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- A great briefcase is both a functional asset and a fashionable accessory that allows a gentleman to express his sense of style while also keeping a laptop, papers, and personal effects orderly and secure.
- The Kattee Leather Shoulder Laptop Briefcase is our top choice thanks to its classic looks and quality construction.
A man's briefcase can serve many functions. It is the vehicle the lawyer uses to organize and transport case files while away from the office. It's the carryall for the commuter who brings along his paperwork and computer, as well as snacks, water, and even a change of clothes for the gym. It's a fine alternative to the traditional backpack for the student with a sense of style.
In short, a briefcase is the bag into which you can place all the various items you might need throughout the day. Because these items may include a laptop or tablet, your phone and wallet, sensitive documents, and other important sundries, you owe it to yourself to get the best briefcase for your personal needs.
When you choose the right briefcase, you select an accessory that will make the tasks of your day that much easier to manage. As an occasional rail commuter, I use a leather messenger bag style of briefcase, because it allows me to safely bring along my computer and to carry a full-sized pad of paper. Plus, it has plenty of extra space for snacks, water, a book, chargers, and so forth. I'm on my third brown leather messenger bag and I'm sure I'll get another when this one wears out.
As much as I love the messenger bag type of briefcase, I can also say that they're the wrong choice for some people. If I had a longer walk than the half mile it takes me to get to the train station, the strain the laden bag puts on my shoulder might start to be an issue. Fortunately, there are backpack briefcases that solve that. And if I had to organize multiple documents, as one does when managing a legal brief, contract, or other comprehensive documents, I would opt for a traditional rectangular attaché case with a built-in file pocket.
While it can be tempting to choose a briefcase based on its looks, you need to first think about the things you need to carry, and then consider where you will be when doing so. The best briefcase for the student who brings along his laptop and textbooks might be a poor choice for an attorney who needs to manage multiples files. Likewise, the right briefcase for the lawyer who drives himself to work might be wrong for an attorney why travels by subway, for example.
With all that in mind, we've rounded up the best briefcases you can buy whether you need one the doubles as a backpack or a classic briefcase for files.
Here are the best briefcases:
- Best briefcase overall: Kattee Leather Shoulder Laptop Briefcase
- Best casual briefcase: Bellroy Slim Work Bag
- Best briefcase for commuting: Brooks Brothers Filson Twill Computer Briefcase
- Best classic attaché briefcase: Alpine Swiss Expandable Leather Attaché Briefcase
- Best briefcase for travel: CoolBELL Convertible Backpack Briefcase
Updated on 10/29/2019 by Amir Ismael: Updated pricing, links, and format. Added the Bellroy Slim Work Bag as the new best casual pick.
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