The Best Work Bags For Women, According To Female Founders And CEOs

We consulted female entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs for their must-have work bags. Here are our meticulously vetted picks from Calpak, Quince, Dagne Dover and more.

Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A great work bag is extremely functional, and it reflects your personal style while still being professional. In search of the best work bags for women, we reached out to some of the highest-achieving and highly stylish people we know: busy, driven female founders and CEOs. They’ve shared the power bags—from Quince to Calpak—that take them effortlessly through their nine-to-five and beyond. The best work bags for women offer functional pockets, adequate laptop storage and hold up well over ... More time. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS The best work bags can basically do it all—toting everything from laptops to gym clothes to snacks—keeping you organized and looking polished in the process. Whether you’re in search of something with dedicated compartments or a roomy catchall, or looking for a shoulder bag or a backpack, here are seven sophisticated work bags vetted by our editors and tested by discerning female business leaders. Our Top Recommendations Best Work Bag For Women Overall: Loeffler Randall Dina Travel Tote Best Value Work Bag For Women: Quince Italian Leather Handwoven Tote Best Laptop Work Bag For Women: Béis The Work Tote Best Luxury Work Bag For Women: Polène Cyme Bag Best Travel Work Bag For Women: Calpak Kaya 15-Inch Laptop Backpack Best Work Bag For Moms: Calpak Diaper Tote Bag With Laptop Sleeve Best Work Backpack For Women: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack Best Work Bag For Women Overall Shoulder Style In A Durable Fabric Loeffler Randall Loeffler Randall Dina Travel Tote Loeffler Randall’s designs are classics that typically feature an unexpected twist. This stylish tote is cut from durable, washed nylon with an elevated, easy-to-wipe-down finish. While it comes in five colors, Liz Eiccholz, co-founder and creative director at Weezie Towels, favors the leopard print. The Dina tote measures 24 inches by 14 inches, offering seemingly endless space: “It fits everything I’m hauling on the daily—robe samples, workout clothes, tennis racket, laptop, lunch… and more robe samples,” she says. “Plus, it has just enough pockets to keep me feeling organized, a zip closure and a suitcase sleeve if you need it—all of my must-haves.” Best Value Work Bag For Women Lightweight, Classic Woven Style Quince Italian Leather Handwoven Tote Quince nails it on quiet luxury classics, like this elegant woven tote. It has a fabric lining with an interior zippered pocket and two slip pockets, and it comes in five gorgeous, work-friendly neutrals. “My commute to work is a short one—downstairs to my home office, or a short drive to Odele HQ,” says Lindsay Holden, co-founder of Odele Beauty. “The work bags I keep coming back to are the ones that I feel are best for travel—unstructured, packable and lightweight.” As a result, this textured leather tote is her go-to, and it checks the box on size, too. “It’s an incredible value, seemingly bottomless, and it can easily accommodate everything I seem to accumulate during the day,” Holden says. She loves that she can pack smaller bags within it, and it balances nicely on a carry-on while traveling. For an additional option from Quince, we also recommend the Italian Leather Triple Compartment Work Tote. Best Laptop Work Bag For Women Structural Style For The Office, Travel And After Hours Béis The Work Tote Beis’ roomy tote features a satisfyingly functional set of interior compartments, including a padded laptop pocket, a zip pocket, slip pockets for documents or a phone, pen pockets, and a key leash. On the outside, it’s stylish enough to transition seamlessly from work to happy hour. “It’s versatile for when I have a meeting and something to attend afterward,” says Shvona Chung, founder of Lautir Beauty, who has used the Béis Work Tote for a year. “I feel stylish, and I love its structure and how roomy it is—it fits my iPad mini and my MacBook Air, snacks for my daughter, a water bottle, my makeup bag and more.” Best Luxury Work Bag For Women Luxurious, Roomy And CEO-Approved Polène Cyme Bag French luxury brand Polène is known for its craftsmanship and thinking outside of the box when it comes to bag design. This sculptural style features an artful blend of folds and curves that are both structured and slouchy. It’s not just pretty—it’s functional, too. The Cyme has handles in two lengths so it can be worn as a shoulder bag, handbag or casually slung at your elbow; it has a removable zippered pocket for items like keys, phone or lip gloss; and it features a magnetic closure. This style is a favorite of Preston Lane co-founder and CEO Lisa Manice. “It is the best, and it holds a laptop,” she says. “Right now, I commute between two offices and live in two homes, so my MacBook is the most essential item I have.” Best Travel Work Bag For Women Sophisticated Laptop Backpack In A Wide Variety Of Colors Calpak Kaya 15-Inch Laptop Backpack Some laptop backpacks can come off as overly utilitarian and basic, but Calpak’s modern take combines function and style. It comes in an impressive range of 21 colors, features a 15-inch laptop sleeve and lots of interior pockets, and has unique leather detailing to make it special. “The Calpak Kaya is simple, stylish, and has several work-friendly compartments to keep my contents organized both for travel and everyday—which is the main reason I purchased it,” says Stephanie DiPisa, founder of Solara Suncare. “I don’t have to change work bags based on whether I’m flying, heading to a big meeting or just staying in my office.” DiPisa also loves how durable this bag is. “I’ve been using this exclusively for two years—traveling the world—and it looks just as new as the day I got it,” she says. Best Work Bag For Moms Mom-Friendly Work Tote And Diaper Bag Hybrid Calpak Diaper Tote Bag With Laptop Sleeve Working moms tote a lot of stuff, so they need a bag that can accommodate work-life, mom-life and everything in between. This strategically designed option from Calpak has a ton of helpful features—it has top handles and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap, insulated bottle pockets and a laptop sleeve to accommodate a 16-inch laptop. “As a mom running a business with two little ones and a third on the way, this multi-tasking bag literally helps me juggle it all,” says Alicia Yoon, founder of Peach & Lily, who has had this bag for more than two years. “It’s lightweight, has a built-in padded laptop compartment, as