Backpack vs Briefcase

A hybrid form of working has become the norm in recent years. During the Covid pandemic, organizations figured out that they don’t need their employees to come to the office every day for them to be productive. However, they still want them to be around for important meetings, to encourage team building, and promote positive company culture.

This way of working has created a different type of employee who needs the ability to work from anywhere, whether in the office, their living room, or even a hotel room on holiday. To achieve this task, the employee started to rely on their personal laptop or one provided by their workplace.

This predicament created a new issue that employees now have to deal with. How can you commute to work with a laptop in the best convenient way? If that describes your life, you may wonder what is the best office bag to keep your laptop safe during those trips.

Which is superior, the backpack or the briefcase?

A briefcase may be the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine corporate employees. This comes as no surprise, as the media has portrayed this type of work bag alongside respectable, successful characters over the years.

But there are other choices than a sleek leather briefcase. In recent years, backpacks have evolved into more than just bags for school kids or hikers. Work backpacks, especially for those who work in tech, have become much more acceptable. The best way to choose between these two options is to look at each pro and con these bags have to offer regarding their style and functionality.

1. Comfort

When it comes to convenience, nothing beats laptop backpacks. During a busy commute, they allow you to be completely hands-free. You can start your day with a coffee and a pastry, move into a crowded train where you have to hold onto the pole for stability, and use Maps on your phone to navigate to your meeting location, all without having to deal with your bag even once.

If you prefer cycling to work, again, backpacks offer maximum mobility. Unlike the briefcase, you don’t have to worry about leaving it behind, as it’s always attached to your body. It won’t fall off your bicycle and get trampled by oncoming traffic. Padded shoulder straps also help you easily carry heavy loads, while a briefcase may hurt your arm.

2. Laptop safety

While being able to work from anywhere can be liberating, constantly worrying about your laptop is not. There’s always the fear of it taking a beating during the commute, dropping, or something spilling on it.

With a briefcase, it can feel like the computer is less protected since most briefcases don’t have a padded interior pocket. However, you can add protection by putting on a laptop sleeve or a cover. And since many briefcases are made of leather, the laptop will usually be protected from rainy weather.

However, with some Kipling backpacks, the laptop is completely protected, inside and out. The dedicated padded compartment ensures it won’t get banged over while separating it from other items in your bag. Nothing will spill on it (like your water bottle, or your lunchtime yogurt), and no rain will penetrate the nylon exterior.

Additionally, carrying your laptop out and about can make you a target for theft. A briefcase that sits next to your feet on the train may look appealing to robbers. It’s incredibly easy to pick it up and run with it before you notice. It can also be snatched straight from your hand with relative ease.

A backpack solves that problem since it is attached to your body with two straps. Unless the thief is extremely sophisticated, your laptop will probably remain safely in your possession throughout the commute.

3. Functionality

To determine how practical a backpack is compared to a briefcase, you have to determine what you’ll use it for. For instance, if you enjoy working out, a backpack is a clear winner if you typically go to the gym right before or after work. It usually has side pockets for your water bottle and plenty of room in zippered pockets to carry your exercise clothes. Since laptop backpacks have a dedicated pocket for your computer, it will also be safely separated from your gym equipment.

Another example is if you tend to carry a packed lunch, an umbrella, and a reusable coffee cup. In that case, you’ll have no choice but to opt for the backpack. While a briefcase can hold things in addition to the computer, it usually can’t fit too many bulky, irregular-shaped items.

Furthermore, if you’re a digital nomad or someone who travels a lot for work, a backpack will serve another purpose. Not only will it protect your laptop on the go, but it will also act as a carry-on bag to hold all of your essentials on flights or long train rides. It will ensure you can answer those important emails, even at the airport and in waiting lounges.

4. Style

As mentioned, a briefcase is a classic choice when it comes to style. It pairs perfectly with a suit and tie or an elegant skirt and blazer and instantly conveys professionalism. However, a backpack doesn’t automatically mean casual. There are plenty of options, whether a leather backpack or a high-end patterned one, that looks just as impressive as a briefcase would.

Not to mention that only some employees have to present a smart, corporate look. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer, you may want a more creative style.

Carrying a briefcase will give out the wrong impression to your potential clients, and you may want to stick to a trendy laptop bag instead. Or if you work as a software developer in a small tech startup, the main “uniform” may be a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. A briefcase in that situation will stick out like a sore thumb.

Who wins in the battle of backpack vs briefcase?

Ultimately, deciding between a backpack and a briefcase is a matter of personal choice. You have to pick the bag that best suits your personal style, the way you dress for work, the type of work you do, your daily routine, and other needs.

However, it is clear that a backpack can serve many more functions than a briefcase. You can take it from the gym to work, dinner, and even a weekend getaway. It keeps your hands free and is easy to commute with, whether in a packed subway, on a bicycle, or just walking on the street.

And if it’s the style that you’re worried about, there’s nothing to fear. With so many patterns, shapes, and fabrics available, a backpack can look just as professional and smart as a briefcase, if not even more. Just have a look at our collection of laptop backpacks and make up your own mind.