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Louis Vuitton – Bold and beautiful in royal blue, the the Michael NM backpack in Damier Infini leather is versatile and durable, with silver zips and a padded laptop compartment. Price: $4250 from au.louisvuitton.com -
Burberry – Smoked check backpack in straw with a smooth calf leather trim, double zip, with heaps of pockets and adjustable padded shoulder straps. Price: $2050 from au.burberry.com -
Givenchy – Made from hard-wearing printed leather, the satin twill-lined interior is tough enough for your gym gear, with distinctive Givenchy mirrored florals making it glam enough for the first class lounge. Price: approx $4104 from mrporter.com -
Master Piece – These ultra-styling Japanese bags are durable, colourful and creative. The 'Area' backpack features a playful red, burgundy and light-blue design made from waterproof canvas. Price: approx $470 from master-piece.co.jp -
Troubador – Handcrafted in Italy from vegetable-tanned leather, The Rucksack is designed to hold a 15-inch laptop, with nifty magnet clasps and a buckle inspired by a vintage sniper-rifle strap. Price: $2269 from huntleather.com.au -
Prada - The camouflage-inspired ‘Maxi Octogon’ backpack in cornflower blue is made from printed nylon with a leather handle and trim, polished steel hardware and padded laptop compartment. Price: $1640 from prada.com -
Gucci – A super luxe, special edition ‘500’ backpack in signature black GG imprimé with a black leather trim and adjustable straps in unmistakable Gucci livery. Price: $1595 from gucci.com/au -
Freitag – These Swiss bags are made from recycled truck tarps, and the Kowalski backpack features shoulder-strap fasteners that adjust to the volume of the contents. Weatherproof and virtually indestructible, every bag is unique. Price: approx $250 from freitag.ch -
Marc Jacobs – Chic, classic and ultra-modern leather backpack from the legendary NYC designer defines minimalist cool with its two-tone contrast front compartment. Price: $729 from shop.davidjones.com.au -
Herschel – Founded in 2009 by two Canadian brothers, these basic backpacks have arguably driven the hipster backpack boom. We like the Little America Mid Volume Backpack with its classic mountaineering style. Price: $175.95 from culturekings.com.au -
Saint Laurent – This rocking rucksack is emblazoned with a showstopping graphic boomerang print. Made from canvas with a leather trim, it’s sporty and durable. Price: $972 from mrporter.com -
Balenciaga – Ripped and rubberised, this deep leather backpack is perfect for the active urban gym junkie, or to cram in your clothes for a weekend away. Also features a marble-effect designer plaque and polished silver-tone hardware. Fancy. Price: approx $2550 from mrporter.com -
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Would you pay $4000 for a backpack? Plenty of men do. Every luxury designer worth its salt has a high-end, strapped-up man bag in the current collection.
The one-time student special is now an elaborate, fashion-forward essential, with sharp detailing, padded laptop compartments and gadget pockets as standard.
"It's a return to the masculine, urban, global male," says Graeme Lewsey, the director of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival. "People love the concept of being an urban nomad."
These 'flash-packs' are made from the finest leather, technical printed fabrics, sharp suedes or indestructible nylon, and can ben taken from the airport to the meeting room in a single day.
"It's the idea that you put your backpack on and you're ready to jump on the next plane to the next city. That in itself is a cool thing," Lewsey says.
Go for a splash of colour with hip Japanese brand Master Piece, or get on board the backpack that started the trend; Louis Vuitton's 'Michael' backpack, loved by rappers and business moguls alike.
"The motivation is definitely cool factor because [backpacks] don't perhaps have the security of a tote, where you can keep a close eye on your stuff," Lewsey says.
Click through the gallery above for some of our favourite luxe men's backpacks available now.