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June 22, 2015May 23, 2020

Mohinders Men’s City Slippers Review – $145

With spring here and summer on the way, finding the right casual footwear can be a pretty challenging task. I’ve never been a “flips flops” kind of guy but wanted something light and easy to slip on. After quite a prodigious search, I came across the Mohinders Men’s City Slippers and had to give them a go.

ABOUT

Mohinders was born when founder Michael Paratore came across a pair of hand woven leather shoes in the markets of Mumbai. It was back in the states when he decided to quit his corporate job and start a shoe company. What followed was a journey back to India to locate the artisans behind the shoes he first encountered. Once he finally tracked down the craftsmen, Mohinders was born. Taking the original design and tweaking the style, comfort and durability, the CIty Slippers aims to be a wear all shoe you can sport anytime, anywhere. Skeptical? Well, if a man quits a successful career and opens a company essentially based on one shoe, it must be worth a second look!

CONSTRUCTION

The City Slippers arrived in a very cool sackcloth pouch with a patterned lining. The shoes themselves are handwoven from vegetable tanned buffalo leather. The smell of the slippers conjured up memories of petting zoos but this was only noticeable when deliberately held up to my nose. Mohinders credits this unique aroma to the dyeing process that uses babul tree and the myrobalan nut. The sole of the City Slippers are natural crepe rubber. If you noticing a pattern, the Mohinder’s are about as natural as it gets. The environmental impact from production is about equal to playing a round of croquet on the neighbor’s lawn.

FUNCTION

If there’s one thing we like to stress about high quality leather products, it that there is usually a break in process to let the leather stretch and become pliable. That rule definitely applies to the City Slippers. At first they were a bit snug and I experienced a little abrasion on my pinky toe, but in the words of the great George Michael, you gotta have faith. As expected, the leather conformed to my foot perfectly. Not too tight where they felt constricted and loose enough to allow easy on and off. The crepe soles really impressed, very flexible and after several week of continuous use, show little wear and a promise of prolonged life.

AESTHETIC

The City Slippers are a welcome alternative to flip flops, Jesus Cruisers, mandals, and all other sorts of exposed footwear for men. I have pretty hairy feet (think Frodo Baggins) and don’t usually feel comfortable wearing traditional sandals. The City Slippers on the other hand look great and allow for that laid back vibe. The styling is very adaptive and I can wear these around the house just as easily as I can at the farmer’s market. Served with chino shorts and an Oxford with rolled sleeves and you’re good to go.

CONCLUSION

The Mohinders City Slippers are a solid option for men who aren’t into the whole sandals thing, or who simply want a new, casual good looking summer footwear option. The $145 price tag is a little steep, but you’re supporting artisans in rural communities, and wearing an environmentally conscious shoe. Oh, and you’ll look good every step of the way.

June 18, 2015December 19, 2017

The Best Made Gfeller Document Case Review – $325

The Best Made Company was brought to my attention by Steve Derricot, the Owner of Gfeller Casemakers. I was visiting his shop discussing some other projects, and I noticed a very unique looking case that was under production. My inquisitive nature took over and Steve happily showed me the case they were making for a New York company called Best Made. When I say case, I mean a large brief that is capable of holding a number of documents, an Ipad, small laptop, or similar, and that is molded so as to add structure and security for its contents.

Like all of Steve’s work, I was impressed by the craftsmanship and beauty of this simple case. I reached out to Best Made to gauge their interest in having us review their Gfeller Document Case and lo and behold here we are with the review. Before jumping into the review though, let’s look a bit at the Best Made Company.

Best Made Company

The Best Made Company was formed by Peter Buchanann-Smith in 2009 out of a desire to create a better axe. He not only wanted a better axe, but wanted to connect people back to wilderness and nature, and to encourage exploration of the great outdoors. Best Made partnered with one of America’s oldest and esteemed axe makers and designed their first proprietary axe, made to compete with the best axes on the market.

Designing and manufacturing the very best axe possible became the blueprint for the design and manufacture of many outdoors related products – knives, maps, tools, clothing, camp supplies, bags and cases. Personally, I have purchased a number of products from Best Made and find that the products I purchased live up to the name of the company. The Gfeller Document Case is no exception.

