A laptop in the morning, lunch at midday and personal belongings on the way home: a work backpack needs to accommodate more than one routine. Start with an ordinary day for your colleagues. A team walking between appointments has different priorities from a group receiving bags for a one-off outing.
Judge comfort with the usual contents inside
Extra capacity encourages people to carry more without necessarily making the load easier to manage. Look at how the straps adjust and where the bag sits when packed with the intended equipment. For journeys on foot, this deserves as much attention as the number of pockets. The laptop compartment also needs to fit the actual device; if you add a laptop sleeve, include its thickness.
Access to small items shapes the daily experience. A pass, headphones or keys should be easy to find without moving lunch out of the way. If a bottle travels alongside computer equipment, look at its position and the layout of the chosen bag rather than assuming a separate compartment is provided.
A bag people want to pick up again tomorrow
Colour, shape and logo placement matter when a bag moves between work and personal use. Understated branding may suit a mobile team; a bolder design may suit an event. If most of the contents are clothing and trainers, personalised sports bags offer another starting point.
To explore backpacks for your team, share the contents of a typical day and the journeys involved.
For commuting, compare Backpack, Rolltop and Book Daypack models in our personalised RAINS selection by opening style, capacity and laptop storage.