Parents are always critical when it comes to holding a newborn baby. “Don’t drop him!,” parents bark. “Be gentle!,” they scold. We’re the same way with our own children—aka our laptops. Our precious hunk of technological metal is to be treated with the utmost respect and care. As much as it might be a grab-and-go convenience (or hell, even a subtle flex) there’s no good reason to be carrying your laptop by hand, case-free—exposing you and your very expensive piece of tech to the risk of being dropped in the mean streets and smashed to smithereens (a shameful, true story).
Of course, while protection is the first order of business when picking out a laptop case, there’s no reason why form can’t follow function. Repeat after us: You also deserve to carry your laptop in style. Besides, just thinking about all the moola you’ve probably invested in a great laptop is enough to justify springing a little more cash on a high-quality case. You already have enough things to labor over in your life, so we found the best laptop bags and backpacks that should take the guesswork out of how to protect and carry a piece of tech that’s likely your partner in…well, everything. Mens Leather Backpack
Nothing says you’re a fine, young gentleman more succinctly than carrying a dapper leather briefcase. This classic option from Coach is made of glovetanned leather (meaning it should be soft and supple like a well-loved pair of, well, gloves); has space for a 15-inch laptop; and features exterior and internal pockets, a detachable nylon strap, and smooth fabric lining. Leather only gets better with age, just like you [wink]. And, in case you didn’t know, Coach is cool again.
With a streamlined look, this backpack is padded enough to protect your precious, with up to 17 inches of room. It has several protective, zip-in zones for devices, along with additional internal and external pockets for fitting the little things like house keys, gum, and, perhaps, condoms (for when you realize you’re heading to the Friday happy hour directly after work). Oh, and, forget back sweat—this backpack features vented air mesh for a breezy commute.
Is it us, or do all men in tech love spending their free time in the mountains? We support the tech-dude-to-outdoorsy-guy pipeline, but you’ll also need something to support your oh-so precious computer for when you take a camping break from software development or planning your next startup idea. This iconic mountaineering backpack by Herschel Supply Company features a padded, fleece-lined, 15-inch laptop sleeve to keep your hardware nice n’ toasty in the winter months. Features also include a drawcord closure, contoured shoulder straps, air mesh back padding, and additional pockets.
This laptop case from viral luggage brand Away can’t get any simpler (and that’s a good thing). It’s lightweight, has a 15-inch laptop pocket, is weather and abrasion-resistant, and fits essentials such as your phone and a trusty Clif bar. Take it to work or travel with it for that long weekend visit upstate (where we all know it’s bound to snow).
You can’t go wrong with black leather and its minimalist, edgy energy that says “I will not put up with any bull sh*t.” This briefcase by Samsonite is sleek, compact, fully-padded, has detachable straps, and can fit laptops of up to 15.6 inches in size. It also has not one, but two phone pockets if you’re a top-tier businessman with two smartphones (one for business and one for pleasure, naturally).
Prefer a tote over a briefcase? This bag by Dagne Dover looks and feels like a puffer coat in bag form. It’s lightweight, easy to clean, and is an extra wide boi that fits laptops up to 16 inches. Each bag is also made from 29 recycled water bottles, which is always a bonus—we like a brand that’s stylish and functional, but we love a brand that is eco-friendly. One of our writers swears it’s like carrying a tactical miniature sleeping bag for your stuff. Match one to your puffer from The North Face for a twinning situation.
The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.
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