many options, choose best
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Denton Hunker — drummer for Americana rock band Green River Ordinance — was on the lookout for a durable, yet stylish bag that would keep up with his touring lifestyle. When he couldn’t find one to use on the road, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Turns out, Hunker is also a rock star on the sewing machine and began Hunker Bag Co. to share his craft with others.
“I believe that a good bag does two things,” says Hunker. “It holds and protects your personal possessions and takes you on an adventure every day.”
Hunker learned his craftsmanship from his grandmother who taught him on a 1950s sewing machine. Each bag is made to order using top grain leather, Martexin waxed canvas, all-brass hardware and branded with the Hunker logo, still utilizing the techniques he learned from his grandmother.
The Hunker Bag Co. product line includes duffels, totes, messenger bags, wallets, wristlets, and more, for both ladies and gentlemen. Take a look at the video below to see how each bag is crafted.
Hunker Bag Co. | How It’s Made from KEJProductions on Vimeo.
The movement of earth and construction of buildings and monuments through which we conduct our daily lives is the work of serious men. These same serious men require reliable, solidly built tools and adornments to quarry the stone and cut the timber these structures require.
Joining this lineup of robust equipment is the Thrux Lawrence Black Leather Builder’s Billfold. Rugged, yet stylish and sporting some serious hardware, this wallet will echo the attitude and good looks of its owner. It is important to note that the wallet I received is a prototype and has undergone some changes since this writing.
I recently had the chance to visit the Thrux Lawrence shop in downtown Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, for a product photoshoot. Walking into the store, you get an immediate sense of style and sheer authenticity. From the onsite, old-school barber shop to the pool table to the leather workshop populated by hand tools and vegetable-tanned leather hides, Thrux Lawrence is a unique and inviting stop for custom leather (and other) products.
Tanden Launder founded Thrux Lawrence in 2012 with the idea of crafting high-quality, limited release clothing and accessory lines that are made in America. After touring the shop and viewing all of the collector’s items on display, it’s easy to see how his love of vintage goods has translated into the products they produce today.
The Thrux Lawrence Builders Billfold is as serious as it is solid. It weighs 7.4 ounces (207 grams), making it the three hundred pound offensive lineman in the world of wallets. The leather strap that connects the wallet to the solid brass swiveling trigger snap is 3.5 millimeters thick on average. The snap hook is far stronger than any item of clothing you might attach to it and is secured to the leather strap by a hand-hammered brass rivet.
The wallet is constructed of 3 ounce oil-dyed leather and stitched with nylon-bonded black thread, creating two slots for cash and eight compartments for credit cards, man cards, and identification. There are two additional compartments for storing cash and other similar-sized items with no need for folding. The wallet measures 7 ½” x 3 ½” closed, and while it will fit in the back pocket of your jeans, it might find a more comfortable nest in a cargo pocket or the inside pocket of your jacket.
If I was asked to point out an area for improvement on this wallet, it would be where the leather strap is connected to a cord to attach it to the wallet. The cord is strong and well-reinforced on the wallet side with a brass grommet protecting the leather. I’d like to see the same grommet reinforcing the tie-off of the cord and leather strap. The snap on one edge of the wallet is great for keeping it closed. The only thing I worried about was snagging the other edge of the wallet on a piece of clothing or a bag when hastily stored, as it hangs open a bit. A second snap opposite the first would eliminate this concern.
The wallet fit comfortably in the back pocket of my work pants, though I don’t think sitting on it would remain comfortable for very long. The strap was long enough that I could clip it to my belt and store the wallet in the inside pocket of my jacket.
If you’re someone who appreciates being able to carry all of your credit cards, cash, and punch cards in one place, this is the right wallet for you. It is designed to be able to take a beating, and with the card slots facing inwards, there is little chance they’ll fall out. This wallet is one you’ll be able to carry for years, if not decades.
This wallet is big and sturdy; it is designed for the outdoorsman who wants to keep his stable of credit cards, identification, and business cards all in one place. Its appearance and feel give the owner a sense of ruggedness, such that this wallet might be at home clipped to the saddle of a Dutch Warmblood riding out on a windswept prairie. It conveys a sense of ruggedness and quality that anyone looking for a full-size wallet will appreciate.
The Thrux Lawrence Black Leather Builder’s Billfold is good looking, tough, and will go anywhere on the trail you do without fear of it succumbing to the elements. It’s also available in brown leather. With a couple minor hardware changes to the snaps and grommets, this wallet would be the perfect addition to any working man’s wardrobe. As it stands, it is an excellent wallet that you wouldn’t be disappointed with should you choose to add it to your collection. For an investment of $120, you’ll be purchasing a wallet that will last you for your lifetime of hard work and on-the-go-style.
There are tons of messenger bags on the market, and sometimes it can be tough to choose one that stands out as your style. An easy way to make your bag stand out is by selecting a unique leather. Moore & Giles has done just this with their Carlton Courier Bag made with American Bison leather.
ABOUT MOORE AND GILESMoore & Giles has been firmly entrenched in the leather industry since it was founded in 1933 in Lynchburg, VA. Currently, Moore & Giles employs more than 70 people in its headquarters in Forest, Virginia with representation in every major metropolitan area as well as strategic partnerships in England, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Moore & Giles designs and develops luxurious natural leathers for leather upholstery, residential leather, hospitality leather and aviation leather. In 2007 they also introduced a collection of luxury leather bags and accessories as an additional avenue to showcase their leathers.
We’ve reviewed quite a few Moore & Giles products including the Bray Sportsman Duffel, Donald Dopp Kitt, and Brennan Rucksack. A few weeks ago, we published an interview with Thomas Brennan, one of their product designers. You can read the interview here. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Carlton Courier Bag.
Moore & Giles beautiful bison leather is really the star of the show here. The natural wrinkles and striations of the bison hide set it apart and give it a very luxurious look. The leather is supple, yet sturdy. The bag also comes in a slightly darker cowhide called Titan Milled Brown. Each bag comes with a monogramming option, located at the top of the exterior pocket. The leather is absolutely perfect, and will require some maintenance to remain supple and scuff-free. We reviewed Moore & Giles proprietary leather conditioner here, which works very well on this bag. We’ve reviewed quite a few other leather conditioners, which you can read about on our “Leather Care” tag.
