The Best Laptop Totes for Work and Weekends

Medea Giordano

Now more than ever, people work hybrid jobs that take them from home to the office to the corner coffee shop. Even if you work from home permanently, you'll occasionally need to go out into the world and bring your junk with you. A backpack will do the trick, but some of us want bags that look as nice as our outfits. That's where a good work tote or purse comes in.

Whatever your needs or style, we have an option you should like. These totes aren't the thin, pocketless bags we all seem to accumulate. We tried bags that make organization easy and can stand up to the elements and the normal amount of wear and tear that life brings.

If you prefer a backpack or a messenger bag, we have guides for those too, as well as a roundup of all our favorite types of bags made from recycled materials.

Updated August 2023: We've added Baggu's Duck Bag and Verloop's Scrapped Stuffed Tote as picks. We've also added the Lojel Niru Tote to the honorable mentions.

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Moment's Tote is WIRED writer Jaina Grey's favorite. She says it distributes weight like magic, no matter how much junk is shoved inside, so it won't give you shoulder pain as you go about your day.

This bag has pockets within pockets, next to pockets. Your 16-inch laptop, Kindle, water bottles (yes, plural), and cables all have a place. And because it comes from a photography brand, it's made to protect all your expensive gear with padding, weatherproof recycled nylon, and a full-zip closure. It also holds Moment's camera insert for even more organization and protection.

The Bellroy Tokyo Tote is a solid runner-up to Moment's. There are pockets all the way around the perimeter of the inside to help you stay as organized as can be. On one side, a soft sleeve cradles a 13-inch laptop, on the other, two 5-inch pockets can hold a phone, wallet, cables, or a small notebook. Larger "pop" pockets on either end can extend to hold a water bottle, umbrella, or shoes and then push back against the bag when you don't need them. I was even able to fit a tall water bottle with a straw, though I needed to do a little finagling to get the zipper over it.

The water-resistant Tokyo Tote is made of recycled plastic bottles, and its straps have a nice rubbery grip to keep it on your shoulders.

A nice bag is an investment you can make, instead of accumulating a bunch of cheapies. The Cuyana System Tote is beautiful, with a design that should outlast trends. It gets its name for the add-ons that work as an efficient system for your needs, taking you from work to dinner to weekends away. But you have to pay a premium for those, even the laptop sleeve ($98). The organizational insert ($98) has a pocket for your laptop and water bottle. However, the bag itself isn't padded. It also snaps closed in the middle, but there isn't a zipper.

Purses sometimes suffer at the point where the strap meets the rest of the bag--the more you stuff into it, the more weight those straps hold, and flimsy threads can unravel. With this bag, the straps are integrated into the leather. There is, of course, stitching elsewhere, but I threw this bag around while it was filled to the brim and it held up.

? More accessories: You can add a flap bag ($128) that works as a clutch when that's all you need, or as an inner compartment to hold essentials. An adjustable strap ($58) makes the clutch or the entire purse a cross-body bag. We recommend getting the laptop sleeve first and the others later if you need them.

I loved Cuyana's System Tote so much, I tried its Oversized Sling made from recycled plastic. It zips fully closed and is a little more casual, but it fits a ton--I brought it on a plane and shoved in everything I couldn't fit in my suitcase, including a deflated pool floaty and a high heel (the other was shoved in a different bag). For more organization, you can add Cuyana's tote insert if you want to, but it carried a laptop just fine without it.

You can get the medium or small size, but we think the oversized is probably best for work and commuting comfortably. It's machine washable too, as long as you use a mesh bag.

Adrienne So

Julian Chokkattu

Simon Hill

Reece Rogers

WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar loves her Baggu duck bag. She had been looking for a lightweight bag that was comfortable to wear with a coat (tote straps tend to annoyingly slide off jacket sleeves). Her boyfriend gifted her the embroidered floral version and it's been the only bag she's worn since.

An adjustable strap makes it easy to switch between carrying it as a crossbody or a traditional tote. Both ways are comfortable, whether you're bundled up in a coat or not, plus you can hold it from the top handles too and leave your shoulder free. She regularly loads it with a 15-inch MacBook Air, a change of clothes, and a book. The smaller, inner pocket holds her wallet, chapstick, and keys. It's roomy, comfortable, and effortlessly cute, plus the recycled cotton canvas is machine-washable.

