Practical, durable, and chic, the perfect work bag moves from city commute to business class without missing a beat. These everyday companions require a balance of form and function, from high-quality leather tote bags to comfortable backpacks that actually fit a 16-inch laptop. Whether you’re a daily commuter juggling chargers, a water bottle, and gym clothes, or a jet-setter packing for a business trip, the details matter: zippered pockets for security and easy access, interior compartments to organize personal items, and water-resistant materials that can handle real life.

From minimalist laptop totes and structured briefcases to crossbody and messenger bags, these handbags are built to last. We love trusted brands like Cuyana, Bellroy, Dagne Dover, and Longchamp—retailers that get modern work essentials right, with warranties, thoughtful design, and timeless styles. Below, a curated selection of sleek and spacious options, including editor favorites—because your next travel bag should work just as hard as you do.

Editor favorites

Our editors’ favorite work bags have earned their place in our daily rotations, designed with durability and style in mind, and polished enough to go wherever the day takes us. These work bags keep our essentials organized and secure—and they go far beyond the office. From Monos’s Metro tote that’s built for versatility to Cuyana’s leather Paloma bag that elevates every outfit, these picks emulate a balance of style and function.

My go-to for the office is this suede, slouchy shoulder bag from Quince that has just enough room to hold my laptop and notebook without weighing me down. Dagne Dover’s durable backpack keeps research director Alexandra Sanidad’s belongings in order, while associate editor Charlie Hobbs’s J.Crew bucket bag bring more of a relaxed elegance to office hours and after-work plans. And if you need a little help staying organized, commerce editor Meaghan Kenny recommends the MZ Wallace Metro tote—there is a pocket for every thing.

Sleek backpacks

Our top picks for the best work backpacks are purposefully made for the daily in-office grind. Troubadour’s Apex backpack has a sleek silhouette and thoughtful organization that keeps everyday essentials neatly in place without fuss. July’s Carry All backpack channels minimalist sensibility with a functional layout, transitioning easily from commute to weekend wander. For something super-soft and spacious, MZ Wallace’s Metro backpack certainly fits the bill. And if you’re looking for something that will last for years to come, the Satchel and Page Map Case is all about timeless craftsmanship and utility.

Functional totes

When totes are truly functional, they earn their keep by being unfussy and endlessly useful. The original Longchamp Le Pliage tote remains a classic for a reason—it’s lightweight, packable, and deceptively roomy for daily commutes or travel days. The Freja Paloma tote in its trendy espresso color offers a more structured, minimalist take that feels polished without being overly precious, while the Telfar Shopping Bag brings a cultural icon into the workday with practicality and ease. And of course, Béis’ work tote rounds out the mix with smart internal organization, including widened shoulder straps, two pen and slip pockets as well as one zip pocket, and a key leash.

Swift briefcases

For days that call for a sharper silhouette, these briefcases balance efficiency with timeless appeal. The ever-stylish Winnetka briefcase is clean-lined and practical without feeling too corporate, while the Bosca Firenze stinger leans into classic leather craftsmanship. The Satchel and Page Slim Mailbag offers a pared-back profile that works just as well for commuting as it does for meetings on the move—structured, polished, and never bulky.

Business trip luggage

When work takes you out of town, these pieces make travel feel more considered. Satchel and Page’s hard-shell carry-on and canvas weekender pair heritage materials with thoughtful features—ideal for short business trips. The Wool and Oak garment duffel is supremely versatile, bridging the gap between luggage and work bag, and can even fit a suit or dress inside. Meanwhile, the Arlo Skye Zipper Carry-On Max stands out for its sleek shell and front laptop pocket, ensuring more seamless airport transitions.

Optimal tech organizers

The best tech organizers keep essentials contained without overthinking it. Bellroy, known for its well-reviewed tech kit, offers a compact and intuitive design, while Cuyana’s tech case adds a refined leather touch. Mark and Graham’s tech folio is impressive—offering a polished solution for keeping cords, chargers, and documents neatly in one place.

A stay at the St. Regis Deer Valley has always been an elevated experience—but it just got even more luxe thanks to a new partnership. The iconic Park City hotel has teamed up with membership club Vivrelle to offer guests the ability to borrow from a curated collection of designer handbags and jewelry pieces during their stay at the property, all for absolutely no extra cost and with no membership required. The best part? You can borrow and rotate pieces as many times as you want while you’re a guest at the hotel, so you can pick the perfect supplement to each of your winter looks (if you’ve ever been to Park City before, you know the streets—and slopes—are somewhat of a runway). And of course, you’ll also save precious room in your suitcase.

