WIRED’s gear team has tested dozens of backpacks, totes, purses, messengers, slings, and even reusable shopping bags. An increasingly common theme we’ve noticed is the use of recycled materials in the construction of these bags. These materials come from plastic water bottles, old nylon, and even nets fished from the ocean. It’s important to find ways to reuse what would otherwise pollute our oceans and sit in landfills forever.
That’s why, in this guide, we’ve pooled together our favorite bags that utilize recycled materials in some way, shape, or form. That doesn’t mean every bag is made of 100 percent recycled materials, but every little bit counts. The first question to ask is: Do you need a new backpack? If the one you have now really isn’t working out and can’t be repaired, then you might get some peace of mind with our picks below.
Be sure to read our guides on the Best Recycled and Upcycled Products, Best Reusable Products, Best Laptop Bags, and Best Camera Bags.
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