THE WINNER Moshi Urbana

Smart, sophisticated and surprisingly accommodating

It’s also beautifully made and can accommodate both a 15in MacBook Pro and an iPad

Choosing a winner for this group test was always going to be tricky. However, on balance, the Moshi Urbana is our pick. Yes, it’s the most expensive bag here and is something of an outlier in this company, but it’s also beautifully made, roomy, can accommodate both a 15-inch MacBook Pro and an iPad, and has plenty of pockets for all your other accessories. Plus, it’s smart and stylish and is comfortable enough to carry around all day. We think the cost is worth it.

Huddled around the middle of the pack are the Herschel Gibson, the STM Judge and the Targus Newport. The Herschel is roomy, and has plenty of pockets, but it has a narrow, lightly padded shoulder strap. The STM Judge can accommodate a MacBook and an iPad, but its design is unremarkable. The Targus Newport is stylish and feels well made, but the form factor just doesn’t do it for us – it’s narrow when it should be wide, making it much harder for you to get your MacBook in and out. The 2-in-1 shoulder strap is also a concern: by trying to be both a backpack and messenger bag at the same time, it feels compromised. That leaves the InCase Compass. It’s not quite the cheapest bag here, but it looks and feels it. It also has the least pocket storage, meaning your accessories will simply form a jumble at the bottom of the bag.