There is no doubt that you have seen the Tumi Alpha 3 Expandable Organizer Laptop Brief. It’s the beautiful bag that many road warriors carry on their travels. It’s recognizable often because of the monogram that elegantly sits on one of the pockets (fun tip: the monogram is free in any Tumi store). Here’s what to expect with this frequently seen laptop bag.
So many pockets
This Tumi briefcase bag has so many thoughtful compartments. It is clearly designed with the business traveler in mind. It begins with the most important compartments for a large laptop plus separate areas for paperwork, magazines, files and other things. The laptop and tablet sections feature extra padding.
On the front of the bag alone, there are a half dozen pockets. Some are deeper than you might imagine. For example, I loved the tall pocket on the side that originally looked like it would hold a phone sideways. It can hold long notepads, a book or a passport. This is such a useful place for me to store things that I need to gran in a hurry when traveling.
Other pockets are ideal for headphones, coins, keys, sanitizer bottles, and wait for it, an umbrella or water bottle. That last pocket occupies a tall space on the front of the bag with a water-resistant interior lining.
I wish there were a wider pocket that ran the length of the bag to hold bigger items. While the bag does have an extender section, it does not easily fit bulkier items like shoes or toiletry kits. If you wedge it in enough, you can make it work by unzipping the extendable section.
This has become my regular business traveler go-to bag without issue since it keeps you organized while the bag does not seem hefty and fits conveniently into most airline sizing units. It is not very lightweight (around five pounds when empty). That is because it has so many pockets, sturdy and soft handles that make it easy to carry, and the option to add a soft shoulder strap. There is even a zippered pass-through section on the back allowing it to slide easily over a carry-on rollaboard bag’s handle.
Brand-name protection and benefits
Beyond the beautiful design is impressive functionality. That comes in the form of Tumi’s awesome protection benefits and guarantees assuring bags are problem-free. This protection promise is what has garnered so many brand-loyal followers over the years. It has also translated into other high-profile partnerships like the one with Delta Air Lines to produce its business class amenity kits.
All Tumi products are eligible for free in-store monogramming. You can monogram any Tumi bag, and the same perk works for many of Delta’s popular amenity kits.
This is a great bag that expands a bit and suits short-trip needs. For those with longer trips planned, it could do with a deeper, wider pocket instead of some of the filed pockets. But, this does mean you are more careful to not overpack.
Another notable benefit I find with this bag is that it has TUMI Tracer. This features a unique bar code and identifying number that helps identify the bag if you lose it.
Tumi focuses on delivering solid value for its high price point, which earns its weight in quality and customer service. If you’re looking for a briefcase that will last you years while keeping you organized and looking stylish, then the Tumi Alpha 3 Expandable Organizer Laptop Brief is it. The bag, which comes in a variety of colors, retails for $525 on the Tumi website. For almost every customer, this is a lifelong price well spent.