I Tried a Bunch of MZ Wallace Work Bags
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I’ve probably tested well over 50 work bags — some of which have made it into ourBest in Class story— in the year and a half I’vereported on women’s basics. While perusing our archives recently, I noticed that MZ Wallace, the brand known for its quilted nylon bags, had been recommended a handful of times. Our sources vouched for itsorganizational pouchesandpersonal-item carry-ons, and Kim France even praised anon-tech-bro backpack, but we had never tested out its work bags ourselves. That surprised me given how ubiquitous they are; I see a few on seemingly every commute, and we spotted one when westopped 72 New Yorkersto ask about their work totes. So I decided to test some myself — especially after one of my colleagues confessed to being a “secret MZ Wallace fan” in our team Slack.
While I didn’t testeveryMZ Wallace work bag, I selected six best-selling options that each looked practical and polished. I prioritized bags that had multiple carrying options (including cross-bodies, satchels, and ones with shoulder straps); sturdy straps for supporting heavy laptops, noise-canceling headphones, notebooks, deodorant, snacks, and more; plus handy features — including metal feet, leather trim, and luggage sleeves — that looked promising for everything from subway commutes to work trips that require getting on a plane. Below are my favorites and a few I’m passing on.
The ones I liked
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This is my perfect city-schlepping tote. I brought it along for a bunch of errands, including going to the hair salon after work and carrying a few groceries home for dinner, and there was still plenty of room to spare.The main compartment is very generous and easily holds my MacBook Air and charger, a book, earbuds, and more. I never felt like it looked sloppy when overfilled, even if the lightweight nylon material is much less structured than that of my L.L.Bean Boat and Tote. It has six interior pockets and three detachable pouches, which I’ve used for organizing gym items, such as an extra pair of socks and a sports bra, and for holding makeup for on-the-go touch-ups. My only real knock is the padded straps have a nine-inch drop, which feels short compared with other totes I have of this size. I found it still fit well over my shoulder (and I consider my shoulders to be broader), but for some, it might be easier to carry it in the crook of their arm. Like most MZ Wallace bags, this comes with a removable strap that can be adjusted for cross-body carrying.
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My colleague Najwa Jamal described this bag as “giving Prada” in our team’s Slack channel and I couldn’t agree more. It has a satisfying slouch thanks to the cinchable top and magnet snap closure. It fits my 13-inch MacBook Air, a thicker novel, and my water bottle, plus smaller items like my wallet and keys. It also has a detachable mini zip pouch that I used for lip balm and could easily transfer to my other MZ Wallace bags. Made of water-repellent nylon with an Italian leather handle, the bag has a slight sheen that makes it look expensive and reminded me of a Longchamp Le Pliage. It’s the most unexpected work bag I found during this hunt, and going forward, I plan to use it as my everyday purse.
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I’ve been testing the Large Metro Travel Tote for the longest of all the bags on this list, and it’s the one that inspired me to test more. I’m obsessed with how much it can hold. All the pockets and compartments make it a great option for longer weekend trips or schlepping a ton of stuff, like gym shoes and my Dyson Airwrap. It has nine exterior pockets of various sizes and six interior pockets. There’s also a key-ring strap and three detachable pouches for holding smaller everyday items like pens and small notepads or my many charging cables. Two interior bottle pockets are great for holding my travel mug and 40-ounce insulated tumbler. And I love that the exterior padded laptop sleeve makes accessing my MacBook quick and easy if I’m on a flight or in an Uber.
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Last month, the brand launched theMetro Daily Tote(available in small and medium sizes), and I decided to test the latter in the new fall cognac color. It is not as capacious as the other bags I tried, but if you’re looking for a sleeker work bag, I’d go for this one. The tapered silhouette with Italian leather handles is more of a predictable corporate-office look. Because of the thin rounded straps, I was nervous at first to pack this with super-heavy things, like a hardcover book and my large HydroJug, but the straps were clearly sturdier (and visibly thicker) than those of the Waverly Shoulder and the Large Astor Tote.
The ones I’d skip
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The Nik Duffel feels like the little sister to the Large Metro Travel Tote. It has similarly puffy straps, and while it’s a bit squatter, Nik Duffel’s longer length means it can still fit a 16-inch laptop in the interior padded laptop sleeve. The gunmetal hardware and black velvety finish is perfect for autumn and gives it a dressier appearance. The shape made this one feel sporty, like a traditional duffel, which is part of why I didn’t gravitate toward it on a daily basis. The handle drop is also longer, so the bag hangs lower on my body compared with the Large Metro Travel Tote, which gives it a more casual and less work-ready look.
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While the Large Astor tote can fit a 15-inch laptop and has six interior pockets, it felt the most flimsy of the bags I tested. I love the look of the Italian leather handles and trim, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have a convertible strap like other bags I tried from the brand. This one also lacks structure and has to be propped up in a chair — otherwise it just leans over if you try to place it on the ground. On days when I was traveling light, this bag was an easy “yes,” but if you tend to be an overpacker like myself, you might want the extra space and sturdiness of the Metro Tote collection.
More work bags we love
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