Elevate your work style and reduce shoulder strain with these roomy and stylish laptop bags.

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With many of us working from both home and the office, a new daily issue has emerged - lugging your laptop back and forth.

Unless you’ve invested in an ultra-portable model, carrying a laptop around can quickly become a strain, especially if you’re tossing it into a bag that wasn’t designed to hold it.

Luckily, there are plenty of bags and backpacks now on the market that have designated laptop compartments, helping you to pack more in and distribute the weight more evenly.

To help you find the best laptop bag for your needs, we’ve listed our 14 top picks below, based on customer reviews and our own knowledge of the products.

As always, please note that prices are correct and products are in stock at time of publishing.

tomtoc Messenger Bag, Amazon Australia, from $56

Having already racked up a 4.7 out of 5 star customer rating, this minimalist messenger bag by tomtoc has quickly become a bestseller on Amazon Australia. Available in both 13-13.5-inch and 15.6-inch sizes, the slim bag features individual slots for your laptop and tablet, as well as two front pockets for storing accessories and other essentials.

It also comes with plenty of padding to protect your gadgets, a comfortable strap to reduce shoulder strain and a handy luggage belt that can be slipped over your suitcase handle when you’re travelling.

Mancro Anti-Theft Backpack, Amazon Australia, $159

If you have sensitive content on your work device, it pays to invest in an antitheft laptop bag. This option by Mancro comes with durable metal zippers and a combination lock so you can keep your laptop and other valuables safe while you’re out and about.

Fitted with a dedicated laptop compartment, the backpack holds devices up to 17-inches wide and even features an external USB charging port so you can juice up your phone as you walk to and from work.

The Horse Backpack, The Iconic, $299

If you’re looking for a laptop bag that doesn’t compromise on style, this premium leather backpack by The Horse is our top pick. Featuring adjustable shoulder straps, a convenient carry handle and a separate front zip pocket for storing smaller items, the roomy backpack can hold laptops 13-inches and under, along with all your daily essentials.

It also comes in two gorgeous colour options of tan and olive, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your style.

Samsonite Boulevard Slim Briefcase, The Iconic, $179

Samsonite is known for its impressive range of travel gear, making it no surprise that it’s Boulevard Slim Briefcase made our list. The sleek, lightweight bag is slender in design, making it an ideal business travel option.

Holding laptops up to 15.4-inches, the briefcase comes with both twin top handles and a removable shoulder strap, so you can choose how you want to carry it. It also has a handy smart sleeve that lets you stack it on top of your suitcase for hassle-free travel.

Rains Backpack Mini, The Iconic, $140

We highly recommend getting yourself a waterproof work bag. This street-style backpack by Rains has been designed with a waterproof shell, so you can keep your gadgets dry on your daily commute.

The slim bag also comes in a great range of colours and has adjustable shoulders straps, an easy clasp fastening and an internal laptop sleeve that can hold devices up to 13-inches wide.

Calgari Italian Luxury Leather Laptop Bag, Amazon Australia, $120

Introduce some luxury into your life with this premium Italian leather bag by Calgari. With an easily detachable shoulder strap and a rear trolley strap that you can slide over the handle of your suitcase, the unisex bag makes the perfect travel companion.

According to one five star reviewer on Amazon Australia, the bag is incredibly spacious, with enough room to carry a “MacBook, iPad and documents.” Measuring 42 x 34 x 12 cm, the classic design can also fit devices up to 15.6-inches, which should suit most professionals.

Bellroy Tokyo Tote Compact, Bellroy, $169

If you don’t want to blow money on a designated work bag, this Tokyo Tote is for you. Designed with plenty of pockets and zip closures, the bag stores a surprising amount for its scaled-down size, making it a great choice for both work and casual use.

Capable of holding devices up to 13-inches, the Tokyo tote features plenty of soft padding and is made with a durable, water-resistant fabric that keeps your gadgets protected on rainy days.

Evol Brunswick Laptop Briefcase, The Good Guys, $69.95

Simple and affordable, this Brunswick Laptop Briefcase by Evol is a bestseller over on The Good Guys site. Boasting a 13.3-inch device capacity, the compact briefcase features an additional front zippered pocket so you can store accessories and any other ‘quick grab’ items.

It has detachable shoulder straps so you can decide how you want to carry it and also comes with a trolley strap attachment so you can easily slot it over your luggage handle when you travel.

Louenhide Rhodes Laptop Bag, The Iconic, $139.95

While there’s no denying that a laptop bag is a handy purchase, not everyone is a fan of the way they look. Enter this super stylish option by Louenhide, which looks like a luxury handbag, but contains a flat pocket for laptops up to 15-inches wide.

Made from vegan leather, the classic bag has plenty of extra room for notebooks, pens and other essentials and comes with a detachable, adjustable strap to make it easy to carry. It’s also available in four different designs, so you can choose the one that works best both for the office and for off-duty use.

solo Duane Briefcase, Amazon Australia, $90

If you’re really feeling the strain of lugging a laptop to and fro, this solo Duane Briefcase provides a unique solution: the hybrid bag can be used as both a briefcase and a backpack, it just depends on which way around you flip it.