We love the Kanken backpack. The Totepack is essentially the same bag, but with extra straps so you can wear it on your shoulder or your back. It's nice to be able to effortlessly switch back and forth, like when you get on a crowded subway and don't want to knock people over, or when you've packed it full of groceries on the way home and one shoulder holding the weight won't cut it anymore.

Like on the backpack, there's a pocket for a 13-inch laptop, a smaller one to fit a tablet, notebook, or Kindle, plus a large main compartment for everything else. There are two side pockets on the outside for water bottles or a small umbrella--but they're tight, so don't expect to fit a large bottle in there. The rigid fabric should repel water if you get caught in a rain shower, and the company offers limited lifetime repairs. It comes with a thin foam seat pad that adds protection to the laptop pocket but also works as a cushion in a pinch if you need to sit on an uncomfortable surface.

If you're in school or newly entering the workforce, spending over $100 on a bag is hard to stomach--it's still hard for me. We tried three inexpensive, highly rated bags from Amazon, and this Newhey was the best. The inside is well organized, with two pen slots and side pouches for a phone or wallet. A large zipper pocket runs down the middle of the bag, and a padded laptop sleeve is secured with a Velcro strap.

There's a lot of room inside, but it's thin when it isn't stuffed full, so it feels nice and comfortable under your arm. The outside is a soft faux leather, made of polyurethane, with adjustable handles and a removable strap for slinging it across your body if you need to. However, I could see a clear difference in quality when it came to the stitching and materials. I don't see this bag lasting forever, but if you treat it well, it should be OK for a while.

? Another budget bag: We also tried and liked the Lovevook Laptop Tote ($37). The interior is nearly identical to the Newhey, and it has a pretty V-shaped pocket on the outside, like the Lux and Nyx bag below. The faux leather is stiffer, but it's hard to say if that makes it more durable long-term or if its structure is more prone to cracks.

Adrienne So

Julian Chokkattu

Simon Hill

Reece Rogers

Cheap purses have flimsy faux leather and fragile straps, but an affordable tote is much easier to find. Gear editor Michael Calore loves this bag and says he uses it for everything. Really! He takes it on quick grocery runs or farmer's market trips, camping, and beach days, as well as on flights. We think it could be useful for work too, though it doesn't have a laptop sleeve, so you might consider getting a case to put your computer inside.

Like most of L.L. Bean's merchandise, its rugged construction is designed for long, wet mornings spent trudging through the New England muck. All of the seams are double-stitched, the thick polyester shell is reinforced with a second layer of material along the bottom, and the handles are beefier than an Aberdeen Angus, as Calore says. The lining is a rubbery plastic. While it isn't leakproof, the tote can haul frozen foods or snowy boots, and it wipes clean with a paper towel. It has a removable strap and comes in medium, large, or extra-large--Calore uses the extra-large. He says it holds a week's worth of veggies, plus a couple of half-gallon cartons of oat milk and a 12-pack of hard kombucha. It's also available as an open-top tote, but get the zip-top version.

Like the Kanken, this bag can be used as a tote or a backpack, but it's not as compact. It has more padding and protection, plus it's made of recycled polyester and nylon and has a limited lifetime guarantee.

The padded laptop sleeve is big enough that you can keep your laptop in a case if you want, but you don't need one. It has organizational pouches inside the front zippered pocket for a phone, wallet, or pens that you need to access quickly. Two side pockets hold water bottles in place, and expandable elastic straps can hold bigger bottles or keep smaller bottles tightly secured. Unzip the back compartment to reveal the hidden backpack straps. Just take them out and clip them onto the sturdy D-rings. When you're ready to switch back, unclip and hide them away.

When I first got to college in 2012, every cool girl in a sleek outfit had a black and brown bag under her arm. (Even Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have them!) It was the original Longchamp Le Pliage. I've finally tried a Le Pliage of my own, but this one is made of recycled polyamide canvas, which is constructed from old fishing nets and carpets.

