MEIA Work Laptop Bag Review: Honest Thoughts
If you have ever left the house struggling to carry a purse, a lunch bag, a tote, and a work bag all at once, this review is for you.
When MEIA reached out to me about their Work Laptop Bag, I was curious. The brand was founded by Mary Liu, a working professional who got fed up with bags that forced her to choose between style and function, and built something designed for the actual complexity of women's lives today. I heard good things about the MEIA bag on Reddit, and I know so many of you are constantly searching for the “It” work bag.
Since I work from home, I put out a call to the Wardrobe Oxygen community to find someone whose daily carry situation would really put this bag through its paces. I chose Jennifer.
Jennifer has two jobs; both in professional settings and one that is her own business practice. She is usually going straight from one job to the next. She is also a parent, a spouse, and a self-described ADHD bag overstuffer who has tried dozens of work bags looking for the perfect one. She is 5'7″, a size 16-18, and commutes by car while managing laptops, e-Readers, an iPad, planners, makeup, multiple beverages, and a bagged lunch. Essentially, Jennifer lives the life this bag was designed for.
TL;DR
The Quick Version
Jennifer tested the MEIA Work Laptop Bag as a nurse practitioner, mom, and chronic multi-bag carrier. She found the bag beautifully made, comfortable to wear, and thoughtful in its design, with standout features like expandable side pockets, a detachable clutch/crossbody, and a hidden back pocket. It did not fully replace her lunch bag or solve every carrying problem, but it came closer than most. Best for: commuters, travelers, and anyone who needs their work bag to do a lot of jobs. Less ideal for: paper planner devotees who also use the shoe compartment, or heavy lunch packers.
What Is the MEIA Work Laptop Bag?
The MEIA Work Laptop Bag is a 5-in-1 multifunctional backpack designed by women, for women. It functions as a work backpack, travel personal item, gym bag, evening clutch, and crossbody. The bag, available in black or sapphire blue, is made from water-resistant recycled nylon with gold hardware. It fits laptops up to 16.5″ diagonal, weighs 2.6 lbs on its own, and includes padded straps, a luggage trolley sleeve, hidden back pocket, expandable side pockets, a bottom shoe compartment, and a removable vegan leather clutch with built-in wallet that converts to a crossbody with included straps.
This review was not provided to MEIA prior to publishing. I asked Jennifer to be completely, brutally honest and as I do with all content on Wardrobe Oxygen, create the content she would wish to find on the internet if shopping for this bag. Below is Jennifer's MEIA Work Laptop Bag review in her own words.
An Honest MEIA Work Laptop Bag Review
I really really wanted this backpack to solve my problems.
I'm a busy wife, mom, business owner, and full time employee. I frequently leave my home for 12-14 hours a day and need to carry things for each role, each meal, and my own wellbeing.
Before I tried this bag, I was carrying a purse, a lunch box, and an everything bag with my laptop, books, papers, mail, makeup, agenda, and sometimes clothes or shoes. I’ve used multiple bags including the Go-Getter Tote from Poppy & Peonies, standard backpacks, longchamp medium totes, New Yorker tote bags, Madewell tote, Lo & Sons O.G., and TUMI Calais backpack. I can always get my items in each of these bags, but not always my lunch or drinks.
Knowing you’ll have to pry my trusty LV Neverfull from my cold dead hands, I tried to consolidate my items from my everything bag and lunch bag into the MEIA The Work Laptop Backpack.
Unboxing and Build Quality
The MEIA bag came nicely packaged in a strong cardboard box, sealed in plastic, stuffed for its shape, and all hardware and straps wrapped. I love the black nylon, it reminds me of my TUMI backpack with better back padding. The gold hardware is chef's kiss, and the padded laptop compartment is so easy to put my Mac laptop and iPad in. I also like to stash important papers for my business with my laptop, and this backpack handles that with ease.
The Best Features of The MEIA Bag
I also really like the side pockets for drinks. I carry coffee, water in a Hydro Jug, and AG1 daily out the door. Being able to put the coffee and AG1 in the side pockets was perfect.
The front pocket removable clutch is so high quality and I love the adjustable cross body strap. It feels really secure when inserted into the backpack front. Beware, if you are a chronic overpacker and bag overstuffer like me you may have issues getting it back into the front clutch slot. I just tossed the clutch in the main compartment instead.
I appreciate having enough room in the clutch for cards, phone and a lip gloss. You can also attach either of the key leashes to make a top handle bag. Bonus for a key leash in the front pocket, but you won't be able to get the clutch back into there with keys. I ended up throwing my phone, lippies and keys in the front pocket with my work badge. I did knock the bag over and all the items went flying, but it's still a handy place to stash items until you can better secure them.
The main compartment of this bag has a zippered pocket and slip pocket in the back, and multiple small pockets and a key leash in the front. I've got them stuffed with my mouse, laptop charger, lip gloss, and pens. I've also got my office keys on the key leash.
