Best Work Bags for Men 2024

Writer and District One Studios The brand’s founder, Dan Q. Dao, says his leather work bag from Italian label Officine Creative is a Bottega offering, but at a more affordable price point. In addition to being stylish, the bag is practical because it offers two carrying methods. “I really like having the option of a top handle or a shoulder strap on a bag, depending on how heavy it is that day and what I’m carrying,” he says. “Because I hate it when the shoulder strap wrinkles a shirt.”

Sub-stack Austin Tedesco, head of video and podcasting, is also a Filson fan (he switched from Everlane to a newer model after someone he was dating said there was nothing sexier than a man wearing a Filson bag), but he prefers backpacks to messenger bags. Shopping for work bags for men can be tricky, because most lean too much toward techie efficiency, wild cosplay, or impracticality, he says. With its grown-up look, a Filson backpack offers the rare middle ground. Tedesco’s exact bag, the Dryden, is no longer available, but this style is similar.

Rains makes our favorite men's raincoats, and its matching waterproof backpacks are perfect for commuting to the office. Jaye Thompson, a designer at Mother New Yorkhas been carrying it to work for the past two years and loves the look of it. It’s pretty and minimalist, he says. Its design features are functional and useful without being distracting. And I have the all-black model, which blends in quite well. There’s a water bottle holder and plenty of interior and exterior zippered pockets for organization, and he adds that the exterior elastic strap is great for holding a bike helmet. And as you might expect, the bag keeps everything dry during rain showers.

Gonzalo Donoso, designer at Mother's designis also on Team Rains but prefers the brand’s smaller backpacks. The construction is very sleek, he says. It looks expensive, even though it’s fairly affordable. On a typical workday, he’ll toss his MacBook Pro and multiple laptops in the bag, and he’s also been known to take it to Trader Joe’s to stock up on groceries. A hidden pocket near the shoulder straps means you don’t have to open the bag all the way to retrieve smaller items.

Like many guys I've talked to, David Zwirner Gallery Senior manager Thor Shannon has long resisted the idea of ​​bringing a backpack to work. “I tried a messenger bag, a briefcase, and a gym bag, but none of them worked as well for my back,” he says. He settled on an older version of this lightweight, water-resistant Uniqlo backpack, which he says is anonymous and worthless, with no visible logos. “I’ve had it for probably four or five years, and I destroy it and throw it away all the time,” he adds. “And it turns out it can take that abuse, which is why I love it.” He typically uses the bag to carry not only a laptop, but every charger known to man, his gym and swim gear, and a bike helmet. He’s kept it for a long time (leaving an AirTag inside helped), but notes that its affordable price means I could easily lose it and buy another one without feeling guilty.

Nick Dierlthe co-founder of the music PR agency Eastfirst discovered the Yeti Rubber Tote Bag while looking for a groomsmen gift for his wedding. He’s since used it as a work bag, finding it works especially well for business trips. It can usually hold his computer, toiletries, and a pair of running shoes, and it’s surprisingly comfortable to carry, even when stuffed to the brim. While Yeti is best known for making coolers, this bag isn’t designed to insulate what’s inside, though Dierl says the fact that it’s fully waterproof means you can fill it with ice and drinks as needed. His bag shows no significant signs of wear after two years of regular use—how many totes can you say that about?

As Strategist contributor Molly Dektar observed last year, this backpack-cum-tote has become a status symbol among New York’s 20- and 30-something artists. It’s functional and durable, as you’d expect from a Patagonia bag, but doesn’t feel overly technical, especially in its all-black colorway. Though it’s made of black ripstop, it doesn’t scream “I’m hiking!” she points out. And though it has plenty of pockets and adjustable straps, it doesn’t scream “I’m coding!”