When it comes to getting serious work done, you need a briefcase that’s built to last. And while the sleek leather jobs of the Mad Men era are a thing of the past, today’s top briefcase options range in size and aesthetics from simple to rugged and everything in between. To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of the best briefcases for every need.
For a sophisticated, vintage-inspired briefcase that’ll feel at home in the offices of Sterling Cooper, check out Carl Friedrik’s Vallance briefcase. The elongated bell shape looks like something you’d see in the hands of an employee at Sterling Cooper, while brass hardware pops against the smooth Vachetta leather. The briefcase is spacious, too, with enough room to fit your laptop and a few folders with ease.
A sleek, slim briefcase can help you look professional while keeping your hands free, which is important if you’re working with clients or handling sensitive information. The Troubadour Pathfinder Slim, for example, is one of the slimmest briefcases on this list. Yet its lean frame still fits a 15-inch laptop and plenty of paperwork. And thanks to a mix of drop-in pockets and zippered ones, the briefcase is easy to keep organized.
If you’re a more casual sort of professional, a rugged canvas briefcase might be the way to go. Filson, for instance, makes some of the hardestwearing bags in the business, and this one is no exception. The bag’s sturdy twill construction can handle rough commutes and weekend adventures, while the leather handles and straps add polish. The briefcase also features a padded laptop pocket, two interior dividers for notebooks of different sizes and a lockable zip pocket for additional security.
And for those who are a little more formal than the casual workwear crowd, there’s this Paul Smith briefcase. A subtle hit of the brand’s playful codes is communicated through a saturated stripe across the leather style, while brass hardware complements the leather’s naturally rich tone. This briefcase is slender, too, which means you’ll be able to get your work done while looking great in head-to-toe suiting.
If your job requires you to travel frequently, a lightweight, compact briefcase might be what the doctor ordered. Designed with travelers in mind, this briefcase from Samsonite has a special passport pocket and a zipper expansion that adds more storage capacity. It also has a padded laptop sleeve and pockets for other work tools, plus exterior quick-access stow pockets and a luggage pass-through for those long airplane rides.
For those who prefer a briefcase that looks more like a satchel than a case, this option from Samsonite is the one for you. Its slender, rectangular shape is crafted from glove-tanned leather that’s smooth and soft and will only improve with age. There’s an external USB charging port for your smartphone, too, and the briefcase’s full-grain leather handle and shoulder strap are both comfortable to carry all day.