Vera Bradley Backpacks Review: Which Style is Best?

      Vera Bradley has managed to do what I thought was impossible: they've made me a backpack fan! They kindly gifted me two of their post popular backpack styles for a social media campaign a couple months ago, and I've been enjoying using them so much that I wanted to share the photos here as well and a review of both styles.

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Shirt // Jeans {sold out, similar here} // Shoes {old, very similar here} // Necklace {old, similar here}

     The fact that I'm writing a whole blog post about two backpacks that I love is kind of a big deal, as it's been close to two decades since I've been a backpack fan- for real! I had a trusty LL Bean backpack as a kid (practically a necessity when growing up in Maine, home of LL Bean), but I remember that as I got into my later elementary and middle school years, I stopped enjoying carrying it as much. I think from what I can remember I still used it (or another backpack) my freshman year of high school, but from 10th grade on it was tote bag or nothing for me at school. My 17th birthday gift from my parents was actually a Vera Bradley tote bag that I used senior year of high school and in college for a bit as my school bag! But I still wasn't interested in backpacks. 

    Vera Bradley gave me the chance to try out these two backpacks for a social media campaign earlier in the summer, and I was shocked at how quickly I fell in love with them! What have I been missing out on for the past several years?

     First up let's chat about the Grand ReActive Backpack, which I have in the Sunny Garden pattern. It's shaped a little bit differently than the Campus Backpack, but it is still super roomy! It had three large main pockets, including one with extra padding that's great for a laptop. Plus two cupholders on either side, and lots of smaller pockets as well. The ReActive fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles, which I think is so cool! It's lightweight and great fabric for outdoor use. So far this summer I've used this backpack as a beach bag and for hikes, and it's been great for both.

     Next up is Vera's more classic backpack style, the Campus Backpack. This style is made from the quilted fabric that we all know and love with Vera Bradley! It has such a chic and classy look for a backpack. It's also very large and roomy, with plenty of room for all of your essentials (and it could also easily hold a laptop). It has lots of little details like a pen slip pockets, an ID window and possibly the best part about this style is it's monogrammable! I have this one in the Floating Garden pattern.

      So which one would I recommend you go with if you're in the market for a backpack? Good question! I think it depends what your needs on. If you need a traditional backpack for school or want to use it as a work bag, I'd say the Campus Backpack has a really chic and classic feel to it. If you prefer to use a backpack for travel or outdoor activities like I have been, go with the Grand ReActive Backpack! Both are priced at $115, so they're an equal investment (and both a great one!).

     Thanks for reading- have a wonderful start to the week! I made it home safely to Maine to see my parents on Friday night. We've been up at a lake in Western Maine since I got home, but we are headed back to my hometown today and I can't wait to see the beach!


     God Bless,


     xoxo Annaliese