Construction

The Gfeller Document case is built with sturdiness and rigor in mind. It is built from just three pieces of premium leather – the back and top flap, the inner pocket, and the molded front. The inner pocket is designed to allow for snug protection of documents or a thin tablet. The front of the case is molded, something that Gfeller specializes in, and something that gives this case its unique feature and function. It allows for an inner compartment that is roughly 1 ⅛” deep, which is ample space for a number of documents, maps, or thin electronics.

The Gfeller Case is stitched together with Gfeller’s thread of choice – linen. The stitching on the case is not perfectly straight, which could bother some that are used to machine made products. This does not affect the durability of the case in any way, and is more of an indication of a hand made, artisanal product, which it is. The choice of linen is contrary to what many other leather bag manufacturers are using today – polyester and nylon. Gfeller has been using linen since it’s inception in 1946. One look at a wall in Gfellers studio that displays bags and accessories that are many decades old makes the point clearly, linen can hold up to the test of time. These goods are still held perfectly together and though beaten up, could still perform their intended function today.

The upper corners of the case are each riveted with a nickel plated brass rivet, to add strength and durability to the case. The case is finished off with a brass button snap made specifically for Best Made.

The Leather

The leather used for the contstruction of the Gfeller case is the same used for most of Gfeller’s products – Hermann Oak’s russet skirting leather. This is full grain leather, the toughest and in my opinion most beautiful, and is eight and a half ounces thick (approximately ⅛ of an inch). It is tanned through and is a natural color, which is beautiful in its own right, but will naturally darken and take on a patina with time and use.

The edges of the case are finished by hand using wax and a whole lot of friction. The beauty of vegetable tanned leather is that it can be burnished to a tighter, slightly darker grain, giving the leather a more finished look and also adds to the durability. Gfeller has fine tuned this process and the result is beautifully finished edges that practically shine. According to Steve, if you apply too much friction you can actually burn the edges, making them weaker. Too little friction and you still have edges that can fray. It takes an expert touch to burnish in such a way as to leave a beautiful shine with a tight grain. Gfeller nails that here.

Function

The Gfeller Document Case is meant to transport essential documents or maps securely from one place to another. Many a plastic cases could be purchased for the same price as one Gfeller Document Case to accomplish this use, but none have the same panache and none will last as long as this case. The Gfeller case does not have a shoulder strap, so it is not meant to be carried like a traditional leather bag. I could see a college professor using the case to transport papers from office to class, I could see a national park ranger carrying his or her maps in this case, and I can see a lawyer carrying important briefs to a case or meeting.

This is not a laptop case, though it can carry a small laptop (my 13″ Macbook Air fit snugly), and it is not meant to replace a messenger bag or satchel. It has a fairly specific use, but within that use, the Gfeller Document Case can be used in a variety of ways.

Best Leather Conclusion

The Gfeller Document Case by Best Made is a hand made tool for keeping secure and transporting important documents and electronics in an elegant way. It is made by expert hands in a small studio in Meridian, Idaho with some of the best vegetable tanned leather that can be purchased. The look and feel of the Gfeller Document Case screams artisan, and will surely be a tool that can be used for decades.

June 17, 2015December 19, 2017

Kendal & Hyde Medium Classic Leather Satchel – First Impressions

The team at BestLeather has the privilege of seeing lots and lots of leather products. Since we’re leather aficionados (aka leather nerds), we think of it as a major perk for being part of this team. But, even for us there are those times when we see a leather bag or another product and remark to anyone who’s willing to listen, “oh…they really got that one right.” Those are the words I uttered when I opened the email from Kendal & Hyde regarding their newest bag, the Classic Leather Satchel.

About Kendal & Hyde

Kendal & Hyde is located in Salt Lake City, UT and San Francisco, CA. They have a great eye for design and details. This is evident when you look at the list of successful Kickstarters (now on their 4th) they’ve created since 2014. Their products are functional, appealing, and built to stand the rigors of daily use and time.

Construction

The Medium Classic Leather Satchel we received here is a working prototype of what’s to come in their production run. Said production run is guaranteed to happen now that they’ve eclipsed their Kickstarter goal of $50k (they are now well on their way to doubling that number).

