If your closet is anything like mine, it’s overflowing with reusable bags you’ve acquired from gift shops and grocery stores. (And maybe a friend’s tote they left behind that you keep forgetting to give back.) But none of these will cut it when it comes to a work bag. You need something sturdy that can fit your laptop, charger, water bottle, lunch, workout clothes, and other essentials inside without causing you major shoulder or back pain.
To help you find the best work bag, we asked SELF staffers to weigh in on their favorites from top brands and sifted through tons of customer reviews. We also asked doctors and a physical therapist how to figure out which bags are designed with your load and lifestyle in mind (no more sore shoulders!). Shop our chic, easy-to-carry, envy-of-the-office favorites below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Béis The Work Tote
- Best Budget: Lovevook Laptop Tote Bag
- Best Canvas: L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
- Best Backpack: Rains Backpack
- Best Tote: Madewell Zip Top Transport Tote
- Best Lightweight: Baggu Nylon Shoulder Bag
- Most Pockets: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack
- Most Stylish Backpack: Calpak Kaya 15 inch Laptop Backpack
- Best Zip-Top: Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote
- Best Convertible: Fjallraven High Coast Totepack
- Best Work-to-Gym Bag: Caraa The Sport Tote
What to look for in a work bag
In a sea of options, lots of styles might be a good fit. But if your goal is to find a work bag that won’t slowly kill your shoulders or back during your commute, we recommend keeping the factors below in mind.
A backpack is the best option for your body because it distributes weight evenly across your shoulders, Evan Johnson, DPT, the director of Och Spine Care Outpatient Physical Therapy at NewYork-Presbyterian, tells SELF. Look for one with wide, adjustable straps that will support the weight of your backpack and keep it lifted. “Having the weight of the bag further from your body will increase the force of the pull on your body,” Dr. Johnson says—just like how it’s harder to hold a dumbbell far away from you than at your side, he adds. Also key: A chest strap, which “can be helpful in maintaining good weight distribution and allow for better posture,” Nadia Zaman, DO, a physiatrist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, tells SELF.
While we love a good shoulder bag, they aren’t as great for commuting. Carrying a heavy tote on one side of your body can cause you to overcompensate by shifting your shoulders or leaning away from the pull of the bag to feel more balanced, Dr. Johnson says. But if you’re firmly anti-backpack, make sure your bag at least has a wide, adjustable strap, so you can carry it up under your armpit instead of down by your hip. And if it can convert into a crossbody, that’s even better, Dr. Johnson says—the design will distribute weight more evenly and won’t throw off your posture (read: leaning to one side to compensate for the heavy weight you’re carrying on the other).
Features like pockets and sleeves aren’t just for show—they can impact the way your work bag pulls on your body too. “A good backpack should have a separate sleeve for heavier items like laptops,” Taemin Oh, MD, a neurological spine surgeon at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian, tells SELF. “This keeps the laptop closer to the body, [so it] won’t bounce around as you go about your day-to-day activities.” Other handy elements, like a water bottle sleeve, zippered pockets, or key rings, also keep your belongings in place, so your bag’s contents aren’t shifting around and messing with your balance.
When it comes to work bags, bigger probably isn’t better. “It’s a good idea to avoid backpacks that become bottomless pits of heavy items and to only carry what you need for the day to keep the weight down,” Dr. Johnson says. Just make sure your pick is roomy enough to hold your largest essential (like a laptop, lunchbox, or a change of clothes). Also, make sure your bag doesn’t weigh a ton when it’s empty—you’re only putting more stress on your shoulders and back this way, Dr. Zaman says. (Plus, it’ll get even heavier when you fill it.)
Our list includes bags made from suede, leather (faux and real), nylon, canvas, and neoprene. If your bag will be exposed to the elements often, look for something that’s water-resistant or waterproof—otherwise, consider how easy it is to clean (coffee spills, exploding pens, and leaky water bottles are bound to happen at some point, after all).
