Orox Leather Archives - BestLeather.org

October 18, 2024October 18, 2024

Orox Leather Co. Medicus Dopp Review – $190

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Orox Leather at Bestleather.org. Since our last review of the Classic Bifold Wallet in May 2014, Orox Leather has been busy designing and producing even more quality leather goodies for the sophisticated consumer. This family-operated business spares no effort to create their beautiful flagship all-leather Dopp keeping in line with the classic and durable styling of their other travel items.

CONSTRUCTION

All Orox goods are handmade in Portland Oregon. The Medicus Dopp is made from a single slab of nice THICK Horween Chromexcel while the accent leather pieces are English Bridle leather. The heavy-duty #10 YKK brass zipper is stitched into place with two adjacent strips of darker brown leather, ending with a pull tab on one end and a looped handle on the other. Other than the YKK zipper, this bad boy is ALL leather. The Orox Leather logo is debossed onto the majority of one side of the Dopp. Inside, there is no lining and there is an additional Orox stamp of approval at the bottom.

FUNCTION

This Dopp measures in at 12’’x6.5’’x5’’. While it isn’t the largest Dopp out there, it is definitely on the larger side. It is able to fit my full size deodorant, sunblock, disposable razor, electric toothbrush with case, toothpaste, shaving gel, and floss with room to spare for a tube of hair product or cologne and then any smaller travel-sized items to cram in the rounded corners and dead space. The zippered top is an easy in and easy out. Probably the biggest I’ve seen on a toiletry bag, this zipper feels and looks like it is indestructible and would work equally well on full size luggage bags. Most importantly, this single piece of soft leather is shaped into the correct form for a Dopp – wide flat base for stability with a rounded dome for easy access and viewing of your possessions while maximizing space for large and smaller items.

Because there is no easy-clean waterproof lining in the Dopp kit, it is important to be aware of keeping your more dangerous items like toothpaste, pressurized shaving cream, etc., well capped or in a Ziploc bag – or you can say WHO CARES ABOUT THE INSIDE?! and just enjoy your kit knowing the outside is really the eye-candy.

AESTHETIC

Here is where this Dopp kit sits itself apart. The high oil content of this leather makes it supple with beautiful pull-up qualities at the same time. Each bend and curve changes the brownish/chestnut hues making the leather seem much more rich than standard dyed leathers. If you think it’s too pretty to use as a Dopp kit, don’t worry. The company says this oiled leather is “scratch proof.” I haven’t tried to purposely scratch it but I still can’t find a blemish after having tossed it around in a bag with other items for two days. This Dopp is also available in natural color.

BESTLEATHER CONCLUSION

At $190, the Orox Medicus Dopp kit is an expensive toiletry bag for sure, but this is no off-the-shelf, mass-produced, throw-away product that most people settle for. When you have a company that picks the right kind of tanned leather, architecturally designed into the right shape while using tougher than necessary hardware, you’re obviously getting a quality product that’s worth investing a little more.

March 5, 2015December 19, 2017

Orox Leather Co. Proletariat Hat Review – $70.00

From the makers of the Medicus Dopp and iPad Sleeve 2 & Air comes the one-of-a-kind Proletariat Hat by Orox Leather Co. In a world (and a leather review blog) of leather bags, wallets, belts, and shoes, a casual leather hat is not the easiest thing to find but a quality leather hat is practically nonexistent. Luckily for us, Orox Leather Co. has put together a hat using a little bit of history, a good amount of hard handwork, and a whole lot of quality materials.

CONSTRUCTION

All Orox goods are handmade in Portland Oregon. Like the iPad Sleeve and Medicus Dopp, the leather found on the brim and double ring adjustment strap on the back is the classic oil tanned full grain leather from Minnesota. The front strap is full grain English Bridle leather from Pennsylvania dyed to the same color as the brim. The front strap has the Orox debossed logos subtlety pressed on the sides and both front and adjustment straps are held into place by genuine copper rivets. The shell of the hat is waterproof waxed canvas from New Jersey.