The Carlton Courier measures in at 15” x 10” x 4”, slightly smaller than the average messenger bag. Its compact inside space is maximized by several zippered pockets: a small pouch on the front, a slim one on the front of the inside, and a large pocket that stretches the whole back of the bag. The rest of the bag, between the two interior zippered pouches, is totally open in the middle, leaving room for books, tablets, notebooks, or a 13″ laptop.
The edges are all trimmed and finished nicely, and the inside of the bag and the top flap are lined with Moore & Giles classic fabric liner. Despite the thick leather, the messenger bag stays fairly slim, and doesn’t get bulky even when full.
The Carlton has the classic, buckled double strap look, but with a convenient twist — you won’t have to fiddle with a buckle every time you want to open your bag. Instead of traditional heel bar buckles, hidden slide locks fasten the straps for quick access with the press of the button. The slide locks don’t feel cheap or easily breakable, making the tradeoff from heel buckles feel less scary. They also hide very well under the buckles, and no one will ever know the difference.
The strap is attached to the bag with D-rings and a lobster claw clasp, and the thick padded strap is unusually comfortable. These straps are removable if you prefer to carry it as a briefcase, and the top handle is sturdy enough to do so.
The Carlton Courier Bag is a traditionally styled, compact messenger bag set apart by its thick, beautifully finished American Bison leather. American Bison leather is always quite pricy, so $610 seems a fair price for such a large amount of high quality leather. Moore & Giles continues to make classy, well-constructed items for the high-end buyer.
Looptworks is a Portland-based bag and pack company made entirely from pre-consumer upcycled materials. Instead of sourcing brand new materials, Looptworks takes perfectly usable “waste” materials from around the globe to create unique products. You can find some more information about this process on their blog. The holy grail for Looptworks is to become a completely closed-loop company. We are impressed with these guys and their true commitment to sustainable product manufacturing.
Looptworks has two lines of all-leather products, the Loopt Classic Line, and the Luv Seat Line, as well as small leather goods made with repurposed Italian leather from the accessories industry.
All of the Loopt Classics styles are made with excess leather from the motorcycle jacket and chaps company, Langlitz Leathers. Langlitz is a 68 year old custom motorcycle gear company based in Portland, Oregon. They have a large amount of scrap leather as a result of their manufacturing, and the partnership with Looptworks keeps that high quality leather from going to waste.
In order to conserve fuel, Southwest Airlines wanted to replace its heavy leather airline seats with a lighter weight material, and they wanted to ensure that the 40 acres of iconic blue and tan leather went to good use. Looptworks upcycled this material into the LUV Seat Collection. Each LUV Seat item has its own visual personality acquired from the seat’s journey. By repurposing the leather, this bag conserves over 4,000 gallons of water and avoids 72% of CO2 emissions.
Serendipity means the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not looked for. When I received the Dark Brown version of Marlondo Leather’s new Backpack two days prior to a camping trip in Montana, I understood what it meant to be a beneficiary of the concept. If you’ve never been excited about owning a backpack before, you will be when you see this one. It is gorgeous in its full-grain leather, brass rivets, and nickel-plated hardware construction. Equally at home in the office or on the trail, the craftsmanship and durability of this pack will serve you for years to come.
Marlondo Leather spent a significant amount of time re-designing this pack from the previous version (read their no longer produced Rucksack review here), and the thought that went into it shows. They managed to combine beauty and functionality into a design that yields the perfect day pack for the adventurer, traveler, or full-time student.
“Ma”, as he is known, is a Chinese entrepreneur who has worked to give the Marlondo name the meaning it has today. He turned early setbacks into a thriving online leather store that ships all of its products from US distributors and understands the importance of good customer service.
The Marlondo Backpack is a heavy, beautiful beast constructed of full-grain cowhide leather, sourced from the United States, weighing in at 3 pounds, 10 ounces. Leather thickness varies from 2 to 3 millimeters (6-8 ounces) depending on the part of the bag measured. It is stitched with marine grade thread that can withstand exposure to sun, salt, chemicals and more without degrading. The designers saw fit to use heavy duty nickel-plated hardware for the buckles to ensure worry-free closure of the outside and main pockets.
The D-rings on the outer flap of the main pocket, designed to be used with the optional utility straps – available in 3 different lengths – for holding a blanket, sweater, or similar item, are just as solid in their design. In addition to the aforementioned hardware, brass rivets at all stress points ensure you will probably wear out before this pack does.
There is an outer pocket held closed by two buckled straps, two open side pockets, and an unlined main inner pocket featuring a two-pen holder (a neat idea, since I always tend to lose pens when the holders have been on the outside of the bag). The main chamber also sports a recessed pocket big enough to hold a 7” tablet. There is also a carrying handle, and two adjustable shoulder buckle-style shoulder straps.
Overall, it is a tough, heavy bag designed to take the stresses of the road. It’s less likely you’d want to take it on long hiking trips due to the extra weight the leather adds.
I’ve carried this pack for three weeks in the mountains of Montana and the concrete jungle of Spokane, Washington. In every case, I’ve carried the pack for a mile or less at one time. The pack never felt uncomfortable or too heavy, even packed up with 25 pounds.
There’s room for water bottles on the outside pockets, and the front pocket serves for carrying a phone and other odds and ends. The main pocket has buckles on the sides that allow you to expand or contract the opening. By loosening these buckles, I was able to fit my 17-inch laptop inside and then cinch them back up for a snug fit. With no padding in the main chamber, you will want to be a little more cautious about dropping the pack on the floor after a day at the office. Even after putting in the laptop, there is still room for accessories and your schoolbooks. It also sports an inset pocket that held my 7” tablet and case with room to spare. I was still able to access the penholder on the inside of the main pocket, but it becomes somewhat less useful when the main chamber is filled with other items.
In regards to the closure systems on this pack, everything is secured by buckles. These buckles do make getting into and out of the pack slower than other pack closure systems such as a drawstring or quick release plastic clips. Some might see it as a criticism of the pack, while others will appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that went into building the pack this way. In this case, it depends on whether you value function over aesthetics.
