Your morning commute is your time, whether sitting in traffic or sharing public transit with forty "close" friends. You get to decide how to use it, and stocking your work bag with the right combo of tech, snacks, and entertainment can help get your work day off to the right start.

Choosing the right work bag can really make a difference in your commute. Walking to the office? Opt for something water-resistant that can withstand unexpected weather or an accidental coffee spill. Packing a uniform? Look for a roomier backpack-style bag for more space and extra comfortable straps. 

At Away, we have everything you need to make your commute in style and ultimate comfort. Wherever your needs land in the eternal tote vs. backpack debate, we have the guide to your best bag options for hauling all your odds and ends while still looking chic.  Whether driving yourself or commuting with others, find the best work bag to protect that expensive company laptop and your afternoon snacks. 

The best work bags for commuting

You're too busy to compare and contrast a million work bags — probably because you spend so many hours on your commute. Let us break it down real quick. Here are our top picks for commuter bags, what they're best for, and the features you'll love the most.

Comfortable commutes: The Commuter Backpack

Best for: Transit and walking commutes, heavy work supplies, security, business casual

Commuter Backpack Features:

• Ergonomic and comfort supports
• Medium volume, slim design
• Secure tech and personal belonging pockets

Whatever your commute looks like, it ought to be comfortable — those stairs up from the subway station aren't going to climb themselves.

Check out the [Commuter Backpack], the work backpack that can haul everything you need for the day without throwing your back out. The air mesh back panel and padded shoulder straps accentuate its lightness. A slight structure and elevated aesthetic complement your business casual outfit while safely stashing your tech in the dedicated 16" laptop sleeve. Reach what you need on the go with exterior pocket openings, but keep essential things like your keys and wallet safely on the key clip or tucked into interior pockets. With its clean lines, this will look just as good tossed over your shoulder as it does tossed under your desk at work. 

The expandable exterior water bottle pockets stretch to accommodate your largest tumbler — because if a commute is rough, a commute while dehydrated is rougher. Headed off for a work trip? Slip the backpack's trolley sleeve right over the handle of your luggage. The Commuter Backpack is built for the busy professional, no matter how long the commute is today. 

Selecting the perfect work tote

Train-ready totables: The Large Featherlight Tote

Best for: Short commutes, easy access, high-volume needs

Features: 

• Extra roomy but lightweight
• Wide opening
• Two styles of straps

If you're one of the lucky few with a job just a train station away, you may prefer an easy option to reach in and grab your work notes (or your favorite novel) during your commute. The Large Featherlight Tote is an easy sling-over-your-shoulder bag that can hold your lunch and laptop while looking ultra-fashionable in neutrals like Jet Black and Amaro Brown or standouts like Clay Pink.

Water-resistant for when you get caught in a rain storm on the walk from the station, this bag securely holds a laptop in its dedicated sleeve. Ward off pickpocketing as you go with the hidden pocket stashed between the straps that can hold small essential items like your cards or headphones. Swap between hand or shoulder straps for the carry that feels right wherever your day takes you.

For work and beyond: The Everywhere Tote

Best for: Multi-purpose day-to-night bag, modern briefcase style, elevated work look

Features:

• Top-zip tote
• Laptop sleeve
• Leather trim and water-resistant fabric

Hybrid work schedules are the new normal for so many professionals these days. Yes, there are fewer hours on the road, but a little juggling is required to adjust your life to working in two or more places. With multi-purpose accessories to use at home or for work, you can leave behind swapping out your belongings for different bags in different settings. You have a single tote that works everywhere.

The Everywhere Tote is the kind of commuter tote that can be perfect for a Sunday brunch or Tuesday commute. With its sleek lines, deceptively roomy interior, and a 15" laptop sleeve, it's ready to transport your goods back and forth to the office (or brunch) with ease. If you're on the hunt for something versatile, The Everywhere Tote is ideal for swapping from personal to professional in a snap.

The commuter's checklist

Whichever style of bag you need to make your commute functional, don't forget to stock it with the essentials, including:

• Noise-canceling headphones: Whether you're into true-crime podcasts or audiobooks, block out any external noise with some quality noise-canceling headphones safely stashed in your Tech Case. You don't even have to use any audio. Just wear them so no one tries to make small talk. We won't tell!
• Snacks and water bottle: Ran out the door without breakfast? Check those interior backpack pockets for your emergency granola bar stash. And don't forget that water bottle.
• Entertainment: One of the most essential parts of a tolerable commute is utilizing that time for something you enjoy. That could be meditation or blasting your hype music, but for some, that means entertainment. Stash a Sudoku booklet and a pencil in your work bag to puzzle out on the bus. Pack your e-reader or portable game player for extra boredom busters.
• Neck pillow: Need to squeeze in some extra z's? Get cozy with a neck pillow. Easy to stash in travel bags, these supportive foam loops can provide a shocking amount of comfort in a tiny package.
• Hand sanitizer: The outside world is a petri dish. Come prepared.
• Umbrella: Don't get caught without it. 
• Chargers & Cables: On-the-go doesn't mean out-of-touch. Stay powered up and keep chargers all in one place in The Organizational Pouch.  
• Eyewear: Sunglasses for the walk to work and blue light protection lenses for the office. Or, be that Eagle Scout who always has contact lens solution and case on hand.

Choosing the best work bag

A work bag is about more than just function. It's an extension of your office identity, a tangible statement of professional competency and preparation. 

Away bags make it easy to present this persona in a way that will survive the most grueling of commutes. Our sleek styles hold up to heavy use and give you the high-end look you want to travel with confidence. The added dose of organization they provide helps you mentally prepare for whatever the day holds. 

Check out the Commuter Backpack for a bag designed specifically for your commuting needs. Away's travel backpacks and tote bags offer similar structures in an array of styles and fits. Alternatively, browse the tech organizers to make a bag you already love work-ready. So whether you're hustling through the crowded turnstile or squeezing into the back of Becky from marketing's Prius, you'll be ready for anything.

‍