FUNCTION

The term “proletariat” is thought to have been first been used in the Roman times during their census taking to describe the working or labor class of citizens. Appropriately, this hat has a utilitarian and versatile design. The waterproof canvas protects in the rain and doubles as an emergency water bowl for your dog according to the website. I tested this second part out with my friend’s dog. I couldn’t get the dog to drink, but the hat did hold water. The most superficial layer of the canvas did get wet but it clearly did not soak through. Just don’t think about putting the hat immediately back on if you were to use it as a water bowl. The relatively flat shape of the top allows you to flip the hat on a table to also act as a valet for holding your keys, wallet, and phone when you’ve gotten home after a long day. This hat is also one size “fits most” for heads measuring 22-24’’ in circumference by adjusting the leather strip in the back.

AESTHETIC

I recently did a quick Google image and eBay search for “leather” + “hat.” I found that you can easily get a Stetson cowboy hat, an urban streetwear baseball cap, or a biker hat in leather. But unless I want to look like I’m from Texas, in a music video, riding a motorcycle, or into some weird S&M stuff, there’s no good option out there. Fortunately this proletariat hat works both functionally and aesthetically. It looks like a mix of a cadet cap, Stetson cap, and a newsy cap so it definitely works with a casual everyday outfit and to be honest, it would also work in Texas, in a music video, on a motorcycle, and… well you get the picture. It also looks great on men (selfie texted and approved) and women (evidence below). The hat also comes in Black/Black, Brown/Brown, and Gray/Black.

BESTLEATHER CONCLUSION

The Orox Leather Co. Proletariat Hat is fairly priced at $70. Comparatively, leather Stetson’s range run in the hundreds and waxed canvas hats usually start around $40-$50. If you love hats, waxed canvas, or leather, this is a great collectible yet wearable item.

February 12, 2015December 19, 2017

Orox Leather Co. iPad Sleeve 2 & Air Review- $140

In our last Orox Leather Co. review of the Medicus Dopp, we saw a single piece of oil tanned leather shaped into a beautiful utility kit for toiletries. Today we get our leather fix with the Orox iPad Sleeve, yet another item made of a single swath of oil tanned full grain goodness to cover and protect your iPad.

CONSTRUCTION

All Orox goods are handmade in Portland Oregon. The iPad Sleeve is made of a single thick piece of full grain hide oil tanned in Red Wing, Minnesota. If you’ve heard of Red Wing before, it’s because it’s the birthplace of a famous shoe company and home to one of the oldest of the remaining great tanneries in the USA – so yea, they know their leather. This particular leather used for the iPad has a particularly high oil content which makes it BUTTERY soft and supple enough to roll into a tube and keep its shape without leaving any creases. The iPad Sleeve is a basic rectangular envelope design measuring 11’’ x 8’’ which is more than enough to fit the iPad Air 2 (9.4” x6.6’’) or its predecessors. There is a single row of stitching along each side to create the sleeve. The Orox signature tab closure is a single firm piece of leather in the shape similar to a guitar pick which hooks onto a leather tab to keep the flap closed. The inside of the sleeve is unlined and the Orox company logo is debossed into the right front corner while the name is debossed along the contralateral edge on the back side.

FUNCTION

Well this sleeve really just holds an iPad so there’s not much to say. Does it work? Yes! Will it fit my iPad WITH a case? Yes! Is it comfortable and easy to hold? Double Yes!

But when it comes to an iPad sleeve, function is where I feel most people underestimate the importance of the design process. Yes, the signature tab is quick, easy, and cool but there are other benefits. The closure has no hanging parts like a cord that gets tangled and unkempt. There are no magnets that can wreak havoc on the screen and hardware components, and, most importantly, this closure does not require any downward pressure to close like your standard push tab. This means you’re not repeatedly pushing all this force onto a single focal part of your screen. So let’s go back to Physics 101. Pressure = Force/Area. No Force = No Pressure. It’s a win-win for your $400+ iPad!! Someone at the Orox Leather Company was clearly thinking…

AESTHETIC

The leather sleeve in brown looks sharp, dark, and polished which means it can work well with your sweatpants and hoodie in the school library or in your D&G suit at the executive committee meeting. The smell of oils and leather will bring a smile to any true leather lover’s face. Overall the sleeve’s clean appearance with its rounded flap edges make it an understated beauty which begs to be picked up and enjoyed by feel and smell. This sleeve also comes in Tan color.

