Travelling for business means carting around a small, portable office in your hands.
Everything from a laptop and chargers to headphones and dongles to keep you up and running when you’re miles away from your hotel’s business suite. All this tech can quickly add up and means, along with clothes and toiletries, you’ve got extra, and often incredibly expensive, essentials to get safely from A to B.
Long a badge of honour amongst the corporate elite, a decent briefcase has evolved with the times with many now including space to house a laptop within its refined confines. They’re made for business travel with extra pockets and zipped compartments to keep documents and travel essentials out of harm’s way yet ready to be fished out at airport security or the departure gate.
Many are water-repellant too, ensuring that accidental spills and sudden showers won’t damage the tech packed away inside.
A business laptop bag is a must for anyone who has to travel frequently on work trips, whether you’re only going for a few days or flying long-haul into a new time zone. While many hang on a shoulder strap, there are also backpack versions that allow you to spread the weight across your shoulders and keep your hands free to carry other luggage.
If you’ve been considering investing in a laptop bag but don’t know where to start, we’ve rounded up the best, most stylish options below.
Before you hit buy, double-check the size of your laptop first and be sure your favourite bag can house it. While many companies offer free returns, it’s a faff that frankly, we can all do without - especially if you’re headed off on a trip soon.
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Carl Friedrik Palissy Briefcase
If you’re turning left on an aircraft, you’ve got to look the part and Carl Friedrik’s elegant Palissy design makes the perfect arm candy. The brand’s slim Palissy briefcase may look compact, but it’s Tardis-like in its ability to hold essential documents and tech.
Made from Italian Vachetta leather, it manages to be both functional and refined with a laptop slot, pen holders and a portable office’s worth of organisational pockets. A luggage strap on the reverse means you can attach it to cabin luggage and roll the whole lot together as one.
Buy now £595.00, Carl Friedrik
Lundi Victor briefcase
Laptops take centre stage in Lundi’s Victor design, slipping into a felt-lined pocket in the middle of the briefcase. It’s then surrounded by other compartments and pockets to add padding and maximise its use. Bound by smooth and grained leather, the hide is finished with vegetable dye and is available in four colours including this gleaming chestnut.
It comes with a leather shoulder strap for carrying and a dust bag for protection when you’re back on terra firma.
Buy now £546.00, Lundi
Mismo Morris laptop bag in Tabac
One to add to your business expenses, Mismo’s Morris design doesn’t come cheap but it’s full of features that work hard for their money. The full-grain leather bag features a wraparound zip allowing it to open flat for fast access to the contents. There’s plenty of considered storage here which manages to be helpful without adding unsightly bulk and a foamed laptop compartment keeps your main device safe when you’re travelling. It comes with a matching adjustable shoulder strap as well as carry handles.
Buy now £800.00, Mismo
Steel & Borough the laptop bag
A rugged laptop bag, up for all kinds of adventures, Steel & Borough’s design is seven years in the making so you can feel assured that plenty of mindful features have gone into it. Everything from the zippers and lining to the water-resistant exterior has gone through extensive testing to ensure it goes the distance and the bag can comfortably house a 14-inch laptop in one of its many compartments.
Buy now £130.00, Steel & Borough
Smythson Lightweight Slim Briefcase in Panama
The British luxury leather goods brand nails the business brief with this slim briefcase crafted from crossgrain and smooth calf leather. The compact bag can house a 16-inch laptop as well as other small stationery items like pens, notebooks and portable chargers.
It comes with a leather strap to slide over your cabin bag handle but can also be carried on the shoulder with the included strap. An exterior zipped back pocket offers easy access to travel essentials, like boarding passes and passports.
It’s a sublime piece with nods to vintage design and though it comes in a range of dark colours, it’s Smythson’s Nile Blue that does it for us every time.
Buy now £995.00, Smythson
Stubble & Co The Roll Top 20L
If you’re headed on a short trip and only need two days' worth of clothes at best, a travel backpack may feel a better option. Carrying everything on your shoulders keeps your back health in check and your hands-free for hailing cabs, holding maps or sipping coffee.
We were so impressed with Stubble & Co’s 20K roll top bag on a recent trip, which managed to fit a few jumpers, nightwear and a fresh outfit along with tech and toiletries with room to spare.
The main compartment has open and zipped pockets to stash small but important bits and pieces, while a separate padded space in the back can hold a 16-inch laptop, surrounding it with cushioning to keep the device safe from accidental knocks and bumps.
Oh, and it comes in an array of colours, but we like the taupe because it goes with everything.
Buy now £120.00, Stubble & Co
Burberry Ainsworth faux-leather briefcase
Bring the business big guns with help from Burberry. The heritage British brand has this briefcase bag that’s perfect for work trips with a structured silhouette and interior laptop slip encased in vegan leather. The fully lined piece features an all-over check pattern and branded hardware, adding luxe to the whole affair.
Buy now £1450.00, Selfridges
Monos Metro Duffel
The ultimate travel accessory for jet-setting work trips, this forest green duffel is crafted from water-resistant nylon twill with vegan leather details. With a roomy design intended to keep your daily essentials organised, it also features a laptop sleeve which fits up to 15 inches and some inner side pockets for additional accessories.
Buy now £215.00, Monos
Mismo M/S Advance Bag
Returning to its military roots, Mismo's luxury bag takes its design cues from a WWII US Army Aviator kit bag. Pairing practicality with pleasingly minimal aesthetics, the large main compartment is complemented with extra storage in the form of a front sleeve to stash slimline tech, a separate laptop pocket and zipped compartments inside the main body of the bag.
It comes with an adjustable shoulder strap. The perfect wingman for quick adventures.
Available in canvas and nylon options.
Buy now £587.60, Mismo
