartment must first and foremost be able to fit a pair of shoes. The ideal backpack with a shoe compartment will be spacious enough to fit the needs of even large-footed wearers.
The shoe compartment also often doubles as a storage space for items with strong odors, like food or dirty laundry, and must efficiently keep its contents and their odors away from the other compartments in the bag.
With proper ventilation sweaty clothes, wet bathing suits, stinky sneakers, and whatever else you carry in your shoe compartment, are able to air out. The best backpacks with shoe compartments have features that promote ventilation, like breathable fabrics.
Water resistance helps backpacks with shoe compartments avoid attracting and trapping extra moisture. While many backpacks aren’t fully waterproof, even a water-resistant coat can help them prevent water from entering and ward off mildew and mold.
The Nike Sport Golf Backpack is the best backpack with a shoe compartment. Its water-resistant shoe compartment is located at the bottom of this bag, making it easy for you to transport stinky sneakers and laundry without letting the smell seep into the rest of the bag.
Consumers love this backpack for its top-loading design, which makes gear easy to access. Athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and commuters will enjoy the side water bottle pocket for hydration on the go.
If you’re looking for a backpack with a shoe compartment that is both versatile and spacious, the G4Free 3-Way Duffle Backpack is for you. This bag’s shoe compartment can fit up to size 12 shoes and is ventilated to keep footwear as fresh as possible.
This backpack also can also be worn across the body thanks to a shoulder strap, or carried by its top handles like a duffle bag. At 40 L capacity, this G4Free bag can fit more than any other backpack on our list. This bag’s tear-resistant nylon also makes it a crowd pleaser.
If the great outdoors is calling your name, the MIER Large Duffel Backpack is the backpack with a shoe compartment for you. Its spacious shoe compartment can hold multiple pairs of shoes. Need even more space? This backpack comes in three sizes.
Versatility is the name of the game with this bag, as it can be carried as a backpack or as a duffel bag.
The Amber & Ash Everyday Backpack is perfect for people looking for style and substance. This backpack comes in chic colors like pink and red. Its convenient shoe compartment is perfect for carrying a change of shoes to change into after your commute or when you reach the gym.
This bag’s convertible straps enable you to wear it as a backpack or sling bag. You can even tuck the straps away to slide it onto a suitcase handle. The faux fur laptop sleeve is an added bonus that protects tech gear.
The King Kong Backpack has expandable external pockets that double as shoe storage. Because shoes are stored externally, they can ventilate better than they could if trapped inside the bag.
While this backpack can be used in many scenarios, it’s great for travelers. First, its size is TSA carry-on compliant. Second, the bag opens flat for easy packing. Third, this backpack’s nylon shell is water-resistant and durable.
Shoe compartments are useful backpack features, but they do so much more than just transport footwear. These separate compartments are perfect for transporting smelly or wet things like dirty gym clothes or bathing suits.
The Nike Sport Golf Backpack came out on top during our search for the best backpack with a shoe compartment. Its spacious and water-resistant shoe compartment and easy top-load main chamber make it an all-around winner.
That being said, all of the backpacks with shoe compartments on our list are consumer-approved. You really can’t go wrong with any of these options!