The Best Work Bags For Women, Based On Rigorous Testing
The best work bags for women make carrying all your essentials a joy—not a job. They have an interior that’s well organized and roomy enough to hold daily items, comfortable straps that stay put on the go and a stylish aesthetic that’s polished but not stuffy. We tested nine different work bags over the course of several weeks before landing on our winners: Our best overall pick is the Cuyana System Tote, a high-quality leather bag that’s functional, durable and stylish. The Bellroy Tokyo Tote Second Edition is our best value pick, and the Dagne Dover’s Signature Tote is ideal for transporting a laptop on the daily.
After weeks of extensive testing, we landed on the best work bags for women that are both stylish … [+]
Here is the full list of our winners, after testing each bag for durability, organization and style:
In order to fairly evaluate the bags, we spent two weeks rigorously putting each one through its paces. We also consulted with experts to gain insight into what makes an exceptional work bag, whether you’re looking for a designated laptop bag or a travel tote you can take on business trips. Below, find the seven best work bags for women, along with five additional bagscks recommended by stylish professionals.
The Cuyana System Tote successfully combines elegant aesthetics with practical, customizable organization in a leather bag that is made to last. It’s the San Francisco–based brand’s bestseller, a favorite of many users and the best work bag we tested overall.
While the System Tote has plenty of room to toss essentials straight into the main compartment, we found it also offered enough structure to help sort out loose items, such as a passport, phone or lipstick. We appreciated its flexible design, which you can customize with options like a laptop sleeve or tote insert to get the right amount of storage for you. (It can also be monogrammed for an additional $15). We tested the System in its most basic form, without any add-ons. All items (from a wallet to water bottle to makeup pouch) fit easily inside the main cavity, which also has an inside pocket you can remove—we liked how we could pull up the pocket to get items in and out easily.
The System Tote excelled with its flexible design, which you can customize with organizational … [+]
The System’s sturdy, flat bottom allows the bag to stand upright on the floor, which was convenient while working at a café or traveling. Though it doesn’t have any zippers, the bag stays securely shut with the leather lace and snap closures. Generally, it was comfortable to carry on the shoulder, although one of the handles tended to slide down after walking for a few blocks. Since the straps aren’t adjustable, the solution was to grip the straps, which wasn’t uncomfortable but may be a hinderance to those who prefer to be completely hands-free.
Looks-wise, the System is fashionable, thanks to its sloped handles, pebbled leather and sleek silhouette. The leather also adds resilience, making it easy to maintain. We did notice some marks on the inside of the bag, which didn’t alter its functionality but were a disappointing detail considering the price tag–although, thanks to the 2-year guarantee for manufacturing defects, customers encountering this problem can replace the bag. All in all, the System still felt like the smartest choice for an all-purpose work bag.
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Because Bellroy is an accessory brand that specializes in technical bags, it’s no surprise that the Tokyo was one of the best we tested in terms of compartment design, strap padding and construction. At the same time, it was the most utilitarian and least fashion-forward of the lot, which is the main drawback—although opting for a different color might improve that aspect (we tested it in Saltbush, a pale tan). The Tokyo is also quite roomy, which is great if you need lots of space; otherwise, the compact 12-liter version might be your best bet.
In terms of capacity, we found it fit all our essentials with room to spare. The interior is structured with five different pockets inside a zippered main compartment, but since it’s made of a flexible woven fabric, it’s not stiff, so you can create your own order within this bag. A bonus for digital nomads: The Tokyo comes with a built-in laptop sleeve with extra padding to protect devices from impact. We also liked the two expandable compartments on the sides that fit a water bottle and could store an umbrella or pair of shoes. On the exterior, a discreet pocket runs the length of the bag and is so well disguised that you may not even notice it was there at first (which is a good thing for extra security).
The Tokyo Tote has a discreet pocket that runs the length of the bag and is so well disguised that I … [+]
The bag didn’t jostle and remained comfortably on the shoulder throughout various activities, even while running down the block or tidying around the house. We credit this to the length of the straps, which are slightly longer than the Cuyana System’s and help anchor the Tokyo in position. While we liked the lightweight feel of this bag, the recycled fabric give it a more casual vibe than the Cuyana System’s rich leather. It’s best paired with laid-back outfits, ideal for working from a café or running errands.
The material was also prone to stains; the bag picked up some marks during our testing that weren’t able to be removed with all-purpose cleaner. However, we tested it in the lightest color (Saltbush), which is, therefore, the most difficult to keep pristine. If you’re considering the Tokyo, we recommend one of the darker colors—it comes in a lovely Navy and Melbourne Black—which should be easy to maintain and require less upkeep.
Totes are one of the most effective designs when it comes to bags, according to design consultant and Parsons lecturer Ulrich Grimm, since they are simple, resilient bags with ample capacity for holding multiple items. Consisting of a main cavity with two handles, usually without a top closure or gusset, they’re often made from cotton and canvas and exist in every shape. A tote’s functionality can also extend to workspaces when made from more refined materials. This is precisely why we deemed the Leatherology Uptown Vertical Tote to be the best work bag for those who want a streamlined, minimalist option crafted from gorgeous leather at a great price.
The Uptown is made from full-grain leather and is very soft to the touch, and although we officially tested it for only two weeks, it showed all signs of aging beautifully. The stitching of the seams is excellent, and it still looked as good as new after putting it through its paces. We spritzed the surface with water to mimic different weather conditions, and the droplets quickly beaded without leaving behind stains. Even some light food and makeup stains were easily removed with all-purpose cleaner (a bonus for people with messy tendencies). The leather, combined with the inner nickel hardware, was versatile to work with any look, even making more casual outfits look more elevated.
The Uptown is made from soft, full-grain leather and will likely wear in beautifully over time.
In terms of storage capacity, the Uptown is not as roomy as the Cuyana System or the Bellroy Tokyo Tote but still had enough space to fit our array of testing items. In addition to a small zippered pocket inside, there are also two bigger compartments. Personally, we felt the compartments were too slim and deep to be truly useful, and required a lot of digging around just to pull out a lipstick or pack of gum. We found it easier to simply leave items like keys, phone or wallet loose inside and locate them by patting the soft, supple leather exterior of the bag.
A drawback that some users have criticized is the Uptown’s lack of closure, so naturally, all items inside (except for those kept in the zippered pocket) come out of the bag if it’s flipped over. Still, we found that since it’s a tall, vertical bag and the straps don’t hang too low, it was secure and nothing tumbled out or felt at risk of being stolen on a crowded subway. It’s a soft-bottomed bag, which means it didn’t really stay upright when placed on the office’s floor or other surfaces, but for that same reason, the Uptown is also lightweight and comfortable to carry. And for less than $200, you can’t beat the quality and overall construction of this leather tote.
The Dagne Dover Signature Tote is an excellent companion for those who need something closer to a briefcase or laptop bag than a traditional work shoulder bag. It’s by far the most secure bag we tested: It has a zippered top closure and rigid bottom with studded feet, so it stayed upright. The 13-inch laptop pocke