Best Work Shoulder Bag Champion | Carry Awards IX

One bag for work, travel, and play? Our Best Work Shoulder Bag 2021 boldly steps up to meet the challenge…

1st Place

Mission Workshop Drift Tote

Mission Workshop have a reputation for bomber builds and slick urban styling. Bring these together in a highly versatile tote design and you’ve got one heck of a workhorse. The Drift Tote’s magic is its ability to be many different things to many different people. Work bag for the daily commute? Sure thing. Gym bag for hauling your exercise essentials? No problem. Travel bag for a quick overnighter or a day trip? You bet.

Made in the USA and available in a choice of high-quality materials, this bag exudes durability from the get-go. The understated design moves easily between work, travel, and play, aided by a useful range of pockets that make storing and accessing gear quick and efficient. Exterior laptop access, dedicated storage for delicate items, a front admin pocket and more ensure your tech, EDC, and travel essentials are safe yet accessible as you go about your day.

A range of carry options add to the Drift Tote’s functional design. Carry handles, a removable shoulder strap, and a luggage passthrough help you adapt for quick grab-and-go use or longer periods on the move.

A savvy blend of technical construction, understated urban style, and exceptional versatility makes this a prime piece to have by your side, day or night. Brilliant job, Mission Workshop!

________________________________________________________

Highly Commended

These are the pieces that just missed out, and in most cases, by the smallest of margins. To them, we award a High Commendation. The below were of outstanding quality, displaying fine craftsmanship and design flair. With honor, we bow our heads in the utmost respect and kudos. If this were a dais, they’d be biting their teeth into silver medals, while their flags were hoisted into the horizon – a feat not to be overlooked. And we’re sure they’ll be back, to take it one notch higher, next year.

MSPC Kept Shoulder Bag

With close to three decades in the carry industry, master-piece have established themselves as masters of their craft and one of Japan’s foremost bag brands. And it’s not hard to see why with pieces such as the Kept Shoulder Bag. From its expert construction to its understated style and clever features, this is a shoulder bag designed to work hard and look good while doing so.

The bag features a 420D nylon fabric that has undergone a unique salt shrinkage manufacturing process, giving it an eye-catching look and luxurious feel. The quick-access front pocket also doubles as a tablet stand, while an adjustable interior “desk” helps elevate your laptop while you work. Additionally, the bag also features a rear kickstand to keep the bag standing up while you work on your laptop or set the bag down throughout the day. And with both a carry handle and removable shoulder strap, you can shift between briefcase or shoulder mode as your needs and environments change. Clever, elegant, and meticulously crafted, this is a fine testament to master-piece’s carry expertise. Excellent design!

QWSTION Bananatex® Tote Bag Large

What do you get when you pair minimalist Swiss style with a quest for sustainable fabric innovation? Pieces like the QWSTION Bananatex® Tote Bag Large; a bag that celebrates the power of nature in a pared-back and multifunctional design. The bag’s clean silhouette really lets the fabric shine. And what exactly is that fabric? A material created from naturally grown Abacá (banana plant), paired with 100% organic cotton. Add in a Ruco®-Dry Eco Plus water-repellent treatment and a natural wax coating and you get sustainability and protection from the elements; win-win.

Organization-wise you have an interior zippered non-padded laptop/document pocket and a smaller zippered pocket with a key leash. The bag’s drawstring closure provides extra volume when needed and also shields your gear from inclement weather. With a 20L main compartment, the bag is large enough to stash overnight travel supplies or a grocery shop, but stays slim when you don’t need the extra space. And a nifty trick? The tote quickly converts to backpack mode courtesy of the Simple-Strap-System. Kudos, QWSTION!

–