Best Small Black Backpacks: Simple, Stylish & Functional

The Sak Loyola Mini Backpack

The Sak Loyola Mini backpack is one of the best bags you can buy. It’s a stylish leather backpack with versatile shoulder straps and lined compartments. The leather looks and feels luxurious, and the other top-notch hardware really makes you feel like you’re using a high-quality backpack, despite the mini size.

The main compartment features a top zipper opening for easy access to your things. It’s lined, and there’s even a zippered pocket inside for the really small stuff. The backpack features another zippered compartment on the outside, as well as a zippered pocket in the back. It’s not just a stylish leather bag, it’s an incredibly functional mini-bag and one of the best you can get your hands on.

The shoulder straps are also made from leather and they are adjustable in several ways. You can adjust the length of the straps, but keep in mind that this isn’t meant to fit snugly on your shoulders. The strap can also work as a messenger strap, so you can easily wear this as a one-shoulder bag if you want.

PacSafe Women’s CitySafe

A little black backpack doesn’t have to be just stylish – it can also be incredibly functional and theft-proof. That’s the CitySafe backpack from PacSafe – an anti-theft backpack made from cut-proof steel mesh, nylon, and polyester. Although it’s not exactly a mini leather backpack, the bag is stylish enough to be paired with casual outfits.

The exterior of the bag is water-resistant and very easy to clean, which is always a plus. It’s a durable bag that can go through years of wear and tear, plus it’s sturdy enough to survive use in rough and rugged conditions.

The CitySafe backpack features one main compartment with a padded laptop sleeve and several open pockets. It’s a top-loading compartment with lockable closure, which is essential for keeping the contents of the bag secure.

The bag has an additional compartment in the front that’s perfect for all the items you want to keep more easily accessible. The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable, but you don’t get a proper back system on this bag. That shouldn’t be a deal-breaker though, since it’s such a small backpack that you don’t really need anything other than light padding to keep you comfortable.

Kipling Women Mini City Pack

The Kipling City Pack is another bag that’s both stylish and functional. It’s also one of the priciest bags in the review, so unless you’re looking for a staple piece, you might want to check out some other options first.

This mini black backpack is made from 97% polyamide and 7% polyester. Polyamide gives the bag incredible durability, while the polyester makes the exterior water-resistant to protect your gear in wet weather. The shoulder straps are adjustable, and they’re durable enough they won’t start coming apart at the seams if you manage to stuff your DSLR in this pack.

The backpack features a flap top opening with internal, side, front, and back pockets! It’s one of the most functional mini bags in terms of organization, and it even looks very cute. The simple design is great for casual outfits, and you could even pull off bringing this to work.

It’s worth noting that the main compartment of this mini pack has a key fob, a wallet pocket, a smartphone pocket, and a pen holder – that’s pretty much an organizer panel in this tiny 11” backpack!

Carhartt Mini Backpack

Carharrt Mini backpack is another excellent option if you want a cool small backpack but you still need it to be functional. It’s made from 600D polyester, so even though it’s a small-factor bag, it’s still remarkably durable. Polyester also has good water resistance without any additional coating, so this tiny backpack should protect your gear from light rain.

The mini backpack has one main compartment that’s big enough to fit books, hoodies, and even some other stuff. There’s a zippered pocket inside for smaller items so they don’t get lost, and there’s another such pocket on the exterior of the bag. The outer one is also lined with fleece and features a hidden zipper, making it perfect for your smartphone or sunglasses.

The Carharrt backpack even has a pretty comfortable backpanel with padded inserts. There’s some room between the inserts for airflow and improved breathability. The shoulder straps are not padded, but they are adjustable for a more customizable fit.

Osprey Katari 1.5 Mini Hydration Backpack

I’m sure some of you spend most of your time outdoors – hiking, jogging, or riding a bike? In that case, you can get a small black backpack to carry all your essentials – phone, keys, and a drink. The Osprey Katari 1.5 will fit all that, and it’s so lightweight you won’t even feel it on your back. Pair it with an appropriate hydration bladder and you can easily set up hands-free hydration.

This is an Osprey backpack, so the quality and durability are guaranteed by a lifetime warranty. The manufacturer will also repair any defects of the backpack, and if they can’t, they’ll send you a brand new one.

The backpack features an internal hydration sleeve with external hydration access, as well as an internal key fob. There’s an LED light attachment point for all of you cyclists, as well as an AirScape mesh backpanel. Most other mini backpacks are designed to hang off your back and shoulders – the Katari is designed to cling to them, so you don’t even feel you’re wearing it.

