My love for the backpack as my go-to accessory is truly boundless. I could probably write a poem about it. I'd devote an entire stanza to the freedom of the hands-free lifestyle, and maybe a line or two to the health benefits of distributing weight evenly between both shoulders. There might be a mention of the backpack's ability to carry more stuff, and a final couplet about how the casual backpack gives the wearer an aura of breezy youthfulness.

But a first foray into the hands-free life might feel wrong, so accustomed have we grown over the years to holding a satchel on our shoulders or a clutch in our hands. Perhaps your hands might feel kind of "naked," or you might suddenly get the urge to go to the U of T library and just hang out there for a few days. But soon enough, it'll start to feel perfectly normal to swing your arms as you strut down Dundas St. Soon enough, it'll feel totally on-point to wear your Armani suit with a leather backpack to that super important board meeting. And when that happens, you'll probably never carry a tote or a messenger bag again because once you go 'pack, you can't go back.

This Frank & Oak Black Series leather and canvas version is the ideal first 'pack for the discerning gentleman and on-the-go gamine. Constructed from premium cotton canvas and genuine leather, this functional carryall adds a minimalist touch to your perfectly-pressed suit or a pair of light wash dungarees. Useful features include exterior leather pouch, metal zips, padded laptop compartment, and padded shoulder straps. Its most useful feature, however, is the $95 price tag.

$95. Available online at Frank & Oak