Premium Backpack for Work/Travel

[Hageman11]

Anyone have suggestions for a nice backpack?  Could be from a golf company or not.  I've seen some nice ones from Vessel, Nomatic, and H&B.  

[taylor2325]

I use the Jones A2 every day for work. One of the better backpacks I’ve ever had. Looks great, carries plenty, and has been incredibly durable over the course of a year (still looks new too). I get tons of compliments and questions asking about it. 
 

I would highly recommend. 

[MattM97]

I have an Osprey backpack I got for travel which I'm also using for work now. It's not the most sleek, they do have more sleek and classy options.

 

I've had this bag for 5 years now, doesn't look worn, been with me on weekly work road trips, on multiple flights, etc. 

[cjblake09]

5 hours ago, Hageman11 said:

Anyone have suggestions for a nice backpack?  Could be from a golf company or not.  I've seen some nice ones from Vessel, Nomatic, and H&B.  

Love my Stitch backpack.  I have the older version but it is great for a quick trip.  

 

https://stitchgolf.com/collections/bags/products/the-day-traveler?variant=40044940230769

[Itsjustagame]

Everki

[Abh159]

https://www.johnstonmurphy.com/p/baldwinrhodes-0531/rhodes-backpack/14510.html?dwvar_14510_color=Tan Full Grain

 

Been using this one as a work bag for several years now. After using a leather briefcase / shoulder bag for many years I found it was starting to take a toll on my neck muscles. Seemed like a backpack was a good solution.

 

I wanted something leather as it's more professional (in my mind), and I think you can easily look like a schoolboy if you go with the wrong type of backpack. I don't travel with it much (have a separate travel backpack), but I've taken a few short, domestic trips with it and it's been more than adequate. 

[JMH1220]

Anyone have the Vessel backpack?  I like the looks.

[vsabre]

I do a lot of international traveling and l love my Cotopaxi. Lots of size options and really well made...

[liftoff88]

9 hours ago, taylor2325 said:

I use the Jones A2 every day for work. One of the better backpacks I’ve ever had. Looks great, carries plenty, and has been incredibly durable over the course of a year (still looks new too). I get tons of compliments and questions asking about it. 
 

I would highly recommend. 

I was going to suggest the same one. 

 

I used to have the Herschel Kaslo backpack until I got the Jones from a corporate event. The Herschel is also great. 

[pelotonjon]

I like Aer 

[BYK]

Have a tumi low profile backpack that is great.

just big enough for my laptop and some work stuff.

It's not for anything other than work stuff, ie not for throwing work out clothes etc in.

For work stuff, it's perfect.

[Smokey227]

Evergoods Civic Travel Bag. I travel a lot for work and have tried a bunch of different backpacks. I like a lot of pockets so everything has its own place and it still has a ton of storage. 

[WesternRacing]

I have an awesome Tumi backpack that I take almost on every trip.  Super functional and durable (unlike some of their other stuff).  I’ve had it for years and it still looks new.

[Hageman11]

17 hours ago, JMH1220 said:

Anyone have the Vessel backpack?  I like the looks.

I really like the looks of the signatures series. 

[Hageman11]

Thanks to all for the suggestions.  I think I am leaning towards a nice leather backpack for work.  I have several other backpacks to throw things in for a weekend trip.

[TheFatArmadillo]

I have a Tumi leather backpack that I use for work travel.  It has held up well, has good internal organization, and numerous people have complemented it.  Y only complaint if I have one is that the leather is a bit too shiny for my taste.  Other than that would buy it again.

[Hageman11]

1 hour ago, TheFatArmadillo said:

I have a Tumi leather backpack that I use for work travel.  It has held up well, has good internal organization, and numerous people have complemented it.  Y only complaint if I have one is that the leather is a bit too shiny for my taste.  Other than that would buy it again.

