By nature, I’m quite an envious person. I’m envious of anyone who has a six-pack, or a million dollars, or those Instagram influencers who always seem to be traveling. But perhaps what makes me most envious of all is a person who leaves their house with just the basics: a phone, a set of keys, and a wallet.
Me? I’m far from ascetic. On any given day, you’re going to find me with two laptops, an iPad, three notebooks, a planner, headphones, maybe a pack of gum, an extra charger, perhaps a water bottle, and most definitely a book that I won’t crack open, but, damnit, I still bring it with me. I wasn’t always this way, you see. I can look back at my high school days quite fondly and reminisce on the innocence of youth, shoving all my homework in my locker and leaving empty-handed for the school bus. But now, as a freelance writer and Certified Busy Person, my daily bag has become something of a mobile office for me.
But here’s the thing: I don’t just need a bag so that I can lug everything with me. I need pockets. I need zippers. I need a way to still carry the thing when it’s overfilled and I still have to schlep it to the office and back without straining my arm. Sure, I’ve tried the regular tote—even got a New Yorker subscription to get their complimentary one—but everything just sort of pools to the bottom and isn’t very weatherproof. I’ve tried a briefcase, but it made me look like corporate oatmeal. I tried a backpack, but it made me look like a third-grader.
What I really wanted was a bag that I could sling on one arm, had the capacity to fit all my stuff, enough pockets for, at the very least, the appearance of being organized, and a way to stay comfortable carrying it all around when shoved too much stuff inside. Enter the totepack (or convertible tote, as it’s also called). I may have arrived at this solution after spending hundreds of dollars on other options, but really, reader, is it ever too late to reach bag Nirvana?
A totepack has all the elements I’d been looking for but at the same time, is more than the sum of its parts: the spacious interior pocket of a tote with the straps of a backpack and the various pockets of a quality messenger bag. While, yes, it can easily check all the functionality off a proverbial list, there is also a sense of tactility and intention in choosing this particular design. I’m not some yuppie who carries a tote I grabbed at the museum giftshop. Oh, no, buddy. I’m a man with a plan. Those laptops? They’re securely tucked away. That iPad? It’s just in this padded compartment. Can I offer you a piece of gum? I have it right in this little pocket. With a totepack, everything has its place, which gives me a bit of a clean slate every time I reach for it throughout my day.
But of course, not all totepacks are created equal. Luckily, I’ve sampled enough to confidently say that the below options are the best on the market for upgrading your mobile office. And maybe relieving a little bit of shoulder tension in the process.
Photo via Bellroy
Bellroy Tokyo Totepack
If you’re searching for a totepack that ticks all the boxes and still looks stylish, the Bellroy Tokyo Totepack has you covered. While leaning more into the backpack aesthetic, the slim profile and curved silhouette give it an overall trimmed-down minimalistic look that can easily pair with a variety of wardrobe styles, given its five colorway options. The waterproof nylon fabric, the interior organization, and the front two “pop pockets” for an umbrella, water bottle, or extra pair of shoes make it a great option for urban living when heading home is a subway ride across town.
Photo via Samsonite
Samsonite Better Than Basic Convertible Backpack
Samsonite’s a household name as a luggage brand, of course, but I wouldn’t discount them for their ability to make a great day bag, too. Their convertible backpack is sleekly designed with minimal decoration, with the brand focusing more on functionality for daily use. A generous internal laptop compartment, along with two internal pockets, pen sleeves, zippered internal pockets, and an external pocket for a water bottle make this a simple, functional option that won’t go out of style anytime soon.
Photo via Fjällräven
Fjällräven High Coast Totepack
Fjällräven’s High Coast totepack definitely plays into the strengths of the brand’s outdoorsy heritage, focusing on convenience for the wearer. The bag is simple enough: one main compartment inside, a pocket outside, and a longer handle for slinging over one’s shoulder, more like a messenger bag than a tote. Further, the bag itself is waterproof and can fold in on itself to fit in the front pocket, so could be stored in your luggage with minimal real estate if you ever want to pack for a trip. Coming in ten colorways, this bag has a variety of colorful options if the minimalistic style isn’t for you.
Photo via ALPAKA
ALPAKA Flow Totebag
Perhaps we could consider this the avant-garde cousin to the High Coast totepack above. With its asymmetrical pocket and otherwise simplistic design, the ALPAKA Flow Totebag is a bit more of a statement option, without veering into the ostentatious. With a wider opening up top and a set of pockets in the front zippered section, there’s ample storage, while still being compact enough to avoid feeling cumbersome.
Photo via Carhartt
Carhartt Classic Convertible Backpack Laptop Tote
Carhartt’s renaissance among menswear will, undoubtedly, be studied one day. A brand that, for all intents and purposes, still holds strong to its workwear roots. Case in point: their convertible tote. Yes, it has all the merits of other options on this list, but it also has something more to it, too. The dual side pockets, the thick handle fabric, and the water repellent fabric that’s used throughout their workwear all point to a deeper understanding of functionality and convenience. And, of course, the Carhartt logo does get you brownie points among certain men who got their duck canvas jackets for a marked-up price off Grailed.
