The Best Laptop Bag 2023: Top Professional and Stylish Picks

If you want to take your laptop with you when you leave the house, it’s a great idea to invest in a laptop bag.

A laptop bag can be defined as a bag which has been specifically created to hold a laptop. However, it can be used to carry various other items ranging from cameras to makeup and more.

In this post, we'll go over our top picks for a new laptop bag in 2023, that are both stylish and professional.

Top Picks

Want a quick breakdown? Here are our top picks:

1. Best Professional Laptop Bag: City Laptop Bag (click to view) - a stylish laptop bag made from the highest quality full grain leather, with a dedicated laptop compartment and detachable shoulder strap.
2. Best Traditional Business Briefcase: No.1 Briefcase (click to view) - a classically-styled leather briefcase, ideal for formal business situations. Multiple compartments, including a dedicated laptop compartment.
3. Best Modern Laptop Bag: Essential Briefcase (click to view) - a spacious, modern laptop briefcase that's ideal for work or travel. Made from full grain leather, and comes with two large compartments, as well as a detachable shoulder strap.
4. Best Convertible Backpack Briefcase: 10X Laptop Travel Bag (click to view) - a versatile backpack briefcase that can be converted from a messenger bag, to a backpack, and can be used as a briefcase too. Made from full grain leather.

The best laptop bags 2023

Factors To Consider When Buying Your Laptop Bag

Let’s take a look at some of the things you’ll need to think about when you are considering purchasing a laptop bag.

Commuting Requirements

Your commute is a very important thing to consider when you are thinking about buying a laptop bag. If you use public transport, you may only have a small amount of legroom and space. This means you’ll need to seek out a bag that won’t leave your legs feeling crowded or irritate anyone that’s sitting or standing next to you. Avoid anything that’s likely to take up a whole extra seat.

Maybe you ride a bicycle to work or school? If this is the case, you’ll need to seek out something which has good resistance to weather. Perhaps you drive to work or college? Then consider buying a tote or a briefcase as these can give you extra accessibility and convenience. Maybe you commute in various different ways? Then it’s best to buy a bag that’s suitable for all your travel methods unless you have enough cash available to purchase multiple bags.

Work Culture

You also need to think about the nature of your workspace when you’re looking for a laptop bag. You may work at a conventional office, a coffee shop, a co-working space or somewhere else. Some laptop bags work better in specific environments than others. For instance, you may need to get a laptop bag that will stand up on its own if you work in a coffee shop.

Someone who works in a cubicle in a traditional office can opt for a small laptop bag that can slide beneath their desk with ease. If you’re still at school, you might need a laptop bag that you can easily transport between classes. You may also have a dress code to comply with. This means you may need to opt for something formal rather than casual.

Related:

• Best Leather Laptop Bags for Men
• Best Laptop Bags for Women
• Men's Leather Laptop Bags
• Women's Leather Laptop Bags
• Best Laptop Backpacks
• Laptop Travel Bags
• Minimalist Travel Bags

Other Activities

Laptop bags are capable of much more than simply holding laptops. This is why it’s a good idea to think about any other activities you could be using your bag for. You might need a laptop bag

to carry camera equipment, carry your gym clothes, for short-term travel or for day hikes. Laptop bags won’t be suitable for every single occasion, and you may need a separate bag for activities like long-term travel or backpacking.

A larger laptop bag will give you more space to work with so you can use it for other things. However, a drawback of a larger laptop bag is that it can be more challenging to carry around on a daily basis. Organization can be useful, but having too many compartments can feel limiting so it may be best to opt for something with a few compartments and a large space in the middle for bigger items. It might also help if there’s a separate compartment for your laptop so you can keep it away from other items you’re carrying with you.

Size

Size is another important factor you need to think about. Don’t just think about the size of the bag itself – look at how big the compartments, sleeves and pockets are. The dedicated space for a laptop in these bags is sometimes called different things, but we will refer to it as a laptop sleeve to prevent confusion.

Laptop Sleeve Size

It’s essential to ensure that the laptop sleeve will actually fit your laptop. This may seem an obvious tip, but many people don’t actually check this before they go ahead and make a purchase. Sleeves that are too big and too small can cause you big problems. If your sleeve is too small, your laptop obviously won’t fit inside, but if it’s too big your laptop could move around too much. This could create big opportunities for damage.

One of the reasons why it can be so hard to get a correctly-sized sleeve is that there can be big variations between manufacturer descriptions. Sometimes a 13” sleeve can fit a 16” laptop with ease, whilst other supposedly 13” sleeves barely fit 13” laptops. A good way to get around this is to buy a bag with a bigger sleeve than you need and use an additional padded sleeve to protect your computer. Just make sure the additional protection isn’t overly bulky so it still fits inside.

Bag Capacity

Laptop bags are normally between 15 and 30 litres. However, there are several exemptions to this. To make things even more confusing, there isn’t any one backpack liter measurement used by all brands. This means one company’s 15 litres can be another brand’s 20 litres.

Although larger bags can be difficult to carry around, they can make it easier for you to maintain access to everything you need during your day. This can include your lunch, clothing and textbooks. Nonetheless, many people don’t have substantial size requirements, only needing something that will hold a laptop and a pen.

