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PHOTOGRAPH: TOM BIHN
Best Overall
Tom Bihn Synik 22
When I go to CES, I expect to carry a mobile office on my back for 16 straight hours of walking, talking, and typing. I usually carry a Tom Bihn bag. There are a lot of pockets on the clamshell Synik 22, and they're all thoughtfully designed. For example, the zippered water bottle pocket is located in the middle of the backpack, instead of on the side, where it won't tip you off balance. The pen pockets are located in flaps on the side, rather than in the middle top, for convenient access. The exterior is made from Bluesign-certified 400-dernier ballistic nylon with top-of-the-line YKK water-repellent zippers. Each bag has a lifetime guarantee.
Because the bag is so small, however, the pass-through on the back is only 7 inches wide—too narrow to slip over the handle of my Briggs & Riley carry-on. And the dense fabric and plentiful hardware—the zippers, O-rings, and buckles—make the bag a little heavy. But in the 22-liter size, I didn't notice the extra weight. It was the perfect, organized conference companion.
$290 AT TOM BIHN
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PHOTOGRAPH: INCASE
Best Value
Incase Icon Slim Backpack with Woolenex
Speaking of CES, the conference is a veritable showcase of Incase backpacks—and for good reason. Incase has lots of backpack options, but I like the low profile and durable weave of the Icon Slim with Woolenex. Woolenex is Incase's proprietary wool-polyester fabric blend. It's abrasion-resistant and repels moisture but looks much more polished and feels more fabric-like than nylon. (Incase also makes a more affordable version in 840-denier nylon.)
I like the padded grab handle and the two side "grabbable" pockets by the hips, which are perfect for lip balm, hand sanitizer, tissues, and other small necessities that tend to get lost in bigger bags. However, there is no dedicated water bottle pocket, and the interior is black, which can make it difficult to see loose belongings; you might want to drop a bag light in the bottom.
$150 AT INCASE
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PHOTOGRAPH: LO & SONS
Most Versatile
Lo & Sons Hanover 2
I'm the parent of two young children, one of whom is still in diapers, and I hate carrying a diaper bag. I also hate switching bags between "parent" and "work" modes, because switching bags is the best way to lose favorite pens or lip balms. The Hanover 2 has a clever, padded, and detachable insert with four pockets in it. When I'm working, I button the insert inside to store my day planner, notebooks, and a coffee mug and water bottle (Finally! Someone realized I carry two reusable beverage containers every day!).
On the weekends, I can unbutton the insert, take it out, and replace it with a diaper changing station, tiny rain jackets, and seemingly thousands of stuffed animals. It's also made from lightweight 600-dernier recycled polyester and weighs 1.75 pounds without the insert. The pass-through is 9 inches wide, which fits the handle of my roller bag.
$115 AT LO & SONS
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PHOTOGRAPH: NORTH ST.
Best Bike Bag
North St. Morrison Backpack Pannier
When I walked into a beer garden while wearing the Morrison backpack, a friend immediately said, "That's the coolest bag you've ever tested." North Street bags are made by hand in Portland, Oregon. The exterior fabric is durable 1,000-dernier Cordura, and the interior is a waterproof X-Pac VX21 liner with a drawstring closure underneath a buckled flap. The interior laptop compartment is suspended over the bottom of the bag, and I like that the keyring and zipper pulls are made from bright, easily-findable red webbing.
It converts from a backpack to a pannier in about a minute. Just pull the backpack straps out of the pouch on the back and clip them on, or tuck them back into the pouch to switch to the pannier clip. I didn't find the rack clips to be uncomfortable at all. I got my tester last fall and the straps aren't padded, which makes them easier to store. North Street recently switched to padded straps, which may be more comfortable, if bulkier.
$200 AT NORTH STREET BAGS
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PHOTOGRAPH: TORTUGA
Best Carry-On
Tortuga Setout
When I went on a work trip that lasted less than 24 hours, I took the Setout. It comes in both men's and women's versions, and my favorite is the 35-liter women's version, which is barely bigger than a daypack. It has three compartments: A back compartment for tablets and laptops; a front compartment with little pockets for pens, cards, and sundries, as well as a clip-in key holder; and a middle compartment for clothes.
