By happyjack
from annapolis, md on 02/16/2012
Pros:
High quality, Rugged, Stylish
Cons:
Insufficient Padding, Short strap
Best Uses:
Commuting, Office, Travel
Describe Yourself:
Practical, Stylish, Will pay for quality
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
After years of wearing out supposed rugged/high-quality laptop/messenger bags by reputable manufacturers (timbuk2, high sierra, etc), I decided to take the plunge on a top-quality leather bag. I've seen the cheaper versions in stores from brands like Kenneth Cole, but wanted something of a similar quality and durability as Coach. This bag definitely fits that requirement. It is a constructed of beautiful full-grain leather (not that bonded junk) with quality stitching and hardware.
Here's a few considerations for which I did not down-grade the bag, but may play into some buyers' purchase decisions:
- Storage: Adequate for a daily commuter, but it is by no means cavernous. I wanted to force myself to lighten the load I carry every day, so the size is fine for me. My last messenger bag (timbuk2 large commute 2.0) had tons of storage and pockets that I filled with all manner of junk that I didn't really need...as a result, it felt like I was lugging around a cinder block. This bag's design will definitely help me accomplish my goal of a lighter load. It does carry everything I need: a 13" laptop with powercord, a Bose headphones case (which also contains my iPod), a standard size book or Kindle, a thin notepad, a few pens, building badges, business card case, pack of gum and a couple of USB drives. If you're not carrying around the big Bose case, then you could easily fit a bottle of water and probably your lunch too. I do wish this bag had an easily accessible pocket on the outside to store my keys and building badge...oh well.
- Structure: The bag is fairly rigid, which I like - it stands up easily with a solid base. However, the main flap will NOT remain open easily. Not sure if this will soften over time, but it's a little inconvenient when trying to dig out any smaller items from the bottom of the bag.
- Buckles/closures: The buckles that you see in the picture are only for aesthetics. Beneath the straps are sliding closures - you need two hands to open the band, one to hold the flap and one to open the slide closure. None of the inside pockets have separate closures, so if the bag gets knocked over, then you could have smaller things scattered about.
- Shoulder strap: I wish the strap was about 4" longer. I'm 6'1", 185-lbs with a 42-inch chest, and the strap is *just* long enough to comfortable fit in the "over-the-head and across-the-chest" carrying style (like a messenger bag) that I like to use in order to keep my hands free. If you only hang the bag off one shoulder you should be fine, but it will be a tight fit for anyone bigger than me to carry it like I do. I may look for a longer strap or strap extender at a leather shop.
There's really no reason this bag shouldn't last me the rest of my professional career...probably another 15-20 years. The level of quality is really what drives the 5-star rating. There are some design features that I can nit-pik, but overall this bag is really an outstanding product.
