Briefcases: What Works (For Me)

[eliev]

Like many other people on this forum, I love leather goods. I recently began my first job, and I was very excited about being able to use a briefcase. For a while, I carried a beautiful leather bag made by Tusting. I also tried using a messenger bag and a nylon Tumi briefcase. Here are my conclusions:

1) Leather Briefcase
Leather briefcases are by far the most beautiful and luxurious. My Tusting bag looks great, feels great and smells great. I am sure it will last forever, and over the years the scuffs and marks will simply give the bag more character. However, I am always nervous that the bag will be damaged by rain and daily use. Although I don't mind the wear and tear, I am trying to appear professional so I still want the bag to look sharp. Also, the bag is very heavy and not convenient when I need to carry a laptop and/or tablet, which is almost always the case.

2) Messenger bag
The advantage of my black nylon messenger is that it holds a lot. It's rugged, so I don't have to worry about damaging the bag. It has no structure, so I can put just about anything in it. Unfortunately, it does not look professional. Wearing it with a shirt and dress pants sort of ruins the whole effect. If you are wearing a suit, forget about it. Also, the bag is so huge that it's a nuisance in public transportation.

3) Tumi Briefcase
Tumi is definitely overpriced. I also tend to associate the brand with impatient businessmen who wear suits with no ties, have Bose headphones and always get up and stand near the gate twenty minutes before boarding an airplane. However, I have found that bags like the Tumi briefcase I have are a good compromise between convenience and style. Also, the bag is designed to carry laptops. It does not feel heavy when full because the strap is very well-designed.

In my fantasy world, I would travel with heavy wooden trunks, beautiful monogrammed leather briefcases and seersucker suits. But now that I have actually used a leather briefcase for a while, I am starting to understand why many people have switched to laptop bags. I will continue to use my leather bag for formal occasions. My messenger will be perfect when I am traveling or on a bike. For everyday use, I think my Tumi is hassle-free and professional looking.

Don't worry, I won't start using one of those briefcases with wheels!

What do you think?

[camjr]

Nice post.

It all comes down to what works for each of us, and what each of us feels is important, practical, and what we're willing to trade off. I carry a Saddleback Thin briefcase. It's heavier and has fewer pockets than my long serving leather and canvas Lands End attache, but I don't care. I tried a Swiss Gear laptop backpack, but felt like my son going to school. It was by far the most comfortable and travel-practical bag I've used, but I still felt like a student. I went back to my Lands End attache because the trade-off in using the backpack wasn't worth it. After another couple of years back on the Lands End bag, I ordered the Saddleback.

As I moved into my my mid-40's, I became determined to start spending on quality items that could potentially last the rest of my life. As many others have said, "buy once, cry once." I had been buying mid-range chukka boots every couiple of years and instead purchased a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. If I do my part, they'll last me for years and years. The Saddleback bag was another purchase that I made. I have no doubt this bag will outlive me. I've been travelling as part of my job about 75% of the time for the past 3-4 months, and I appreciate it more and more. It's rather stiff, but has broken in nicely. It's heavier than my other bags, but not dramatically so (I think the SB classic bag would be too heavy, and it's so big that I would be adding more and more to it looking to fill the cavernous interior). It's comfortable to carry, looks great, smells great, has started many conversations on the road, and this sounds odd, reminds me of my beloved Texas while I'm in places like Detroit, Dubuque IA, and other parts of the country.

The bottom line is that there are so many options out there that anyone can find the perfect briefcase for their needs.

Cheers!

[FreshVintage]

Thanks for sharing, I was really coveting a leather briefcase for the last few months as a part of an overall to dress more the part of the "grown-up." Always good to hear the more practical side of things, especially when it comes to fashion vs. function, and you have reminded me how much of a workhorse my every day bag (a Fossil canvas messenger bag with leather accents) is, rain or shine!

[Isaac]

Very thought out post. Thank you for the good reading.

[eliev]

Thanks everyone!