Ask the Edit: Laptop Bags for Kickass Women

Do you need a great work bag?  Do you have a bit of money to spare?  From $150 to $475, here are the best laptop bags recommended by me and by regular readers.

Abra,

What great work bags have you seen lately? I’m thinking briefcases, laptop bags, etc. (The last post on this was in 2015!) I have a very simple black leather laptop bag, but I need an upgrade!

– Amanda 

Has it been that long?  I feel like we talk about this all the time, but I could be wrong.

I’m pretty set on work bags.  I own four…five…I’ve lost track.  But I haul my laptop almost everywhere, so I need good bags.  Here are the ones I own and the ones readers rave about.

My Bags.  I’m difficult to please (ask Kyle, poor guy).  If you want me to drop hundreds of dollars on a bag, you better come at me with something better than average.  Even something better than good.  Or else I’m going to balk, call customer service, and be difficult (see above), until you agree to take it back.

Dagne Dover Legend Tote ($265)

Dagne Dover Simone Satchel ($395)

I own both of these bags.  They’re both great.  I carried my Legend Tote through most of law school.  This Simone Satchel is a relatively new purchase.

The Legend Tote is lightweight, coated canvas.  It has a great number of pockets and a lot of little extras.  It’s also practically indestructible.  My one complaint is that the open top can cause a few issues.  Ever have a classmate kick a bag over in class and dump tampons all over the floor in the middle of your ConLaw final?  I have.

The Simone Satchel, being leather, is a bit heavier.  It also has a crazy number of pockets and good interior organization.  I carry it if I have 8.5 x 11 files that need to go to court, and I don’t want them to spill.  The strap is a little thin, so it gets a bit heavy if you stupidly try to walk the two miles home while hauling a full bag.  But a fabulous bag.

Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Baby Bag ($345)

Yes, this is a diaper bag.  No, no one has ever noticed.

This is my court bag if I’m wearing a black suit.  I love the water bottle pockets on the outside, and the pockets on the interior.  Though you will need another pouch for your laptop.

This bag’s only real flaw is the heft.  It’s a body builder.  But the strap is sturdy, so it holds up to the weight.  And it looks expensive, which is always nice.

Lo and Sons OMG ($275)

Am I traveling overseas?  Am I going on a filthy plane?  Am I going to have to run/walk a fair distance?  Do I want to take a bag that is tougher than Andre the Giant?  You bet I do.

The Lo and Sons bag is the bag I’ve “replaced” like five times.  I say it in quotes, because no matter what else I buy, I always end up using this durable, well-designed, nylon bag again.

The interior organization, the special pocket for your commuting shoes, the lightweight.  I love other bags.  I like other bags.  I always come home to Lo and Sons.  The one caveat, it’s not the most professional looking bag.  Totally fine for every day, not the best pick for BIG meetings where you need to impress in your workday best.

Cuyana Le Sud Leather Travel Bag ($375)

I bought this leather bag to travel on the weekends.  But who was I lying to?  I’m not going anywhere without my hot rollers, and they basically fill half the bag.  So, I’m high maintenance, sue me.

Instead, I use this bag when I need to haul a lot with me.  It has an unpadded laptop pocket.  It has a great, magnetized exterior pocket, and the strap is really comfortable.  Don’t need one this big?  Cuyana’s Day bag will hold a 13″ laptop, also comes in black, costs $275 and looks like the old Minkoff MAB bag.

Okay, so that’s it.  Those are all of my laptop hauling, workday bags.  Full disclosure, I bought one Lo & Sons bag, and I was also gifted one.  I bought one Dagne Dover Legend Tote, but bought the Simone.  All the other bags were my own purchases. But if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know my reviews aren’t colored by gifts.  I’m too opinionated for that.

But what about the favorite suggestions of other readers?  Here are the Audience Suggestions.

MZ Wallace Kate Bag ($395)

A reader reports that the exterior pockets are an organizing dream.  My friend Marissa also swears that this is the most durable bag she’s ever owned.  Her gold one is 10 years old and is just starting to show age.  It will also hold a small laptop.

Everlane Twill Snap Backpack ($65)

I know several people who carry this bag.  They like the simplicity and the classic look.  One friend described it thusly, “Buy a Tumi.  If you can’t buy a Tumi, get this bag.  You won’t miss the Tumi.”

BetaBrand Big Travel Tote ($160)

Two readers endorse this bag for durability and versatility.  It converts from a tote, to a crossbody, to a backpack.  It also slides over the handles of a carry-on bag for ease of movement in the airport.

Vera Bradley Travel Bag ($147)

My feelings on the patterned, quilted Vera Bradley bags are well-known.  In a word, I loathe them.  If a handful of readers had not spoken so fondly of this VB bag, it would not be here.  But they praised the bag’s durability, pockets, and compartments.  One reader called it the best bag she’s ever owned.

Audrey Lodis Brera Bag ($328)

I used to own this bag in red.  Several readers bought it on my recommendation and still endorse it.  I no longer own it because it’s a little hefty for me.  But it has amazing organization, looks sleek and comes in red, which is nice for when you need a bag that goes with anything.

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