Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 25,081
- Location
- London, UK
Can be nice, though personally I'd never buy one without a shoulder strap. With just ahandle they're fine of you don't carry much weight and never carry them any real distance (i.e. if you drive everywhere), but if you're walking / on public transport, it's much easier to be able to bear the weight on your shoulder.
I've used a lot of different bags over the years, from nylon rucksacks to canvas army surplus bags to leather bgriefcases and all points in between. By this point, my choice would tend to be leather for wearing with a suit, or canvas for more casual applications. Currently, my main work briefcase, also used when travelling internationally with work as a key hand luggage piece, is this:
https://www.theleatherbriefcase.co.uk/shop/castellatto-favourite-leather-briefcase/
I'd like one day to have a couple of Saddleback Leather pieces for travelling, but that's a way off, money-wise. I also regularly use a cheaper, traditional leather satchell (I think I paid about GBP50, though that was before they became as fashionable as they are now). Mine is black, and looks like this:
These are also readily available in all sorts of brown shades. If you're not going to be carrying a huge amount, they make good daybags. Mine is regularly used to and from work when all I want to throw in are a couple of books, diary, and my Surface. For a larger laptop, you'd need something bigger (mine is 15", about the largest in which these traditional models come. I think I could fit a medium sized laptop in there, ut there wouldn't be much room for anything else). Mind you, I'd be very wary about going large 'just in case' - I find the bag that is "just big enough" does encourage me to think twice about how much junk I carry on the move 'just in case', but I suppose it all depends what you consider essential. A lot of the guys on here are carrying multi-tools, knives, guns and all sorts that I obviously don't. There are also versions of these satchels with a handle on top so you could carry it like a traditional briefcase if you wanted.
Over the next few months, I'd like to buy myself a Brady Bag. Traditional fieldsports / fishing bags, made in England. These I see more as ideal for casual use, or with tweeds and such - they are a country design, but in my opinion in one of the soberer colours - the all-black version, or the navy blue with black leather fittings - they could do as well with a business suit without looking out of place. They are also available in leather, though that does jack up the price a bit. The canvas versions are very solid. Most significantly, unlike the cheap, army-surplus bags we used to carry to school, Brady bags are triple-thickness and waterproof.
