I'm a 20-something professional woman and I was looking for a rugged bag that was also nice enough to wear with a suit for carrying my laptop, etc. to work. I bought this and the Leather Rangeley Messenger (see my review there). I ultimately returned this bag, but I did think it was nice... just a few design flaws. My thoughts: - Like some other reviewers mentioned, the color is more like a saddle than a true brown. It's beautiful in person and could be worn with either black or brown. - The bag is very nice but I'm not sure it could be worn with a suit. It would look great with everything from regular non-suit business attire to jeans. - The size is great. Even though it doesn't have a laptop compartment, my 11 inch laptop slid beautifully into the pocket just in front of the main compartment (although there's no padding or velcro tab to hold it there). The bag itself is big enough to carry everything I'd want to bring with me - notebooks, files, waterbottle, everything from my purse, etc. - Maybe it's just me, but the pocket placement is very odd on this bag. The sideways pocket on the back is tough to get into unless you take off the bag, as is the zip pocket on the interior of the flap. There is a pocket just in front of the main compartment, but it doesn't have a closure. Ultimately, that leaves you with only one usable pocket on the interior of the main compartment, other than the credit card/cell phone/pen slots. I do really like that it has a key chain, though. - The construction is good but ultimately it's not as sturdy as the Leather Rangeley Messenger. It doesn't stand up on it's own and is pretty slouchy unless it's full. I like the canvas reinforced strap but I worry that over time the buckle portion (which is not reinforced) will degrade. I didn't have any problems with the front buckle but I returned the bag before subjecting it to everyday use. I did really like that it has a handle at the top so you don't always have to use the strap. - There were some natural variations in the leather which made some parts of the bag look bulge-y, but I suppose that's to be expected. My bag also arrived with two pen marks - one on the front, one on the back.
In short, I really liked this bag but it lost out to the Rangeley Leather Messenger because I was looking for something more sturdy, professional ,and... intuitive. I do think this would make a great bag for a student or someone who worked in a more casual business environment.
...love...love...love this bag...heavy, luxurious, pebbley leather..pockets galore and clinky silver hardware...oh my god...it's to DIE for....been buying from beans for years...never a disappointment...
(just as an aside, consumers please stress the importance of buying american...i'm canadian, but we love americans...i looked but don't know if this bag was made in america...i hope so...support american artisans...(and canadian too of course..lol)....absolutely mad about well made stuff...so happy
I received this bag in brown as a gift. First of all, the color is off. It is actually tan. At first, I was a little disappointed but got used to it. The real problem is that the dye from my dark jeans has rubbed onto the bag and the back side looks awful. Had it been the darker brown, as pictures. Perhaps it wouldn't be so apparent.The other issue is the clasp. It is not at all secure. It unlatches just by walking. If these two issues and the price were lower, I would say it's a great work/school bag. Even the $149 price was steep.