well as easy-to-access (with one hand) external and internal pockets to stay effortlessly organized. And it takes me seamlessly from mom-mode to work-mode without having to have multiple bags or pitstops back at home to grab things that I need for either the kids or work.” Other pluses according to Yoon: It doesn’t look like a traditional diaper bag and works well with a range of outfits. Plus its luggage sleeve allows it to slip over a suitcase when traveling. Best Work Backpack For Women Cushioned, Laptop-Friendly And In A Tech Fabric Dagne Dover Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack Dagne Dover is beloved for bags that are pragmatic without compromising style. The brand’s Dakota Neoprene Backpack is sporty with an urban vibe, and it comes in small, medium and large sizes to accommodate your needs. “I love how spacious and durable this bag is,” says Sarah Potempa, co-founder of Beachwaver, who has had the medium size version of this bag for a year. “I’m always on the go, and this bag makes it easy to stay prepared no matter where I’m headed. I use it during the week when commuting to my local office in my hometown, and the quality has really held up, even with my busy schedule.” RECOMMENDED BYFORBES VETTED The Very Best Personal Item Bags, According To A Travel Editor Astrid Taran The 6 Best Loafers For Men That Look Casual And Cool Kari Molvar Why Trust Forbes Vetted The Forbes Vetted fashion team spends a lot of time covering accessories that combine fashion and functionality. We’ve written about the best crossbody bags, the best briefcases for men, the best carry-on backpacks and more. Forbes Vetted fashion and beauty writer Molly Calhoun researched, reported and wrote this story. She is a seasoned lifestyle journalist who has covered a variety of office-appropriate clothing, including the best work pants for women and the best dress shirts for men. Deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the fashion vertical along with travel and beauty, edited this story and approved all of the picks. She has two decades of experience reporting on men’s, women’s and kids’ fashion and accessories. We considered our firsthand experience with the brands on this list, including Quince, Calpak and Béis. For this story, we consulted seven female founders and CEOs for their insights on what makes a great work bag. How We Tested The Best Work Bags For Women When determining the best women’s work bags, we began with a broad search of the market before narrowing our picks based on our experts’ testing, insight, specs and features. We considered bags from reputable brands in both women’s fashion and travel. We consulted busy female founders and CEOs for their favorite work bags, from roomy totes to sleek backpacks to styles that double as diaper bags. During their testing, the female founders we consulted considered each bag’s practicality and features, including things like internal compartments, zippered pockets and laptop sleeves. They also assessed each bag with respect to commute type and durability. Some of the female founders we spoke with have short commutes via car, while others use their work bags for travel through airports. Each bag on this list was used for a minimum of several months, and in most cases, a year or more. We included bags that not only came recommended by the business leaders we spoke with, but that are thoroughly vetted according to our fashion team’s standards, market knowledge and research. What To Consider When Choosing A Work Bag Selecting a work bag should be fun, rather than another to-do in your daily grind. Here are features to keep in mind when choosing a stylish bag for the office. Think about what you’ll be toting around in your bag. Structured slip pockets are nice for keeping papers and presentations wrinkle-free, and drop-in pockets provide organization for things like cell phones, pens and cords. At least one zippered pocket is ideal for keeping valuables secure and safe from falling out if your bag tips over. Dedicated Laptop Space Most women tote around a laptop or tablet in their work bag, so pay attention to the actual size of your device to be sure you purchase a bag that can accommodate its size. Some bags have padded laptop sleeves while others just have pockets, and you may need to buy a separate, more protective case. Comfortable Straps Consider how you carry your bag. If you typically carry a work bag slung over one shoulder, look for longer straps or adjustable straps. If you prefer to have a hands-free commute, look for a sophisticated backpack or messenger-type style with padded straps that can be worn comfortably across the body. Material And Durability Most work bags come in leather or vegan leather, although some come in nylon or things like neoprene. In general, leather has the most elevated appearance. All of these materials tend to be durable, but a bag’s construction can also affect its overall weight. In general, leather styles are slightly heavier, but it also depends on the hardware on the bag. Because work bags tend to carry heavy cargo—like laptops and thick presentations—it’s worth investigating a bag’s weight before purchasing. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Several women’s work bags received high marks from the female CEOs and founders we spoke with. Some of their favorites that are also at the top of our editors’ list, including Quince’s Italian Leather Handwoven Tote, Polène’s Cyme Bag and Béis’ The Work Tote. The female entrepreneurs, founders and CEOs we spoke with use a variety of work bag types. Some prefer leather shoulder bags like Béis’ The Work Tote or Quince’s Italian Leather Handwoven Tote, while others gravitate toward backpack styles such as Calpak’s Kaya 15-Inch Laptop Backpack. When choosing the best work bag for you, consider things like pockets, laptop space, straps, strap placement and material. If you work in a more formal office, materials like leather are an elevated choice. Laptop storage is another consideration—be sure to seek out a separate compartment that can accommodate your laptop or tablet screen. To keep belongings secure, look for zipper or magnetic closures. Intuit QuickBooks Take Up To 50% Off QuickBooks Online Explore Intuit QuickBooks Coupon Intuit QuickBooks Get 50% Off Quickbooks' Three Month Subscription Explore Intuit QuickBooks Coupon The North Face Save 20% When You Verify Your Student Or Teacher Status Explore The North Face Coupon The North Face Get 30% Off Select Styles During The End Of Season Sale Explore The North Face Coupon New Balance Get Up To 30% Off Select Styles Use By August 9, 2025 Explore New Balance Coupon Send me a secure tip. Molly Calhoun Editorial Standards Reprints & Permissions