Shop the best work bags
Find our top picks below—because finding a new work bag shouldn’t feel like logging overtime.
Best Overall: Béis The Work Tote
Pros
- Includes laptop compartment
- Has a trolley sleeve
- Comes with padded crossbody strap
- Zips closed
Cons
- Leather gets worn in on the sides
This writer is a huge Béis fan—seriously, I own the Large Check-In Roller, the Carry-On Roller, the Weekender, and the Cosmetic Case. The Work Tote was a perfect addition to my lineup. It has a designated laptop compartment on the side that keeps your tech close to you and prevents it from shifting while you run to catch your train, per Dr. Oh’s suggestion. Plus, there are plenty of interior and exterior pockets for my gum, charger, keys, snacks, and lip balms (yes, plural). I like to use the two thinner straps to carry my bag tote-style on my shoulder, but it also comes with a cushy crossbody strap, which Dr. Zaman says is helpful for relieving pressure.
I swear by the trolley sleeve, which allows me to stack this bag on top of my carry-on suitcase—a necessity for my frequent trips home to New Hampshire from NYC. The Work Tote even has metal feet on the bottom, so the leather doesn’t get scuffed up from sitting on train or office floors. (Another winning option from Béis is the lighter-weight Commuter Tote—SELF’s commerce director loves its vinyl material and vertical shape.)
Material: Vegan leather | Weight: 2.75 lbs | Dimensions: 14.25 x 11 x 6 inches | Colors: 6 | Pockets: 7
Best Budget: Lovevook Laptop Tote Bag
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Zips closed
- Comes in a bunch of colors
- Includes laptop compartment
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s too flimsy
This bag makes for a good Béis Work Tote dupe because it checks a lot of the same boxes: It’s made of faux leather, is a similar size, and has plenty of pockets (including a padded laptop compartment), plus metal feet that keep the bag from sitting directly on the ground. It also has handles that are long enough to throw over your shoulder, keeping the bag tucked in (and you upright). But here’s the kicker: It’s a fraction of the price.
Amazon reviewers say this bag makes it easy to stay organized and mention that its water-resistant exterior will keep all of your tech products dry. “The quality is excellent and so is the price,” one shopper says. “I love it more day by day.”
Material: Faux leather | Weight: 2.75 lbs | Dimensions: 16.5 x 5.5 x 12 inches | Colors: 29 | Pockets: 5
Best Canvas: L.L. Bean Boat and Tote
Pros
- Versatile
- Budget-friendly
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- No top zipper
- No compartments or pockets
If you grew up wearing one of those monogrammed L.L. Bean backpacks to school (guilty!), then the Boat Tote will bring all the nostalgia. It’s pretty bare-bones (no zippers or compartments), but that’s also what makes it versatile—you can toss food in it for a picnic, towels in it for a beach day, or workout gear for the gym. The handles have been tested to hold up to 500 pounds, so you can really stuff this tote full.
One SELF editor highly recommends scooping up a Boat Tote up: “I love how durable, versatile, and affordable it is!” she says. And yes, you can get it monogrammed (or stitched with your ironic phrase of choice, TikTok influencer-style).
Note: Reviewers recommend getting the tote with the long straps—not the regular ones—so it can comfortably fit under your shoulder, even when it’s packed full. We also like that the straps are sewn all the way around the bag: “Straps that go completely under the bottom mean you can carry more than you can lift,” one shopper wrote.
Material: Canvas | Weight: N/A | Dimensions: 15 x 17 x 7.5 inches | Colors: 12 | Pockets: 0
Best Backpack: Rains Backpack
Pros
- Sturdy, adjustable straps
- Easy to clean
- Waterproof
Cons
- May be too compact for bulkier items
Looking for a tough-yet-chic backpack? A SELF editor says this is the one to have: “A lot of other bags are big and spacious, but really bulky and kind of an eyesore. This one is so elegant and still fits everything I need—my laptop, water bottle, lunch, cosmetics, keys, etc.,” she says. “The straps are super sturdy, even though they look like they’re on the thinner side. They don’t chafe or irritate my armpits, and my bag still feels super supported on my back.”
