Satchel & Page Suitcase Review – $650

Travel is a wonderful thing. I enjoy traveling immensely and fortunately, get to do quite a bit of it each year for work and play. As many know, airline travel within the United States has changed dramatically over the past few years. With the ingenious [cough] decision to charge passengers for checked luggage, many people have turned to carry on only bags. Due to that change, the choices in luggage have been pretty static – small rolling bags and duffels pretty much dominate the space.

Satchel & Page, in an effort to continue creating unique leather products that tap into old, classic, proven designs while incorporating modern amenities, has developed their Suitcase. I’ve had the privilege of using this bag recently on an extended trip to Florida and California.

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Behind the Design

BestLeather has reviewed several pieces from Satchel & Page, who is based in Austin, TX. You can read them here. When speaking with Daniel, one of the founders of Satchel & Page, this is what he told us about the new Suitcase:

“This is the headline bag of our new collection and it’s inspired by a suitcase my family still has that was used by my great grandparents when they immigrated to the US from Europe in the 1910s. That old suitcase is a family keepsake and we designed our new collection with that same character and longevity in mind. The other focus of the collection is on elegant design and functionality, which we feel is very well represented in this Suitcase.

We felt that the classic suitcase is a beautiful design that has been forgotten, basically because most suitcases don’t have the functionality and ease of use that we require nowadays. So we designed this suitcase from the ground up. The sides are reinforced so it holds its shape, but the front and back are soft which makes the bag comfortable to carry and air travel friendly. Our Suitcase also has a shoulder strap and converts to a backpack, which is super convenient for travel or daily commutes.”

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Construction

The bag is made with 6 oz. vegetable tanned leather for the body of the bag, and 8-9 oz. leather for the handle and straps. The rivets are all solid copper. The heavy duty YKK zipper is a two-way design, allowing one entire side of the suitcase to open up. Inside the suitcase you’ll find an attractive tartan lining along with leather patches surrounding the zippered pockets and key clip. The Suitcase comes in deep brown, but they plan to offer black as a stretch goal in their current Kickstarter campaign.

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Aesthetic

If you’re already a Satchel & Page fan, you’re definitely going to like the Suitcase. It matches all of their other pieces with the same colored leather, hardware details, and stitching.

The overall appearance of the bag reminds me of suitcases you see when watching movies depicting the early 1900s or viewing photographs from the same era. The Satchel & Page Suitcase has a similar look to some that my grandparents still used throughout the 1930s through the 1950s. The biggest differences from those old leather clad suitcases are: the adjustable shoulder strap, the large zipper, the side handle, and the ability to configure this suitcase to be carried as a backpack.

The dark brown leather is luxurious in both look and feel. The hardware and stitching all match with it to create a piece of luggage that is instantly recognized as custom and special. At roughly 20″ wide x 15″ tall x 7.5″ thick, it easily complies with airline carry on rules while still offering plenty of room to haul your essentials. Upon opening the bag, you’re greeted by the great looking tartan lining and leather accents. Inside you’ll find two slot pockets along the bottom that stay closed with elastic – very reminiscent of old school suitcases with the right section having a small key clip too. You’ll also find a thick leather strap used to cinch and secure items into place within the suitcase. The inside of the main flap also contains two flat zippered pockets for storing various items.

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Functionality

My initial trip with the Satchel & Page Suitcase was a pretty lengthy one, but I thought it would be a fitting test of the bag. This trip involved leaving Spokane, heading to Florida to visit my middle son’s potential college of choice, spending a few days in various Disney parks with family, and then going on to a conference in Sacramento, California before heading home. All told, this trip was 11 days in length.

It took a bit of planning on what to pack and how to pack it, but this is what ended up making the cut:

  • 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of khakis, 3 pairs of shorts, 1 swimsuit
  • 4 t-shirts, 3 henley shirts, and 2 polo shirts
  • 4 pairs of calf length socks, 4 pairs of short ankle length socks
  • 1 black leather belt, 6 pairs of boxers
  • 1 pair of leather sandals, 1 pair of black wingtip dress shoes
  • 1 hat
  • Adjustable shoulder straps that are used for the bag’s backpack carry option

I do use packing cubes when traveling to maximize my use of space. I used 4 cubes for this trip and it seemed to work out very well. Also, to give you some scale on the items packed – I’m not a small man. I am 6’5” and wear 3xlt shirts. A smaller, average sized person will definitely be able to pack more items into this bag without issue.

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The Suitcase is an excellent carry on choice. I had zero issues in fitting this into the overhead bin on all of the flights for this trip. I also received comments upon boarding and exiting every one of my flights. This also occurred when picking up my rental car. The bag is definitely one of those unique pieces that people notice.

The only thing I found somewhat disappointing about the bag was the shoulder strap. The shoulder pad is a great size, but it is slippery. The bottom portion of the pad slipped off of my shoulder every time I attempted to carry it in this manner. Consequently, I ended up just carrying it from the top or side handle most of the time. Other times I slid the shoulder pad down to one end and carried it directly on my shoulder using just the strap. The strap is also not long enough for cross body carry (at least for me). The shoulder pad is a great size and looks nice; it just lacks the ability to have any grip. **UPDATE** The team at Satchel & Page is taking care of this issue in their production pieces by using a softer leather that is broken in so that the pad curves and better conforms to your shoulder when you carry the Suitcase. This should eliminate the slippage issue reported above.

