Buying a Briefcase - A Guide for Men

Briefcases are indispensable items for office workers, trusty bags that will go with you almost everywhere you go. Choosing the right one is important, as your briefcase will receive heavy use every day for years. Here are a few tips for selecting a good one.

First, a word about price. Although it is possible to get a briefcase for less than $100, don't. Cheap briefcases, in addition to being minimally useful and unstylish, are flimsy. Remember that you will be dragging this thing around for miles, and that it will take a beating. Briefcases are the sort of things that will be used steadily and replaced when they wear out, so make a wise investment that will last for a while. Spend as much as you can afford.

Another consideration is style. Hard or soft? Handle or shoulder strap? Both important considerations. Think about what you will be carrying. Do you carry a lot of loose files with you? If so, a hard briefcase would be a good idea. Be sure to get a durable one. Press on it, and see that it doesn't flex. If, however, all your papers are in binders, and you have less to carry, in general, go with a soft one. Stylistic considerations are important too. It may well be that you prefer the image of a hard briefcase. Or maybe a soft leather one. This is a legitimate concern.

How do you plan to carry the thing? This may be more or less of a factor depending on how you get to work. Those who drive to won't spend too much time carrying their briefcases, but those who walk, or ride a subway or bus will spend a lot of time with the thing in their hand. Try both, but keep in mind that a shoulder strap is not always more comfortable. Although it keeps your hands free, it may be more trouble than its worth.

Next, look at what's inside. Any good briefcase will have a good collection of nifty, well built organizer pockets, that you can keep all your pens, pencils, and other odds and ends in. What about a laptop? Many briefcases have padded laptop sleeves. You definitely want one if you plan to carry your laptop around.

Think also about size. Bigger is usually better, as you will often wind up carrying a lot more around than you bargained for. But then again, don't get anything heavier than you absolutely need.

Materials are another concern. Get a good leather briefcase unless you specifically don't want one, and make sure it looks durable. Remember, this thing will be getting a lot of wear and tear.

Finally, judge a briefcase by its looks. In addition to being functional items, briefcases make a strong stylistic statement, and are men's best comeback to the purse. Think about how you will look carrying the thing, and choose accordingly. It may well be worth a hundred bucks more for the nifty designer briefcase in the latest style. Or it may not be. Think it over before buying.