A polished backpack for the office
Plus: The culottes our style expert loves ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  
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The Recommendation

August 26, 2026

Today: A sophisticated backpack for racing to the office or an airport gate. Plus …

A laptop backpack we love for travelers

The July Carry All Backpack Series 2.
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter

This good-looking laptop backpack has all kinds of smart and thoughtful details that make it easy to get from point A to point B. Its many pockets are useful — delightful, even — for hiding your passport, water bottle, laptop, and more. And though it’s certainly sturdy and protective (we once tested it in cats-and-dogs rain, and everything emerged fine), it looks surprisingly luxe and put-together — like an elevated work bag.

A trusty (and currently on-sale!) travel companion→

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Your daily deal: We’ve loved these cotton sheets for more than 10 years

L.L.Bean 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set
L. L. Bean

If our bedding expert Jackie Reeve had to pick a favorite among all the sheets she’s tested at Wirecutter, it would be this super soft and breathable percale set. She has yet to find anything that compares to their comfort and durability.

They’re currently 15% off→

More for the office

Four images of the writer wearing different culottes in front of a green illustrative background.

“My co-workers hate culottes. Here are 7 pairs I’d recommend to them.”

Including an easygoing, affordable pair for newbies and bell-bottoms for style risk-takers→

A triptych of the best headphones (clockwise from left): a pair of Sony LinkBuds Fit, Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and a pair of Puro headphones.

Our ultimate guide to headphones

From over-ear headphones to wireless buds to affordable wired options→

A photo of three different water bottles against a light grey background

The best water bottles

Our favorites are leakproof, well insulated, and, of course, a pleasure to drink from→

An assortment of men's work pants in various styles and colors folded and layered into three staggered rows in front of an orange background.

The best men’s pants (for the office and beyond)

Including retro, wide-leg chinos and timeless trousers→

A few more excellent deals we’re eyeing

A tube of Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

One last thing: Great gifts for globe-trotters

A selection of our favorite gifts for travelers, including the Cotopaxi Cubo Packing Travel Bundle Del Día, a purple Baggu Small Cloud Carry-On, a set of Cadence Capsules, a couple of travel books, and more.
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter

Whether your giftee is a backpacking newbie or a points-hacking vet, our experts have found lots of delightful things to make their travel easier. Perhaps they’d appreciate a chic leather phone strap for hands-free sightseeing? Or a travel pillow to keep them comfy en route?

Plus, a really cozy pair of sweats for the plane→

Independent reviews, expert advice and intensively researched deals from Wirecutter experts.

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