If you want a backpacker’s pack, you can find them everywhere. If you want a beautiful leather backpack that you can take to work and out to play for a day, look no further. The covetous looks of family members when I first brought this pack home were enough to tell me what I already knew: don’t let this pack out of your sight, because someone will steal it.
Full grain leather has a tendency to scratch easily. I think the scratches add to the look and patina of the leather on the pack. However, it is possible to buff out the scratches with a good quality leather conditioner depending on your preference. I do recommend you use a good conditioner (Marlondo offers one on their site), as this pack is an investment. The nickel-plated buckles and D-rings give a nice contrast to the bag. The brass rivets look great as well. However, I’d consider using non-plated buckles and D-rings in the future to give an even look to the metals on the bag. For me it is a very minor issue, but one worth considering.
In regards to the buckle and strap closure system on this pack, I love the charm and toughness they give to the pack. While I may miss the occasional phone call if I put my phone in the front pouch, I can live with that.
Serving as an eye-catching day pack or traveler’s pack, the $398.00 retail price certainly isn’t cheap, but it is a good value. The Marlondo Leather Backpack, even with its beauty and functionality, is a significant investment in leather. If you choose to do so, you won’t be disappointed.
If you are someone concerned with the amount of weight you put on your back (back-country hikers, for example), you might look towards a synthetic material pack weighing significantly less. If you are someone who needs quick access to your pack all the time, there are no plastic quick releases here. I’d also have a hard time putting the pack somewhere that I couldn’t see it at all times. Its look and quality unfortunately make it a great target for theft in this day and age.
Other than those considerations, the aesthetic appeal, durability, and functionality of this pack make it an excellent choice for anyone who appreciates fine leather goods by artisans who care about the products they craft. While I do own other backpacks, they’ve been, ahem, temporarily set aside while I continue my study of this pack for the foreseeable future.
It’s rough being a writer for BestLeather…I’m forced to spend hours scouring the Internet for beautiful leather goods and accessories. It’s tough! I found Bryer Leather on Instagram and was immediately impressed with the quality of their products, and thought it would be a great fit for the BestLeather audience. Bryer Leather decided to send me an all leather version of The Barrel, a weekender bag.
Bryer Leather is a small workshop based in San Diego, California. Their product line includes duffels, wallets, messenger bags, laptop cases, and more. Everything at Bryer Leather is made to order and fully customizable. If you have a specific color scheme, lining type, or want to personalize it at all, they will do their best to meet your needs. As a growing operation, Bryer will do their best to fulfill your custom order within 1-2 weeks.
Thomas Brierton, founder and designer, writes:
Being a San Diego native, surrounded by beauty and natural resources, I was always drawn to the very basics of creating practicable items with my hands. From the time I was 12 and crafted a wooden spoon so my mom had an ‘awesome’ cooking utensil, to the time when I won First Place for fine woodworking when I presented a guitar I built from scratch in the Annual San Diego Fair. The quality materials that are made available when you have the capacity to understand how to work them is unending.
After feeling I had become a fairly good woodworker, I got my hands on a piece of leather, and from some videos and old books, I created my first wallet. From then on, I knew this was what I had to do; the satisfaction I get when I see something go from a piece of raw material into an impeccable piece with practicality never ceases to amaze me.
The Barrel is constructed impeccably. Double stitched seams and copper rivets hold the duffel together, resulting in a sleek and classic look. The Horween Leather, as always, looks absolutely gorgeous, especially as a duffel. The Horween leather is extremely soft and supple, with a protective waxy sheen. Bryer did well not to over-accessorize The Barrel, letting the two-toned leather take center stage. The brass hardware and copper rivets are understated and complement the color well. The bag comes with a nice matching shoulder strap held on with a brass lobster claw clasp. The carry handles are double stitched and attached to the bag with a hefty milled D-ring.
What’s so great about this bag is the fact that nearly everything is customizable. The standard Barrel comes as a wool felt body accessorized with Horween leather, but there is an all-leather option as well. The thread comes in black, navy, tan, red, and brown. The $405 price includes a choice between four colors of waxed canvas – tan, navy, charcoal, and olive. Bryer even allows you to choose other liners, so if you have a piece of fabric that’s special to you, or just want something one-of-a-kind, you can get in contact with Bryer and they’ll happily install your very own fabric as a liner. All their items are handmade to order, so I’m sure if you were interested in further customizations, they’d be happy to oblige.
At 18″L x 9″W x 9″T, The Barrel is the perfect size to function, well, as a weekender. I have no trouble fitting everything I need for a two or three day trip. The inside of the bag is open except for two small compartments in the liner, on one side, good for holding small items that you don’t want rolling around. One thing I appreciate about this bag is that the zipper doesn’t go all the way to the ends. That’s nice for certain bags, but for weekenders it gets annoying when your stuff spills out the sides. It’s a small detail that I’ve grown to appreciate!
The Barrel is an excellent choice for a weekender, especially if you are looking to customize certain aspects, particularly the liner. It’s handmade in the USA, using beautiful, high quality materials. The price is high, but the gorgeous Horween leather and excellent construction will serve you well for years and years, especially considering Bryer Leather’s lifetime warranty.
It’s always the right time to buy new leather products…right? But, it’s even nicer when you can save some money (or buy more leather with the same money). LederMann Leather has graciously offered to give BestLeather readers (that means all of y’all) a substantial discount on select items on their website. You can save 25% on the following items by using the discount code “Savings” during checkout (be sure to enter it before proceeding to checkout) to receive your exclusive discount.
And, let us know what you ordered from LederMann! They create some great leather products!
There comes a time to take the leap from a nylon messenger bag to a quality leather piece that excels in both form and function. If you search for “best leather bag” in Google, the first hit will be the Saddleback Leather Company website– and for good reason. Saddleback Leather (SBL) is a Texas-based company specializing in full-grain, fully tanned leather goods designed to last a lifetime and beyond. This is an online company whose commitment to well-made leather products have earned it a cult following among the style and leather forums across the internet. Today I’ll be taking a look at their Large Leather Satchel.
Saddleback uses full-grain chrome tanned leather, all fully dyed. This particular satchel is in their Black color, which is a darker version than the Carbon color they used to use. The satchel also comes in Chestnut, Dark Coffee Brown, and Tobacco. The leather, as always with Saddleback, is extremely high quality and sturdy, getting softer and more supple with age. You can learn a bit about the leather Saddleback uses on their website.
