Help me pick the perfect laptop bag!
October 31, 2015 9:10 AM Subscribe
I'm a lady. I need a bag to take to my semi-professional job. Please help me find the perfect one!
Right now, I'm using a black/navy blue diaper bag to hold all my stuff. (It's classier than it sounds.) But it's starting to tear because my laptop is a bit of a clunker. I'm very sad, because it is the perfect size for all that I need to carry -- assorted papers, laptop and charger, a hardback book, spare pair of flats, plus one or two makeup-sized bags with things in them. I need all these things because I have to travel between multiple locations several times per day.
I would like a bag that is:
-sturdy
-looks semi-professional (leather, or at least not a tactical fabric)
-has straps that are long enough to carry over my arm, but not crossbody length
-internal multiple pockets or divisions
-no prominent logos
Nice to have:
-under $150
-closure on the main pouch
-colorful is okay, but I tend to be more comfortable with neutrals. Tan/camel or light grey might be a good color in my position.
-at least one outer pocket
I'm new to this, and want to really look the part! Thanks for everyone's help!
Right now, I'm using a black/navy blue diaper bag to hold all my stuff. (It's classier than it sounds.) But it's starting to tear because my laptop is a bit of a clunker. I'm very sad, because it is the perfect size for all that I need to carry -- assorted papers, laptop and charger, a hardback book, spare pair of flats, plus one or two makeup-sized bags with things in them. I need all these things because I have to travel between multiple locations several times per day.
I would like a bag that is:
-sturdy
-looks semi-professional (leather, or at least not a tactical fabric)
-has straps that are long enough to carry over my arm, but not crossbody length
-internal multiple pockets or divisions
-no prominent logos
Nice to have:
-under $150
-closure on the main pouch
-colorful is okay, but I tend to be more comfortable with neutrals. Tan/camel or light grey might be a good color in my position.
-at least one outer pocket
I'm new to this, and want to really look the part! Thanks for everyone's help!
I'm not a lady but I'm married to one and we just had our third anniversary (for which the "traditional" gift is leather). I've also bought two handfuls of laptop bags over the years and I have Opinions, in addition to knowing my wife's tastes. So! If you can go up to $300 there are some really lovely Lodis bags that fit your description, including the straps, like, say, the Jessica model in the Audrey line (which if you look at it seems to imply "Hepburn").
If that's too businesslike, or too formal, or too expensive, and/or you want to customize your bag, there's currently a sale on custom Timbuktu bags. The Tartine tote might suit your needs (it's available in a number of fabrics that aren't ripstop nylon), but it doesn't have a padded laptop compartment so you'd have the computer loose in the body of the bag, possibly in a padded sleeve if that's your thing. They also have custom messenger bags (I just bought one, which is why I know about the sale) that don't have the over-the-shoulder handles, but which do have the laptop compartment and the extra pockets.
Also worth noting: the minimum "strap drop" for putting the straps over your shoulder seems to be 8 inches. None of the online purveyors of these goods seem to index bags by strap drop but most of them do list it in the product description. So you can get a pretty good idea if a bag will work for you by looking for that measure.
NB: if you have a Macy's near you, you may be able to use one of their regular 20% off coupons, but the brand exclusions are kind of a pain (they don't apply to, say, Kate Spade New York, but they do apply to Cole Haan). Ask Me How I Know!
posted by fedward at 9:55 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
If that's too businesslike, or too formal, or too expensive, and/or you want to customize your bag, there's currently a sale on custom Timbuktu bags. The Tartine tote might suit your needs (it's available in a number of fabrics that aren't ripstop nylon), but it doesn't have a padded laptop compartment so you'd have the computer loose in the body of the bag, possibly in a padded sleeve if that's your thing. They also have custom messenger bags (I just bought one, which is why I know about the sale) that don't have the over-the-shoulder handles, but which do have the laptop compartment and the extra pockets.
Also worth noting: the minimum "strap drop" for putting the straps over your shoulder seems to be 8 inches. None of the online purveyors of these goods seem to index bags by strap drop but most of them do list it in the product description. So you can get a pretty good idea if a bag will work for you by looking for that measure.
NB: if you have a Macy's near you, you may be able to use one of their regular 20% off coupons, but the brand exclusions are kind of a pain (they don't apply to, say, Kate Spade New York, but they do apply to Cole Haan). Ask Me How I Know!
posted by fedward at 9:55 AM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm in a similar situation of carrying my entire life around with me, and I have been very happy with my laptop bag from this Etsy shop. You can go colorful or more neutral (there is a grey chevron patterned laptop/camera bag I quite like.) I'm constantly surprised by how much mine can hold. It won't live forever, but after a year of heavy/daily use mine is in good shape. Good price too.
posted by rabbitbookworm at 10:20 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by rabbitbookworm at 10:20 AM on October 31, 2015
I've had this inexpensive leather Solo tote in black for several years--it's quite durable and has plenty of pockets and dividers. It's better, however, for carrying flat things--laptop, files, etc--it tends to deform if, say, you need to lug around a software manual. The shoulder straps are a comfortable length, and the leather seems to be of good quality for the price.