The St. Regis Deer Valley x Vivrelle shared closet doesn’t have just any old accoutrements, either. “Guests can look forward to borrowing designer accessories from Miu Miu, Khaite, Dior, Prada, The Row, Saint Laurent, and more,” says Blake Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Vivrelle. “We wanted the Deer Valley closet to feel intentional and curated, so we picked pieces that complement the resort’s winter charm.” Some of Cohen’s favorite styles on offer: “The Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Suede Shearling hobo bag, which is perfect for the colder weather, and the Gucci GG Marmont Matelassé Velvet belt bag that you can wear on the mountain to carry your essentials while elevating your ski look.”

Ready to hop on a flight and get in on the fashion action? Read on for more info on the partnership.

The St. Regis Deer Valley x Vivrelle shared closet

Vivrelle

What exactly is Vivrelle?

Often described as a Rent the Runway for designer bags and accessories, Vivrelle was founded by Cohen and her husband, Wayne Geffen, back in 2018. With the intention of making luxury goods more accessible—and styling them more flexible—the membership club allows users to borrow items from a shared virtual closet for a monthly membership fee. There are different membership tiers, the lowest of which costs $139 a month and allows you to borrow one item from their collection at a time. Memberships also come with no set return date, so if you’re obsessed with a bag and aren’t ready to give it back, you can keep it for another month.

Many fashion-forward travelers are fans of Vivrelle because it gives them the ability to incorporate different designer items into their wardrobes in a more sustainable way, allowing them to play around with their travel style no matter where they’re headed. An Hermès handbag for Paris, and a Gucci wallet for Florence? All yours with a membership, and for a fraction of the price of buying them in-store. Plus, the flexible return date is perfect for those guilty of always extending their trips.

The façade of the St. Regis Deer Valley

Deer Valley

Why the St. Regis Deer Valley?

Located at the base of Canyons Resort in Park City, one of Utah’s swankiest ski towns, the St. Regis Deer Valley is an ultra-exclusive ski-in/ski-out hotel beloved by travelers who prefer their winter vacations with a side of opulence. The 12-acre property is set within a gated enclave, and guests enjoy access to ski butlers, a funicular, one of the most sought-after après-ski scenes in Park City, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, a two-level spa with a sparkling water feature, and more.

Last fall, I thrifted my way through Tokyo. As I tried on one pair of vintage Levi’s after another, I was struck by how the Japanese seemed to have a better perception of American style than Americans themselves. They say that sometimes you need to go somewhere new to appreciate what you have at home. That’s how, suddenly and without warning, I became consumed with desire for the humble, canvas masterpiece that is the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote.

The bag is perfect in the way a red apple sitting on a teacher’s desk is perfect. It’s classic, without ornament, the kind of thing that expresses its utility in its design. It’s both ubiquitous and aspirational, stirring up images of a dreamy East Coast: a white-sand, Nantucket beach; a shabby, wood-planked boathouse on the coast of Maine; a Gothic-inspired Ivy League campus. If I owned this bag, I too could channel the chic simplicity of Carolyn Besette Kennedy.

It seemed a bit silly to fill my precious suitcase space with an American-made item in Japan, so I waited until I got back to New York City to get my hands on one. Except, it wasn’t that easy. My preferred size and colorway (medium, long handle, zip-top, black) was on backorder. That’s okay, I thought. I’ll just buy a used one. But I ran into an issue there too. My favorite vintage shops in NYC sell them for three times the retail price ($50), and I’ve spent a little while hemming and hawing.

“Demand for the Boat and Tote is up 43% year-over-year,” says Alex Intraversato, L.L. Bean’s chief merchandise officer. “Some styles and colors sold out faster than expected this summer, and therefore were on backorder for a short time.” In fact, the Boat and Tote has been the top item for new buyer growth in the past two years, Intraversato says.

A brief history of the bag

The “It” bag of 2025 dates all the way back to 1944—in Brunswick, Maine, to be exact. The man himself, Leon Leonwood Bean, first introduced the tote as an ice carrier. At that time, most Americans bought and transported block ice from a distributor and stored it in an ice chest. The oatmeal-colored canvas bag was double-layered at the base to prevent spillage during travel, and was capable of holding 500 pounds of ice.

It disappeared from the catalog after just one season (some speculate due to wartime supply disruptions) then reemerged in 1965 as the Boat and Tote, intended to be a carry-all for boating needs and embodying a newfound nautical flair with a red and blue colorway (Bean loved spending time on his boat). Today the bag is still made with the same ironclad material used in conveyor belts. The V-point closures on the bottom corners provide added durability and distinguish the bag from similar styles on the market.