Some bags have seams at the edges of the bottom, or a seam down the middle of the bottom, which binds multiple smaller pieces of leather. But each seam is a potential weak point, which is a problem for someone who wants their briefcase to last a lifetime. Saddleback’s Leather Satchel is made up of only two main pieces of leather: the front flap going around all the way down the back, and the front panel. The edges are rounded to accommodate this design.
To further strengthen the bag, all seams are double-stitched and the stress areas are reinforced with copper and brass rivets, as well as hidden polyester strips. The hardware is nickel-plated brass and can hold up well against any abuse you’d give it. I appreciate that this satchel has only one strap and is relatively minimalist with the hardware. I think it has a simple and classic look while still maintaining the hefty “Saddleback” look. I’m not always a huge fan of their products that have tons of pockets and jangly bits, so I think this satchel strikes a nice balance.
A large ring at the top of the bag allows you to convert the satchel into a backpack if you so choose. Just detach the lobster claw clasps from the sides, run the strap through the ring, and reattach to the smaller rings at the bottom. There’s even two shoulder pads to keep you comfortable. Of course, using such thick and sturdy leather means the bag weighs about 5 pounds empty. This isn’t terribly heavy, all things considered, but it will be an adjustment if you’re not accustomed to carrying around quality leather bags.
The bag features a two side pouches and a slim pouch that runs across the back for quick access. The inside of the satchel has two small phone or pen compartments, a key fob strap, and a sleeve for an iPad, book, or notebook. You can also fit an 11″ MacBook in the sleeve. A 13″ MacBook or other laptop can fit in the large pouch. At 14” W x 11” H x 5” D, the satchel is a nice in-between size. Not too bulky, but has plenty of room to fit what you need to run to a class or a meeting.
This satchel comes in two smaller sizes. The small is 10” W x 9” H x 4” D, for $308, and the medium is 12” W x 10” H x 4” D, for $378. I imagine these sizes would function well for ladies as a purse, too.
The Saddleback Large Leather Satchel is an excellent choice for an everyday carry bag. It is spacious and functional without being bulky. The hefty leather, strong seams, and sturdy hardware will outlast you and all the items you put in it. Its simple lines and classic color means this leather satchel will never go out of style.
If we have “one ring to rule them all” in The Lord of the Rings, surely we can have one belt? Personally, it would make wardrobe accessory choices much, much easier. The good news is that Satchel & Page is helping us out by launching the Belt and billing it as “Simply the highest quality belt. Guaranteed for life. A belt built to last forever. Leather, hardware, and width options for any occasion. Exceptional quality at every step of the process.”
We’ve had the privilege of working with Daniel and crew from Satchel & Page on several occasions now. We have reviewed their Bomber Jacket and Mailbag – both of which proved to be stellar pieces. And, we’ll be publishing a review of their Café Racer Jacket in the coming months too (along with some other yet to be announced pieces).
Based in Austin, TX Satchel & Page is dedicated to producing handmade, high quality leather products for you to enjoy and pass on to generations to come. They launched their business on Kickstarter with a few iconic bag designs: the Mailbag, Map Case, Gladstone, Briefcase, and Pilot’s Bag and have been expanding their product line with exciting designs – both new and well established.
Over the course of six months, Satchel & Page tested natural vegetable tanned hides from 4 different suppliers. For production, they chose hides originating from within the USA, which aged with the richest patina. And, they are only using the Bend portion of each hide for their belts to ensure consistency in thickness through and through. The Belt is comprised of 10-12 ounce full grain, vegetable tanned leather. They’re thick!
The hardware is military grade brass buckles and Chicago screws. Satchel & Page is using Chicago screws because unlike stitching, snap buttons, or rapid rivets to attach the buckle, Chicago screws will never break. And you can also unscrew them and easily swap out the buckle if you wish. In addition to the antique brass and silver matte finishes, they have developed two finishes that are hand aged by their team of craftsmen – Iron Rust and Copper Patina.
The Belt is available in four leather colors, two widths, and your choice of 4 hardware colors. So many choices and possibilities… The Belt we received for this initial review is a beautiful Mahogany color and features their Iron Rust hardware (buckle and Chicago screws). **Note: Prior to receiving the Belt, it received a light coat of conditioner and now has a richer, darker tone to it. You can see the difference when looking at the image of the same belt (with different hardware) supplied from Satchel & Page below.**
Due to short notice, we were only able to get a small version of the belt and consequently have not actually worn it (it’s too small for my no-petite-at-all-frame).
But, the Belt has made the rounds at home, in the office, and amongst several team members here at BestLeather. Everyone’s initial reaction and assessment has been overwhelmingly positive. “Thick leather”, “gorgeous hardware”, “I like the tapered tip of the belt”, “nice, robust belt keeper loop”, “subtle logo placement”, and more are the words I’ve heard spoken about the Belt.
I have no doubt that this belt will perform its role superbly and admirably all while looking fantastic. And, since it’s vegetable tanned leather, it will get better looking as it ages and is used.
The Belt from Satchel & Page is no doubt a Buy It for Life piece. The quality of the leather coupled with the superior hardware ensures that you’ll be using this belt for a long, long time. Their Kickstarter has about 8 days left on it. They’ve blown past their goal, which is no surprise. There are still plenty of rewards and incentives left and you can still get this belt at the Kickstarter price of just $62 (will be $95 post-Kickstarter). The best option? Spend $275 to get all four belts with all four hardware options. Then you’ll truly “rule” in the belt kingdom.
Winnegance is located on the coast of southern Maine, an area of tall pines and cold winters. Winnegance Lake and Creek are named after a Native American (Abenaki) word for the land bridge they used to portage their canoes across. This allowed the travelers to avoid the rough waters at the mouth of the Kennebec. And it’s after this beautiful but rugged country that Timberland has named their Winnegance Leather Duffle Bag. For good reason too. The product has the same attributes as the climate, both an elegant beauty and a toughness fit for even the harshest weather.
Timberland is one of the larger companies I’ve reviewed a leather product for. Working with them felt a little less personal on the delivery level, but this made no difference in my experience with the product itself, which earned high marks in both quality and usability. Timberland designs its products to match the outdoor New England lifestyle, products stylish enough for city streets but rugged enough for woodland trails.
