Contrary to popular belief, there are various factors to take into account when purchasing a business briefcase for men. Not only will you need to consider the look and feel of the briefcase, but also the comfort when holding it and the appropriate number of compartments to meet your needs. This article will provide information on the top considerations to make before buying a briefcase ensuring you purchase the best case available.
1- The Type of Briefcase
The first and potentially most significant factor to take into account is the type of briefcase. When searching for the ideal briefcase, it is essential that you ask yourself what you will be using the case for and base the design on this functionality. For example, an attaché briefcase is commonly used by lawyers, attorneys, and accountants. Presuming you will be using the briefcase for occupation purposes, it is recommended that you choose the briefcase according to the job.
If you find yourself in an occupation where you are required to travel often, then it may be better to opt for a rolling briefcase such as a stand-alone or addition design. This is beneficial if you choose to take along your laptop. If this is the case, a check-point friendly laptop briefcase can be useful; however, it is not always essential.
While certain cases are suitable for multiple situations, such as the formal/casual messenger bags, they are not technically categorized as briefcases. In fact, due to this lack of technical classification, it is possible to use a messenger bag for casual work purposes or holiday travels. If you’re looking for ideas, check out these beauties at Luggage City.
2- The Type of Material
The look, feel, and durability of a briefcase are highly dependent on the material; however, this is closely related to the craftsmanship of the briefcase producer.
- Leather: For professionals or specialists who wish to present themselves as high-powered in different business settings, such as meetings or on daily commutes, it is recommended that a high-quality leather briefcase be used. Genuine leather is flexible, durable, attractive, soft to the touch, and smells good. There are various different forms of leather with different means of production that will influence these properties. I am no expert regarding leather tanning, but this Wikipedia article can provide a vast amount of useful information on this topic.
- Synthetic Polymers: The other most commonly used forms of material used when making men’s briefcases include polyester and nylon. Both nylon and polyester stem from a group of synthetic polymers, and while they are not as luxurious as leather they are resistant to chemical components. Furthermore, these synthetic polymers are less costly to produce with high levels of durability. When reviewing synthetic polymer briefcases, you will typically see a number followed by ‘D’ lettering. The ‘D’ stands for denier which refers to the measure of the fabric’s linear mass density. This is important to note because it indicates the durability of the fabric – the higher, the more durable.
- Metal: The most durable of all briefcase materials is metal; however, it is also the heaviest of the materials. The most common metal used is aluminium because it presents with a high level of resistance to corrosion.
If you are searching for a metal briefcase, it is most likely due to you working in a setting where there is exposure to dangers such as construction. It should be noted that the metal briefcase is available in the form of an attaché case with locks making it attractive and secure.
3- The Colour of the Briefcase
The three most popular colours used on men’s briefcases are tan, brown and black. Of course, this could be considered far too general as there are various shades of these colours. Black and dark brown may be considered the best alternatives if working in a professional environment because they portray a sense of power. However, tan and lighter colours should be better options for casual purposes when the working environment is relaxed.
While it is possible to locate briefcases in different colours, it is not recommended that you purchase a briefcase using two different colours on the exterior (including stitching). This is due to the fact that a combination of colours could be considered as overly flamboyant.
4- The Number of Compartments
It is vital that the briefcase purchased has enough compartments to meet your content needs and keep the contents as organized as possible. This does not mean that the briefcase should have a staggering amount of compartments. Contrary to popular belief, more compartments is not always better and if you are traveling it may be better to use a simple three-sectioned briefcase separating a laptop, documents, field notes and stationery. Of course, if you are traveling and use a rolling briefcase it may be useful to have another section for clothing.
One feature that is considered essential regardless of your occupation is the quick access compartment. A quick access briefcase compartment is beneficial because it allows easy access to important items, such as a mobile phone or airplane tickets. The majority of briefcases present with this compartment either on the back or the front of the case.
5- The Suitability for a Laptop
Traveling with a laptop can be frustrating because you will need to remove the laptop from a briefcase at all checkpoints. If, however, the briefcase is a laptop briefcase it would be checkpoint-friendly allowing smooth passage through airport checkpoints. Of course, this does not mean you will not need to remove the laptop from the case, but it will provide peace of mind that the laptop is not scuffed or scratched during removal. So, if you need to travel with a laptop it is always recommended that you use a briefcase with a compartment dedicated to laptops presenting with suitable padding and sizing.
You may be wondering how a briefcase can be laptop and checkpoint-friendly. In addition to providing padding for the laptop, the compartment of a checkpoint-friendly briefcase will open out fully or allows the laptop to be removed without any obstructions. More information on this briefcase and its features can be found on the TSA website.
6- The Size and Weight
In many cases regarding briefcases, bigger is not always better. It is unlikely that you will want to carry around a briefcase that is big, clunky and heavy unless required by your company. Furthermore, if you are a particularly short man it would look ridiculous and would feel particularly uncomfortable.
The dimensions of the ideal men’s briefcase are a width of approximately 15-16.5 inches, a height of approximately 11-13 inches, and a depth of approximately 1-6 inches. Of course, the depth of the briefcase can operate on a give or take stance dependent on the amount of content needed to be carried; as well as whether or not the case can be easily compressed when there is nothing inside.
It should be noted that these dimensions are merely guidelines and the purchase of an ideal briefcase should be made on comfort.
7- The Cost of the Briefcase
While it is commonly thought that several hundred dollars will need to be spent to purchase a high-quality men’s briefcase, this is not altogether true. In fact, there are various types of elegant briefcase models that cost less than $200 and are highly practical, are durable, and look more expensive than they cost. Below are some of these less costly designs:
