What is the most durable and professional-looking yet affordable men's briefcase?
If you have any personal experiences with name brands/models either to avoid or to praise, please include.
I'm looking for a name brand/model/price and where I can purchase the product. Retailer with both a website to purchase products and a physical store to check out the product before I purchase is preferred.
by
angelshock14
asked a year ago
You don't really say what the purpose is for. Do you want something more accountant-like, to inspire confidence in conservative customers? This type of briefcase, usually in black leather, goes with pin-stripe suits (which are de rigueur for the well-dressed CPA). Is it intended to hold a laptop?
I like Wenger or Victronix (of Swiss Army fame) for the latter. If it's the former (and I suspect it is), you really mean attache, and not briefcase.
Here's an inexpensive model (although this is not actually leather):
Is this what you mean?
I'm looking for a gift for my husband. He is starting his final semester of college and I wanted to initially find him something to carry his school book/notebook in. After failing to find a messenger bag that he would like, I decided a briefcase would not only serve the initial purpose but would also be a critical item in his career (which is, as you've guessed, accounting).
I'm admittedly (and obviously) ignorant of the types of carrying cases currently on the market. The attaché sounds perfect.
He doesn't currently have a laptop, but I would like to invest in a product that would have more flexibility than just a briefcase. The combination lock, pockets and sections on the linked attaché are exactly what I had in mind, even if I didn't know that was what I was looking for!
Thanks for the help! I suppose then I should really be asking if you have any preferred brands of attachés that are durable and professional?
@angelshock14: I use only Victronix (those people of Swiss Army knife fame). I have an outstanding bag that will hold two laptops, and has wheels and a retracting handle, and a zippered compartment that allows the bag to expand (a couple of inches). I would actually hold off on the Attache until it's time for a graduation gift, since it will get beat up and ugly during school.
Here's the full suite of Victronix cases from luggage.com
http://www.luggage.com/Briefcases-C315657.html?refid=OVS24294.%22Victorinox+Briefcase%22
Amazon has similar cases, which are branded Wenger, and are far less spendy than these. Get something like this while your husband is going to school. He'll live longer if he isn't trying to haul around a briefcase. Wheels are good.
[Edit] Scratch what I just said. I read your post as First semester, when you'd said Final semester.
I'll go off and look for Attache cases. What's the dollar limit?
Here is a great site, and they have Ken Cole (good brand, very classy).
Isn't that pretty? It simply inspires confidence. They also have Bellino, which is very nice.
http://www.ebags.com/product/bellino/5-leather-attache-case/96016?productid=1243007
You can see some of these bags at Nordstrom's (or at least you used to).
Thank you so much for asking a question about something I can actually be useful on (not kidding, I mean it right from the heart).
I have been carrying a Tom Bihn briefcase for 7 years now. The same one. It still looks like new, despite having lugged around four different machines and flying over 200,000 miles.
Every zipper still works perfectly, every catch and clasp is intact. These are well worth the high price.
@durkzilla: Zippers. Briefcase. I'm sure it's excellent, but Mr CPA in three years (that's the minimum practice time before you get to even try for the exam) needs a showpiece. Attache cases are really what the lady wants, here.
Tom Bihn makes good luggage, yes. I still love my Victronix the best, so I can understand your love for yours.
I was hoping to find something within the $50-$75 range. But that's just a "hope" seeing as I have absolutely no idea how much these products go for.
I appreciate your input! I'm very glad you have the knowledge that I very much lack.
These all look nice. I especially like the Kenneth Cole attaché you linked. We don't have Nordstrom's here. I wonder if there are any stores locally (Memphis, TN) that would carry these. I wouldn't even know where to look.. Macy's? Dillard's? I'll need to do some research. But now that I know a reliable name brand to search for, I'll be able to use my resources to find one at a price I'm happy with.
You might search around a bit and see if there's any Factory Stores of the brand you like at any of your area outlet malls. I'm not too knowledgeable about the item in question, but if factory stores exist, it might be a good way to shave off a good chunk of the MSRP with "last season's model" or what not.
I'm aware that some brands decide not to offer their wares in outlet settings because they feel it "cheapens" the brand, so you might have less luck, depending which business model the brand you select follows.
That being said, I picked up a really nice piece of Kenneth Cole luggage at TJ Maxx a while back. The whole set was available for a steal, but I couldn't justify the expense of the whole set. Maybe you'd be able to find some steals of your own at a TJ Maxx?
Oh, and if you decide to go the online route, eBags.com ALWAYS has about a half dozen coupon codes at any given time, so look for coupon codes before you finalize checkout. I like RetailMeNot dot com.
@angelshock14: Attaches are usually priced in the range I showed, although I'm sure that we could encourage others to go off and find deals on some of the ones I'd pointed to, now that you know they exist. I just saw @perkalicious11 suggest TJMaxx, which is an excellent possibility. They carry a wide variety of things, and may even have this very item. I'm not sure that they're in your area, though (I know that Nordstrom's is south and west, but not midwest, and not east coast). You might try Nieman Marcus.
As a fellow CPA, the first briefcase/attache that I bought out of college was the cheapest one that didn't look cheap. It was a Samsonite hardside, and 17 years later, it is still in use. Durable and it catches comments like "where is the compartment for the poker chips?" and "looks like that briefcase should be handcuffed to your wrist". Similar model can be found at samsonite.com under "Samsonite Traditional Attachés Focus® III, 6" Attache". However, for a little less (in your price preference) and a bit more functionality, Samsonite also has the "Samsonite Business Cases Traditional Computer Attache". From the pictures, it looks like a more traditional black leather box, with room for plenty including a laptop.
I use a grocery plastic bag. It's convenient, affordable, flexible and not to mention water proof. If I plan on taking my laptop, I double bag it for added strength.
Real leather can not be beat. These are functional and well worth the investment. You may or may not find them affordable, you will not if you define affordable as cheap.
http://www.saddlebackleather.com/categories/79-SaddleBack-Leather-Briefcases-Leather-Bags?icc=adwords0904&gclid=CKbLidTf2aYCFQ687Qod9zBf1Q
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