The Winnegance Leather Duffle is made from 100% cow leather. The inner lining is a smooth cotton, gentle on electronics or other things you might want to put inside. The shoulder strap is made of a more rugged cotton. I’ve been using the bag on and off over the last five weeks, and I feel pretty confident in its durability. The brass brads, the stitching at the seams, and the heavy-duty zipper just make it feel tough, like it will take a lot of wear and tear. It’s more susceptible to scratches than the nylon duffle I used to travel with, but that just gives the leather more character and makes it feel more personalized.
The duffle is the ideal size for a carry-on item. It’s a tad on the small side, which I find really helpful in airports and dealing with the overhead bins of even small planes. (FYI, its dimensions are 18.5 by 11.8 by 9.4 inches.) I’m a bit of a minimalist, and I used it fairly easily for a weekend trip (it fit my compact laptop easily too). However, a more typical person might want to carry this along with a backpack or some other supplement. For example, this would sit nicely on top of a larger piece of roller luggage.
The top-haul handles make it easy to carry like a briefcase, and it felt natural to carry it that way. The shoulder strap is comfortable enough to carry it fully loaded across a large airport, which keeps your hands free, but this method isn’t comfortable enough for a day trip or anything too prolonged. The top strap also comes off easily if you feel like streamlining a bit.
The bag has one open-envelope outer pocket, which was perfect for tossing my phone and keys in while I passed through airport security. It has one main inner compartment, the sides of which have three smaller pockets in the walls in varying sizes. These are perfect for stashing toiletries, extra electronics cords, or whatever else you won’t want mixed in with your clothing and other big stuff.
The duffle comes from Timberland’s Winnegance Collection, which includes a matching briefcase, a smaller satchel, and a messenger bag. For some reason, this duffel is the only product in the Winnegance line that Timberland categorizes in their women’s line. Personally, I think it’s because the flourishes at the ends of the zipper make it look a little purse-like. But the leather seems like it could fit either gender easily enough. (They call the color a “sandstone” brown, and I like it quite a bit.) The leather has a premium look, and the quad-stitch detailing give it some extra flare. The design is pretty pleasing overall.
Whether you’re more of a city-side, downtown tourist or an outdoor lover, Timberland’s Winnegance Leather Duffle Bag will make a solid companion. It has a straightforward but elegant design that’s hard not to love.
My childhood dream was to become a superhero who could also become any other superhero at will. Years later, not having given up on the dream, I found a way to get myself one step closer to that superhero reality – through the Angel Jackets Mission Impossible 5 Jacket. Wardrobe, as you may know, is the most important part of any superhero’s persona.
Light and stylish, this jacket will serve you well…whether you are hanging off the side of an Airbus 400 during takeoff or riding a motorcycle at 100+ miles per hour (we recommend doing neither).
Paul Anderson created Angel Jackets in 2009 after the death of Michael Jackson in response to MJ’s fans looking for a unique way to remember Michael. By combining the costume element of movie star outfits with wearable jackets and real leather, Paul had hit on a winning combination that fans loved.
Today, Angel Jackets updates its collections regularly and takes custom orders. They offer a wide spectrum of jackets from past, present, and unreleased movies, television shows, and musical offerings. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced replica of the jackets today’s stars are wearing, Angel Jackets is a great starting point.
The shell of the jacket is made of genuine, chromium salt tanned, lambskin leather sourced from the Karachi and Sialkot areas of Pakistan. The shell is of good quality, though thin and designed more for the casual wearer. The entire jacket weights slightly under thirty ounces, making it a lightweight in its class. The other leather jacket I have hanging in my closet is sixty ounces by comparison.
The interior of the jacket is lined with viscose, a soft semi-synthetic material composed of regenerated cellulose, often used in the linings of sport jackets and dresses. There are two pockets sewn into the lining, one on each side. They are a nice touch in the event you need to conceal some clever spy gadgets while out on your impossible mission.
On the sleeves, outer pockets, and front of the jacket, you’ll find heavy duty YKK burnished metal zippers. YKK Group is a Japanese conglomerate well-known for manufacturing zippers, and the quality of metal used in this jacket is a nice touch.
The black stitching appears straight and is evenly spaced with no threads dangling at endpoints. Continued wear during cooler months will give a good indication of how it holds up over time.
The standup collar lends a casual look to the jacket without sacrificing any elements of appearance, a look Ethan Hunt would surely approve.
If you’re a superspy finding himself tasked with protecting the world from ne’er-do-wells and need a light flexible jacket to keep you warm and make you look good, this is your jacket. While it is based directly on one of the jackets Tom Cruise sports in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, it will serve handsomely in the spring, summer, fall, and possibly the winter depending upon the climate you live in, whether you are saving the world or not.
The overall lightweight construction of the jacket feels like it would be best suited for a night out on the town or a summer pleasure ride. This is not a heavy duty jacket and should be treated as such.
The jacket I received is a Large (L), and is a very comfortable fit for my size large body. If you are a weight lifter or someone who is very bulky across the shoulders, you might consider going up a size to give your shoulders additional breathing room.
I like the way the jacket looks and fits to my frame. I also appreciate the zippers on the cuff for giving the arms a flared look and a little extra ventilation. The burnished zippers don’t contrast the black lambskin too much and add a nice touch to the overall look. The black viscose interior is the only choice for maintaining a high-quality look while letting the jacket remain light and breathable.
The one concern I had when I received this jacket was a scent that reminded me of napthalene, the same smell some of you might remember when your mom put mothballs in your closet as a kid. After hanging the jacket up for a couple days, the scent dissipated to unnoticeable levels. As of this writing, there is little to no scent on the jacket at all.
After speaking with Paul, he stated that the reason for the smell is due to the leather not being able to breathe during shipping. The moisture content in the jacket can produce the described odor. He also mentioned that since the jacket is hand-wrinkled leather, it contains more moisture than similar leather processed by a machine. If you’re looking to wear this jacket the moment you receive it, you might want to keep this caveat in mind. Give it a couple days to breathe, and it will be superhero-ready.
