Zero Halliburton’s aircraft-grade aluminum attaché undoubtedly has the highest profile of any briefcase, ever. Its movie and television appearances, which account for more than 250 in the last decade alone, have included key roles in Inception, where it housed the "dream machine"; in Ocean’s Eleven, where it assisted in a climactic vault break-in at the Bellagio; and in Quantum of Solace, where Ian Flemming’s unmistakable agent of the British secret service lifts it from the lobby of the Hotel Dessalines in Haiti. A gun-filled version of the attaché also figured prominently in the first season of Lost. Needless to say, the creative minds behind Hollywood’s blockbusters remain enamored with the briefcase’s simplistic style and undeniable strength.

But aside from its cameos in fictional scripts, the attaché also has held a prominent role in some of mankind’s greatest achievements. When Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins touched down on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, the astronauts used a Zero Halliburton attaché to transport 48.5 pounds of moon rocks back to Earth.

The design is thoroughly American, conceived in 1938 by a team of aircraft engineers commissioned by Earle Halliburton, an oilman who needed an attaché that could accompany him on his worldwide travels, but one that also would endure banging around Texas’ oil fields in the back of his pickup truck.

More recently, the classic attaché design has become part of the company’s carbon fiber collection, a product line that also includes a carry-on. Lighter in weight than aluminum, the black carbon fiber briefcase ($2,500) has a woven appearance that is sleek and subtle. A portable 13 by 18 by 4½ inches, it is lined in leather and features an organizer with two file pockets and five additional pockets. Recessed latches and a hidden combination lock contribute to the minimalist appearance.

The rugged wheeled carry-on ($2,700) comes with an integrated removable suiter and a shoe bag, and measures 21 by 13 by 9 inches. It features heavy-duty latches and two ergonomic carrying grips, as well as a telescoping handle. A recent modification to the design incorporated a triple-digit combination lock that was approved by the Transportation Security Administration.

Both the attaché and the carry-on are constructed in the United States with 100-percent pure carbon fiber, and both come with a lifetime warranty. While you may never need them for lunar transport, both Halliburton models will perform flawlessly in a mad dash through the airport. They might even add a dash of the Silver Screen to your travels.