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Top 10 College Essentials to Carry in Your Backpack

backpack and laptop laying on white bed

Being a college student can be quite stressful and overwhelming at times, especially if you’re struggling to manage all your courses and other commitments — not to mention how daunting living in a new environment for the first time can be. 

 

Fortunately, I’ve compiled a list of 10 college essentials you can conveniently store in backpack that will help you become a more successful student and even keep you safe on campus. In this list, you’ll find must-have electronics, college supplies, safety items, and a few other miscellaneous items you can use in your everyday college life.

Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder, green

Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder

Durable notebooks and binders are essential for taking all your notes and keeping all your college papers organized. This super convenient 2-in-1 hybrid note binder is a fantastic item that will meet all your note taking needs, keep all your stuff organized, and also take up little space in your backpack.

BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencil, Medium Point (0.7 mm), 40-Count

BIC Xtra-Smooth Mechanical Pencils

Pencils are another college essential item that you’ll need for pretty much any college work you do that isn’t on your laptop or phone. These BIC mechanical pencils are my favorite and I’ve used these exact same ones for years. They are very durable, but if you have a tendency to lose pencils or give them to your friends in class, it won’t be a big deal because you can this pack of 40 pencils that will definitely last you a long time.

College Essentials. Blue Face Masks

Disposable Face Masks

Depending on where you go to college and the state you’re in, you may still be required to wear face masks. You also might be required to wear them at a future job or internship, so it’s nice to have a pack of face masks just incase you need them. Here’s a pack of 100 blue disposable face masks that are also available in black.

YETI Rambler 18 oz Bottle, Vacuum Insulated, Stainless Steel with Chug Cap, Navy Blue

YETI Rambler 18 oz Bottle

The most convenient way for staying hydrated in college is by using a reusable water bottle so you don’t have to drink from dirty water fountains or use disposable plastic water bottles that aren’t good for the environment. This stainless steel YETI Rambler is one of the best overall water bottles on the market right now. It’s extremely durable, affordable, and will keep your drinks cold all day.

ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6” FHD Display, Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor

ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop

Out of all college essentials, a laptop is one of the most important. It’s crucial to have your own laptop to do pretty much anything college related, such as checking your online classes, doing homework, writing papers, taking tests, etc. 

 

This ASUS laptop is an excellent affordable laptop that will meet all your college needs. It has an efficient Intel Core i3 processor, a sleek and lightweight design, a 15.6-inch screen size, and an ergonomic backlit keyboard.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Live True Wireless Earbuds, black

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

If you’re trying to focus and get school work done, working out at the gym, or just trying to relax and listen to some music, it’s a good idea to get your own earbuds. These Samsung earbuds are perfect for all situations. They have a really nice stylish design and play high-quality sound with the AKG-tuned 12 mm speaker and enhanced bass tone. 

Hootie Personal Keychain Alarm for Protection with strobe light, black

Hootie Personal Keychain Alarm

This self-defense item is perfect for scaring away any predators that might try to hurt you while you’re walking around campus late at night. With this personal keychain alarm, your chances of staying safe at college go up a lot. 

 

If you get in a sketchy situation and need to use it, all you have to do is pull the pin on the top, which will trigger the extremely loud 130 dB alarm that can be heard 1000 feet away. It will also flash a bright LED strobe light. 

Black Stun Gun with LED Light

POLICE Stun Gun with LED Light

Another great self-defense item that will keep you safe on campus or around town is a stun gun. This powerful POLICE stun gun will easily deter any predators from harming you. It also has a built-in LED light that could be used to disorient any attacker and a 120 dB alarm. 

Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS Scientific Calculator, Red

Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS Calculator

If you’re taking advanced math or science classes, you will most likely need a scientific calculator. My personal favorite is the TI-30XIIS that I’ve been using for years and in all my college classes that require a calculator. This college essential item will easily make any calculations you need and has a pretty user-friendly button layout compared to other scientific calculators. 

Anker Portable Charger

When you’re not in your dorm, it’s super convenient to give your phone or laptop a quick charge with a portable charger. It can be a real life saver if your laptop or phone are about to die and you need them to work on assignments or have important calls you need to take. 

 

The Anker portable charger has a 20,000 mAh battery capacity with plusPowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology combined to deliver an optimized charge to all your devices.

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