Unless you chopper into work every morning, you’re probably in the rush-hour commute with the rest of us. Whether it’s a two-hour train journey, a 10-minute Tube ride or a quick cycle dash into town, the time that you spend travelling at each end of the day should be kept as stress-free as possible. Here’s how to make it to work both on time and in style. 

1. Carry a real manbag
British heritage brand Cherchbi produces some of the hardiest luggage around. This Black Sail backpack is compact, waterproof and the sturdy saddle leather base will keep your laptop/wallet/receipts safe and dry. (£595, cherchbi.com)

2. Be a better cyclist
Made of fast-drying, stretchy denim, these cotton-mix jeans by British bike specialist Rapha are designed for cyclists to resist abrasion (particularly around the seat) and have built-in reflector fabric in the turn-ups. (£150, rapha.cc)

3. Show your laptop some love
Constructed from memory foam, this Victorinox sleeve moulds around your laptop. Unlike bulkier rivals, the compact design also means you can slide it into your backpack with room to spare. (£60, houseoffraser.co.uk)

4. Get a proper cardholder
Comme des Garçons’s Super Fluo wallets are second to none. The zip-around design is secure, the leather is bright, there’s space for coins and cards, plus you’ll have no problem finding it in your rucksack. (£119, doverstreetmarket.com)

5. Be well read
The new Kindle Fire is a cheaper alternative to the iPad. Featuring a 7in colour display, 8GB storage and wi-fi; this will sort your commute read nicely (provided you can get one from the US, as it still isn’t out here). ($200, amazon.com)

6. Smell good fast
Imbued with the Japanese brand’s deep, spicy Allen scent, retaW’s fragrance tablets (thick squares of vacuum-packed, scent-soaked paper) are ideal for a quick dab in transit. (£8, nivenandjoshua.com)

7. Bring the noise
The new t-JAYS Four headphones from Swedish brand Jays feature Kevlar-reinforced cables to prevent fraying when yanked out of bags, a noise-reduction microphone and a nifty remote control. (€100, jays.se)