Lululemon Athletica New Crew Backpack Review

Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Tyler Morgan

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A daily backpack has to protect your laptop, keep small items easy to reach, and remain comfortable when your schedule moves from work or school to the gym. The Lululemon Athletica New Crew Backpack offers a 22-liter layout with dedicated storage for a laptop, workout gear, a water bottle, and everyday essentials. Its lightweight, water-repellent nylon shell is practical for commuting, but the premium positioning, soft structure, and moderate capacity will not suit every buyer. This review explains what the bag does well, where it falls short, and who will get the most value from it.

What Is the Lululemon New Crew Backpack?

The Lululemon New Crew Backpack is a 22-liter daypack designed to move between school, work, workouts, and casual travel. The layout separates your laptop from the main storage area and gives you dedicated places for a water bottle, phone, workout gear, and smaller essentials.

The bag uses a nylon shell with a polyester lining. Its fabric is water-repellent and easy to wipe clean, while reinforced strap construction is intended to support a typical daily load. At about 1.2 pounds, the backpack starts light before you add a laptop, books, clothing, or gym gear.

This is not a technical hiking pack or a high-capacity travel bag. Its main appeal is a clean lululemon look combined with enough organization for people who carry a moderate amount of gear each day.

Who Should Buy It?

Detailed Features and Buyer Benefits

Design and Build Quality

The nylon exterior keeps the bag light and gives it a smooth, understated appearance. The fabric is described as durable, water-repellent, and easy to wipe clean, which is useful when you commute in light rain or place the bag on a classroom, office, or gym floor.

The reinforced strap construction is a practical detail for daily carrying. However, the body is relatively soft rather than rigid. That can make the bag easier to compress into a locker or under a seat, but it may sag or lose its shape when the main compartment is not full.

Organization and Pocket Layout

The New Crew Backpack is designed around separate storage for a laptop, workout gear, a water bottle, a phone, and everyday essentials. This layout helps prevent your computer from sitting directly against loose clothing, notebooks, chargers, or toiletries in the main compartment.

The side pockets give you quick access to a bottle or small item. The quick-access phone storage is also useful during a commute. The tradeoff is that the bag is organized for moderate daily carry, not for people who need many small admin pockets for cables, pens, adapters, and other tech accessories.

Laptop Compartment and Tech Carry

The padded laptop compartment is one of the bag’s strongest features. It fits a laptop up to 15 inches and can be accessed without unpacking the main compartment. That is convenient at school, in an office, or during an airport security check.

The laptop area does not replace a full tech organizer. Use a separate pouch for chargers, a mouse, power banks, and small cables so they do not shift around or scratch other items. Buyers with thick laptop cases should measure the combined size before ordering.

Comfort and Daily Carry

At approximately 1.2 pounds, the backpack adds less base weight than many structured commuter bags. This gives you more flexibility when your load includes a computer, notebook, water bottle, and a change of clothes.

Comfort still depends on how you pack it. Place the laptop and other flat, dense items close to your back, keep heavy objects centered, and avoid loading one side pocket much more than the other. The manufacturer does not publish a maximum carrying weight for this listing, so use strap comfort and the bag’s shape as practical limits.

Water Resistance and Care

The shell is water-repellent, which can help with splashes and brief exposure to light rain. It should not be treated as waterproof. Zippers, seams, and openings can still allow water to reach a laptop, documents, or clothing during prolonged rain.

The listed care method is spot cleaning. Empty the bag, use a soft damp cloth on the affected area, and let it air-dry fully before storing it. Avoid relying on a washing machine or dryer unless the product label for your exact bag says otherwise.

How It Performs in Real Use

For Work or School

The 22-liter capacity is a practical size for a laptop, a few notebooks, lunch, and small daily accessories. Separate laptop access keeps your computer easier to reach, while the main compartment can hold items you do not need during every stop.

It is less suitable for a large textbook load, bulky binders, or oversized art and technical supplies. The soft body may also look less tidy when the bag is lightly packed.

For the Gym

The backpack is designed with workout gear in mind, so it can work well for a change of clothes, a small towel, and a water bottle alongside your work or school items. The 22-liter volume is enough for a light gym session but may feel tight if you carry shoes, shower products, a large towel, and a full work setup at the same time.

The listing does not describe a sealed wet compartment. Place damp clothing or toiletries in a separate leak-resistant pouch to protect your laptop and the polyester lining.

For Commuting and Day Travel

The low starting weight and compact dimensions make the New Crew Backpack easy to use on public transit, in a car, or while walking between locations. It can also work as a personal item on some flights, but airline rules and packed dimensions vary.

Confirm your airline’s current size allowance before travel. A soft bag can expand beyond its listed measurements when overfilled, so leave enough room to close the zippers without forcing them.

For All-Day Use

The bag makes the most sense when you carry a balanced, moderate load. Its dedicated compartments reduce clutter, and the water-repellent shell is easier to maintain than many fabric fashion backpacks.

For heavier loads, long walks, or outdoor use, a more structured pack with a supportive back panel, sternum strap, and purpose-built harness may be more comfortable.

Practical Packing and Use Tips

• Measure your laptop with its case before buying, not just the screen size.
• Keep dense items close to your back to reduce pulling on your shoulders.
• Use a separate tech pouch because the laptop area is not a complete cable organizer.
• Place wet gym clothing or toiletries inside a sealed pouch.
• Do not overfill the side pockets or leave a loose bottle where it can fall out.
• Spot clean spills promptly and let the backpack dry completely before storage.

Material and Care Notes

The backpack uses a nylon exterior and polyester lining. These materials support a light, flexible design and are easier to wipe down than leather or heavy canvas. Water-repellent treatment adds protection from minor exposure, but you should still use an internal sleeve or waterproof cover when carrying electronics in sustained rain.

Inspect the straps, seams, and zippers before carrying a heavy load. Stop using the bag if you notice torn stitching or damaged hardware that could allow the contents to fall. Follow the care label attached to your exact backpack because materials and instructions can differ between versions.

Pros and Cons

Is It Worth the Price?

The Lululemon New Crew Backpack sits in the premium everyday-backpack tier. You are paying for the brand’s clean design, light materials, water-repellent finish, and a layout made to bridge work, school, and workouts.

It is worth considering if you will use the laptop compartment and mixed-use storage several days each week. Buyers who only need a simple book bag, carry a larger computer, or want maximum capacity can find better value in a less expensive or larger alternative.

The bag delivers the most value when its 22-liter size matches your normal load. Paying more does not solve the limitations of a soft structure or moderate capacity, so choose it for the organization and design rather than for heavy-duty performance.

How It Compares to Alternatives

The current Lululemon New Crew Backpack 22L Updated is the closest alternative and adds newer details such as a trolley-compatible sleeve and a laptop pocket listed for up to 16 inches. Buyers who need those features should compare the exact version name and measurements before ordering because the Amazon ASIN reviewed here is the earlier 15-inch-laptop model.

If you need more structure or outdoor-oriented support, compare the Patagonia Refugio Daypack or The North Face Borealis. The original New Crew Backpack makes the most sense when you prefer lululemon’s styling, a light 22-liter body, and straightforward organization for daily routines.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Lululemon New Crew Backpack is a strong daily option for commuters, students, and gym-goers who need organized storage for a laptop up to 15 inches and a moderate amount of gear. Its main strengths are the light, water-repellent build and useful compartment layout, while its premium positioning, 22-liter limit, and soft structure are the main tradeoffs. Skip it if you need a larger laptop sleeve, rigid support, or multi-day packing capacity.