Tech
I Lugged the Best Travel Totes on Work Trips, Weekends, and More
Compare Top 6 Travel Totes
More Travel Totes I Recommend
Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote for $180: This bestseller is the equivalent of a classic white tee: timeless, versatile, and built to be passed down for generations. Inspired by origami, Le Pliage folds down small when you need to pack it, but it’s also roomy enough to double as your personal item. I can fit all the essentials in here—laptop, Kindle, my airport toiletries, snacks, and then some. With its minimalist design and zipper closure for valuables, it’s also the ideal work bag for business trips. My one gripe with this travel tote bag is the lack of internal compartments (besides two impractical flat pockets), but if you’re someone who has little pouches and tech organizers for your gear, you might not miss it.
Cincha the Vegan Leather Go-Tote for $130: This vegan leather bag is deceptively huge. The base is 7.5 inches deep, so while it doesn’t look that big in pictures, it holds an astonishing amount of stuff. I’ve packed enough clothes in it for a full weekend trip. I usually have concerns about vegan leather cracking and breaking with use, but Cincha’s soft pebbled fabric does not look or feel obviously plastic. This is the tote bag I took on a multi-week trip to the Philippines, and the leather stood up to rain and being kicked around airport lounges, ferries, and train depots. However, it is more than 2 pounds heavier than a Longchamp Le Pliage, so this is strictly for when you can sling it on top of your carry-on. —Adrienne So
Mission Workshop Drift Laptop Tote for $345: The Drift is my favorite travel tote. It’s burly but with styling that’s refined and classy, and the rolled handles and removable strap make it comfortable to carry by hand or over the shoulder. But the best thing about it is the smartly organized storage pockets inside and out. It feels designed especially for people like me who always carry an army of gadgets. The Drift is kind of a beast, though. It’s too huge to slide under the seat in front of you on an airplane, but it fits into the overhead baggage compartment. —Michael Calore
Vera Bradley Original Duffel for $105: If there were ever a product I would refer to as “ol’ reliable,” it’s undoubtedly the Vera Bradley bag. The bright pattern, durable materials, and washable cotton structure have held up remarkably well for over a decade’s worth of travels. Even when I’ve completely overpacked and lugged it with me on planes, trains, and car travels, I don’t detect strain on the handle stitching. There are no internal pockets, but you do have four exterior ones located around the sides of the bag for easy access (or last-minute additions to your planned outfits). —Julia Forbes
BaubleBar Large Custom Icon Tote for $98: What sets BaubleBar apart is its playful personalization. Your chosen icons (up to six, depending on the size) are embroidered directly onto the canvas tote. The process is super user-friendly, with predesignated spots to help you visualize your picks. Choose from zodiac signs, cutesy foods, initials, and more. Just note that it’s a final sale, so be sure of your design before ordering. The large size fits everything you need for a beach day trip, and the medium and small options are better for light shopping or city exploring. It closes with just a snap button, which isn’t the most secure for crowded areas.
Aer Simple Tote for $139: Have you ever hefted a nylon or leather tote in your hand and realized that slinging it over your shoulder would give you immediate scoliosis? Then you want Aer’s ultra-lightweight, simple sailcloth tote, which weighs less than a pound. Its 15 liters felt surprisingly capacious. I fit two jackets inside on a walk with my kids, and the 3-inch-wide bag tucked neatly under my arm. The two exterior drop pockets fit my Nalgene and Kinto mug, and my phone fits neatly in the exterior zipper pocket. This is a great upgrade if you are getting tired of carrying everything in your canvas tote from Umami Mart and want a bag that’s not going to get soaked in something questionable if you put it down in the wrong place on the subway. It is a little more expensive, though. —Adrienne So
Cuyana System Tote 16-Inch for $378: The Cuyana System Tote is a modular gear-hauler that shape-shifts with your itinerary. Designed to outlast the churn of fast fashion, this travel tote starts minimal, but the genius lies in its add-ons. A laptop sleeve or insert organizer creates a structure on the go, with dedicated slots for your computer, water bottle, and other work essentials. A System Flap Bag insert doubles as a clutch or in-bag organizer, and a detachable, adjustable crossbody strap (also available in a wide model) converts the tote, perfect for hands-free airport sprints if you’re unintentionally trying out airport theory. Instead of stitched-on straps prone to failure, the System Tote’s handles are cut directly from its leather body, minimizing points of wear. The main compartment snaps shut rather than zips, something to know if you’re the spill-averse type.
