Does anybody have any good recommendations on a backpack/briefcase combination?
Asked by
osoraro (
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)
September 12th, 2014
In my work I go to a boat load of committee meetings and despite the laughable assumption that computers decrease paperwork, obviously the opposite is true. Right now I carry around a Jansport backpack that suits me, but when I stick papers in it they ultimately end up wadded at the bottom of the backpack crushed under my laptop, ipad, phone, and whatever else I throw in there.
What I’d like is something like a compartmentalized briefcase where I can keep things in reasonable order, but since I always walk the stairs at work, I’d like it be convertible into a backpack.
Ideally, I’d like it to be synthetic—i.e. not leather.
Can y’all help?
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23 Answers
Could you just add a folder to your back back to support and protect the papers?
I just googled “back pack / brief case combination”
I don’t know about the combo idea (it sounds to me like changing the orientation of the pack would squish your paperwork faster), but what I use is a backpack with a tight flap in the rearmost pouch. It looks something like this but… you know… less pink. The flap is made to raise your laptop off the bottom of the pack so that it doesn’t bang on the ground when you set it down. However, I will instead (or also) carry papers that need protection in that flap, and it does a pretty good job. If I’m extra worried about what’s happening at the top of the pack (that might crush papers from that angle), then I’ll use a folder, as @Dutchess_III suggested. I’ve never had a problem with this approach.
@Dutchess_III What I hate about that style is how heavy they are when full, and how poorly the straps distribute that weight. It seems to be a chronic problem.
@Dutchess_III That might work. @dappled_leaves‘s fear is also my own. I carry my backpack quite literally everywhere. It’s glued to me. Everything goes in there (I call it “the maw”). And it has a lot of different pockets, but ultimately, it’s a big gaping hole.
A colleague of mine who is an active business traveler recommended the Tumi brand. They’re not cheap, but they might work. It turns out there is a local Tumi store so I’ll go look at them. The one he suggested was really expensive—$500, but I saw it for $350 on ebay.
I’ll keep looking.
@osoraro Let us know if you find a good one – I might be interested, myself.
@dappled_leaves @Dutchess_III Thanks. I will. There’s a Tumi dealer near where I live so I’ll swing by there before I pick my daughter up from school next week. It doesn’t look like it’s going to be cheap, but they have a lifetime warranty and I’m a fan of getting quality stuff that won’t break.
Jaysus. You’d pay $350 for a backpack and consider it cheap because someone bought one for $500?
I bought a $29 made-for-computer backpack at Ocean State Job Lots about six years ago, and haven’t regretted it. A “sport” type backpack is not going to be organized with compartments for your laptop, your folders / papers and your lunch, but if you start looking for “computer backpacks” you’ll find what you need… for a lot less than $350, too!
My backpack may be “inexpensive”, but it’s not “cheap”. It’s well made, and despite daily use, including on several international flights and occasionally doubling as an overnight bag, with or without the computer, not a stitch has been pulled yet.
@CWOTUS I’m not interested in a made for computer backpack—I have one of those and I paid about that much and I use it every day. I’m interested in a briefcase where I can keep multiple sets of documents in locations that they won’t get crushed. But since I climb a lot of stairs, I want one that’s convertible to a backpack.
I’m not married to spending $500—I’m not an idiot. What is primarily important to me is that I am interested in quality and function above price. I can deduct the expense or have my work pay for it.
We were just in the outlet mall and the Calvin Klein Outlet has some nice bags – including backpacks. A web search of briefcase backpack found many matches, some of which have nice compartments for holding documents. Office supply stores usually have a good selection. I’d also just consider getting a portfolio with an accordion structure that you can slide into your existing bag.
@hearkat Thanks. I thought about the portfolio thing, and that’s certainly an inexpensive alternative. Going to Office Depot or something like that is a good idea as well.
I’ll only get one if I see it and say, “That’s it! That’s what I’m looking for”. There’s no rush in this whatsoever, it was just on my mind the other day as I was digging through my backpack looking for a piece of paper that was wadded at the bottom.
How about this? I use the landscape version in wool, which I like very much.
@Megan64 Nice. I like the customization aspect a lot.
@Megan64 – That’s a great pack, especially with the custom colors/patterns. It still doesn’t have a lot of sections for documents, though; so the OP would still need a portfolio or something.
@hearkat I use one everyday, and my papers are fine. However, there are many other choices available.
Plus there’s a lifetime warranty. Can’t beat it.
So I went to a luggage store to look at the high end ($300–500) Tumi briefcase/backpack combos. None of them sang to me, certainly not enough for me to plunk that kind of change on them. I’m probably just going to go with @hearkat‘s idea of an accordion organizer to stick in my backpack.
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