As student drop loads of dough left and right to buy their books and course packets for class, many neglect to invest in a good backpack.

There are many components to a backpack that may or may not be necessary for your personal use. These include a laptop pouch, a water bottle holder, an outer pocket and many other optional features. It’s important to consider the price of a backpack in relation to the number of features it has that will be of everyday use to you.

When looking at a backpack online, make sure you use a ruler or another point of reference to visualize the dimensions. There’s nothing worse than getting a backpack in the mail and realizing it’s not the right size. The most important thing to watch out for is that a bag is big enough to comfortably fit not only your laptop but also books, notebooks and other necessities. For example, if your laptop is 15 inches, it’s much safer to go with a 20-inch backpack instead of a 15-inch one. For a backpack to carry to and from class, I’d suggest a mid-size bag with a laptop sleeve (very helpful but not necessary) and a small outer pocket.

If you’re buying a backpack online, check out Urban Outfitters and Herschel Supply Co. Both stores offer backpacks in a variety of colors, sizes and styles. My favorites are the WeSC Milian Backpack ($79) from Urban Outfitters or the Parker Backpack ($49) from Herschel, which I just bought myself.

Backpacks can be expensive, but paying $60 for a quality bag that will last you all through college is definitely a worthwhile investment. Happy shopping!

— Alix Kramer