Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: the only work laptop bag you could ever need

I’ve never been a big fan of briefcases or laptop bags, mainly because I like to keep my hands free while I’m out and about, and I prefer the feel and capacity of a backpack. But the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase has me thinking differently.

Carl Friedrik has quickly become one of my go-to luggage brands – case in point, I use my Carl Friedrik Day-to-Day Backpack when I go into the office, and have even taken it with me on quick work trips and nights away. I knew if any brand was going to convince me to like briefcases, it would be them – and they’ve certainly won me over.

Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: price and availability

The Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase is priced at £645 / $745 and is available to buy at Carl Friedrik. It comes in three colours – black, tan and dark olive – and it comes with a 100 day trial and a lifetime warranty.

Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: design and features

The Dunloe Briefcase is described by Carl Friedrik as a ‘relaxed briefcase’ but I think it’s anything but. Made from primary and secondary leathers, the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase certainly doesn’t look relaxed – instead, it’s undeniably luxurious and elegant, and Carl Friedrik has really thought through all the details.

The primary leather of the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase is full-grain, semi-aniline bovine leather that has a raised, grained texture, while the secondary leather is vegetable-tanned bovine vachetta leather. The leather was sourced from Gold or Silver certified tanneries, so you know it’s coming from a good place – but it’s not exactly vegan friendly.

The external leather is balanced by silver hardware, zips and buckles that fix the handles together, and a wide exterior pocket on one side. It has subtle Carl Friedrik logos on the outside, including on the Smart Holder magnetic strip that lines one side of the bag and allows you to attach it to your suitcase. The magnetics also infiltrate the inside of the bag.

The interior is made from recycled polyester lining which has two magnetic pockets, one zipped compartment and a 16-inch laptop slot. The Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase has a 13-litre capacity, and weighs just 1.4kg when empty. It’s a good size for a briefcase, measuring 40.5cm width, 30cm height and 11cm depth. It also comes with a 40mm nylon shoulder strap which you can attach so you can wear it as a shoulder bag.

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Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: performance

While I did try out the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase myself for a few trips, I mainly gave my fiance the task of testing it, and as you can see by this review’s rating, he was a huge fan of it! He used it three times a week for several weeks commuting into the office, and managed to fit an insane amount inside the generous capacity, including his laptop, notebook, papers, computer mouse, glasses, chargers, stationary, keys, wallet and a water bottle – and he still had room to spare.

The compartments inside the bag were extremely helpful and organised, and the magnetic poppers kept everything closed and secure. The magnets on the inside were especially helpful for important documents and personal items. Even when filled to the brim, the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase wasn’t too heavy and the handles’ smooth leather was nice to hold and carry around.

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The quality of the leather was hard to beat and it didn’t mark or scuff easily at all. The olive green colour which was tested in this review is understated and subtle, and can fit into any working wardrobe. The accompanying nylon strap didn’t quite match the colour, but it was nice to have included with the briefcase for the shoulder bag option to be readily available. The Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase also only comes in one size so if you want something bigger or smaller, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: verdict

From my experience and my fiance’s thorough testing, the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase is an undeniable luxury, stylish and practical laptop bag. It has a huge capacity, plenty of compartments, sturdy handles and stylish monogram and silver accents.

Every part of the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase has been thoroughly thought through and it really stands out due to its stylish yet sturdy design. In my experience owning several Carl Friedrik bags, the brand is incredibly reliable and the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase is sure to last for a very long time. While it’s pricey, it’s definitely worth the investment.

Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase review: alternatives to consider

If you love organisation, the Harber London Everyday Leather Briefcase is very similar to the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase, in terms of style, design and material. It comes in multiple sizes which is markedly different from the Carl Friedrik Dunloe Briefcase which only comes in one size, and it has lots of interior pockets to play with.