What makes the bag so popular among students and professionals alike is its durable, weatherproof fabric. Rain, snow, or spilled coffee won't ruin your belongings, and you'll look nice too. It also zips fully closed. If you're traveling and want to take this as your backup purse, not only is it incredibly thin as it is, but you can fold it up and snap it closed to about 10 inches by 6 inches, plus the straps. On the minus side, it doesn't have a dedicated laptop sleeve, so you'll have to buy your own.

Adrienne So

Julian Chokkattu

Simon Hill

Reece Rogers

Verloop's mini tote is one of my favorites when I don't need to carry much. This is a slightly bigger option from the brand, and it's made from paper-thin nylon stuffed with scrap yarn. The result is a cool, colorful explosion reminiscent of the '90s. I haven't seen anything like it. There is a matching pouch too that you can use in whatever other bag you prefer.

It won't fit your laptop but you could put a tablet or a Kindle in here. The biggest issue is just how loud the nylon is when you touch it. It's like walking with a chip bag.

Chrome bags are known for their durability, which is why we already like the company's backpacks and messenger bags. The Barrage tote is just as strong, "built twice" with a welded, waterproof liner and a tough nylon shell. There are two internal sleeves that fit a 13-inch laptop. They aren't padded, but you can squeeze a case over your laptop if its paper-thin. There's a key clip inside, too, and two external water bottle pockets.

A cargo netting front can expand and contract to fit whatever you need in there--a bike helmet, a small bag of groceries, shoes. Hidden behind the netting is a zip pocket, and there's also a zip pocket on the back that runs the entire length of the bag. If the bag is packed full and heavy, you can sling it on your back while a removable stabilizer strap goes across your chest.

Try to count the pockets on this bag. I'll wait.

This is another of editor Michael Calore's favorites. He says it feels designed especially for people who always carry an army of gadgets with them. There are two zippers along the top of the Drift; one for the 28-liter main compartment, the other for a padded laptop pocket that fits a 16-inch PC. The front of the bag has a smaller zip-up slot for a Kindle or iPad, plus an exterior compartment with several pockets for cables, pens, chargers, notebooks, and other smaller stashables. A dedicated phone pocket on the side of the tote is lined with a fuzzy non-abrasive fabric that won't scratch your screen. The other side has a slot for a water bottle. (It fits a slim Klean Kanteen, but not a chubbier Nalgene.)

But it's kind of a beast, Calore notes. If you're traveling with it, it won't fit under your airplane seat if it's fully loaded, though you can stash it in the overhead compartment. When traveling by car, train, or bus, you'll be good, and a grippy coating on the bottom keeps it from sliding around. Also, Mission Workshop's bags are made in the US and come with a lifetime warranty, which makes their higher prices easier to swallow.

Adrienne So

Julian Chokkattu

Simon Hill

Reece Rogers

This bag is stunning, with a design that can go from work and the gym to dinner or the airport. It's one of my favorite bags that I tested, but it has a downside: It's made of neoprene. While the fabric stands up to water, it's made from petroleum and doesn't biodegrade. The company makes up for some of that by adding straps made of upcycled leather coming from shoes and bags, but it's still something to keep in mind.

There's a padded laptop sleeve, two interior side pockets that can hold mini-umbrellas or even a flat shoe, a small zip pocket hidden inside the exterior V-shape sleeve that holds a phone, and a luggage passthrough on the other side. You can pack this full of a weekend's worth of stuff, thanks to its expandable edges, and it comes with a removable crossbody strap.

I think a tote or backpack is a more modern choice. However, Stuart and Lau's Cary is very versatile. It's made from twill but has leather accents, so it looks nice but not pretentious. The organizational details are also thoughtful--the internal laptop case pops in and out, which is genius. The bag also has two small additional pockets. On the opposite side is a sleeve, plus four pockets and two pen slots. The exterior hosts five additional open slots, a small zippered one, and loops to hold an umbrella.

Plus, it's waterproof to protect your electronics while commuting. It even comes with a reusable shopping bag.

? Alternative: Stuart and Lau's Campaign Briefpack ($385) converts from a super organized briefcase to a backpack. With both options, you can tell the brand put thought into the construction of its hardware and leather accents. Unfortunately, they're both expensive.

Scott Gilbertson

Scott Gilbertson

Julian Chokkattu

Julian Chokkattu

Adrienne So

Adrienne So

Eric Ravenscraft

Nena Farrell

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