I can carry it with me off a train and into a Lyft, and bring it in a public bathroom when a company unexpectedly asks me to change into running clothes in the middle of a seminar. The zippers are lockable, and the fabric is made from recycled 900-dernier polyester that has also been treated with durable water repellent. I like that it has multiple padded grab handles and is sized for my small torso. I also like Cotopaxi's travel backpack for quick weekend trips.
$199 AT TORTUGA
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PHOTOGRAPH: NORTH FACE
Tailored for Women
North Face Isabella Daypack
You might not need a woman-specific backpack. But it's worth considering if many backpacks are too long for your torso or don't accommodate your hips. The Isabella's straps fit my smaller shoulders perfectly (I am 5' 2"). It's miraculously light (1 pound, 5 ounces); the laptop pocket is fleece-lined and suspended; and the interior fabric is also a much lighter, contrasting gray than the sleek black exterior—I can't stand rooting in the bottom of a bag that is the color of a black hole.
Like the company's popular Pivoter, the Isabella is also separated into two compartments, which comes in handy when you stop by the grocery store and your way home want to keep two pounds of paper-wrapped raw chicken separate from your laptop. However, at 17 liters, it's very small and only fits up to a 15-inch laptop. Also, the easy-access front mesh pocket isn't waterproof.
$85 AT REI
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PHOTOGRAPH: PEAK DESIGN
Best Camera Bag
Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L
If you’re a photographer, audio engineer, or member of some other profession that has to tote around expensive, oddly-shaped pieces of equipment, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack is for you. It has many camera-specific features, including stiff shoulder straps that are made for carrying Peak Design’s Capture Clip.
FlexFold dividers can be Velcroed and folded to accommodate and organize anything you own, and side-loading zippers let you access anything quickly. However, the 30-liter size was too long for my 5' 2" torso, and it seems likely that the curved zippers at the bottom will blow out over time.
$289 AT AMAZON
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PHOTOGRAPH: PRVKE
Another Good Camera Bag
Prvke
I carry a lot of gear every day, from my mirrorless camera and extra lenses to a 16-inch MacBook Pro and various other accessories. So I spent months looking for a bag that could fit it all but still have a way to access the goods quickly. My search led me to Wandrd's Prvke series. Despite several months of daily use, it's in fantastic condition thanks to the 1,680-dernier ballistic nylon exterior, not to mention the weather-resistant zippers. I have the 31L, which allows me to add a good deal more into the expandable roll-top. (There's a 21L option, too.) There are lots of little pockets around the bag to store cables, card readers, microfiber cloths, and the like (even one underneath that houses a rain fly to keep the bag dry when it's raining).
I opted for the Photography Bundle, which adds a camera cube filled with foldable, Velcro liners you can use to organize camera gear and keep them secure. It's also easy to access my camera from the side pocket without needing to take off the entire backpack. I've tried a lot of backpacks and messenger bags, and this is the happiest I've been with one so far. —Julian Chokkattu
$264 AT B&H PHOTO
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PHOTOGRAPH: AER DESIGNS
For Gym-Goers
Aer Designs Fit Pack 2
Is your gym near, or at, your office? The Aer Fit Pack 2 is the work backpack for you. When you lay the bag down, the top unzips to reveal a clever, integrated gym bag, complete with a separate, ventilated shoe compartment that keeps your sweaty kicks away from your laptop and your lunch.
It’s relatively affordable but looks much more expensive than it is, with a waterproof, minimalist exterior. It also has a padded laptop compartment and plenty of accessible storage pockets, including a handy grab-and-go pocket at the top for your wallet, phone, and keys.
$135 AT HUCKBERRY
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PHOTOGRAPH: BELLROY
Best Totepack
Bellroy Duo Totepack
Personally, I prefer backpacks to totes or messenger bags; I prefer to balance weight on both shoulders. However, I am aware that turning around with a backpack at a work event in a cocktail bar or restaurant is a great way to accidentally send someone flying. So far, Bellroy's convertible totepack is my favorite. (Disclosure: I own and use a Bellroy wallet.)
The totepack is made from 30 recycled water bottles, woven into a water-resistant fabric with Aquaguard water-resistant zippers. At under 2.5 inches wide, it's slim enough to tuck under my arm with two padded grab handles but still expands to fit my laptop, water bottle, and assorted sundries. After I leave a work event, I can slide the backpack straps out of the back panel, clip them on, and bike away.