A lot of people argue between what bags to carry for their work and laptops. Should they carry a messenger bag or backpack for their work? While a lot of it is personal preference, following are the pros and cons of a messenger bag vs. a laptop backpack.
Messenger bag
Pros:
- Sleek look: People tend to look more professional in their work settings when carrying a messenger bag. With a messenger bag, you tend to look like you are ready for business!
- Versatile: Since the messenger bag has a more professional or sleek look, you are likely going to feel more comfortable taking it to a bar or dinner for meetup with friends or after work networking.
- Back feels free: Since your back doesn’t need to support a messenger bag, your back can feel free i.e. it can feel less stuffy or sweaty.
- Less impact on your outfit: Since you are carrying the bag on the side and it is primarily supported by your hip, it tends to create wrinkle on your work outfits less.
- Easier access to your stuff: Since you are carrying your messenger bag on the side or off the shoulder, you can swing it around your body comfortably and quickly access your stuff while you are on the move. From this angle, a messenger bag maybe more travel friendly especially if you are using a bike or taking a train/bus.
- Less Likely to overpack: Since you are carrying it on one shoulder, you may less likely to overpack a messenger bag.
Cons:
- Shoulder discomfort: Since one of your shoulders support a messenger bag, your shoulder can feel tired if you carry excessive load.
- Smaller capacity: This primarily depends on a user habit but, mostly, a messenger bag has a smaller capacity and a user will try to fit less stuff because of shoulder discomfort.
- Less stable under movement: Since a messenger bag can easily swivel around your body, it can also feel like it’s less stable while you are on the move. You may tend to adjust the shoulder strap or the bag itself frequently while traveling.
Laptop Backpack
Pros:
- Body comfort: A work laptop backpack tend to be more comfortable for a person since the backpack is supported by both of your shoulders by its straps.
- Heavy load: Even if you stuff your laptop with heavy laptops, books and other items, a laptop backpack can carry heavy loads better as you support the loads on your back and they are evenly distributed.
- More versatile: A backpack is more versatile in terms of usage. You can pack your laptop and other work stuff in it. You can pack your gym outfits, change of clothes and travel accessories if you decide to go out of town for a weekend trip.
- Commute friendly: A backpack is very versatile in its usage. You can carry it when you are riding your bike, or taking a train, bus, or an airplane. You can easily carry it for inner city traveling or for international destination.
Cons:
- Less professional: It totally depends on the backpack design and the outfits you choose to wear, however, there is a chance that you can look more like a student or outdoor traveler if you wear a backpack. People tend to look more like a business professional when they were a messenger bag than a backpack.
- Target for pick-pocketers: Your laptop backpack can be an easy target for pick pocketers to since you are carrying it on your back. However, in today’s world, there are solutions for this. A lot of brands including Luna Bags offer tear resistant backpacks.
- Tend to over pack: Due to a backpack’s comfort and carrying capacity, people tend to overstuff it with unnecessary items/loads.
- Back and shoulder can feel heavy: Depending on how much weight you carry, your back and shoulder can feel heavy. Your back may feel stuffy and sweaty if you are carrying a lot of weight and the backpack stays on your back for a long period of time.