If you’re a veg tan fan…you’re in luck here. The Classic Leather Satchel is 100% vegetable tanned leather. It’s being featured in natural, black, and medium brown colors. The leather is thick and only slightly stiff. This is a bag that will definitely develop a gorgeous patina over time.

It also comes in three sizes:

Large – 17.75″W x 13″H x 9″D
Medium –15.75″W x 12″H x 9″D
Small – 14.25″W x 11″H x 6″D

All three sizes contain the same features and design elements. This Kickstarter has generated some very interesting conversations in some of the leather groups we follow on Facebook. The overwhelming majority of those discussions have been very positive and supportive. However, there are always those who like to make comparisons or make unsupported claims of duplicating another design. I’m never a fan of those comparisons and complaints. I often find them unfounded and usually untrue. The cold hard truth is that there are only so many ways to create a satchel-styled bag. This version is in fact, very unique in several ways:

the Buffalo nickel on the handle wrap
full vegetable tanned leather
the thickness of shoulder pad is amazing
it features a single piece side and bottom—no seam in the center
hardware that is unrivaled in quality (solid brass)
the center pocket is for a laptop and is designed to keep it from being bumped from any direction…a very unique and effective strategy.
includes a dedicated iPad pocket that also keeps it from being knocked around as well
the unique, modular aspect, which allows for additional pockets, straps, and accessories to be added to the satchel for personal customization. The line of accessories will continue to be developed and works on all of the satchels in this line (and will work with future designs too)

So, as you can see there are many elements here that differentiate the Kendal & Hyde Satchel. Personally, I’m thrilled to see the modular design aspect incorporated. It’s brilliant. As a fan of vintage Swiss Army leather goods, I really like the design of the single and triple pouches…which definitely hearken back to the ammunition pouches from the Swiss Army.

Function

Since this is a prototype, we haven’t had the luxury of using this as rigorously or as long as we usually do when putting together our reviews. However, the feel of this bag, the quality of construction, and the design elements included lead us to believe that this bag will perform its role for you in high style and perfection.

We look forward to being able to report on regular usage once we receive the production models. We’ll be featuring full reviews of those in just a couple of months.

Aesthetic

Clean lines, exceptional build quality, and top of the line components all blend together for a visually appealing feast. Sounds cheesy but it’s true. The Kendal & Hyde Classic Satchel exudes class and style in my opinion. It appears that it will look great whether it’s carried over the shoulder, cross body, or in backpack mode.

Conclusion

The Kickstarter for the Kendal & Hyde Classic Satchel is still going. Secure one in the size and color you want and you’ll save about $100 off the normal price. Also, all of the modular pieces and other accessories are discounted. We’ve had a total of four reviewers from our team check out this Kendal & Hyde Satchel. The overwhelming consensus is that we highly recommend that you get one ordered for yourself. It’s definitely a Buy It for Life Satchel that you’ll be able to hand down for many generations.

June 17, 2015December 19, 2017

Hidesign Hector Large 17″ Laptop Compatible Leather Backpack Review – $299.99

BestLeather had an absolutely fantastic, successful trip to Las Vegas in February for Fashion Week. Running around meeting new leather artisans and companies, making connections with popular brands, and taking the time to discuss leather with a few companies was enough to make our week fantastic. Hidesign was one of the leather brands we actually had the chance to sit down with and talk. This leather company provides a refreshing fashionable line of leather bags and accessories to BestLeather’s typically rustic product reviews – Hidesign’s product line is very refined and stylish.

About

“Founded in 1978, Hidesign has grown into a global leather accessories brand recognized for its quality, ecological values and personalized service. By keeping its focus on a classic contemporary look, Hidesign caters to the sophisticated urban professional and executive.” This stylish business values diversity, quality, and heritage. Each of these values is evident in their contemporary products. Head over to their website to read more about the brand, their product innovation, ecological mindset, and to check out some quality leather products.

Construction

The Hector Leather Backpack is a quality piece. This stunning bag is constructed using Hidesign’s full-grain vegetable tanned classic leather, heavy-duty contrast stitching, and 100% cotton green striped lining. Each of these elements comes together in a beautiful, chic bag. The bag consists of one large main compartment, and a smaller, slip in pocket. The main compartment was designed large enough to fit a 17” laptop in the padded sleeve. In this main partition there is also one zip pocket for pens and pencils, and two slip in pockets for other accessories. The press button closure is easy to use, yet durable, and the metal closure square is heavy duty and attention-grabbing. The leather shoulder straps are padded perfectly, and the modern metal hardware gives the bag an extremely durable impression. This bag is built with exquisite detail and materials, and will last for a very long time.

