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Executive BriefingWhich work bag works best?

By Seth StevensonPosted Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at 12:28 PM ET

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Second problem: This bag feels a teensy bit small, even when expanded. It won't fit a laptop any bigger than a 12-inch ultra-skinny variety. And there's not a ton of room left over for books and papers (though still more than with the Manhattan Portage bag). It's a perfect size, however, for a smaller person or for someone who doesn't expect to carry big loads and likes a sleeker, slimmer bag.

Zero Halliburton 4" Deluxe Briefcase, $250
Dimensions: 12" x 17" x 4"
Yes, this luggage brand originally had ties to that Halliburton. (Texas oilman Erle P. Halliburton invented a rugged case for slogging through dusty, forbidding oil fields.) But the two companies have been unrelated for decades. Zero Halliburton is now best known for its superior luggage lines made of aircraft-grade aluminum. This bag is instead made with a super-souped-up nylon (which Zero Halliburton calls "ballistic twill"), but it, too, is pretty much flawless.

To start, that ballistic twill stuff seems totally impervious to damage. It's also attractive. My attorney tester felt this bag looked "hot." It's big enough to hold huge piles of papers, business cards, and various executive doodads, yet it never looks bulky. Both the craftsmanship and the materials—from the thick zippers to the tough metal hardware connecting the shoulder strap—are superb.

Perhaps the bag's strongest point is the attentiveness of its design. A quick-access front pocket opens up to reveal a perfect array of small compartments (for pens, cell phones, passports, etc.), but can then be instantly zipped to hide all this clutter away. The computer sleeve is thickly walled, with a Velcro closure to hold your laptop firmly in place. The strap has a wide, soft leather pad that's a tremendous comfort to a burdened shoulder.

Really, I wouldn't change a thing about this bag. At $250, it's competitively priced and an excellent value. And it's our champion.