How to find the ideal business bag
When you head to work, there is one thing that you most likely never leave without: - your work bag. Your work bag carries everything you need: a notebook full of ideas, important documents, pens to sign papers, a laptop for today’s presentation, and maybe a book and lunch.
Your work bag is a part of your professional attire, so it shouldn’t be flashy. It should be able to keep all of your work materials organized and easily accessible. It should also be strong enough to haul all of your work materials.
While this trusty bag is handling everything, you may find that it could be better. Whether you need to replace your current bag, or you’ve never shopped for one before, this guide will tell you everything you need to know.
HOW WILL YOU USE YOUR WORK BAG?
It’s important to start off by asking yourself this question because there is such a wide range of professions, from lawyers, to artists, to small business owners, to doctors, and more. It’s obvious that all of these people do not carry the same business bag.
Some other questions to ask yourself would be:
- What goes in your bag both to and from work? It’s important to know this because this will determine what size bag you need.
- Will you be transporting the bag a lot? This is another thing to think about because if you will be transporting the bag a lot, you’ll want to invest in a bag that is scratch resistant.
- Do you have to carry a laptop frequently? If you carry a laptop, you’ll want to make sure that you purchase a bag that the laptop can fit in.
- Are you driving a car or are you using public transportation? This may not seem important but if you’re taking public transportation vs a car, you’ll want a bag with secure closures.
Answering these questions will help you choose between a more heavy-duty and larger bag with lots of hardware to a small and lightweight bag.
LOOK FOR A BUSINESS BAG WITH SHOULDER STRAPS
We can’t stress this enough; you really should opt for a business bag with shoulder straps. You don’t want your business bag to send you to the orthopedic office, do you? Be sure to look for convertible straps and handles.
It’s ideal that your bag can be carried can be carried in more than one way: this could be in your hands and over your shoulder. You want to be able to change the way you carry your bag so you can switch out carrying methods and give your body a break.
KEEP THE INTERIOR IN MIND
The interior of the bag is something to consider as well. A business bag with an accordion interior that’s separated into folder compartments isn't necessarily better than a tote with an open design. It really all depends on how you will use the bag. If you carry a lot of paperwork that you need to keep in good condition and flat, the accordion compartments may work best for you, but if that’s not the case, then the open interior of a tote can provide more flexibility.
One thing we know is that you’ll want all the pockets you can get. Pockets allow you to store things away neatly and keep things organized. If you need to find a pen, a sticky note, your phone, a business card, or whatever else, pockets can help you get to them quickly. You’ll know where it all is in the bag. Take the time to look over the pockets before making your purchase.
Think about what items you’ll carry; some bags may have only a few pockets on the larger side, while others may have many smaller pockets. The ideal business bag should have one or two big pockets for your files and notebooks and smaller pockets for your phone, business cards, pens, etc.
We know everyone is different, meaning everyone carries different things to work. Some may carry a full lunch and piles of papers while others may only have a small notebook and a laptop. However, there are some items you should keep in mind that almost everyone carries. Here’s a checklist of the most important items that you will most likely carry in your business bag:
- Phone
- Notebook
- Tablet
- Snacks
- Keys
- Files
- Pens