This jacket is fun. It is lightweight, sports a modern, casual look, and is a comfortable fit. As someone who likes the idea of subtly emulating his favorite film stars, the Mission Impossible 5 Jacket does just that. I don’t think the jacket will stand up to heavy abuse based on its lightweight construction, but as with all things leather, it never hurts to own more than one.
At $189.00 for a genuine leather jacket, it’s a good value for the looks and fun factor alone. I plan on sporting it in the fall months to see how the stitching and stress points hold up, and to ensure the leather shell can take a few scratches without tearing.
On a final note, what you see on the Angel Jackets web site is what you’ll receive when ordering the jacket. No, Tom Cruise does not come with the jacket, but the look you see online is what you’ll get when you unfold the jacket for the first time. If you’re a fan of the MI series or are in the market for a casual, lightweight leather jacket, check it out.
We hope it brings you many years of great service!
LederMann Leather & BestLeather have teamed up to offer this gorgeous Rugged Leather Briefcase/Messenger Laptop Bag. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing two great LederMann products in the past and can attest to the high quality of their bags.
The bag up for grabs is the LederMann Rugged Leather Briefcase/Messenger Laptop Bag. Here are some details for you:
“This bag has been designed to offer the flexibility of using it for a laptop bag, or to use as a bag in which to carry your everyday purse items, amongst many other things. It has two inner pockets to separate your possessions plus boasts of multiple outer pockets and smaller inner pockets in which to carry ink pens, glasses, electronics, and other items you may need. This bag not only allows you to carry it by a handle or shoulder strap it converts into a backpack to for even further convenience.”
Material:
The Design & Features:
Contest is open to contestants from United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Germany.
LederMann Leather Messenger Bag Giveaway – $475 Value!
If you’re a regular reader here at BestLeather you know we’re always on the hunt for unique designs or new applications for leather. If you’re new to BestLeather…now you know. ☺ There is a lot of tradition in the form and function of leather and we like that too. But, it’s just downright cool to see fresh, new approaches to integrating a timeless material like leather. This is one of the things that struck us first when we were introduced to HUSKK.
HUSKK is a team of free thinkers with varied disciplines from design, engineering, marketing and finance. Together, they share their diverse strengths and united passion of creation to bring to you NEW life-easing everyday must haves. “We love all things beautiful, functional and well crafted. Today there’s a growing community of people who appreciate and hunt for this union of solid functionality, minimalistic style combined with great craftsmanship made from honest materials. We believe that these are the core value of our creations and customers”.
HUSKK is based in London, England and ships their products worldwide.
The Quick Draw Wallet we received for review is made for the iPhone 6 and features great medium colored tan leather. HUSKK uses Italian vegetable tanned leather. It’s a unique design on many fronts. The molded plastic shell has a rubberized finish and fits tightly around my phone…making it feel secure.
The leather is high quality with a nice texture, feel, and finish to it. The stitching is even and matches the leather’s tone to blend in nicely. It’s a well built piece and doesn’t seem flimsy in any way.
I used to keep my iPhones (3, 4, and 5) in bulky cases that were designed to survive apocalyptic incidents. But, I grew weary of encasing such a gorgeous phone in ugly bulkiness. So, I went completely case-less for some time (without incident too mind you). However the newest version of the iPhone seems a bit more fragile and its design is slippery, which makes me nervous. And that put me on the hunt for a solution. When I came across the iPhone 6 Quick Draw Wallet from HUSKK, I immediately knew it was the case/wallet combination of my dreams.
The case itself is minimal, but keeps the phone secure and the screen protected. The wallet portion is the “pièce de résistance”. It’s an ingenious design and application of beautiful leather. It features an internal slot pocket capable of holding 8 or so cards with four expanding leather pieces to hold them in place. The top of the leather flap stays shut with a magnet. It’s powerful too and will definitely stay closed when you have it maxed out with cards. The exterior slot pocket is perfect for cash and a couple of cards that you use frequently.
I’ve been carry the Quick Draw for almost six weeks now. It’s definitely a keeper! It also garners quite a bit of attention and questions when I pull out a business card from the wallet portion or slide my debit card out to pay the barista.
The leather is developing a nice patina and has darkened up a bit already. Overall, I’m very satisfied with its performance and can’t think of an area where I find it to be lacking. It performs its intentions admirably and perfectly.
The HUSKK iPhone 6 Quick Draw Wallet is definitely a smart buy. At $59.99 it is priced well and given all of its functionality what I would consider a real bargain given the outrageous prices you’ll find for other smartphone cases. HUSKK does make other styles, colors, and cases. They also features some other cool, clever accessories too. And, I’m sure they’ll continue to design cases for the next generation of iPhones yet to come. Check out their site and get yourself one of these great cases.
Moore & Giles has been firmly entrenched in the leather industry since it was founded in 1933 in Lynchburg, VA. Currently, Moore & Giles employs more than 70 people in its headquarters in Forest, Virginia with representation in every major metropolitan area as well as strategic partnerships in England, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Moore & Giles designs and develops luxurious natural leathers for leather upholstery, residential leather, hospitality leather and aviation leather. In 2007 they also introduced a collection of luxury leather bags and accessories as an additional avenue to showcase their leathers.
We’ve reviewed a few Moore & Giles products including the Bray Sportsman Duffel, Donald Dopp Kitt, and Brennan Rucksack. A few weeks ago, we published an interview with Thomas Brennan, one of their product designers. You can read the interview here. Today, we’ll be taking a look at his Canady Haversack. Keep an eye out for more reviews of Moore & Giles products, coming soon!
Moore & Giles beautiful milled leather is really the star of the show here. It’s supple, yet sturdy. My Canady Haversack is in the color they call “Titan Milled Brown,” a lovely rich brown. It also comes in Brompton Brown, a darker color, and Titan Milled Gunmetal, a deep black with brown accents. Each bag comes with a monogramming option, located at the top of the exterior pocket.
The leather is absolutely perfect, and will require some maintenance to remain supple and scuff-free. We reviewed Moore & Giles proprietary leather conditioner here, which works very well on this bag. We’ve reviewed quite a few other leather conditioners, which you can read about on our “Leather Care” tag.