Featuring a removable shoulder strap and hideaway backpack straps, the carrier can be used as a messenger bag in professional settings and then quickly switched to a backpack when it’s time to go home. It also fits 15.6-inch laptops in a separate padded compartment, while leaving plenty of room for keyboards, books, tablets and anything else you may need.

Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack, Myer, $150

With its durable build and casual style, Herschel’s Pop Quiz Backpack is suited to both students and professionals while remaining versatile enough for casual use too. Accommodating devices up to 15-inches, the backpack has a great range of pockets and organisers for separately storing your laptop, sunglasses, headphones and books.

It also features a small zippered front pocket and key clip for easy storage of items that you need fast access to.

AGVA Clamshell Laptop Briefcase, The Good Guys, $19.95

Sleek and cheap, this AGVA Clamshell Laptop Briefcase is a top seller on The Good Guys site for good reason. Capable of holding laptops up to 15.6-inches in size, the durable polyester bag has a soft, cushioned design that keeps your laptop safe from bumps and scratches.

It also contains an internal mesh pocket, additional front pocket, adjustable carry strap and back trolley strap, making it a truly handy buy.

Pack more into your day with this stylish Classic Backpack by Bellroy. Fitted with separate pockets for laptops up to 16-inches and tablets/A5 documents, the Classic bag will keep your devices safe while leaving plenty of room for food, gym gear and other essentials.

It also features a water-resistant top pocket for smaller items, comfortable shoulder straps and back padding to make it more comfortable to wear. As an added bonus, the bag is made from 100% recycled PET bottles and is completely leather-free, so it’s a purchase you can feel good about making.

STM Ace Cargo Laptop Bag, Harvey Norman, $64.95

Arriving with a durable exterior and water-resistant coating, this STM Laptop Bag is made to protect devices up to 14-inches wide. Featuring multiple internal pockets, the slim design easily fits in all your day to day essentials, while a zippered front pocket provides easy access to phones, keys and security passes.

Fitted with both carry handles and an adjustable, removable shoulder strap, the Cargo can also be carried in multiple ways, so you can quickly switch it up whenever you start to feel fatigued.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LAPTOP BAG FOR YOUR NEEDS

With seemingly endless laptop bag and backpack options, choosing the “best” one can be overwhelming. To help you pick, we’ve listed a few things to consider before making a purchase:

Size — The most important consideration you’ll need to make will of course be ensuring that your laptop or device fits comfortably into your chosen bag. However, the size of the bag itself is also something to think about. Will it be easy for you to carry to and from work? Is there enough room in your workspace to put it down without it getting in the way? Thinking about how each type of bag will work for you is an easy way to narrow down your choices.

Commute — Similar to the point above, you’ll want to think about how each style of bag will work on your commute. For instance, if you catch a train, you may want to opt for a messenger bag or handbag/tote that you can easily place on your lap during rush hour. If you sometimes ride a bike to work, you’ll meanwhile want to invest in a backpack that you can easily carry with you on your journey.

Aesthetic — If you’re not particularly fussed about how your bag looks, you can focus instead on function and price. If you’re more style-centric though, or if you want a versatile bag that can also be used casually, you may want to shop for a laptop bag at a fashion retailer like The Iconic instead of at a tech or office supplies store. You’ll still have plenty of options to choose from, but the overall range will be much more fashion-focused.

Budget — Laptop bags are usually pricier than standard bags, as they often have padding, durable outer designs and separate pockets or sleeves for storing your devices. Messenger bags are typically the cheapest option, with standard designs retailing for around the $60-$75 mark. Handbags and totes can meanwhile be found for around $100-$150, while backpacks can go for upwards of $120.

Of course, you can find all mentioned styles for less, but cheaper options are often lower in quality and need to be replaced more often. If you can afford it, we recommend investing in a laptop bag that will last for years to come. If you do need to look for a cheaper option to accommodate your budget, we suggest looking at customer reviews and ratings to determine which budget-friendly options are going to be worth the purchase.

Looking for more tech accessories? You can check out one of our other handy guides, including: the best portable chargers to keep your gadgets running, top-rated printers for your home office and the laptop stands that will ease your neck and back strain.

You can also head to our Best Of electronics section to see all the latest product guides and reviews or sign up to our Best Of shopping newsletter to be kept in the loop about popular products and upcoming sales.

If you’re looking for a tech bargain, you can meanwhile see our news.com.au Coupons page for a list of current deals and offers.

Lauren is news.com.au’s Best Of consumer technology writer. She previously worked at comparison site Finder as the senior shopping writer where she reported on everything from tech gadgets to the latest home products. Prior to cutting her teeth as a journalist, she completed a Bachelor of journalism at the University of South Australia and worked as a media advisor for JB Hi-Fi where she sold the very products she now writes about.

Lauren is news.com.au’s Best Of consumer technology writer. She previously worked at comparison site Finder as the senior shopping writer where she reported on everything from tech gadgets to the latest home products. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of South Australia and prior to cutting her teeth as a journalist, worked as a media advisor for JB Hi-Fi where she sold the very products she now writes about.

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