Function

Every man needs a good backpack. They are extremely practical, provide adequate storage, and give you the option of carry additional bags. My go-to travel set-up is a backpack, messenger or duffel, and my beautiful self. This backpack has performed exceedingly well in every situation I have put it through, whether that was going to college classes, a coffee at a local café, or travelling to various places. Measuring 11.2” by 14.4” by 5.5,” the Hector backpack is spacious. Each time I used this bag, I would take my MacBook Air with leather sleeve, charging cable, notebook, textbooks, The Pienza Penholder, a headphone case, and other assorted daily use items. I have even used this bag to pack my Olympus camera and a few lenses, all while functioning perfectly as a multi-use bag.

Aesthetic

The Hector backpack is gorgeous. Its elegant construction, handsome materials, and graceful feel make this backpack perfect for the modern gentlemen who appreciates purpose. The contrast stitching gives the bag an inviting look. The leather is tanned perfectly to a deep brown, and the inner green lining gives the bag just the right amount of individuality. This bag was not designed to get thrown around and abused, although it will withstand it. Like all quality leather items, attentive care and responsibility are key to this bags long-lasting lifetime. Like most of the leather items I have reviewed, I always receive compliments on this bag. It only makes sense for a backpack like this to receive praise, so people stopping and inquiring about the bag is always a good sign that my impressions are accurate.

Conclusion

Hidesign is a company that appreciates modern design, practicality, and quality. The Hector Large 17″ Laptop Compatible Leather Backpack is a great example of Hidesign’s core values. You may be surprised at Hidesign’s relatively low price-points, but they absolutely do not sacrifice quality to achieve this. With a new men’s line for this spring, any of Hidesign’s products will make excellent Father’s day presents. But if you are looking for a bag that will really make an impression, the Hector backpack is the perfect bag for you. Priced at $299.99, it also won’t hurt your budget. Head over to the Hidesign America website to check out their excellent product offerings and pick up a quality Father’s day present this week.

June 16, 2015December 19, 2017

Cravar & BestLeather F.C. 15 Messenger Bag Giveaway – $410 Value

Congratulations to Joshua S of Ohio for being selected as the winner of the Cravar F.C. 15 Messenger Bag!

Joshua, check your email so we can get you set up with your new bag! And thank you to all who entered. Please check your inbox soon too – Cravar will be sending a special “thank you” incentive to everyone who entered.

The fine folks at Cravar are ready to give you a shot at winning one of their great looking F.C. 15 Bags. Back in April, we had the privilege of reviewing this same bag – you can check out the full review here. Since that time, the F.C. 15 has become a daily carry bag for the wife of the reviewer and she absolutely loves it. It continues to garner comments and questions. And, it performs its role for her perfectly.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to get one of these amazing bags! Here’s what the winner gets:

Winner may choose one F.C. 15 bag from the 3 colors Cravar offers: Espresso, Rust, or Fox
Winner may have the bag personalized with a maximum of 3 initials (no numbers or punctuation…just letters). Cravar offers two font choices: Satyr or Telefon (see image below for font examples).

The Giveaway runs from June 17 through July 8th…so, GO FORTH AND ENTER!

Cravar F.C. 15 Giveaway – $410 Value!

In addition to visiting Cravar’s Facebook page within the contest, please consider following them here too:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/cravar/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cravarbag
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cravar/

June 16, 2015December 19, 2017

Waskerd Brea Zipper Wallet Review — $115

You know how they say the best chefs don’t just pay attention to taste but also to presentation? When my Waskerd Brea Zipper Wallet arrived in the mail, my mind went straight to those masterful chefs. Right away, the extreme attention to detail impressed me—the personalized note, the way it was wrapped as a gift in a colorful cloth and string, even the business card made of leather. The wallet itself just continued this same impressive theme of detail-oriented precision. In fact, it made me want to meet the person who’d put so much care into the making.