The Canady Haversack has a very unique tapered construction. It’s a cross between a messenger bag and a briefcase, allowing easy access to the contents of the bag while maintaining the sleek handled look of a briefcase. The bag has D-rings that attach to a leather shoulder strap for shoulder carry if you prefer, but the bag does look pretty sleek as a briefcase, and its padded handles make it easy to carry by hand.
Lined with Moore & Giles signature fabric liner, this bag features a padded laptop sleeve and lots of functional little pockets. The main compartment unzips at an angle so the bag conveniently sits upright on its own. The angled zip means the bag opens and expands quite a lot, but is supported by a piece of liner that connects opposite sides of the zipper. The Canady Haversack measures 15” x 11.5” x 4.5”, a nice medium-sized messenger. You can fit plenty of items in here, and view and access them all with ease.
The main pouch features several reinforced pockets in the liner, where you can store folders, pens, and notebooks. The front pouch has pockets for business cards and a slot for your cell phone. If you have a bulky case on your phone, it imprints the front of the leather, making it obvious that you have a phone there and stretching the leather a little bit. It’s a minor issue, but it does interrupt the sleek aesthetic of the bag.
The Moore & Giles Canady Haversack is a beautiful, functional bag that will absolutely stand the test of time. If you’re looking for an everyday carry bag that will keep you organized, the Canady Haversack is a great option. It’s expensive, but it’s not unusual to pay a premium for Moore & Giles famous leather and thoughtful design.
The leather belt is oft overlooked and simply taken for granted. This is especially true for what is often referred to as the “daily” or “casual” version of your pants’ keeper upper. The gentlemen at Thirteen50 Leather have supplied us with two great looking belts to put to the test. They also just launched their first Kickstarter campaign, which we encourage you to check out thoroughly and support.
Based is Oceanside, CA Thirteen50 is a leather company with a passion to create quality leather goods made right here in the USA. From their website: The saying, “they don’t make em’ like they used to” is said far too often in this day in age. This is sad, but so very true. At Thirteen50 we wanted to do as our ancestors did, and make a quality product at an affordable price (not to mention, offering a killer traditional look).
This is a belt you could tow your truck home with…although that would be a really cool sight to see, we don’t necessarily recommend it. However, the Thirteen50 leather belt is fashioned from 12-14 ounce leather, which means it is incredibly thick and durable. The leather used by Thirteen50 is sourced from within the United States – bridle leather from Wickett & Craig or Hermann Oak. The point is…it’s tremendously strong and long lasting. The edges of the belt are nicely burnished and beveled. The hardware used is solid brass. The belt also features 4 heavy duty Chicago screws, which allow you to personalize the belt with your own buckle should that be something of interest to you.
I’ve only had these two belts for a couple of weeks so far, but I really like them. The thick leather feels great and looks fantastic. The two colors I received (chestnut and black) are classic colors and go well with a variety of dress options. I like the antique brass color of the hardware on both belts and I think it compliments the leather colors perfectly.
Both belts have plenty of adjustment holes in them and everything just works the way a belt should. The Thirteen50 logo is tastefully placed near the back set of Chicago screws. The folks who’ve had a chance to check out the belts thus far all have commented favorably on them…with lots of comments on the quality of the leather.
Thirteen50 Leather is in the middle of their Kickstarter campaign, which is focused on these belts. In addition to the chestnut and black colors shown here, you have the option to order it in natural veg tan and dark brown…both of which appear to be excellent choices too. They’re just about to crest their goal on Kickstarter…but there are plenty of rewards left. $50 will get you a belt that later on will cost you $70. So get it while you can…and you won’t regret it. This belt, which definitely meets our Buy It for Life criteria, is backed by a lifetime guarantee, but it is designed to outlast you, so don’t worry about it. I look forward to using these belts over the course of time and I’ll definitely plan to post an update on them in the not too distant future.
How many times have you heard someone say, “well, my boots are made from yak leather”? I can honestly say that, before this year, I didn’t know anything about yak leather. But now…not only do I KNOW about yak leather – I have a pair of awesome yak leather hiking boots from an great company called Hanwag.
This is the second feature from Hanwag here on BestLeather. Recently we published a review on a pair of hiking boots for ladies, which you can read here.
Hanwag is a German company that’s been around since 1911. They have a strong following throughout Europe and are seeing the brand successfully grow in the United States now. They’re dedicated to environmentally friendly processes, sustainable processes, and producing high quality products.
As mentioned earlier, the Tashi Boots are made with Tibetan yak leather. The chrome free yak leather features an eco-friendly, sustainable technology used during manufacturing process. The leather is 2.2 to 2.6 millimeters thick. This leather is sourced exclusively from the Lhasa Leather Factory in Tibet.
Quick rabbit trail: Yaks are hardy animals that thrive in their normal 4000 meter, relatively barren landscape. The animal provides many benefits to its owners over its lifetime. When the yak’s hide is tanned into leather, it has a naturally raw texture, not uniform at all. This gives each Tashi Boot a unique character.
The boots are double stitched, feature a rugged resoleable Vibram sole, and are handmade In Germany with materials exclusively sourced within Europe.
This is the really fun part. I’ve worn out many different pairs of hiking boots over the years. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on functionality and performance here. To put it succinctly…these boots rock.
They are comfortable and feel great on your foot. The break-in period is very slight…wear them a few short times around town and then you’re ready to hit the trail. One of the things I noticed about these boots is the shape of the sole. They naturally cause your foot to move properly (pronate…supinate). The soles create a fantastic heel to toe roll, which is ideal for long hikes and exploring on the trail.
The thickly padded upper is appreciated for comfort, ankle support, and the safety it affords while on the trail. Lacing them up is easy and the one set of speed hooks is set down low, which is ideal and gives you a good pull and keeps your heel firmly in place. Also, the eyelets on the lower portion of the boots actually contain ball bearings…a cool little feature that allows the laces to move easily without wearing them out (it’s the little things, right?). The Tashi Boots are a great all around hiker and will keep your feet comfortable for many miles.
The Hanwag Tashi Boots have a traditional European hiking boot design, which I’ve always found to be pleasing to the eye. The texture of the yak leather is immediately noticeable and very cool. It is definitely unique…and I like it. The dark brown of the leather and the padded upper is a nice departure from the traditional lighter brown of many boots in this style. The interior of the boot is visually appealing too with the light beige colored thin leather lining.
