For years, women have been on the quest to find the perfect work-life carryall. Backpacks haven't really been an option for us since most of them were either too casual for the workplace, too techy, or too masculine looking.
Now, women are ditching their single-shoulder bags totes and handbags for a more practical toting solution, and never looking back.
See why the world of practical-yet-stylish work backpacks are everything you need to make it through your day:
1. No More Juggling Multiple Work Bags
Why has it become a norm for professional women to carry multiple crossbody bags to the office? While men’s bags are able to fit it all, women’s bags seem to have forgotten about functionality.
This leaves women looking to men’s bag brands for utility, carrying less than desirable looking laptop bags and having a separate, prettier handbag or leather tote for smaller items. Every day, there's the "great morning purse transfer" of moving your wallets, keys, notebooks, and workday essentials from one satchel to the other.
I saw a woman juggling three bags on her commute today and it just made me so grateful for my backpack. https://t.co/6r9OYVvBio
— Julie Bogen (@JaBogen) May 8, 2019
Women who have switched to a leather laptop bag, and are able to carry one bag for an entire day, have a huge weight taken off their shoulders (pun intended). It’s all about the convenience. Not having to worry about dropping your phone or passport as you're running through the subway or airport. Being hands-free is refreshing" says Beth Goldstein, NPD’s accessories analyst.
Preparedness is the ultimate power move.
How many items do you carry every day? Some backpacks, like The ISM Backpack have separate zippered compartments for storing your laptop, iPad, and everyday essentials.
2. Enjoy A Hands-Free Commute
Once you backpack its hard to go back.
Backpacks are a little bit of everything at once — professional and casual, spacious enough to fit your Macbook and gym sneakers and designed with just enough pockets and zippers to store the things you need. Whether it's for the morning commute or a long haul trip, carrying one backpack instead of multiple handbags lets you seamlessly go from one event to another. The best work bags are also water-resistant, so you're never left stranded in the unexpected drizzle.
My laptop, food, workout clothes and well, just about my life go into my lady backpack every workday. No more shoulder pain! https://t.co/MQqlqqRZKD
— Maegan Vazquez (@maeganvaz) May 3, 2019
For the road warriors out there, a backpack can be the ideal travel bag, especially when airlines have a strict one carry-on bag limit. A business travel backpack paired with a sturdy carry on luggage can be all you need for a work trip or weekend away.
Bonus points to a backpack that has a separate laptop compartment and top handle -- which makes going through TSA feel like a breeze.
3. Ease Your Back Pain, Comfortably.
Just like the rise of athleisure and sneakers as officewear, comfort is king. Women have stopped accepting that beauty has to be painful, ditching the pumps and now, the one-shoulder bags. Who decided that carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder every day was a good idea?
Some women have sustained chronic back and shoulder injuries from lugging around heavy tote bags or purses -- something that chiropractors and doctors have confirmed can be the direct result of carrying a heavy crossbody bag on a single shoulder.
i struggled with serious back and shoulder pain when i used to carry a tote bag for work - wearing a backpack instead for the past year or two has been THE BEST. https://t.co/OzK468O18o
— Sarah Jorgensen (@SarahLJorgensen) May 3, 2019
Unlike a hobo bag or canvas tote, backpacks distribute weight evenly between two shoulder straps. The equal weight distribution provides relief on your shoulders and back caused by a heavy single shoulder bag or sitting at a desk for hours on end.
The best work backpacks are also designed with memory foam and mesh padding on the straps and back panel for an extra soft touch.
Many modern work bags have mesh and EVA foam padding on the straps and back panel, like the genuine leather ISM Backpack.
4. Accessorize Your Outfits
The backpack is making a seamless transition from the work space to the runway, with designers from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, to Jeremy Scott, making their own rendition. “Backpacks are having a more prominent presence with the ‘90s resurgence, and many designers and brands are creating ones as pretty as they are practical,” explains Nicole Russo, stylist and founder of Let’s Get You.
YES. I switched to a backpack about a year ago and haven't looked back
— Michelle Garcia (@mzMichGarcia) May 3, 2019
In a work environment, the best backpack needs to look the part – neutral colorways and smart, low-key designs all contribute towards creating an air of chic style and dependable professionalism. Minimal logo placement and premium quality materials like full-grain leather and nylon can add to the work and street-style look of a leather bag.
5. Meet The Only Bag You'll Need.
We wanted to address the problems that many working professionals like us faced with current bags -- shoulder pain, bag juggling, bags that are either too expensive or too bulky. The one bag that can be used seamlessly to go from one event to another. That keeps our laptop safe. Something made with quality leather materials that would last years, saying sleek and in great condition.
To do so, we took our favorite aesthetic pieces from designer bags and combined it with the functionality of a tech bag and the comfort of a hiking bag. The result is a sleek backpack that fits everything you need, and won't cost a few month's rent.
WHY did I spend years carrying a painfully heavy work purse?? I’m at the airport with my new @ismbags backpack, looking fly as hell, professional, and comfortable. (AND supporting a POC-led business 🙌🏽). Goodbye forever, shoulder aches!
— Bahareh “Berry” Soltani (@Berry_Soltani) February 19, 2019
Meet the ISM Backpacks. We use premium materials and provide a lifetime warranty on the bag (it's made at the same manufacturer as TUMI, Longchamp's Le Pliage tote bag, Tory Burch, Mansur Gavriel, Kate Spade, and other premium designer brands.)
One bag in two sizes and two accent colors. The Large Backpack is for daily commuters or road warriors who need to carry everything they need for the day, from the laptop to gym clothes to a packed lunch. The Small Backpack is perfect for remote workers or a day trip and can fit up to a 13" Laptop.