If this sounds like you, you may be fine with an 8 liter bag. Smaller laptop bags can be much easier to transport around and can also act as lightweight daypacks when you need to carry a little extra around. However, you may need something bigger if you want to carry out items like textbooks.

Style

Style is another important factor to think about. As you’ll be using your laptop bag on a daily basis, you’ll need to like the way your bag looks. There are many great laptop bags on the market that don’t only perform great but look fantastic too. These bags will also give you quality protection for your laptop. There is no need to sacrifice build quality for style, especially if you have a little more to spend. Some of the most popular laptop bag styles include classic, business casual and sporty.

Materials

It’s best to purchase a bag that’s manufactured from high-quality materials if you don’t want to find yourself replacing it a few months down the line. Robust materials used to make laptop bags include nylon, polyester, canvas, leather, and tarpaulin. Ballistic and Ripstop nylon are known for being particularly durable. Canvas (or even better Leather) look sophisticated and professional, but they will be heavier to carry around and won’t withstand the elements as well. This is why it’s best to opt for canvas and leather if you’ll be spending most of your time indoors. The more you’ll be using your bag, the tougher the materials should be.

You’ll also need to think carefully about zippers and hardware. Although easily overlooked, if a zipper or buckle breaks, this can leave your bag inoperable. Zippers are sized on a scale ranging from one to ten, which is the largest. It’s best to look for something rated at least five when you’re thinking about exterior zippers. When it comes to internal pockets, smaller ones should be fine.

Budget

Unless money is no object, you’ll have to think carefully about your budget. It can be best to buy something a little costlier that’s likely to last a long time rather than something cheap that you’ll need to replace a few months down the line. It’s also best for the environment to buy a bag that will last a good while.

Do remember that expensive doesn’t always mean high quality. Some costlier bags won’t serve you as well as the manufacturer’s marketing material might suggest. If a bag is supported with a generous warranty, this can be taken as a good sign that the company has faith in the quality of its products.

Types of Laptop Bag

There are many options to choose from when you’re looking for a bag for a laptop. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options right now.

Briefcases

Briefcases tend to be slimmer than other styles of laptop bag, and are more appropriate for professional settings such as business people.

They will usually have a smaller than average bag capacity, leaving enough room for a laptop and a note pad, as well as a few office essentials. But you will be very unlikely to be storing a coat or change of clothes in there.

The best briefcases will have a detachable shoulder strap to make them more comfortable to wear on your commute.

Messenger Bags

Messenger bags are specifically designed for things like laptops and office equipment. This means they’re not normally overly bulky or too big. They also tend to have a highly professional look, which makes them fine for the office. These bags tend to be enjoyable to wear for shorter periods.

Some of these bags have additional stability straps that will secure your bag to your body to improve weight distribution. It’s generally simple to get in and out of messenger bags. However, it can be painful to add a great deal of weight to just one of your shoulders, and you may find yourself walking unevenly.

These bags aren’t normally as secure as other bags and can swing around when you’re cycling or walking. Nonetheless, stability straps can help when you’re riding a bike.

Backpack

A big benefit of the laptop backpack is that it has two straps as opposed to a single strap. This means it can be more comfortable to carry over long distances. A laptop backpack will also free up both of your hands so you can carry out various two-handed activities.

Backpacks are also noted for their versatility and tend to be efficient enough for activities like hiking. However, there may be some drawbacks depending on what your needs are.

Backpacks might not look as professional as you need them to be, although there are many polished, stylish backpacks on the market. You may also feel a backpack is excessive if you spend most of your commute driving. It can also take a little longer to get inside a backpack. You won’t be able to simply leave your backpack unzipped, so you may be left feeling frustrated if you regularly need to get in and out of the bag.

Tote

Some tote bags close at the top, whilst others don’t have a closure. You can normally even leave the tote bags that do close open, which is ideal if you’re regularly getting things in and out of your bag. Tote bags are also great for sticking in longer items like baguettes or tripods. They also tend to look slightly more professional than backpacks. These bags also have handles that make it easy to toss your bag over your shoulder. This kind of bag could be ideal if you’re interested in hands-free carrying. Nonetheless, totes can be uncomfortable for long-distance carrying and when they have heavy loads inside them. Even if the handles have good padding, your shoulder may still hurt after an hour of walking. The bags can also fall off your shoulder easily when you bend down or even just walk. If you’re using a tote that doesn’t close, your equipment could be at risk if you do experience a bump and it all falls out.

Tote Pack

A tote pack can be seen as a fusion of a tote and a backpack. These bags have stowable straps which can you can pull out when you want to carry a backpack and hide when you prefer a tote. A good thing about tote packs is that they blend the accessibility and professionalism of a tote with the comfort you’d get from a backpack.

It’s fairly easy to get in and out of a tote pack too. On the downside, these bags aren’t normally very comfortable when you wear them as backpacks due to their harness systems, which aren’t hugely breathable. The back panels don’t often have mesh or air channels for ventilation. It can also become tiresome to switch between the two modes.