Why I love it

While I personally blame the elusive cool of Japanese Americana, there are probably a number of other reasons I couldn’t stop thinking about the bag: the “quiet luxury” trend and the style icons that embody it (like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who once carried the tote); a playful internet movement involving cheeky monograms like “TAX EVADER,” “old celine,” and “Dump Him” (see @ironicboatandtote); designer re-imaginings, like the $500 Tibi x L.L.Bean Boat and Tote; and the celebrities—like Chloë Sevigny, Alexa Chung, and Rihanna—that continue to carry them.

I’ve learned from years of experience that your choice of bag has the power to make or break an outing while traveling. Bringing along something too big, like a tote or carryall, can result in accidental overpacking or back aches. But you run the risk of not having enough space if you only pack smaller, trendier styles, like a micro bag, for a day on the go. Thankfully, there are some amazing shoulder bags on the market for fall—all designed to work hard in your travel wardrobe— so you no longer have to forgo function for fashion.

To determine which style is best suited for your time away, you must consider not only the destination you’re heading to, but also your itinerary once you arrive. Those that are exploring the great outdoors need something that can really do it all, which is where something like Bagsmart’s Reiki hobo bag comes in handy, thanks to its leakproof compartments and expandable design. Verified’s Eclair bag, on the other hand, is a perfect pairing for your next work trip, and all the various activities that might come along with it. Other standout styles include Telfar’s genius interpretation of a classic plastic shopping bag (you’ve got to see it), which has a surprisingly well-organized interior that makes it ideal for travel.

Whether you’re looking for something to carry while en route to your destination, or a style you can wear every day once you’re on the ground, there are plenty of stylish and practical options available right now. Read on for our top 10 picks for the best shoulder bags to travel with this season.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Everlane has been a favorite among travelers since it launched in 2010, offering a perfect blend of style, durability, and sustainability. Whether it’s the brand’s airy cotton tees or airport-friendly cardigans, these wardrobe staples have become synonymous with effortless and comfortable travel. The brand’s commitment to high-quality, long-lasting products at more accessible prices (most items are under $200) makes it a go-to for savvy shoppers. Add in the eco-conscious focus, using recycled materials and minimizing waste, and it’s clear why Everlane continues to win us over.

But which pieces are best to add into your travel wardrobe? We turned to our readers and customer reviews to highlight 13 top picks. From versatile button-downs to cozy crewnecks and trendy fanny packs, here are the Everlane essentials that Traveler readers swear by—many of which are not just perfect for vacation, but for everyday apparel, too.

Jump to:

Layering pieces

Pants

Travel bags

Shoes

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Meredith Carey.

I’ve never really had a work bag that I truly loved; I’ve always opted for a backpack that I kept from my time in school, but I’d been eager to switch over to something that looked more professional (and made me feel less like a kid on their way home from class), but was still versatile enough that I could use regularly. While I certainly love to sport a classic canvas tote on the weekends—perfect for tossing in odds and ends while out and about—I needed something more structured and sturdy for work and travel so my essentials wouldn’t be knocking around inside. The 13-inch System Tote from Cuyana was definitely more upscale than my average canvas tote, seamlessly befitting happy hours, work, and exciting new restaurant openings. I loved the signature Italian leather exterior and interior, which was understated, tasteful, and complimented any outfit I threw on.

There’s nothing wrong with a giant, cavernous tote that you can throw everything into, but what I appreciate about the System Tote are the additional organizational accessories that you can purchase to add a bit more structure to the interior. I opted for the System laptop sleeve since I planned to use this bag primarily for work, and the System pouch insert so I could carry my valuables in a safe, zippered section. Both snapped directly into the bag’s shell so they wouldn’t move around and were available in the same colors as the bag. While I haven’t purchased it yet, I’m intrigued by the System Flap Bag, which also snaps into the tote, but can be removed and used with an adjustable strap to function as a purse all on its own—the perfect day-to-night option.

Aside from lugging it to and from the office each day, I use this tote as a personal item on the plane and brought it with me on a road trip to Acadia National Park, and have found it to be the ultimate travel companion. The built-in interior pocket is perfect for storing essentials you need to reach easily, like your passport, earbuds, or some petty cash, and since the bag can be snapped closed, you don’t have to worry about anything flying out. The System laptop sleeve kept my computer safe and secure, while the System pouch kept all the bits and bobs (a wallet, coins, jewelry, makeup, etc) from rolling around and getting lost at the bottom of the bag. I appreciate the slight structure to the bag, which is sturdy enough to not completely collapse inward, but is still flexible enough to be folded up and stashed away for storage.

The tote is available in two sizes, 13- and 16-inch—I gravitated to the 13-inch since it was exceptionally roomy but not too large for everyday use, but the 16-inch is likely better as a personal item on the plane, or if to be used in place of a weekender. The 13-inch was a bit small for carrying everything I needed in a personal item, especially if I were to head out on a multi-week vacation, but was just the right size for my day-to-day essentials like my laptop, charger, notebook, wallet, makeup bag, keys, and Tupperware from lunch. Its available in two textures and seven colors from cherry red to classic black.