I've noticed the shiny leather on some Tumi styles like the Warren and Bradner.  Is Tumi worth the price?  Double the price of the vessels I've been checking out, which are already expensive enough.  My thought is I would use it damn near everyday though.

[TheFatArmadillo]

7 hours ago, Hageman11 said:

I've noticed the shiny leather on some Tumi styles like the Warren and Bradner.  Is Tumi worth the price?  Double the price of the vessels I've been checking out, which are already expensive enough.  My thought is I would use it damn near everyday though.

So I just looked, bought mine in 2017, it was $350.  Was worth that.  Not sure I’d pay the 8-900 they are showing for some of their bags.  My only concern about the Vessel would be how the vinyl ages on a backpack that gets bumped and beaten up.  I have a couple of their golf bags and a tennis backpack, and the Tumi leather is easier to address the rash from being shoved under airplane seats and run over by wheeled chairs.

[mshills]

World class bag ho here. Don’t go too nice unless you don’t have to do frequent air travel!! The best bags are the ones that look better the worse you treat them, or ones where you just don’t care. 
 

Most functional bag I’ve ever used for biz travel is an eBags Mother Lode Jr. Does it all. 1 week trips, no problem. Can stretch to 2 with some shortcuts, and it’s nothing special so I don’t care if it gets tore up. 

 

Best briefcase is anything from Filson. Mine has several hundred thousand air miles on it. The dirtier I get it, the more I shove it around, the more I kick it and just generally beat its hide, the better it looks. 

[courcy75]

Been using the black scotty/vessel bag with blue tabs since it came out as an every day and travel bag. It's held up great. 

[mgodfrey]

On 7/22/2025 at 4:38 PM, JMH1220 said:

Anyone have the Vessel backpack?  I like the looks.

I am a big fan of Vessel but I had problems with the zipper on 3 of their backpacks.  The customer service was great but moved into Briggs & Riley for a backpack.

 

I am on my 2nd Vessel golf bag and I have a Vessel carry on size suitcase and both of those have been great bags. 

[WillyL]

On 7/22/2025 at 4:38 PM, JMH1220 said:

Anyone have the Vessel backpack?  I like the looks.

Love my Scotty Vessel backpack. I use it every day. 

[Jdudley13]

On 7/22/2025 at 8:44 PM, BYK said:

Have a tumi low profile backpack that is great.

just big enough for my laptop and some work stuff.

It's not for anything other than work stuff, ie not for throwing work out clothes etc in.

For work stuff, it's perfect.

Same, I’ve had my Tumi backpack for years, it’s solely for work but I travel often and it has held up great. It’s comfortable, has a great pocket layout and looks good enough that I dont think twice about taking it in to meetings. 

[x5andr6]

I have the Vessel Skyline Lux in black. Love the looks and I use it for work everyday. Doesn't hold a bunch but perfect for EDC.

[Velcade]

I've been using the Renegade Pro for a few years now.  It's been great as a laptop work bag, and I've used it on occasion as a 2-day trip bag. 

[Dazedniteman574]

I have the Aero travel bag - I'm a recovering consultant and found it super easy to travel with and carried a ton. Beat every branded bag I've been given and worthy of the purchase.

[JimMLINY]

TUMI T-Pass® Business Class Brief Pack®  

 

 

was my choice along with their expandable ballistic nylon briefcase and garment bag.

 

Have over 500,000 business travel miles on them

[aiyyer]

Timbukt2 has some nice options. Same with AER. 

[ilikegolf26]

On 7/22/2025 at 9:39 AM, taylor2325 said:

I use the Jones A2 every day for work. One of the better backpacks I’ve ever had. Looks great, carries plenty, and has been incredibly durable over the course of a year (still looks new too). I get tons of compliments and questions asking about it. 
 

I would highly recommend. 

I second the Jones A2. Can’t imagine a better backpack for the home to work use. 

[Volnut]

This place continues to cost me money. My A2 is supposed to be delivered tomorrow, strictly due to this thread.