If you need to commute through wintry mixes the slick, waterproof exterior is a major bonus and is easy to clean with a wet wipe, according to our editor. Worth noting: This bag is on the slimmer side, so it’s not the best for bulky items (like a chunky lunchbox or makeup bag).
Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.5 lbs | Dimensions: 19.2 x 4.8 x 12 inches | Colors: 8 | Pockets: 2
Best Tote: Madewell Zip Top Transport Tote
Pros
- Holds up over time
- Strong straps
- Sleek design
Cons
Of all the totes on this list, Madewell’s Transport Tote strikes the best balance between a work bag and an everyday catch-all purse. The two-tone leather makes it look sharp and appropriate for dressier work ‘fits, but the minimalist design is still spacious enough to fit a laptop inside (a.k.a it has everything you need, and nothing you don’t). Despite being a sturdy leather bag, it’s one of the lightest options on our list, so it won’t drag you down.
“This was the first work bag I ever bought, and it’s still my favorite,” one SELF editor says. “The leather has worn in so nicely (even though I wasn’t gentle with mine, it’s still in pretty good shape). And don’t be fooled by the straps—they may look thin, but they’re actually super strong and don’t dig in at all.”
Material: Leather | Weight: 1.1 lbs | Dimensions: 14 x 7 x 14 inches | Colors: 1 | Pockets: 1
Best Lightweight: Baggu Nylon Shoulder Bag
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Padded shoulder strap
- Durable fabric
- Versatile
Cons
- On the smaller side
- No laptop compartment
This bag might look small, but it fits one editor’s laptop, charger, mouse, book, and lunch, with room to spare. “I’ve tried my fair share of work bags, and Baggu’s shoulder bag is far and away the most functional, commute-friendly option I’ve ever used,” he says. “The interior zip pocket keeps my keys, headphones, and hand sanitizer firmly in place, again with extra room for whatever else I might need that day. Mostly, I love that I don’t have to be precious about this bag: The nylon is both durable and stain-resistant, so I can get it wet or throw it on the ground at an after-work event with zero repercussions.”
Plus, its size and materials make it super lightweight (less than a pound!), so you’re not starting out with an achy shoulder before you even fill it up. To make it even comfier, the padded strap is adjustable—meaning you can wear it crossbody or on your shoulder.
Material: Nylon | Weight: 0.5 lbs | Dimensions: 10.5 × 14 × 4 inches | Colors: 10 | Pockets: 1
Most Pockets: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Has a trolley sleeve
- Includes a shoe bag
Cons
- Dagne Dover reviewers say it dents easily
Dagne Dover fans rave about the brand’s bags for school, travel, and almost everything in between. This backpack is especially nice for work, though, because it has a laptop compartment and about 10 interior and exterior pockets to keep you feeling organized and stable. Meaning, the contents won’t throw you to the ground if you have to sprint between meetings (our experts would be proud).
One SELF contributor gives the bag major props: “I love that this bag has enough structure to stay open while you’re putting things in and taking things out. It doesn’t collapse on itself. I also love the material because it’s water-resistant and easy to wipe clean,” she says. “The included shoe bag is a nice touch, too. You can use it for shoes, soiled gym clothes, or other little essentials.”
Material: Neoprene | Weight: 2.1 lbs | Dimensions: 13.25 x 5.25 x 17.5 inches | Colors: Varies by retailer | Pockets: 10
Most Stylish Backpack: Calpak Kaya 15 inch Laptop Backpack
Pros
- Comes in a bunch of colors
- Includes laptop compartment
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
This Calpak backpack offers something a little different from the others with its (faux) leather exterior and gold hardware. It strikes the perfect balance of style and function, with its trolley sleeve, laptop compartment (that sits close to your back, just like the doctors ordered), and several pockets.
Read the full article here