The dark brown yak leather, the thick white stitching on the sole, the rugged Vibram tread…it all makes me feel like trekking through the backcountry of Yosemite again. If only I had the time and resources to run off and do it.
At $425, the Hanwag Tashi Boots are a significant investment. But, if you’re a moderate to serious backpacking or trail hiking enthusiast, you already know that investing in a great pair of boots is the best choice you can make. You won’t go wrong purchasing these boots. They’re a treat for your feet and will continue to keep you moving down the trail for many years to come. And…they’re yak leather! You’ll by far be the coolest person on the trail for sure with these on your feet!
Satchel & Page, based in Austin, Texas, has quickly made a name for themselves in the leather world. After successfully funding two Kickstarter campaigns for their leather bags and belts, they recently launched a third campaign for their leather belts. We’ve reviewed several Satchel & Page products, including their Mailbag and Bomber Jacket, and found their products to be top-notch.
For $62, you will receive a leather belt that comes in four colors and four hardware finish options, detailed in the graphic below:
Here are some of the features of their belts, as listed on their Kickstarter:
1. Custom made for you. For any occasion. – With two width options (1.5 + 1.25), you are covered for casual wear with jeans, and formal/office wear with slacks. And with 4 leather and 4 hardware options, you can create a belt just how you want it. They all come with the same exceptional quality and lifetime guarantee.
2. The highest grade leather hides – 10 -12 oz. full-grain, vegetable tanned leather from only US origin cows. It’s simple: The best hides make the best belts. See below infographic.
3. Military grade brass hardware – We offer the standard antique brass and silver matte finishes, but we also wanted to offer some unique finishes that you can’t find anywhere else. So we developed our own process to hand antique finish the Iron Rust and Copper Patina hardware, which makes each one of these buckles just a little different.
This Kickstarter has blown past its original goal of $5,000 and reached its first stretch goal, which is a hand-stitched journal cover. They’re just a few hours away from meeting their second stretch goal, which would allow them to offer their belt in a Chestnut color. Be sure to keep an eye on Satchel & Page’s Kickstarter and for other updates we encourage you to like their Facebook page.
We’re changing things up a little bit here. That doesn’t sound quite right. We’re working to add a new component to our BestLeather readers with the addition of some occasional short video reviews of the products that we review. Our first foray into this is a feature style on LederMann’s newest bag – their Rugged Leather Briefcase Messenger Bag Backpack. And, apologies in advance for some of the wind noise in the video.
As you can assume from the name of the bag, it’s multipurpose in its design. It can easily serve as a formal, large briefcase. It functions very well as a messenger bag for casual, less formal business or scholarly pursuits. It can easily work as a classy overnight bag. And, you can load it up, reconfigure the shoulder strap and carry it backpack style. This is a new style of leather that LederMann is offering too. This “Rugged Leather” style has a unique texture to it and looks to offer great longevity and should develop an excellent patina with time and use. The Rugged Leather has a bit of a rough out feel to it…but certainly not that rough. It’s just similar.
We highlight most of these items in the video, but here’s a quick rundown of the LederMann bag’s features:
LederMann is also going to be sponsoring a giveaway for a slightly different bag featuring this same new rugged leather. So, be on the lookout for that very soon. And, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter too as we’ll be sending out a special promotion from LederMann offering some fantastic savings just for BestLeather readers! In the meantime, please check out the LederMann website and look at all of the great, well made leather products they create and sell there.
When you get your first two-wheeled freedom machine (aka motorcycle), it’s an awesome experience. I owned my first motorcycle in college. When I graduated, I quickly upgraded to another cruiser and used it daily to commute into the San Fernando Valley. One of the best things I ever did for my daily rides was purchase a good set of leather gloves. Of course gloves aren’t just for riding motorcycles…but some gloves just go with motorcycles better than others. Such is the case with the Iron & Resin Café Gloves.
“Born in a small, Southern California, blue-collar beach town, graced with world class point breaks and seaside racetracks, where ghosts of a once towering oil industry still linger in the shadows. Iron & Resin is the brainchild of several friends who, after decades of collective experience building successful clothing brands, decided to turn back the clock and start anew. The result is a small, hand built collection of goods that draws heavily upon the founder’s own lifestyles and experiences.
Forged in California… In a mass produced, disposable world, Iron & Resin is a product of “one-off” culture. Where men still build, by their own hands, the craft they ride, be it water or land. Our goods are carefully hand crafted and printed one at a time in California.”
The Iron & Resin Café Gloves come in what they refer to as a ‘gold’ color. It’s an attractive color, but I’d say it’s more yellow than gold. But, I’m not going to nitpick. The gloves are 100% deerskin leather. If you’re not familiar with deerskin, it’s super soft; a fact that makes them ideal for gloves. Not only is it soft, but it’s durable too. The gloves are double stitched and feature an extra layer of leather across each palm.
I received a pair in their extra large size and they fit perfectly. They’re snug in the right places and offer just the extra protection and insulation that I want when riding. And, their style affords me the ability to wear them off of my bike too. Their traditional look doesn’t look out of place with a good leather jacket on those cool mornings or evenings. On the motorcycle they are protective, yet soft enough to afford ease of movement and function while riding (which is extremely important). And riding is where these gloves truly belong…it’s part of the Iron & Resin DNA.
The first thing people do with these gloves is touch them…and comment on how soft the leather is. Then, of course they slip their hands inside and comment even more on the softness. Finally they ask, “where did you get these?” And, I happily suggest they visit the Iron & Resin website. I also point out they have several different colors, leathers, and styles of gloves available (be looking for another BestLeather review on their Elk Bobber Gloves).
The color of the Café Glove definitely draws attention. But, it’s the deerskin leather that really grabs people’s attention.
The Iron & Resin logo name is stamped on both gloves and, in my opinion, gives them a cool, heritage look. They also have a piston and anchor logo pin in one of the gloves…another cool little feature.
Even if I didn’t ride motorcycles, I would still be very interested in these gloves. I just like the style – I like the design – I really like the deerskin leather – and the fit and finish is ideal. At $72 the Iron & Resin Café Gloves are a bit more than you’ll spend on gloves from a big box store, but the quality, style, and ‘cool factor’ is unrivaled. I look forward to using them on most every ride from here on out.