Avoid This Tote
Calpak Diaper Tote Bag with Laptop Sleeve for $195: This bag was really puffy, but felt bulky, and space was lost to give the puffiness to the bag’s layers. It was somehow too big for everyday use, but not big enough when I needed a lot of stuff brought along for a day trip or long outings. It also didn’t really feel that diaper bag-centric; the only thing “diaper” about it was the baby wipe compartment on the outside, but I would have preferred an exterior pocket to store actual diapers along with it. You could stuff a couple of diapers in the flat front pocket, but it’s not as ideal as other designs I’ve tried. The insulated bottle pockets are handy if you travel with bottles, but feel useless after your baby graduates from bottles (which they graduate much earlier than diapers!) It’s not a bad bag, but I’d recommend a different design for parents and travelers alike. —Nena Farrell
To determine the best travel tote, I put each bag through real-world travel scenarios to see how it performs. That means packing it with laptops, chargers, clothes, and toiletries, testing comfort when worn over the shoulder or carried by hand. I’ll overstuff the totes to check durability, organization, and accessibility. I’ll evaluate how it fits under airplane seats, protects tech gear, and resists wear and weather. If it’s supposedly water-resistant, I’ll take it out in the rain to determine whether it survives without soaking its contents.
I scrutinize every pocket, compartment, and zipper for usability. When it comes to design, I pay attention to the details: interior fabric choices that make contents easy to see, convenient pocket placement, and hardware choices like zippers and zipper pulls. I also like to take note of the key design elements, such as the handle length and overall structure.
I prioritize quality and sustainability, and I include eco-friendly brands for environmentally conscious consumers. I also made sure to include an array of fabrics for stylistic variability. Lastly, I consider how each bag stacked up against its price point, ensuring that the quality justified the cost.
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Tech
He Couldn’t Land a Job Interview. Was AI to Blame?
Armed with some Python and a white-hot sense of injustice, one medical student spent six months trying to figure out whether an algorithm trashed his job application.
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Tech
Top Uplift Desk Coupon Codes: Save up to $570
Upgrading your home office can feel like going down a rabbit hole. A simple search for a basic new desk can quickly turn into hours down the drain and endless tabs open on your computer, with every option starting to blur together. Uplift has a loyal following for its super customizable desks, smart (and creative—under-desk hammock, anyone?) accessories, and a solid build quality that makes long workdays more manageable.
We’ve explored the perks of a standing desk, and the takeaway is pretty clear: even if it won’t magically fix everything, the right standing desk setup can make all the difference in the way you work. If you’re ready to make the leap into the standing desk space, starting with an Uplift coupon code is a smart move.
Save up to $570 With This Uplift Desk Coupon Code
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to upgrade your workspace, this is your sign. Right now, you can save up to $570 on standing desks through a mix of tiered discounts and bundled accessories. With the Uplift promo code SPRING, you’ll get $100 off orders of $999 or more, $150 off $1,499, $200 on $1,999, and $300 on $2,999 or more.
Uplift also includes five free accessories (worth up to $270), which is where this deal really comes in clutch, especially if you’re building a full setup. Think practical upgrades like monitor arms to lift your screen to eye level, cable management kits to tame cords, or an anti-fatigue standing mat to make standing on your feet more comfortable. The right ergonomic add-ons can make a real difference in day-to-day comfort, and this Uplift desk promo code accessories offer helps you get there.
Get $20 Off When You Sign up for Uplift Emails
Like many other brands, Uplift rewards their loyal customers. When you sign up for Uplift emails, which include things like product drops and restock alerts, you can save $20 on your order over $199. Not only will you get exclusive discounts, you’ll get email-only deals, early sale access, and special promotions with this Uplift newsletter sign up. Plus, the $20 off your next purchase.
Score Free Shipping on all Orders This Month
Who can say no to free shipping, especially when it’s for a major furniture item like a standing desk? Right now, Uplift is offering free and fast shipping on all orders, no Uplift desk coupon code required. And timing can work in your favor: most orders placed before 3 pm CST ship the same business day, so you’re not stuck refreshing the tracking page for a week. Whether you’re in the middle of an office refresh (or just impatient when it comes to deliveries), this is a major perk.
