xSuit xBriefcase briefcase review

REVIEW – Everybody needs a good everyday carry bag, right? I have several, in different forms.  I have a backpack that I sling over my shoulder when I want to use a backpack, usually when traveling.  I also have a briefcase (the Leacarve leather briefcase I reviewed back in 2018) that I use when I am heading to the office or a meeting, which I have used for almost 5 years now.  That is, until the xBriefcase from xSuit showed up. Let’s check it out!

What is it?

The xSuit xBriefcase is a briefcase made out of ballistic nylon.

What’s in the box?

• xSuit xBriefcase
• A cloth drawstring bag for storage

Specifications

• Dimensions: 12.0” x 16.0” x 3.5”
• Weight: 2.5 lbs
• Laptop Sleeve: 12.0” x 16.0” x 3.5”
• Fits laptops up to 16”
• Detachable padded shoulder strap
• Padded magnetic removable laptop sleeve
• Removable snap key ring
• Luggage tag with contact card and concealed AirTag pocket (AirTag sold separately)
• Dust bag included for storing
• Exterior:
  • Zip entry to main compartment
  • Front U-zip pocket
  • Back zip pocket
  • Bio-leather top carry handle
• Interior:
  • Inner zip pocket
  • 9 Compartmented front pockets
  • 4 Compartmented inner pockets
  • 1 hidden back zip pocket
  • Concealed luggage zip sleeve

Design and features

The first thing you’ll notice is what the bag is made out of. It’s called ballistic nylon, and it’s really sturdy stuff. It’s scratch resistant, water resistant, and inside the walls of the bag are industrial grade hard shell panels and high-density foam padding.  This bag honestly feels like it will last a very long time.

You’ll find ergonomic handles on the top of the bag.  The hard shell panels inside the bag keep the bottom and sides nice and firm, and the metal feet on the bottom helps to easily keep the bag standing upright when you set it down. It comes with a detachable, adjustable, padded shoulder strap, which is comfortable on your shoulder. Every zippered compartment has silver, metal pulls that are round and smooth and easy to use.  On one end of the bag where the strap attaches, you’ll find the round, leather luggage tag with contact card, and also a hidden pocket where you can put an Airtag, if you have one.  That’s pocket #1 of the 19 pockets that xSuit says are in the xBriefcase. So let’s go count the rest!

There are 3 main compartments of the xBriefcase bag, so let’s go through each of those.

The main compartment is where you’ll put your laptop, up to 16” in size. Inside here are 6 of the 19 pockets, 3 of which are pretty unique. The main part of this compartment is where you put your laptop, so technically, that’s considered one of the 19 pockets. Now, the first unique pocket in here is where you put your glasses. This pocket is actually made with a hard plastic insert so that your glasses don’t get crushed.  Very nice touch.  The second unique pocket is the large pocket that spans the width of the bag. This pocket has a magnet sown inside the edge of the pocket all across the top, and it attaches to the magnet sown inside the outside edge of the bag. That way, when you put anything inside this pocket the magnets keep whatever it is from fall out, but you don’t have to unzip anything to get to them.  Again, very nice touch.

And finally, the 3^rd unique pocket in the main compartment is where you attach the removable laptop sleeve, which snaps into place with 2 small round magnets on the side of the compartment. Now, the laptop sleeve is smaller than the main compartment, obviously. So it can’t quite hold a 16” laptop.  Here is some pictures of the laptop sleeve magnetic connectors inside the main compartment, the sleeve sitting outside the bag, attached inside the main compartment, and a picture of the corner of my 16” laptop sticking out of the sleeve because I can’t zip it closed.  Because of this, I don’t use the laptop sleeve.

On the front of the xBriefcase is the second compartment. This one has 10 of the 19 pockets (one of them zippered), so you’ll keep lots of stuff in here like pens, sticky notes, power supplies, a mouse, papers, and more. Also here you’ll find the key ring that snaps in place.  I actually like this key ring better than other key rings that I have seen inside other bags because this one just snaps on and off instead of making you operate some sort of clip to get your keys to attach.

The final compartment is one of the nicest features of the xBriefcase.  I said at the beginning that I have a backpack that I normally use for traveling.  I use this backpack because it has a wonderful sleeve on the back that slips over the handle of your luggage, and my daily briefcase doesn’t have that.  So it’s a little inconvenient to travel with that Leacarve leather briefcase because of this fact. But with the xBriefcase, I can get that convenient sleeve on the back side of the briefcase that slips over the handle of my luggage.  Here is a pic:

What I really like about this luggage sleeve is that it isn’t just a luggage sleeve.  There is a zippered opening on the bottom of the xBriefcase on the back.  It’s actually a little hidden, so here is a picture of that:

Now, if you just unzip the top of the sleeve that is close to the handles, you’ll see that it appears to just be another pocket that you can put papers or folders in, and you’ll see another interior zippered pocket in there as well.  (That’s the final 2 pockets, if you are keeping track!)  But if you unzip the aforementioned zipper on the bottom.  By doing that, you can actually slip the luggage handle through, which still using that sleeve as a pocket.  It’s brilliant design, actually. Here are some more pics of that.

What I like

• Sturdy materials and rugged workmanship
• Detachable key ring
• A ton of pockets to hold all your stuff
• Detachable laptop sleeve (even though I don’t use it, it’s still nice!)
• The luggage sleeve opening can also be used as a pocket

What I would change

• Maybe a cheaper price?
• Maybe a place for a water bottle

Final thoughts

I am kind of a sucker for a good bag, and I have reviewed some wonderful bags here for the Gadgeteer over the years.  And the xSuit xBriefcase is now at the top of the heap for me as far as briefcases go. The quality workmanship, the sturdy materials, and plethora of pockets (did I just say that?) and the unique touches are what makes this bag worth the price.

Price: $399.00
Where to buy: xSuit.com
Source: The sample of this product was provided by xSuit.