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Conclusion

At a price point of $650, the Satchel & Page Suitcase is expensive. It’s definitely an investment. But, it’s an investment that will last the rest of your life. In keeping with Satchel & Page’s dedication to quality, the bag is extremely well built, looks fantastic, and will serve regular or occasional travelers with panache and ease. It’s definitely a Buy It for Life item and comes highly recommended from me. If you act quickly, you can snag one for $495 and save some bucks during the Kickstarter.

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Jim Yee
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Jim Yee

Yes sure is nice and would be a great heirloom piece to use for generations.

Shannon Weel
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Shannon Weel

It honestly looks like the beautifully crafted and timeless suitcase ever! I’m absolutely in love with it.

Kevin
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Kevin

Looks great. I love the interior choice.

Hussein AlSahlan
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Hussein AlSahlan

I would love to have this bag as my “grab & go” suitcase for quick or short trips. The fact that it looks vintage is just amazing!

Wilson Peterson
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Wilson Peterson

Beautiful! I’ll take mine in a nice tobacco color please.

Jonathan Covington
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Jonathan Covington

Beautiful! Leather and plaid is always a winner!

Donald Almendarez
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Donald Almendarez

Quite snazzy!

JosephJB
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JosephJB

Very stylish for any occasion.

David McLain
Guest
David McLain

Very nice piece. Might have to pull the trigger on this one.

mikevember
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mikevember

Dope.

Bryan C.
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Bryan C.

this one or the Attache?!!!

KP
Guest
KP

Wow this looks like a beautiful well crafted suitcase, I would love to have one.

markathy
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markathy

This would e ideal for son just starting his professional career very classy~!

Cheryl
Guest

This looks like the perfect suitcase. It’s such a beautiful bag. I love the lining.

Daniel Levy
Guest
Daniel Levy

This bag is sick!

Vincent Wang
Guest
Vincent Wang

This suitcase looks just perfect! The colour, style, quality of leather and the feeling of vintage, everything is telling me that I would love to have one!

omaralmoriry
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omaralmoriry

Very cool

paxton powell
Guest
paxton powell

This is so legit

Hannah Griffith
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Hannah Griffith

I love these bags so much!

Kate Marie
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Kate Marie

These are just.. just fanTASTIC!

Ruth Rudnick
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Ruth Rudnick

Invest in something that will last a lifetime!

J Stanley
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J Stanley

I have had many of suitcases, but never a leather one. This looks like it might be the one to start with.

Thomas Skovdahl
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Thomas Skovdahl

I lately have discovered leather travelgoods, and this suitcase must be THE suitcase to have. Snug, yet sizeable. Just what you need for a weekend away.

D.Johnson
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D.Johnson

Looks great

Kirsten Boyd
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Kirsten Boyd

The craftsmanship of Satchel & Page is unlike any that I have seen in a long time, they truly know how to create something beautiful, practical, and reliable. Three criteria that I use before purchasing anything. I also love how they incorporate their history into their pieces, it makes the product mean even more! Great review!

Blake
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Blake

I want this bag

Clint Burgess
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Clint Burgess

I think it’s safe to say Satchel-Page has elevated what was already an exquisite brand with this suitcase offering. Aesthetically and functionally, they’ve risen to a new level with the brilliant pieces they released this fall. The support they’re garnering with their Kickstarter campaigns proves consumers are interested in what they’re doing and that they are willing to pay for the quality and style the company is presenting. This suitcase emanates classiness and the quality looks to be in line with the intent of it’s purpose, to last a life time or beyond. I’m looking very forward to hearing the… Read more »

EelyHovercraft
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EelyHovercraft

Satchel & Page = Quality

lee mckoen
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lee mckoen

Sharp Looking bag and seems like great quality!

Philip Schilling
Guest

It looks like a great bag to own.

Chaitali Das
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Chaitali Das

The bag is perfect for those on office tour for two or three days.

Simon Yee
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Simon Yee

I can attest to the beauty of the leather as I have the mailbag. This piece looks equally stunning.

Nate Hancock
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Nate Hancock

Wow! Amazing!

Linda Meyers Gabbard
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Linda Meyers Gabbard

Sounds amazingly awesome

Amy Heffernan
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Amy Heffernan

Looks and sounds like the perfect bag! thanks!

Kiley rose
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Kiley rose

Awesome bags ♡

Preston Chapman
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Preston Chapman

Love it very well made

Lew Bell
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Lew Bell

Looks to be very classy

Anita Kennett
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Anita Kennett

This is absolutely breathing to look at.very functional.Thanks so very much for sharing.

Mary Murphy
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Mary Murphy

These obviously well made, crafted bags are absolutely beautiful.

Donna Cooper
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Donna Cooper

It looks like a long lasting leather case

Nova
Guest

I plan to travel and I would seriously consider a model like this one.

Adrián Medina
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Adrián Medina

The perfect piece for my dream trip to Brasil! Parabéns Daniel!

Eric Shen
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Eric Shen

Looks great, I hate rolly bag suitcases. This is perfect!

Brian
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Brian

Looks very practical

Tyler Hewes
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Tyler Hewes

Looks amazing!

samdono
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samdono

Nothing like a well-made classic.

aaronfg
Guest
aaronfg

Man, $650 is a tough sell for a single piece of luggage. Looks great though.

eqalizr@comcast.net
Guest

Great piece of luggage! Leather only gets better with age. I can just smell the heady aroma right now!

Sandi Tymchuk
Guest
Sandi Tymchuk

I really like this classic suitcase–classic, beautiful, and practical!