A bag has to pass a ton of tests to make our list of the best work bags for women. Between everyone on our team, we've probably tested over 100 work totes — and we've scrutinized each one with scientific rigor by filling them to the brim and schlepping back and forth on NYC subways.
After years of testing, Dagne Dover's Allyn Leather Tote has reigned supreme as our favorite. Among its other standout features, it has the best internal organization we've ever seen. But all those pockets and compartments are contained in a bag with a sleek silhouette. As the old saying goes, there's a place for everything, and everything has its place.
It comes in three colors (onyx, bone, and graphite) and two sizes (one for a 13" laptop and one for a 16" laptop). Here's why we love it so much.
A rundown of the bag's features
- Pebbled leather exterior: This might be the only part of the bag that we consider a drawback. It's labeled "genuine pebbled leather," which savvy buyers know is code for lesser-quality leather sourced from the hide's lower layers. It tends to be less durable, but we have been testing the Allyn Tote for years and have never had any major issues with the exterior.
- Cushioned neoprene laptop sleeve: With a zipper to keep your computer secure, this compartment effectively protects your laptop — no additional padding or sleeves needed. It fits up to a 13-inch laptop in Medium and up to a 15-inch laptop in Large.
- Recycled lining: The grey, camo-printed lining isn't our favorite aesthetic detail, but it gives the interior an easy-to-clean finish that lets you see all the items in your bag.
- Exterior quick-access pocket: This has a slim design that seems especially tailored to keep iPhones within reach. It's one of my favorite design features, and I've found myself being extremely grateful for it when I'm on the subway and need to take a quick look at my device.
- Snap-in neoprene water bottle holder: So your bottle stays upright instead of rolling around. If you don't carry a water bottle, simply remove it.
- Multiple interior pockets throughout: These include slip pockets (both zippered and unzippered) and pen holders to keep small essentials organized. There's also an elasticated side pocket that's great for storing a laptop charger.
- Built-in key leash: It's a small detail, but one that saves you from digging around at the bottom of your bag.
- Magnetic tab closure: The magnets keep everything contained while still allowing the tote to expand when it's packed full.
- Interior side snaps: These let you adjust the silhouette — cinched for structure or expanded for extra room.
Why we love the Allyn Tote
In 2017, Dagne Dover's founder and CEO Melissa Mash told Business Insider that, as far as work bags go, "It's no longer good enough to just be 'arm candy.' Nowadays we expect the services and products we use to multitask, to be data-driven, and to work harder."
The Allyn Tote, heeding Mash's formula, is polished for the office, convenient for carrying everything you need on the commute there and back home, and easy to keep organized.
Dagne Dover really considered every detail when they designed the Allyn Tote, from the detachable key leash that makes house keys easier to find and grab in a pinch to padded laptop compartment with a zipper closure that ensures valuable tech always remains protected.
The bag also has a discreet pocket on the back where you can stow your keys or phone so that they're readily accessible: "My favorite compartment is the phone-sized slip pocket on the outside, which I use all the time. It's the perfect pocket for easily accessing your phone on a crowded subway," says Samantha Crozier, style editor, Insider Reviews.
The bag also has a magnetic tab closure and an interior adjustable snap fastener that give you more space when you need it or the ability to close it quickly, a shoe duster you can use to stow comfortable flats so that they don't make contact with your other essentials, and dedicated pockets for your phone, pens, lip balm, Metro Card, and whatever else.
Not to mention, if you're a teacher or member of the military, you're eligible for a 20% discount on any Dagne Dover purchases you make. Just fill out this form using your official education or military email address and the company will give you an exclusive code to use at checkout.
The bottom line
My personal opinion is that work bags don't get any better than this one.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@bjinnox.com.