Safety Concerns with Sleeve Padding

Here’s what you need to look out for when you need a laptop bag that’s tough enough to protect gear including laptops.

Padding

Padding can play a big role in protecting your bag from the other items inside it. Some people like to stick their laptops in separate sleeves or cases before they add them to laptop bags for extra peace of mind.

Another good reason for using a separate case or sleeve is that it can give you more protection when you’re carrying your laptop around on its own. Nonetheless, other people prefer laptop bags that have sufficient padding that eliminates the need to use a separate sleeve.

Many of those that don’t want to use an extra sleeve seek out laptop bags that have thick, dense padding to protect their laptops.

Soft Lining

Another feature that you might wish to look out for when buying a laptop bag is soft padding. This kind of padding can help you prevent scratches.

Compartment Layouts & Pocket Access

Preferences can vary when it comes to organization. Some people like a laptop bag to have large, empty compartments whilst others do not. Whether you need something simple, complex or somewhere in between, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a laptop bag that will meet your organizational needs. Some bags also offer exterior organization.

Interior organization

Simple

Bags that have simple organization can seem more versatile. You can also use external organizational solutions like pouches and sleeves rather than navigating your way around various internal pockets that have been built into the laptop. However, some people do prefer to have pockets already built into their laptop bags.

Modular

Some bags make it very easy for you to customize organization and have features like hooks and strips of Velcro, enabling you to create a truly distinctive interior layout.

Many of the brands that create bags with modular organizational systems also make accessories and pouches that are designed to work well inside their bags.

These bags may be ideal if you have the time to optimize your organizational set-up, but they don’t tend to be as affordable as the bags that already have in-built organization.

Complex

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to have dedicated spots for all your gear, complex organization may be for you. This option gives you dedicated zones for things like pens, notebooks, phones and laptops.

If you buy a laptop with a complex organizational system, you shouldn’t need to buy separate tech pouches. This can help you save money. Many people prefer to have the organization already done for them when buying laptop bags.

These bags tend to be best for organizing things like notebooks and pens. If you have items of various different sizes to cater for, the inbuilt organization might not meet your needs so well.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of people are likely to prefer organization which offers a good balance between simple and complicated with a small number of specific pockets.

Related:

• Custom Leather Laptop Bags
• Best Travel Laptop Backpacks
• Best Laptop Briefcases
• Best Carry On Luggage with a Laptop Compartment
• Laptop Backpacks
• Best Laptop Bags for Travel
• Laptop Briefcases
• Best Custom Laptop Backpacks
• Designer Laptop Bags for Women
• Fashionable Laptop Bags
• Women's Work Bags with Laptop Compartments
• Cute Laptop Bags
• Crossbody Laptop Bags
• Small Laptop Bags

Exterior Organization

Some people opt for bags with a more minimal, sleek appearance that have a basic external look. However, others are less keen on the clean aesthetic as they are as having access to various handy external pockets and simple access to their possessions. An external attachment point can also make it easier to carry gear externally that you might not want to put inside the main part of your bag, such as a jacket.

There are many questions you should ask yourself if you’re not sure whether you need external organization or not. If you have a long commute, you may appreciate having easy access to snacks and books.

If you walk to work, it could be good to have swift access to water through external bottle pockets. If you often find yourself outside during wet weather, external attachment points may be very useful.

Access

Will you be accessing your laptop at least twice a day? If so, make sure it is easy to get to. Having to navigate tough angles and irritating straps can prove frustrating when you have to do it more than once a day.

If you are considering buying a specific laptop bag, think about how easy it is to reach the main compartment. Are compression straps blocking the zipper? Rounded edges can make it hard for you to zip a square laptop inside.

Roll tops can slow down access to your laptop, but they can give you valuable expandability and water resistance. Side access points can give you direct access to your laptop sleeve.

Secondary access points are popular with many people as they can cut down the amount of time it takes to access your laptop. They also mean you don’t have to sort through various items to reach your laptop.

Is the laptop sleeve tight to the back compartment? Does it have magnets, a buckle or Velcro? Closures can keep your laptop securely in place, but it can be harder to access your equipment if a flap is in the way.

Dedicated Compartments

If you have a dedicated compartment for your laptop, you can forget about slowly unpacking a host of items onto a coffee shop table just to gain access to your machine, which can save you a great deal of fuss and embarrassment.

It should also be easy for you to slide your laptop into its compartment even when the rest of your bag is full. Dedicated laptop compartments can help you avoid a great deal of stress.

Dedicated compartments are often described in different ways by manufacturers. Some of these compartments are only designed for laptops, whilst others will give you extra room and may be called “tech compartments”.

Think carefully about the access to this compartment. Can you reach the compartment from the top, the side or both? This may not seem important until you are in a situation where it suddenly matters.

For instance, if you’re travelling by plane and your bag is located underneath the seat in front of you, you’ll need to pull the bag out completely just to get to your laptop. You won’t need to worry about this if you have top access.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article on the best laptop bags.

If you have any questions or comments, contact us at info@vonbaer.com, or leave them in the comments.

Browse our other Work pages here.