Last Updated on September 17, 2018 by Tim
Briefcase Buying Guide
Want to buy a briefcase? Here is the ultimate buying guide.
Your Briefcase – Your Style Statement
Briefcases, just like wallets, bracelets and any other accessory, should reflect your personality and your style aesthetic. No matter how expensive or high quality your briefcase might be, it’s still going to look awkward if it clashes with the way you dress.
Our Top Choice for a Briefcase
COACH Men’s Metropolitan Brief
Why we love it:
- Aluminum with comfortable textured carry handle
- Durable drawbolt latches
- Safe – 3 digit combination lock
Are you the conservative suit-and-tie kind of guy? Ask for more traditional briefcase styles like, well, the typically structured leather briefcase. Do you prefer a more laid back outfit? A not-so-structured canvas piece would fit in with your ensembles. Stylish and contemporary guys should opt for sleeker shapes and more luxurious materials like brushed metal or croc-embossed leather.
Stick to the Code
The office dress code should be a big factor in your choice of a briefcase in the same way that you should consider your personal style. Will your briefcase fit into your office environment? A deconstructed brown canvas bag will look out of place in a corporate boardroom full of suits and ties, just like how a strict-looking rectangular leather briefcase will look strange in an office where everyone’s in sneakers and torn jeans.
It’s no problem if your briefcase stands out, but it should never do so because its appearance is one-of-a-kind in the office. Once you punch in your timecard, your briefcase should blend in and look inconspicuous. Besides, it’s likely that your company has a dress code that extends to your briefcase; a too-casual bag just might earn you a warning from your superiors.
Form and Function
Although the look of your briefcase is a very important consideration, you should never forget to think about functionality. Does the briefcase have certain design elements that are impractical or unnecessary? Will there be pockets or compartments for all the things you bring to work every day? Is it light enough to carry long distances? These are all questions you can only answer by trying out the briefcase yourself in the store.
Don’t hesitate to ask the salesperson to try out the briefcase. Remember, you just might end up using it for the next several years. Bring all your daily office items with you to see if there’s a place for everything. If you can’t do so, at least bring a good-sized book so that you get a feel for how heavy the case is when loaded. A checklist of all the items you usually bring would also be an excellent idea.
A Brief Note on your Budget
Price tags on briefcases can vary widely, from bargain basement units for under $50 to one-of-a-kind designer pieces priced with too many zeroes. Keep in mind that the prices go hand-in-hand with the materials, quality, durability and workmanship of the case. Don’t expect sub-$50 to last for very long, while high-end briefcases can be an investment that you could pass on to the next generation.
Look out for nylon and canvas if you’re on a tight budget. Bags made from those materials often don’t cost very much and should be easy for you to find. As you go up the price spectrum, you’ll see pricier and more luxurious materials like precious metals and exotic skins coming into the design.
Although each briefcase is already a difficult decision in itself, don’t limit yourself to just one. Most professionals and businessmen have two or three that they either cycle regularly or use as the occasion demands. It’s a great idea if you always want to look stylish and fashionable because you’ll have a briefcase option for just about any outfit.
7 Top Briefcases 2017
| Zero Halliburton Premier 4 Inch Aluminum Briefcase | 4” aluminum textured briefcase with durable drawbolt latches; interior pockets for easy organization; 3-digit combi lock | Good | Mid-Range | 3.9 / 5 |
| Tami Astor Regis Slim Zip Top Leather Briefcase | Suitable to carry most 15″ portable PCs, earphones & chargers; large compartment; extraordinary features | Very Good | Mid-Range | 4.3 / 5 |
| Samsonite Luggage Leather Slim Briefcase | Heavier than most briefcases but quite satisfying fr most users; slim & made of leather; manufactured by reputable company | Very Good | Mid-Range | 4.4 / 5 |
| COACH Pebbled Metropolitan Briefcase | Features 2-fold striped on front & back; straightforward, cutting edge look; full zipper to open whole satchel | Superior | Mid-Range | 4.6 / 5 |
| Samsonite 10558 Focus III 6-Inch Briefcase | Features rough ABS hard side shell exterior; bulkier than some briefcases; durable & tough | Very Good | Low | 4.3 / 5 |
| Salvatore Ferragamo Revival Calfskin Briefcase | Made of emblazoned calfskin cowhide in 3 exquisite colors; 7” bear drop; zipper ends | Good | High | 4.0 / 5 |
| Piel Leather Slim Top-Zip Briefcase | Slim briefcase; zippered top & side with large front flap pocket + dual magnetic snap closure; double handles + adjustable/detachable shoulder strap | Good | Mid-Range | 4.0 / 5 |
2. Tami Astor Regis Slim Zip Top Leather Briefcase
At first glance, you’ll see the beautiful 100% cowhide outside with various zip pockets. Inside the briefcase, you’ll discover extraordinary little touches for remaining sorted out like the pen circles and key ring. Regarding size, you’ll have the capacity to suit most 15″ portable PCs easily notwithstanding the greater part of your different frill, for example, chargers, earphones and the sky is the limit from there. To remain the slightest, this 11.75″ by 16″ brief is very liberal with regards to space.
3. Samsonite Luggage Leather Slim Briefcase
Distinguished men who travel will likewise be satisfied to know this briefcase fits comfortably over most luggage at the airplane terminal. Be that as it may, a few men may observe this brief to be heavier than most. If you will convey somewhat more weight around, you’ll make the most of its long-haul durability for a considerable length of time to come.
4. COACH Men’s Metropolitan Brief
The hawked tone gives it impressive character while the twofold striped front and back offer a straightforward, cutting edge look. With a full zipper that keeps running over the whole satchel, you’ll be happy to know this sack highlights more than simply eye advance. The openness and accommodation elements are inconceivably all around surpassed.
Inside components have an extravagant texture lining notwithstanding a back-divider zip stash, and various slip pockets. For solace, Coach has additionally included moved conveying handles and a cross body strap to make your voyages easy.
5. Samsonite 10558 Focus III 6-Inch Briefcase
Searching for somewhat more durability? You’ve discovered it! The Samsonite Focus III elements a rough ABS hard side shell outside. While it might be somewhat bulkier than a few men’s briefcases available, the durability and toughness it offers is difficult to beat. To remain sorted out Samsonite has incorporated a solitary divider to isolate your compartments. It will help you to remember your old bag, but you can’t contend with what works when you have a ton of apparatus to bear.
6. Salvatore Ferragamo Revival Calfskin Briefcase
For the man who acknowledges the better points of interest, you’ll discover this Salvatore Farrago Revival satchel only in vogue as well as completely staggering. The emblazoned calfskin cowhide comes in three exquisite hues including blue (ultramarine), chestnut and dark. Every component a seven-inch bear drop and a zipped best end.
In front, you’ll see a roomy zipper stash with tubular cowhide handles for effortlessly including more payload while the go. The inside of this Italian folder case is very straightforward in nature; nonetheless, it liberally will suit most tablets and printed material. For exact estimations, it’s 11.8 crawls by 14.5 creeps with a width of 2.4 inches.
7. Piel Leather Slim Top-Zip Briefcase
One takes a gander at this manly portfolio and you’ll see the amazing and ravishing 100% full grain cowhide calfskin. A larger than usual front flounder stash snaps open and shut on account of a simple to utilize attractive conclusion.
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