How We Research
Every guide on Bags and Briefcases starts with one question: will this bag suit the person who is shopping for it? For us, that means your laptop, your load and the way you carry it.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your laptop and your day
A 13-inch laptop and a thick folder of papers call for different bags. A bag that works for a short walk to the office can be the wrong choice for a long airport day.
We check the laptop sizes a bag says it holds, and we explain what to measure when the numbers are close.
2. We compare size, materials and build
We look at the outside size, the inside compartments and the weight. We also check the material (leather, nylon, canvas or hard shell), the lining, the zippers, the handles and the strap.
Makers describe their own products, so we name the brand for every claim. We also note the warranty the maker lists.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read what buyers report after months of carrying a bag. We look for patterns, like zippers that split, straps that dig in, thin padding, handles that tear or sizes that run small.
One unhappy review doesn't sink a bag. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs size, materials, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A bag that is great for one reader can score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Bags change, and some disappear from stores. Makers sell close models under similar names, so we check each model name and size, and we only link new items.
We skip unknown brands with no track record and any bag with a known safety recall. When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have carried every bag we cover.
Before you buy, check your laptop's exact size against the bag's inside measurements on the store page. We label maker claims as the maker's claims.