DW Community Catch-up Thread
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Depends a little on the day for me! I typically carry my laptop, notebook, real book, lunch/snacks, sometimes gym clothes. It can get heavy.
I mostly use a backpack I got from Amazon. I got a cheap one to test out backpack commuter life pre-COVID, which I used to think was so dorky! I prefer it, though — like @ktfran, I walk and take public transit, so a backpack is easier on my back. I meant to buy a nicer looking one, but never got around to it.
On days I have to look nicer but still have a bit of stuff to schlep around (off site meetings or if I’m at a conference), I have a Lo & Sons bag, which I think is a rec I got from this site. It can work as a tote or has a crossbody option. Has a shoe compartment! Still fits a lot in there comfortably and nicer looking than my backpack.
I also have a Kate Spade tote (that I actually won in a work raffle like six or seven years ago!) that was my go-to for ages. It eventually became the bag I brought to interviews only. It’s my sister’s interview bag at this point, too, haha. It looks nicer than the other two but not big enough for my day-to-day. And it’s harder on my back/shoulders.
ETA: My IT department told me last week that I’m next up for a new work laptop. They gave me a few options and I requested the lightest one since I commute on foot.
If I had to walk far, I’d definitely need a backpack. My concerns with those are 1) getting a sweaty back, and 2) on the T, I can’t stand when people crowd in there and don’t take their backpack off, that’s rude. I’d have to hold it by the handle.
It is ridiculous how heavy things get. I have the small Lenovo laptop, which isn’t terrible, but an iPad or MacBook Air would probably make a difference. I worked at a really stupid company for a while that mis-ordered my laptop and it was one of those huge gaming ones. I could not carry it around. I got them to buy me a keyboard for my iPad and used that, which was so much better. I do have to use my work laptop now though because of financial security stuff.
But yeah, a large lightweight cheap bag seems like the best option these days.
This is basically what I have, probably the Target knockoff version of this $49 bag from Nordstrom.
I def get a sweaty back if it’s hot out, unfortunately. And I def take my backpack off on a crowded bus/train! I also get annoyed at those who don’t. Even the female exec vp in our office sports a backpack. There are a lot more business appropriate, sleek ones to choose from these days. The husband uses the Away backpack and it’s not bulky at all.
I use a Mac at work and I believe my next work laptop is going to be a MacBook Air, which is what I have as a personal laptop and it’s noticeably lighter than what I currently use for work. Possibly still too heavy for a shoulder bag, though.
I used to commute by bus pre-COVID/pre-moving in with the boyfriend and was just far enough north that I consistently got a seat on the bus. I’d sit with my backpack in my lap. On days I took the train, it’d be crowded and I’d take it off my back. It is a huge pet peeve of mine when people don’t! I’ve been meaning to find a more business appropriate-looking backpack, ideally something that would also be a great travel carryon.
@hfantods How do you get to work? I’d not do the two bag thing unless I drove. I briefly carried a separate gym bag around in my Kate Spade tote bag era and hated it on public transit. That’s why I originally switched to the Lo & Sons bag, which is larger (and has also been a great travel bag). I didn’t take my laptop home every night pre-COVID and that bag still got heavy enough that my back hurt.
This isn’t helpful at all but omg, y’all are making me so happy that I’m pretty much 100% remote. I’m in sales enablement which means a ton of content creation and needing two large screens. I have a whole setup in my office in my house and I haven’t been into the office once since I started in 2020. I do NOT miss having to commute and carry a purse, a lunch bag, a gym bag, and possibly a laptop bag. Ugh. (Thankfully the city I live in is extremely drive-able but still.)
Yeah… we are moving into the next phase where we’re now required to come in 3 days out of one week per month. Whichever week your team is assigned, you have to come in 3 days of that week. Previously it was all optional. It’s so exhausting now to go in, when it used to be nbd.
We go in twice a week on days of our choice, but are asked to be consistent week to week. It’s tiring but I also prefer my work setup to my WFH setup. If I knew when we bought this place how my work life would shake out, I’d have held out for a three bedroom.
Speaking of work, it’s been kind of a cluster lately. I believe I’ve mentioned before that we had one department (not mine) that has for some reason been allowed to limp along for years now, staffing-wise. There have been roles that weren’t backfilled after voluntary departures and during COVID, we did lay a few people off and that dept was affected despite already being low on staff. In the spring, the low-level director in that department threw her hat in a ring for a higher level director role we were hiring for and was shot down. So she left, and not long after, her last remaining direct report also left. So that entire department is down to one still very new high level director who you can tell is completely overwhelmed and a few people like me who are keeping things afloat (all of us from other depts). They’re finally getting around to rebuilding and I’m looking forward to that. I was given the extra work during the layoffs and would like to punt it back. So anyway because these roles are based out of my office, it’s been veeery quiet when I go in most days. Once or twice I’ve been there alone, which is fine, but part of me feels like what’s even the point of coming to an office to sit there alone?
Sounds like we will be moving to a new office building next year and it’s a swanky one. We’ll be sharing a floor with our sister company and affiliated company after the move (currently in the same building on connected floors) so it won’t be as quiet, but I also might see how I’m feeling about it all by then. I could easily be FT remote in this role.
@copa, good point! I drive to work. I’ve noticed some of my female colleagues have smaller purses and then a laptop bag. The driving part probably explains it.
Thanks for the work bag perspectives. I am using a Kate Spade tote bag now. It’s fine, but yeah, just rethinking things.
Driving, I’d absolutely use a tote. I actually wanted the one @copa probably bought from Lo & Sons but needed to go the backpack root.
I like the little belt purses (or Fanny packs) to keep my sunglasses, cards, chapstick and phone accessible. I can easily throw in a tote or backpack and then take out if I were going to lunch or something.
I have a lululemon Fanny pack and a Lo&Sons belt purse. I use both as small cross body purses.
I believe I have the OMG bag from Lo & Sons! I’ve had it for maybe five years now and it’s still in great shape despite daily weekday use until probably late 2019, when I realized my back hurt and I should try the backpack route. I’m sure Lo & Sons has backpacks and if/when I decide it’s time to upgrade to a nicer looking one, would consider buying another bag through them. I usually read at lunch but keep thinking I should swing by Nordstrom Rack one of these days instead to see what backpacks they have.
I also have a Lululemon fanny pack, which I bought before everyone and their sister started wearing it. I feel like such a basic b wearing it. I got my mom one for Christmas and while I don’t know if she’s used it, she was super excited about it when she opened it. Or perhaps it was the wine doing the talking.
Yeah, I figured it was Lo&Sons OG. I wanted it for the longest time. I like the totes from Cuyana too.
I also bought the Lululemon fanny pack early. I think I bought mine a couple months into the pandemic. I think they became super popular in 2021. I remember a friend texting saying she was finally going to purchase a fanny pack and I’m like, dude, I’ve had mine for a year and I love it.