The back of the bag is the highlight for me. Sturdy handles, great feeling top handle, hidden passport/wallet/phone zipper pocket, padding galore, and a luggage trolley sleeve. It's always good when you can put a quality backpack on and not feel pain.
Where It Fell Short
The bottom shoe compartment when stuffed takes up quite a bit of the main compartment. I had to remove my agenda and books from the main compartment to be able to use it. I haven't been able to put my lunch in that compartment yet, I usually take a few containers of items to mix for a salad, a protein shake, and a few snacks. I've just been carrying a small lunch bag instead.
Drawbacks For This Bag:
- I wish the bag had a zipper on the bottom of the luggage trolly sleeve. Then I could put small flat items like a Kindle or phone or passport in there and feel secure.
- When you have a laptop in the sleeve, the hidden pocket is very tight and difficult to retrieve items from.
- The laptop waterproof zipper is great, but only having a single zipper instead of a double limited use for me. I like to minimally open my bags so others can't see what I have and to avoid leaving things or dropping things.
- The clutch, while super cute, doesn't fit back in the slot unless your main compartment is not full.
- The shoe compartment was really helpful, but then I had to leave my agenda at home. As a paper planner girlie I really missed it on some of my long days.
- If the front clutch slot had a way to close, it would be much more useful for me.
Pros for the bag:
- Side beverage pockets that expand and are secure
- Love the quality materials and pink lining
- Can't wait for my next business trip to use the clutch as my purse and breeze through security at the airport with my electronics
- Feels comfortable on my shoulders, doesn't hurt my back
- Will 100% keep my passport or wallet secure in the hidden pocket. I broke a nail trying to get it out!
The Bottom Line
If you are looking for style, function, love gold hardware, love pink interiors and need a space for everything, the MEIA bag is thoughtfully designed, holds many day to day items, and optimal for a personal item on air travel trips. It won't solve all your problems, but it's woman designed, looks and feels high end, and has feminine touches.
I’m grateful to Alison and Wardrobe Oxygen for the opportunity to test this bag and write a review. As a long time fan and frequent purchaser of recommended WO items and sell and swap items, it’s truly an honor to be selected for this opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions About The MEIA Laptop Bag
Is the MEIA Work Laptop Bag worth the price?
For a bag built from water-resistant recycled nylon with gold hardware, a vegan leather detachable clutch, and genuine 5-in-1 functionality, $285 sits comfortably in line with comparable work bags from brands like TUMI and Lo & Sons. Whether it's worth it depends entirely on how much you carry and whether the multifunctional design matches your daily reality. Jennifer, who has owned a TUMI Calais and the Lo & Sons OG, found the quality comparable and the design more thoughtful for her specific needs.
Who is the MEIA bag best for?
People who commute by car or travel frequently, need a laptop bag that transitions to a personal item or evening clutch, and want to consolidate multiple bags into one. It works particularly well as an airplane carry-on personal item.
Who might not like the MEIA laptop bag?
If you carry a large lunch daily alongside a packed main compartment, or if you are a paper planner devotee who also needs the shoe compartment, you will likely still need a secondary bag. Jennifer, who carries salad containers, a protein shake, snacks, an A5 agenda, and books, found the bag could not fully replace her lunch bag.
Does the MEIA bag fit a 15″ or 16″ laptop?
The laptop compartment fits devices up to 14″ length x 9.5″ width, which translates to a 16.5″ diagonal. Jennifer fit her Mac laptop and iPad simultaneously with room for papers.
How does the MEIA bag compare to the Lo & Sons OG and TUMI Calais?
Jennifer has used both. She found the MEIA comparable in quality to her TUMI Calais and noted better back padding. The Lo & Sons OG is a perennial community favorite here at Wardrobe Oxygen for its organizational structure, but it lacks the MEIA's detachable clutch and shoe compartment.
Is the MEIA bag's detachable clutch functional as a standalone bag?
Yes, and Jennifer is excited to use it that way on her next work trip. The clutch holds 6 cards, cash, a phone, and a passport, and comes with straps to convert to a crossbody. The main caveat: if you are a chronic overpacker, getting the clutch back into its slot once the main compartment is full takes some effort.
What is MEIA?
MEIA was founded by Mary Liu, a working professional who set out to create a multifunctional work bag that bridges style and function for women with multifaceted lives. The brand is women-founded and designed with the specific carrying needs of working women in mind.
Thank you to Jennifer for putting this bag through an honest, thorough real-world test. This is so detailed and helpful, and I hope it helps others determine if the MEIA work bag is the right bag for them!
Disclosure: MEIA provided the bag to our community reviewer at no cost. She was also paid by Wardrobe Oxygen for her time and honest review. This post contains affiliate links. MEIA had no editorial input on this review.
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