With longer commutes and lugging your office to your home office becoming more frequent it’s no secret that finding a reliable way to carry your daily essentials is more important than ever.

Yet the truth is that modern work places are becoming more relaxed and business casual is quickly becoming the norm for many young professionals. But when the book bag is too immature and the briefcase too formal, a clean and modern business casual backpack is the clear answer.

Here are our top picks for the best business casual backpacks that look refined enough to wear to the office but have all of the functionality we have come to expect from a reliable backpack.

Best Business Casual Backpacks

Able Carry Daily Backpack

Able Carry

Able Carry has impressed us with a minimalist backpack that really packs a punch when it comes to functional design. The Daily Backpack focuses on intuitive pocket placement, high quality materials and ergonomic features for a near-perfect everyday carry solution. 

The Able Carry Daily Backpack is available in lots of different colors – and at 20 liters it’s the perfect unisex business casual backpack for both men and women. What we love most about the Daily Backpack is it’s modern yet mature design. The sleek profile allows you to wear it to everything from morning commutes to client meetings in style.

Nomatic Backpack

The Nomatic Backpack takes what we love about the Nomatic Travel Pack and leaves its best features in a more compact size perfect for daily work carry. What we love most about the Nomatic Backpack is the insane amount of organizational pockets and compartments for every day items like laptop and tech accessories and smaller personal items. Few backpacks even come close to this level of organization.

Design-wise, the Nomatic Backpack is sleek enough to wear to the office thanks to its low-key minimalist design. And with the included side handles, you can wear the Nomatic as a business casual backpack and switch it over to briefcase-mode when it’s time to look more professional.

Knack Pack Expandable Backpack

Knack Bags

With their flagship backpack, Knack offers a unisex business casual backpack that can also double as a travel bag for when you are off the clock. Details such as a roomy daily main compartment and hidden expandable travel compartment is what helps elevate the Knack Pack above other bags in its class.

The Knack Pack is available in a variety of colors and sizes so you are bound to find one that’s the perfect look and fit.

Check out our Knack Pack Series 1 vs Series 2 hands-on comparison for a closer look at what Knack has to offer.

Day Owl Backpack

Day Owl

If we could name just one business casual backpack worth looking into – it would be the Day Owl. The Day Owl backpack is full of small design details that really makes you say “ok, this is for real adults” Examples include a “no slack” shoulder strap design that eliminates awkward dangling straps, an internal water bottle pocket to give you a sleeker look, and lots of pockets to keep you organized throughout your day.

Along with a great design, the Day Owl is also made out of high quality and environmentally conscious materials such as First-Mile waxed canvas and LWG certified leather. These materials are made to last a lifetime and only look better with age. Available in a ton of colors and two different sizes – this unisex backpack really checks all the boxes for the perfect backpack for work.

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Stubble & Co The Commuter

Stubble & Co

Stubble & Co offers a stylish and streamlined business casual laptop backpack with The Commuter. This bag features a premium water resistant canvas construction and natural full grain leather accents throughout that add a touch of sophistication to a classic backpack silhouette.

The Commuter is equipped with a roomy 22L main compartment for daily essentials plus a separate compartment for both your laptop and tablet. One thing we love about the The Commuter is that the backpack feels as good as it looks. This is thanks to its ergonomic shoulder straps and a breathable cushioned back panel that promotes all day comfort.

Targus Urban Essential Backpack

At under $50 the Targus Urban Essential backpack is a budget option for those who want a sleek business casual backpack design that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. 

Designed as a backpack for work, the Targus Urban Essential backpack offers a fully padded 15.6” laptop compartment and a main compartment filled with organizer and admin pockets for easy organization of daily essentials.

The Ridge Commuter Backpack

The Ridge

The Ridge Commuter is a thoughtfully designed backpack made for modern tech-focused carry. What the The Ridge Commuter does well is keep a slim and professional profile while maximizing the pockets and compartments throughout. Examples include a shock-resistant laptop compartment, plenty of exterior and interior pockets for daily essentials and even an exterior USB charging port for phone charging on the go.

If a great design isn’t enough – the Ridge Commuter was also built to survived the outdoors and still look fresh. Each bag features a waterproof shell and YKK Aquaguard zippers to keep your precious items nice and dry. Whether you are looking for a stylish business casual backpack for the office or rugged backpack for days on the beach – the Ridge Commuter has you covered!

Public Rec Pro Pack

Public Rec

The Public Rec Pro Pack offers a great balance between minimalist design and utilitarian carry. While the outside of the bag is understated enough to wear as an office-friendly business casual backpack, the inside is surprisingly organized. 

The main compartment of the Public Rec Pro Pack features plenty of pockets and organizers for daily essentials like keys, pens and business papers while a separate padded laptop compartment keeps your tech safe while on the move. At 20 liters, the Pro Pack is ideal for daily carry but for those who need more room, Public Rec also offers the larger Pro Pack Plus that includes lots of extra features.

Timbuk2 The Authority Backpack

The Authority Pack by Timbuk2 was designed with modern work carry in mind. The bag itself is a mix of function and clean design. Inside you’ll find enough room to store your 17-inch laptop and other personal or business items. The bag is divided into various pockets for easy organization with a rear padded pocket for easy laptop access. 

The Authority Pack is thin and structured enough to not look bulky or sloppy when worn. This structured look makes it the perfect business casual backpack for who want to look professional without sacrificing functionality. 

Bellroy Transit Workpack

The Transit Workpack by Bellroy offers a versatile commuter backpack that doesn’t compromise on quality or functionality.

We like the Bellroy Transit Workpack as a business casual backpack for its thoughtfully designed quick-access pockets for small daily essentials, open-flat clamshell main compartment for a change of clothes or gym gear and a clever separate laptop section with room for accessories. Its high quality materials makes the Transit Workpack ideal for both work and play – which is what we want in a versatile one-bag solution.