How to choose a work bag that survives a Dhaka commute

A work bag in Dhaka has a harder job than a work bag almost anywhere else. It gets rained on, squeezed onto a bus, put down on a wet pavement and asked to hold a laptop, a lunch box and an umbrella at the same time.

Start with the base, not the look

Turn the bag over. A flat, reinforced base keeps the bag upright when you put it down and stops the bottom corners wearing through. Bags with feet last noticeably longer.

The strap is the part that fails first

Look for a strap that is stitched and riveted, not glued, and wide enough to spread the load. An adjustable strap matters more than a detachable one.

Zips over magnets

A magnetic flap is quick, but on a crowded bus a zip is the only closure that keeps a phone where you left it.

Lining you can wipe

Polyester lining survives a spilled water bottle. Unlined canvas does not.

If you want a shortcut, start with our large capacity bags — they are chosen for exactly this.