Although this isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a small black backpack, I’m sure it could come in handy to some people. On the off-chance that this is exactly what you need, the Katari backpack really is one of the best bags of its kind.

Kanken Mini Black

The iconic Kanken backpack is available in a mini size, and it might just be the best small black backpack out of the bunch. It’s made from 100% recycled materials and features the same design as its big brother. The backpack has a main compartment, two open side pockets, and a zippered pocket on the front panel.

It’s more functional than most other black backpacks, that’s for sure. The bag is so lightweight and comfortable that you’ll forget you’re wearing it, and the quality materials mean you can use it to shield your head from the rain, without worrying about anything inside getting soaked.

The Kanken Mini also features the staple seat pad in the back pocket. It’s removable, but it’s not exactly an adult-friendly size of a seat pad. The back pocket doubles as a computer compartment and it can fit laptops up to 11” or similar-sized tablets.

With adjustable shoulder straps, you can easily get the desired fit of the Kanken Mini. Their classic X-shape is very comfortable over long periods of time and helps distribute the total load of the backpack more evenly across both shoulders.

Herschel Nova Backpack

The Herschel Nova backpack is a great option for everyone who wants a small black backpack that is still functional. This is a 9-liter bag, so although it’s on the small side, you can still fit quite a lot of things inside.

The main compartment features the staple Herschel lining, and it’s wide enough to fit a couple of books. The Nova backpack even has that classic Herschel front pocket, which remains wide enough to hold your smartphone. The shoulder straps are adjustable, but they’re not padded or anything. And that’s fine, considering just how small and lightweight this bag is even when full.

If you’re looking to buy a functional small backpack, Herschel Nova really is one of the best options. The brand is known for high-quality backpacks, and you can be sure that even though this is a small pack, it won’t come apart at the seams when you start using it just like you would a regular backpack!

adidas Originals Women's Mini PU Leather Backpack

If you want a really small leather backpack, the adidas Originals one is a good option. It’s made from PU leather so it’s vegan, and it has the classic adidas branding on the front. The mini backpack has two separate compartments, which is pretty awesome considering just how tiny it is.

The bigger compartment even has a key fob inside, as well as an open mesh pocket. The other front pocket is zippered, and it’s worth noting that all the zippers on this pack are of excellent quality.

The shoulder straps have an adjustable length, so you can customize the fit of the mini backpack. This certainly isn’t the most functional black backpack you can find in this review, but it is a great option if you just want a mini black backpack!

Rebecca Minkoff Women's Convertible Mini Julian Backpack

The Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack is the best option if you’re mostly worried about getting a fashionable black backpack. It’s a luxe bag made from cowhide leather with lots of zipper detailing. The backpack features removable shoulder straps, allowing you to carry it like a regular tote.

It’s worth noting that cowhide leather is a luxurious material that requires regular maintenance. Although it has good water resistance, you should avoid getting the backpack wet because it could ultimately damage the leather. It’s also important to treat the leather now and then and keep it clean to avoid any permanent damage.

The shoulder straps are adjustable and removable, but they’re not the most functional shoulder straps you’ll encounter in a backpack. They’re also made from leather, so they won’t hold up that well with continuous wear and tear.

Although this is a very small black backpack, it still has several zippered pockets for decent organization. The main compartment features a zipper right down the middle of the bag, and it’s roomy enough to hold your essentials for a night out. There are also two zippered pockets on the sides, as well as one zippered pocket on the backpanel.

If you’re wearing this on your shoulders like a regular backpack, the pocket in the bag will be perfect for the items you want to keep extra safe.

NIKE Tanjun Mini Backpack

The Nike Tanjun mini backpack is a great option if you want a sporty but functional bag. It’s the only small black backpack with expandable capacity, which is pretty amazing. When you fill-up the main compartment you can make the backpack wider with the expansion zipper, to fit even more stuff in this tiny pack!

The shoulder straps are adjustable, but there’s really nothing special about them. They’re made from a durable material that will hold up well with everyday wear and tear, but they don’t feature any padding or breathable mesh.

In addition to the roomy main compartment, the Nike mini backpack also features a zippered pocket on the front panel. It’s great for storing the small stuff you want more easily accessible and it lets you separate your keys from the smartphone. It’s worth noting that there’s also a zippered pocket inside the Nike backpack, so the organizational capabilities are pretty good considering the size of the bag.