posted by tully_monster at 11:37 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by tully_monster at 11:37 AM on October 31, 2015
Seconding the Lo & Sons Brookline. I have one - in fact it's the bag I'm using this month - and it's very professional-looking. The only hitch for me is that my 13" laptop feels really lost in a bag designed for a 15"; I would be all over a 13" version in a hot second.
posted by egypturnash at 11:38 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by egypturnash at 11:38 AM on October 31, 2015
I have had this from ebags (in purple) for about six months and am pretty happy with it. It is huge - I can carry a laptop (sometimes two), my current knitting project, iPad, lunch, and a sweater - and completely fine for "casual professional," though definitely not as formal as many of the offerings mentioned above. There is a small ebags tag on it, no big logos. It has two large sections, several small pockets along one side, and an included separate little bag. It also has a padded, entirely removable, laptop holder that I don't usually use. It seems reasonably durable and can be carried over the shoulder or by hand. (I am 5'6" and find that some shoulder bags are too long to carry by hand - ymmv depending on your height.) However, I have to say it is not that comfortable for carrying over-the-shoulder when it is heavy, though I suspect that is true of most shoulder bags.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 11:58 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 11:58 AM on October 31, 2015
Oh, it has 4 outer pockets, though one is for a water bottle and one (they say it is for an umbrella) is not very useful. And the main pouch zips shut - definitely a must for me as well.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 12:00 PM on October 31, 2015
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 12:00 PM on October 31, 2015
This may depend a lot on luck, but do you have Marshall's in your area? I was at one today (coincidentally also looking for a laptop bag) and they had some nice handmade leather bags from Italy around $150. Simple, high quality, in brown and black. The store I was at had a pretty big selection, but it may vary a lot by area.
posted by three_red_balloons at 2:23 PM on October 31, 2015
posted by three_red_balloons at 2:23 PM on October 31, 2015
I have an ogio backpack that I absolutely love, and it looks like they have tote bag that might work for your purposes. (It's available in two sizes and multiple colors, including light grey, dark grey, and tan.) It maybe too informal for what you're looking for, but I have been super impressed with the quality of the backpack I have by them. I've had it for a year now, and I use it to carry around a laptop, text books, lots of papers, etc, and it still looks good as new. Also, there are so many pockets!
It looks like this bag has a padded laptop compartment as well a zip up exterior pocket, and it seems to zip all the way at the top so you can close it completely.
posted by litera scripta manet at 3:13 PM on October 31, 2015
It looks like this bag has a padded laptop compartment as well a zip up exterior pocket, and it seems to zip all the way at the top so you can close it completely.
posted by litera scripta manet at 3:13 PM on October 31, 2015
Tan
light grey
Oxblood, black
You can customize to include a top-handle. Polished and professional, and if you get one large enough you can fit your laptop (but you should double-check first, I don't know the size of your laptop). Big sale on right now but Zatchels usually have a sale on - it's Cambridge Satchel Company you have to watch for sales. (The classic batchel from CSC is more more premium in terms of pricing, but you can find them on sale after Xmas I think - I got mine at 40% off and it is gorgeous to look at and use!)
Downsides from your vantage point:
1) There is one pocket on the outside but no internal pockets; I usually use small portfolio type pouches to organize, or some people like purse organizers inside.
2) While the Cambridge Satchel Company has a pretty low-key logo (clean impress on back of satchel), Zatchels has a more prominent tag, you may want to check it out.
Upsides: leather; adjustable strap (you don't have to wear it cross-body if you don't want to); all satchels that come with an optional handle have detachable lobster-claw straps so you can carry it just by the handle if you want; STURDY and hard-wearing. Will last a long time. Comes with dustbag. Can be embossed, if that's your thing, but they charge for that of course.
I know satchels, AMA via memail if you want. Good luck!
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:21 PM on October 31, 2015
light grey
Oxblood, black
You can customize to include a top-handle. Polished and professional, and if you get one large enough you can fit your laptop (but you should double-check first, I don't know the size of your laptop). Big sale on right now but Zatchels usually have a sale on - it's Cambridge Satchel Company you have to watch for sales. (The classic batchel from CSC is more more premium in terms of pricing, but you can find them on sale after Xmas I think - I got mine at 40% off and it is gorgeous to look at and use!)
Downsides from your vantage point:
1) There is one pocket on the outside but no internal pockets; I usually use small portfolio type pouches to organize, or some people like purse organizers inside.
2) While the Cambridge Satchel Company has a pretty low-key logo (clean impress on back of satchel), Zatchels has a more prominent tag, you may want to check it out.
Upsides: leather; adjustable strap (you don't have to wear it cross-body if you don't want to); all satchels that come with an optional handle have detachable lobster-claw straps so you can carry it just by the handle if you want; STURDY and hard-wearing. Will last a long time. Comes with dustbag. Can be embossed, if that's your thing, but they charge for that of course.
I know satchels, AMA via memail if you want. Good luck!