About Waskerd

These days most products come from factories and assembly lines, which removes the human touch and personal connection from the process and the purchase. Waskerd’s mission is to re-form the human connection that has gone missing. They run a small, family business and make each of their products by hand, including the sweet wallet I’ve been carrying in my pocket for the last while.

Construction

The Brea Zipper Wallet is made from a high-quality 100% full-grain leather. Full-grain means the leather was taken from the outside surface of the hide, which means more character because of beautiful imperfections. It also has the highest durability—it’s the same skin that protects against the elements and barbed wire.

The surface of my Brea is smooth and initially had a slight gloss to it. As I broke it in, the surface got rougher, which made the wallet even more aesthetically pleasing than before. The zipper has a rugged, heavy-duty feel, and I don’t doubt that it’ll last a lifetime.

Waskerd also has a satisfaction guarantee: If you don’t like something about your wallet, they’ll make it right or give you your money back. That’s a promise that’s hard to beat. It makes me trust their quality, and it makes the purchase low-risk for you as well.

Function

While most people like the idea of minimalism, sometimes it can be hard to carry out—too hard getting rid of things. If this sounds like something you’d say, then the Brea Zipper Wallet is for you. It’s small compared to most wallets, but it’s bigger than the ultra minimalist ones, meaning there’s plenty of room for as many cards, bills, checks, coupons, and photos as you might need. I personally like to go as minimal as possible, and this wallet is just slightly large for my taste—that’s really my only critique. If you find yourself in the same boat, Waskerd has an amazing lineup of other wallets, and you’re certain to find one that fits—and all with the same high quality.

One thing I love about this wallet is the zipper, a feature I didn’t realize I’d love till I tried it. The zipper seals up tight, so you can throw it around as you’re traveling and you don’t have to worry about your coin collection or guitar picks slipping out—they’ll be very secure. That’s a bonus you don’t see in most wallets, and something I’ve grown to love the longer I’ve had it.

The Brea also has an interesting design. On the outside, it’s simply one large pocket with a zipper. But inside it contains what they call an “inverted gusset.” As you can see in the pictures, one of the walls of the main pocket is taken inward, spanning the center in an extra fold. This gives you room for additional organization. In short, it turns one large pocket into three, and it does this cleverly, without adding much extra thickness.

Aesthetic

The Brea Zipper’s unique design has a lot of style—a certain panache that’s sure to raise eyebrows. The stitching is precise, and yet it has just enough subtle variation to prove that it isn’t some product crunched out by a machine. Again, you’ll notice the human touch, and so will your friends and associates if they have an eye for that sort of thing.

You can get it in a variety of colors too, so you’re certain to find one that matches your taste. I went with the “limousin brown” with white stitching, and I really like it. Has a lot of class.

BestLeather Conclusion

If you’re looking for a minimal wallet that has plenty of room, I highly recommend the Waskerd Brea Zipper Wallet. It’s tough, sleek, spacious, and the highest quality, all backed by a promise that guarantees you won’t regret your choice.

June 15, 2015December 19, 2017

Wilsons Leather Black Rivet Distressed Leather Duffel Review – $350

You travel the world, making your mark wherever you go. You look good. Is that enough, or do you want to look damn good? As I wrapped my hands around the handle of the Wilson Black Rivet Distressed Leather Duffel, I had answered my own question. The genuine leather exterior with contrast stitching, accented by distressed metal hardware had me looking for an excuse to plan my next overnight business trip.

About Wilsons Leather

Wilsons Leather came about in 1986 as the merger of Berman’s Buckskin, founded in 1899 when fringed buckskin shirts and jackets were de rigueur, and Wilsons House of Suede and Leather, made famous in the 1940s for its suede and leather apparel. The Melville Corporation merged the two companies into Wilson’s Leather in 1986. Today, after a series of acquisitions and brand name changes, Wilsons Leather products can still be found online and in its outlet stores across the United States.

Construction

The Wilsons Leather Black Rivet Distressed Leather Duffel is crafted with cow leather weighing a mere 1 pound, 11 ounces and uses a semi-chrome tanning process, giving the leather a soft, supple feel. The dark brown leather is complemented by contrast stitching and antiqued brass hardware on the padded leather handles and removable nylon carrying strap.