Life has never felt so fluid. The pandemic freed many of us to earn our salaries from, well, pretty much anywhere. We do emails from our kitchen, take calls in Puglian Airbnbs, or jump on hurried Zoom meetings from the in-laws’ spare room. We like to travel more often, too (63 per cent of people surveyed by McKinsey & Company in 2024 said they were more interested in travel now than pre-pandemic), and when we actually do need to venture into the office, we try and cram in a gym session at lunch, or head to drinks or dinner in the evening.

As multifaceted, modern-day city dwellers and globetrotters that are always on the move, we need some suitable kit. Down with battered holdalls, or stiff leather briefcases. Modern style codes say a backpack can – and should – cater to your needs. Especially since they’ve never been made so painstakingly. Below, we have carefully selected an edit of bags that are practical, yes, but also exhibit expert craftsmanship and timeless style – so they will last as long as your wanderlust.

Made in a deep, smooth brown hue, not unlike fine chocolate, with rounded sides and a flat lid, LOEWE’s Flamenco backpack looks good enough to eat. But it’s not all about appearances – and you wouldn’t want to get teeth marks on that leather. It’s an example of the brand’s expert craftsmanship, which relies on the finest hide of calfskin on the outside and a smart herringbone cotton-canvas on the inside. An extraordinary rucksack, then, but one built for ordinary ephemera, like laptops, books, or whatever else you need to place inside.

Something a little bit more fashion-forward now – a fine backpack monogrammed with Gucci’s famous logo. It’s understated, in black and grey, meaning this is less an Italian maximalist fever dream, and more something subtle and stylish you could pair with a suit for work, should you so desire. The calf leather is protected by coated-canvas –meaning it’s not only pleasing to the eye, but is practical too.

If Mr Brunello Cucinelli’s approach to architecture is that it “needs to symbolise higher meanings besides serving a material purpose”, you can be sure his leather rucksacks are built to last. But you don’t need to know his philosophies, or the fact that his Solomeo-based brand makes some of the finest clothing and accessories in Italy, to know that. Just look at the thing. It looks like it’s been on a thousand journeys already, while still feeling refined and sophisticated for now.

For those looking for something that feels a little bit more artisanal and alternative when they’re moving from A to B, look no further than SAINT LAURENT’s new collection. This singular bag is cleverly made from raffia palm leaves – the longest in the plant world – and is also trimmed with extremely fine leather, making it a conversation starter worth investing in.

If you are unfamiliar with Bleu de Chauffe, the first thing you should know is that it’s a bag specialist based in the Aveyron region of France. Indeed, each piece the brand produces, always with the finest vegetable-tanned leather, is expertly put together by a single craftsperson. This is timeless, sustainable style, without a production line in sight. This Jamy backpack is no different – it’s been made with hard-wearing organic cotton-canvas in army green, giving it the feel of a true explorer’s bag.

This Burberry backpack may well be adorned in the famous check pattern of the contemporary style behemoth, but there is an understated subtlety to its design, making it a versatile way to get around. It’s got a front zipped pocket, two zipped compartments and an internal slip pocket, too, with a capacious interior, meaning you can conveniently store all manner of personal effects within. You’ll want to take care of it, so do use the dust bag it comes with.

There is something futuristically urban about the style of Givenchy’s G-Trail backpack – we find our minds wandering into the world of Blade Runner, but it feels like a mix of your sporty, outdoor friend, the guy in up-to-the-minute streetwear, and a super sophisticated pal. Little surprise, given it is made in monochrome ripstop – a fabric technique that uses extra threads for a tear-resistant grid pattern – but also leather and suede. If you lean towards the more active side of things, there are two water bottle pockets to keep you on the move.