Solo Bucket Tote

The $100 Solo Bucket Tote is tailor-made for the on-the-go female executive looking for both a functional and attractive bag, rather than a basic laptop briefcase. This is notable, as it's normally hard to find a case that's practical, yet sassy enough, to fit our lifestyle needs.

The Solo Bucket Tote is a vertical espresso-colored leather bag with antique brass details, measuring 16.5 inches high by 13.1 inches wide by 5.75 inches deep. The inside includes a kingfisher blue lining and is divided in two by a lightly padded compartment with a Velcro flap that can hold a notebook up to 15.4 inches in size. The nonpadded front section of the main compartment has two pockets sewn into it, big enough for an MP3 player, a smartphone, or any other bulky item (too often, smaller pockets in laptop cases are too tiny to hold anything bigger than a USB key).

On the outside front of the bag is a zip-down panel--would have been nice to see a two-way zipper as opposed to the single. Opening it up reveals an accordion-style fold and three compartments. The rear face has another small pocket--unzip the zipper on the bottom of it, and it can be used as a pass-through for the extended handle from a suitcase. Finally, the open top is secured only by a snap closure, which leaves the insides a bit exposed for some tastes (especially if you're hauling a valuable laptop around in there).

After using the Bucket Tote for a few days, the leather straps are not the most comfortable we've used, and this may not be the right bag for everyday use, but it's great for traveling, where combining a handbag and laptop case can make for an easier trip through the airport.