All-purpose briefcases

We were underwhelmed by the Timbuk2 Smith Briefcase, compared with the Stuart & Lau Cary Single Briefcase we recommend. Though the Smith features a similar number of internal pockets, and we appreciate the inclusion of a zippered pocket for a water bottle or thermos, the waxed canvas bag’s lack of internal structure and rugged, bulky design would make it look out of place in a more-formal office setting. Plus, neither its handle nor its shoulder strap are particularly comfortable (the shoulder strap has no padding whatsoever).

Despite the name of the Topo Commuter Briefcase, it has backpack straps that add unnecessary bulk and make it harder to carry at your side. And though we appreciate the bag’s colors, it’s a little bit too thick to serve as a good briefcase.

The Bellroy Slim Work Bag’s canvas exterior seemed hearty, and it appeared to have decent organization. Unfortunately, once we began testing, it became clear that the structure and comfort of the other bags we reviewed were superior to this bag’s. After we added only a few items, the Slim Work Bag took on a balloon-like shape that made it unappealing to lug around. We think you’d be better served by our other options.

The Timbuk2 Hudson Laptop Briefcase 2015 was our previous top pick in this guide. We liked its high capacity and robust organizational system, how comfortable it was, and that it could be easily dressed up or down. Unfortunately, Timbuk2 has informed us that the Hudson is being discontinued. If you can still find it, it’s a good briefcase. But we expect that it will soon become difficult to track down.

Budget briefcases

Okay, the Amazon Basics 15.6-Inch Laptop Shoulder Bag is cheap. That’s it, that’s the hook. Despite its compelling price and decent size, the AmazonBasics’s handles were uncomfortable to wear, and its material felt scratchy. And over the month that we tested, some of its seams came loose. If you want a briefcase that will stand the test of time and troubles, wait until you have the money to buy one of our more expensive—and higher-quality—recommendations.

We appreciated the robust internal organization system of the Bellroy Classic Brief bag, but we found its shoulder strap and handle uncomfortable. The bag also lost its clean, rectangular shape when loaded with our daily work essentials—the lack of external structure made it balloon when full. If you want a briefcase with a similar look and price, we think the Knomo Princeton is a better option.

Even though we enjoy the previously recommended Knomo Hanover for its upscale aesthetics and small-but-comfortable size, our current budget recommendation, the Knomo Princeton, offers a similar vibe for around $40 less. Although both bags are light on organization, the Princeton toes the line of swanky and casual with greater ease than the more-formal Hanover, which is likely to clash with a dressed-down style.

Leather briefcases

Despite its ongoing stock issues, we love the minimal, chrome-tanned leather of the Linjer Soft Briefcase. But it didn’t hold up against the Carl Friedrik Palissy: The Linjer didn’t open as wide, and it had fewer pockets for organization. (That said, the Linjer does have a larger interior.) It also doesn’t offer as much customization as the Palissy; the Linjer comes in fewer colors, you can’t opt for customized detailing, and you can’t add a pass-through for attachment to a carry-on bag handle. It’s a beautiful bag, but we recommend the Carl Friedrik Palissy briefcase instead.

The Frank Clegg Leather Computer Briefcase felt buttery-smooth on the outside—and that’s not PR jargon, it actually feels soft and supple. But the Massachusetts-crafted briefcase has no inner lining, nor was it built to stand on its own. As soon as it touches the floor, and as soon you’ve removed any belongings from it, it collapses onto itself. This makes it frustrating to load and unload. And even though this bag seems luxurious, the Frank Clegg is mostly a headache to continually set up. But if you don’t mind that, this is a beautiful briefcase that comes in a bunch of colors and is made in the USA.

The Custom Hide Organizer Laptop Briefcase, a previous pick, is a high-quality, traditional leather bag with a lower price than those charged by many other bag manufacturers—and the Custom Hide bag comes with an impressive lifetime warranty. However, it was the heaviest bag we tested—4 pounds, 3 ounces empty. By the time you load up this bag with all your gear, it’ll be exceedingly heavy. We just don’t think the Custom Hide bag is suited to carrying for a long day; ducking from your car into the office will likely be more of a struggle than if you used one of the other leather bags we recommend. But if you want an ultra-traditional-looking briefcase, this is the one we’d recommend.