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:21 PM on October 31, 2015
I really love my Duluth Pack backpack, with a laptop sleeve inside. It's way better on the back than a cross-body or messenger style bag. Stylish, comfortable, and I get compliments on it at least once a week. Seriously!
posted by airguitar2 at 5:15 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by airguitar2 at 5:15 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm a lady and a clothes horse. And I love an excuse to accessorise. I know you're going all over the place with your job, and up until last year I did too, but depending on how you're getting around this might/might not work for you. I was mostly going to and fro in taxis so this was fine for me.
My solution is to carry two bags. I know it sounds like an inconvenience and a contrivance. It is most certainly the latter but not the former, I am already carrying a handbag so looping another bag onto my arm is no biggie.
Here are two examples of what I do. With the yellow & gold ensemble I wore a Very Sensible grey dress. And not very sensible yellow shoes :) With the teal combo, as you can see I matched it with my shoes but I carried a Very Sensible big cream structured bag for all my other stuff, similar to a LV Alma, and wore a Very Sensible navy dress with cream belt. To make fun accessories work for work, I keep everything else classic and quite conservative. Plain gold or silver jewellery. Low key make up. Sensible hair.
Both of these laptop bags are cheap asos bags, I think about $30. But they're both leather and sturdy and I've had them on high rotation for about 3 years now. They still look the same as new and they're padded. I have five laptop bags, all similarly plain and slim. Some came with a cross body strap.
On days when I need for whatever reason to give up a little on the fashion thing, I carry my yellow Kanken. It's not very professional looking but then neither are most people's utilitarian bags. But sturdy, easy, roomy.
posted by stellathon at 6:34 PM on October 31, 2015
My solution is to carry two bags. I know it sounds like an inconvenience and a contrivance. It is most certainly the latter but not the former, I am already carrying a handbag so looping another bag onto my arm is no biggie.
Here are two examples of what I do. With the yellow & gold ensemble I wore a Very Sensible grey dress. And not very sensible yellow shoes :) With the teal combo, as you can see I matched it with my shoes but I carried a Very Sensible big cream structured bag for all my other stuff, similar to a LV Alma, and wore a Very Sensible navy dress with cream belt. To make fun accessories work for work, I keep everything else classic and quite conservative. Plain gold or silver jewellery. Low key make up. Sensible hair.
Both of these laptop bags are cheap asos bags, I think about $30. But they're both leather and sturdy and I've had them on high rotation for about 3 years now. They still look the same as new and they're padded. I have five laptop bags, all similarly plain and slim. Some came with a cross body strap.
On days when I need for whatever reason to give up a little on the fashion thing, I carry my yellow Kanken. It's not very professional looking but then neither are most people's utilitarian bags. But sturdy, easy, roomy.
posted by stellathon at 6:34 PM on October 31, 2015
I have a bag from Cambridge Satchel Company that I use for basically the amount of stuff you describe-- they have a million bags on their website, but I have the classic satchel. It comes in both crazy and traditional colors, which is nice. I have the red and it actually goes with almost everything.
It's probably the most-complimented thing I own, and professional without being stuffy. They do not have the same amount of give as most bags because they're very structured, so you'd probably want the 15 inch size (which would be slightly over your budget). I have the 14 and wish I had the 15, even though I love mine.
posted by sometamegazelle at 7:03 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's probably the most-complimented thing I own, and professional without being stuffy. They do not have the same amount of give as most bags because they're very structured, so you'd probably want the 15 inch size (which would be slightly over your budget). I have the 14 and wish I had the 15, even though I love mine.
posted by sometamegazelle at 7:03 PM on October 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I bought the Lodis Audrey bag (in red) for my wife several months ago -- she travels a few times a month and seems to like it, however the strap is quite thin (maybe 1") and apparently a bit painful schlepping through airports. I contacted Lodis, however they had no suggestions, so I bought a small pad from Etsy (shop named ShutterBags) -- seems to have helped. All in all I think the bag is nice, she likes it, but maybe a minor triumph for form over function.
posted by grendl at 12:19 PM on November 6, 2015
posted by grendl at 12:19 PM on November 6, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
It has a zillion pockets, which is one reason I love it. Inside the main zippered compartment there is a padded laptop sleeve, a zippered compartment, three pockets of varying sizes (no zippers) and a the main compartment. Outside there are two zippered compartments (one on each side). The front zippered compartment has another zippered compartment inside it, as well as several pouches and pen holder things that are perfect for stationery or makeup. It has no prominent logos, aside from the annoying Lo & Sons dongle that it comes with, which I immediately removed.
It's also considerably lighter than a similarly constructed leather bag if that matters to you. To tell you the truth, I haven't used it with my laptop all that much as my shoulder starts to ache if I carry my heavy Macbook Pro around, however reportedly the laptop sleeve works well. However if you are able to lug a ton of stuff around, the bag is very capacious. I've been routinely lugging about a 100 pages, plus hardback book, plus umbrella plus lunch around and it doesn't even whimper.
posted by peacheater at 9:27 AM on October 31, 2015 [2 favorites]