23 Promotion-Worthy Briefcases Ready to Own Your Commute

The idea of briefcases for men might seem kind of antiquated. But let’s be honest: it’s tough to get a fit off—or receive any real respect from your boss and clients—when you’re rolling into the office with the same ratty tote bag you use to haul milk and eggs home from the bodega. Briefcases, like well-tailored suits and shiny dress shoes, are classic for a reason. They give off an immediate air of refinement and sophistication that no backpack or messenger bag could ever possess, and will immediately mark you as a person who’s really going places. 

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The Best Briefcases for Men Shopping Guide

• The Rugged-Yet-Refined Briefcase: Filson 24 Hour tin cloth briefcase, $395
• The Two-Wheeled Commuter Briefcase: Troubadour Embark compact duffle, $275
• The Ultimate Flex Briefcase: Goyard Ambassade briefcase, $4494
• The Laptop-Only Briefcase: Timbuk2 Switch laptop briefcase, $189
• The Handmade Briefcase: Frank Clegg bound-edge zip-top briefcase, $1150
• The Travel-Ready Briefcase: Tumi Alpha 3 Collection compact 4-wheel laptop briefcase, $825

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There are a few things that every great briefcase absolutely needs. Ideally, it should have a dedicated laptop sleeve to swaddle your precious MacBook, along with separate compartments for your chargers, small electronics, notebooks, and pens. It should hopefully have enough room for your water bottle—hydration is important!—and also be easy enough to carry that your arm won’t feel as heavy as lead by the time you reach the office.

And, most importantly, it’s gotta look cool. You don’t want to be hauling around a briefcase that makes you look like a kid in his dad’s clothes. You want a briefcase that feels modern and fresh and all the way you. A briefcase like, say, one of these—the absolute finest briefcases for men on the market today. 

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The Rugged-Yet-Refined Briefcase

Filson has been doling out its handsome, hardwearing goods to loggers and lumberjacks since the late 1800s, and the Seattle outfitter’s legendary bags are still every bit as desirable and functional today. The water-repellent twill outer on this briefcase means it can take a beating and look just right with some tough boots and raw denim, but the slim profile and English bridle leather straps help it remain refined enough to pair with a tweed suit at the office. However you choose to wear it, it’ll age into an heirloom your kids—and their kids—will cherish forever. 

The Two-Wheeled Commuter Briefcase

Prefer to bike to work and change when you get there? This is the bag for you. It’s got a separate compartment for your shoes, plenty of space to hold your bike helmet and a second outfit, and also looks way more office appropriate than a standard gym duffle.

The Ultimate Flex Briefcase

There’s a reason your favorite rappers all namedrop Goyard a dozen times an album. The French house deals only in absolute grails, the type of luggage designed specifically for flaunting at your side as you descend from a private jet. This soft-sided briefcase allows you to bring all that pure opulence with you into work every day, with its iconic hand-painted coated canvas exterior and cowhide trimmings practically screaming, “I’VE MADE IT!” And quite honestly, if you’re able to get your hands on a bag this beautiful, you really have.

The Laptop-Only Briefcase

These days, most jobs can be done entirely with just a laptop. So why bulk up your commute (if you’re even going into the office at all?): a simple, svelte laptop bag is all you really need. The ideal version is the Timbuk2 Switch laptop bag. It’s so lean you’ll almost forget you’re carrying it, but it’s padded enough to inspire confidence that your company computer will arrive intact. The laptop compartment has its own separate zippered pocket so you can access it without exposing everything else in your bag, and the second main compartment is tidy but boasts plenty of space for the essentials: headphones, a good book, a tablet, some snacks. Other great add-ons include two exterior zipper pockets and a luggage caddy that acts as another easy-access pocket when not affixed to a luggage bag.

The Handmade Briefcase

Go ahead, take a healthy whiff of this bag. Mmmm. That’s the intoxicating scent of really, really good leather. Frank Clegg’s supple, luxurious briefcases are fashioned entirely by hand in his Massachusetts workshop. The smooth tumbled leather and solid brass hardware give them a timeless look and feel that will age gracefully, long past your 9-to-5 days and well into retirement.

The Travel-Ready Briefcase

If your job requires you to travel often, you need a briefcase that won’t slow you down. Tumi’s Alpha 3 4-wheel laptop briefcase may as well be the Tesla of briefcases. It’s a softshell wheeled briefcase that holds laptops up to 15″ and even comes with a USB port (though you do have to buy the battery separately). It boasts a removable accordion folder, mesh panels, a gang of media pockets, and enough room for a change of clothes. Maneuvering through the airport is easy, too, thanks to its 360-degree wheels and the sleeve that easily attaches to your other luggage. And, of course, it works as a carry-on so you don’t have to worry about checking your work essentials. Figuring out how to connect to the plane’s WiFi, on the other hand, is another store entirely.

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Plus 17 More Briefcases Worth Carrying