The one con: the bag had a pretty distinct smell upon arrival and took some time to subside. After using it for a few months, there’s absolutely no smell any longer. In the last three months I haven’t noticed any signs of wear or tear, showing that it truly is a bag that has longevity.

I’m not ready to to toss my backpack or canvas totes just yet, but for my day-to-day life and anytime I want to look a bit more polished, the System Tote is the accessory I grab.

More Cuyana bags we recommend:

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Packing for a trip requires organization. And there’s no better way to keep toiletries, makeup, digital gear, jewelry, and other small travel essentials safe during transit than with the right bag. Whether you’re headed on a two-week vacation or a short weekend getaway, durable travel bags, pouches, and cases will always come in handy. We’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of the best travel organizers for every type of traveler, whether you need a sturdy cosmetic case for makeup products or a smart tech kit for cords and chargers. Below, our tried-and-true travel organizers, from waterproof pouches to essential packing cubes.

Every traveler needs a go-to Dopp kit that will keep small toiletries like contact solution, moisturizer, and sunscreen organized in one place. These roomy and reliable bags also ensure your clothes and other personal items will be protected against any accidental leaks while traveling. The best Dopp kits for women offer enough space for your essentials while still being compact enough to fit in an already-stuffed carry-on or weekender.

Read more: The Best Dopp Kits for Women

There are plenty of great Dopp kits for men on the market—Dagne Dover, Herschel, Rains, and Bagsmart make some of our favorite travel-friendly (and budget-friendly) bags. These options make skincare and grooming products easy to find and easy to pack in your suitcase. No matter where you’re headed on your next getaway, a trusty Dopp kit is essential. (Any of these sleek bags would also make a great gift for the travel-loving man in your life, too.)

Read more: The Best Dopp Kits for Men

We’ve all been there: You’re sitting in a small, cramped seat in economy hopelessly searching for your iPhone charger in your under-seat bag. The solution to never-ending bag searching and tangled cords: A smart tech organizer that keeps all of your digital gear neat and tidy. These organizers are a true game changer when it comes packing cords, portable chargers, AirPods, and any other tech essentials you’re toting around.

Read more: The Best Travel Tech Organizers

I’ve ruined a few tote bags by throwing a lipstick or loose powder inside and hoping for the best. You can’t always be gentle with your personal item or carry-on while in transit, so a durable cosmetic bag helps protect your makeup products and everything around it. If you want to make getting ready in a hotel bathroom even speedier, opt for a clear cosmetic case or the Lay-n-Go drawstring bag that makes finding all of your products easier than ever.

Read more: The Best Travel Makeup Bags

If you’re not already using packing cubes, let this be your sign to start. Our editors swear by packing cubes to keep clothes organized and compressed—meaning you can fit a whole lot more in your suitcase with these. Packing cubes also help you separate clean clothes from dirty ones and help protect special items like dresses and suits from any spilled liquids in your carry-on. Paravel and Calpak make some of our favorite packing cubes, but we also love the more budget-friendly options you can find on Amazon from Bagail and Alameda.

Read more: The Best Packing Cubes

Jewelry cases

The last thing you need upon arriving to your destination is to find all of your necklaces and bracelets tangled. Or worse, discover that you lost a special (or expensive) piece of jewelry while in transit. A sturdy jewelry case ensures your favorite pieces will be safe and protected from being squashed or broken. And if you’re in need of a thoughtful gift, a well-made and sleek jewelry case will be much appreciated.

Hanging toiletry bags

Toiletries can quickly create a cluttered bathroom counter. The next time you stay at a hotel or Airbnb, consider placing a hanging toiletry bag on the back of the bathroom door. It will help you see all of your products at a glance and limits the need to unpack and repack at the end of your trip. Use these to store anything from skincare and beauty products to jewelry and hair tools.

Sometimes, you need a water-resistant pouch or an extra bag, just in case. Options like the Aloha Collection pouches and Baggu set can hold wet bathing suits, dirty clothes, or sand-filled beach items, making it safe to toss them back in your tote or backpack. These types of bags can also keep your phone and other electronics safe if you’re lounging by the pool.

This crush-proof canister-style crossbody is meant to protect your essentials—like a favorite pair of sunglasses, a tube of hand sanitizer, or a fragile film camera you love to travel with—in a lightweight, streamlined design. The water-resistant interior will also keep everything dry, just in case. What we love most, though, is the chic, retro, monogrammable style—nobody will ever believe it’s practical, too.