Whether you’ve got stacks of printed readings, innumerable pages of lab reports or just lunch and a laptop, everyone at uni needs a bag. As someone whose first trimester was not so long ago, I vividly remember the late-night group chat discussions and the persistent bargain-hunting for the perfect bag. The culmination of months of research would lead to a bombardment of Instagram stories showing off everything from the texture and materials to how many key chains and bag charms their newly purchased bag could carry. 

That being said, just because bags are basic doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Whether sleek and stylish, covered in charms and patches or strictly an accessory to your outfit, your choice of receptacle is a symbol of who you are. We are united in our pursuit of the perfect carry-all because let’s face it– you can’t do uni without one. So, which category do you fall into, and what does your choice say about you? 

First, the humble backpack. Undoubtedly, a form of baggage that we are all too familiar with from our high school days. The high school backpack was oversized and bulky. When I was baking in the sun during lengthy assemblies, it often worked better as a backrest than as a carrier for your items. However, make no mistake, the selection of backpacks available to uni students is massive compared to that of high school students. 

Take, for example, the extraordinary actress Zoë Kravitz brandishing her Chanel “Graffiti” backpack to great effect. Sure, it's not exactly the most sizeable option for a student; it won’t be holding a compsci student’s sixteen-inch gaming laptop or a law student’s collection of wedged binders, but Kravitz expertly shows a backpack that isn’t a utilitarian design eyesore. Instead, bags speak to the character of their wearer and, moreover, become a way not just to carry personal items but to carry personal identity. 

So if you are the type to carry your entire life around with you, the backpack is the perfect option, providing structured, organised space for a laptop, books, papers, even a water bottle pouch and everything in between. Thus, it's no surprise that when I find myself wandering through the Hilmer building or the electrical engineering building, backpacks are the dominant choice among engineers and those who love order and structure in their things. In essence, the backpack does exactly what it always has: being the reliable, sturdy bastion of luggage.

In some ways, the tote bag is a modern spin on a vintage classic. Smashing onto the university scene, tote bags have gone from a weekend staple for your beach towel and sunscreen to a hallmark of universities globally, and as the average tote bag grew in size, it has become the primary bag for many. If I had to describe the tote bag in one word (and for lack of a better term), it would be chic. The tote bag is the choice of the influencer, the rising social media star and the most fashionable person you know on campus. 

The tote bag is organised chaos. For the right person, the tote bag could be the perfect companion to their studies. Firstly, if you use the main walkway as a runway, the tote bag offers several options for the fashion-conscious. Hanging from the shoulders or held in the hand, the tote bag doesn’t restrict layers like the backpack's tight straps. Take another celebrity example, K-Pop idol Rosé, who has frequently been spotted carrying the Yves Saint Laurent Icare Maxi Shopper Tote. Its quilted lambskin, singular main compartment, and oversized construction make it the perfect act of defiance against modern fashion trends of pint-sized purses. What Rosé displays is how even those at the height of their fame just need something to hold the everyday items they lug around. Sure, not all of us can afford a YSL bag, but what we can learn from Rosé is her embrace of the oversized and overtly practical. The tote bag is a style without sacrificing substance, and for the right student, it could be the perfect way to carry all your belongings in a bag that oozes style and class.

All this being said, you may have already made up your mind in the backpack v. tote bag debate, but make no mistake, this wouldn’t be the Battle of the Bags if we didn’t briefly mention some of the other options available to students. 

Starting the rapid-fire round is the satchel bag. 

If the satchel bag’s brown leather, slim figure and undeniable vintage charm appeal to you, you’re probably a humanities student whose style icon is your favourite historian or archeologist, or you’re a faculty member who has had the same leather satchel bag that carried you through your degree and years of teaching. 

Another option could be the duffel bag. 

The traditional wear of the gym bro and the eshay, the duffel bag is an often overlooked option, especially when it comes to style. The duffel bag can take a unique turn depending on what material and colours are chosen. If you ditch the usual nylon and polyester of gym duffel bags, leather, canvas and cotton can turn the sweat staple into the envy of lecturer theatres all around campus. They can even be a somewhat discreet way to carry bulky and typically unmanageable items, such as, believe it or not, gym clothes and sneakers! 

Finally the most controversial option: the suitcase. 

The suitcase is often sported by first years and international students on their way to their student accommodation, or by design students hauling their projects to the makerspace. The suitcase holds a large number of items in organised sections, and its wheels are unmatched for convenience; however, those considering the suitcase be warned: its massive footprint and ground-level rolling make it the bane of fast walkers and the clumsy across campus. The suitcase may be essential for carrying the bulkiest items, but it may also make you the least popular student around. Tread - or roll - carefully with this option. 

Ultimately, in the arena of the Battle of the Bags, your choice of champion is one that is not only deeply personal but also an extension of who you are as an individual. Whatever you choose, be sure it’s not only fit for purpose, but it also reflects your personality and your goals, and be prepared for your favourite bag to be usurped as you evolve and change, as there are few better places for evolution than university. 

Xavier Rowley is a second-year Media/Law student who has recently transferred from Computer Science. He spends 80% of his spare time playing guitar and the other 20% nerding out about history, geopolitics, food and music.