Claim up to 5 Free Accessories With Your Standing Desk Purchase
A built-in bonus when you buy an Uplift standing desk is that you get up to five free accessories baked into the purchase. You can choose from a huge catalog of over 400 add-ons to go with the desk (honestly, I was overwhelmed at first). Options range from practical to fun, like cable management kits and desk organizer sets to a desk-mounted cup holder and an under-desk hammock. There are even some branded extras, like a stainless steel tumbler and a t-shirt, depending on your vibe.
Use Your FSA Dollars to Get the Most out of Your Desk
Uplift desks may be eligible for reimbursement through your HSA or FSA, which means you could effectively pay for part of your desk setup with pre-tax dollars. This can lead to major savings, especially when stacked with an Uplift promo code.
The process is pretty straightforward: Check out normally (no need to use your HSA/FSA card upfront), then complete a quick health survey through Uplift’s partner program, which will be on your confirmation screen or through your email receipt. If you qualify, a licensed provider will issue a Letter of Medical Necessity, which you can then submit for reimbursement. It’s a few extra steps, but the payoff is worth it, especially if you’ve been eyeing a bigger purchase.
Tech
Greg Brockman Defends $30B OpenAI Stake: ‘Blood, Sweat, and Tears’
Two days before the Musk v. Altman trial began, Elon Musk asked OpenAI cofounder and president Greg Brockman about reaching a settlement. When Brockman suggested both sides drop their claims, Musk responded, “By the end of this week, you and Sam [Altman] will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so be it.”
The message—which OpenAI’s lawyers made public on Sunday, and which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers subsequently refused to let the jury hear about—underscores what may be Musk’s larger goal in this trial. He appears to be trying to not only win over the jurors to potentially remove Brockman and CEO Sam Altman from power, but also stir up dirt on the two men and damage OpenAI’s public image.
As Brockman took the stand on Monday, Musk’s attorney Steven Molo quickly started questioning him about his compensation at OpenAI. Brockman revealed that his equity stake at OpenAI is currently worth more than $20 billion, and perhaps up to $30 billion. While Brockman initially promised to donate $100,000 to OpenAI when it was being set up, he said he ultimately never followed through.
Brockman has held a number of instrumental roles at OpenAI since he cofounded the company in 2015. In the startup’s early days, it operated out of his apartment in the Mission District of San Francisco. Today, he’s deeply involved with refocusing OpenAI on a few key products, such as Codex. In the past year, Brockman has also given millions to super PACs promoting AI and President Trump, and has previously said this increased political spending is related to OpenAI’s founding mission to create artificial general intelligence that benefits all of humanity.
In court on Monday, Molo tried to make the case that Brockman and Altman had essentially looted OpenAI’s original nonprofit, which Musk funded and helped create.
In its early days, OpenAI told investors and employees that its nonprofit mission took precedence over generating profit. Brockman testified that his financial interests are still, to this day, second to OpenAI’s nonprofit mission.
When OpenAI created its for-profit arm in 2019, which received assets from the nonprofit, Brockman testified that he was given a significant stake in the new entity. Early in OpenAI’s history, Brockman had referenced wanting to be a billionaire, writing in his personal journal, “Financially what will take me to $1B?”
On Monday, Molo pressed Brockman for several minutes about the vast wealth he had accumulated beyond his initial goal.
“Why not donate that $29 billion to the OpenAI nonprofit? Why didn’t you do that?” Molo asked. Brockman responded that he and others had poured “blood, sweat, and tears” into building OpenAI in the years since Musk left the company.
OpenAI’s foundation holds a stake of over $150 billion in the company, making it one of the richest nonprofits in history, Brockman said. That’s roughly five times Brockman’s ownership interest. Altogether, OpenAI employees hold about 25 percent of shares. The foundation has 27 percent. Brockman testified that OpenAI’s nonprofit had received less than $150 million from donors, implying Musk had been incidental to the company’s success and that the real drivers were those who stuck around to build out OpenAI.
Of course, Brockman’s stake in OpenAI could be worth much more than $30 billion if the company successfully goes public in the next two years. When asked whether OpenAI was exploring a potential IPO, Brockman said he believes so.
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