I’ve mentioned before that I work full-time, but I don’t think I’ve ever really gone into any specifics on my work situation. Typically on a 5-day workweek, I work from home two days (Monday and Friday), and then work in two different offices for other three days. So, in a normal week, I’m working in at least three different locations.
When I started this job, I had the typical IT-provided computer shoulder bag to lug all my stuff from place to place. However, piling up with a computer bag, purse, lunch bag and usually an additional tote bag for supplies… well, it wasn’t comfortable.
So, I switched to a backpack. I ordered it off Amazon and it was fine. I mean, it was plain black and held most of my stuff. So it worked. But it wasn’t really anything special. When the zipper broke a month ago I wasn’t too sad about it and immediately went online to order a replacement.
Oh and the reason I’m bringing this up now is that over on The Mom Edit they posted a blog about commuter bags last week. While there were a couple cheaper options, most of them were in the $200 – $500 range.
My backpack cost $39.
Granted, mine isn’t by a big name designer… but it’s cute and serves it’s purpose, so I thought I’d share it with you all.
I ended up with this “vintage canvas and leather backpack” in grey. Here is the direct Amazon link to my exact backpack.
The leather was a little stiff when I first got it, but now that I’ve been using it regularly it has a nice lived-in look. I also didn’t realize that the buckles on the front have snaps on them, so you don’t have to unbuckle the straps to get into the bag. The top has a zipper so that nothing falls out when you inevitably stop short at a traffic light and everything on your passenger seat falls to the floor.
On a daily basis it contains:
- My laptop
- A small bag with a laptop cord and cordless mouse.
- Another small bag with business cards, a memory stick, whiteout, a presentation clicker, iPhone charging cord, and dongle for a projector.
- A highlighter set
- A bunch of pens
- A 3 subject notebook
- 3 – 6 file folders filled with work papers
- An iPhone
- My 2017 Lifeplanner (you can read all about it here)
And there is still room for more crap. The only thing I don’t love about it is that the interior pocket where I like to stick my work phone is kind of floppy ,so sometimes my phone falls into the larger bag. Not really that big of a deal for me, since I only store that phone in the bag when it’s off and I’m not working.
I’ve been using this bag for the past 6 weeks and I have to say that I’m a fan. Especially for $39.
Disclosure: Pocketful of Joules is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.