BESTLEATHER CONCLUSION

The Orox Leather Co. iPad Sleeve 2 & Air is regularly priced at $140. While you won’t be finding this sleeve at the dollar store, it’s best held by someone who truly appreciates fine leather goods and realizes its finer details from sizing, leather selection, and closure design. If you can afford an iPad that goes out of style every year, purchasing a quality sleeve that will last a lifetime of iPads isn’t a hard decision to make. Check it out on the website, who knows? It might be on sale.

May 19, 2014December 19, 2017

The Classic Bifold from Orox Leather Review – $110

Orox Leather is a family owned company in Portland, Oregon. They build a full line of cool, interesting leather goods, including a line of leather/canvas lunch bags, bags, totes, and wallets. This is their take on the bifold wallet, the Classic Bifold from Orox.

construction

The Classic Bifold is made of the renowned Chromexcel leather from Horween out of Chicago that is stitched together with nylon thread. It features cut out pockets to hold your cash and multiple cards.

function

The wallet functions as a wallet should. It is relatively thin, it has the capability of holding all of your essential cards and cash, and it fits in your back pocket without causing your spine to warp out of alignment.

At first, it was a little tight fitting all of my cards and cash, but after about a week of use, it broke in and the cards fit snugly, but not too loosely either. Perfect fit.

aesthetic

Upon first receiving this wallet from Orox, I was slightly disgruntled by the appearance. At first glance, it appears roughly cut, the edges not sanded well, and the stitching not straight. But after talking with Martin at Orox, I realized that this was actually the aesthetic they were going for — a pre-worn in, rugged, rough and rowdy look. And in this light, they achieved this aesthetic perfectly. It would not look out of place in an old western movie. After my conversation with Martin, I took a few new looks at the wallet and realized that it actually is beautiful in its ruggedness. This is a very unique aesthetic.

BestLeather conclusion

If you are looking for a ruggedly beautiful, pre-worn-in, aesthetically balanced, and well constructed wallet, then you have struck gold with the Classic Bifold. Look no further. At $110, you are getting what you pay for — a handmade wallet using high-quality materials.

May 18, 2014December 19, 2017

Lineo Rollup Parva from Orox Leather Review – $445

Orox Leather is a family owned and operated manufacturer of leather goods based out of Portland, Oregon. They feature a full line of interesting and cool leather goods, including leather/canvas lunch bags, leather/canvas backpacks, totes, wallets, and bicycle gear. This is one of their leather/canvas backpacks, the Lineo Rollup Parva in Grey.

construction

The Lineo Rollup Parva bag features waxed canvas with English bridle leather straps from Pennsylvania, and oil tan leather accents from Red Wing in Minnesota. The shoulder straps are stitched on with nylon thread and the leather accents are attached with copper rivets.

The English Bridle shoulder straps are stitched to the canvas with nylon thread.

The waxed canvas is unbelievably waterproof. I rode with this pack through a complete deluge and my stuff was totally dry. Absolutely fitting for a company based out of rainy Portland, Oregon.

The bridle leather straps are lightweight and strong. Bridle leather is associated with durability and using it on the shoulder straps indicates a commitment to quality and longevity.

The copper rivets featured on the leather accents.

The stitching is solid and well done — not suitable for hundreds of pounds, obviously, but great for light loads and daily carry stuff.

function

This has become my go-to bag for daily stuff, as well as my main cycling bag — trips to the coffee shop, carrying water, a book, my pipe and a few different tins of tobacco, a notebook or two, maybe a sketchbook, etc. This is the perfect bag for riding around town and enjoying the day. It seriously weighs nothing. It will fit exactly what you need for the day and still have room for something extra if you need the space — plus, it will keep everything dry if a rain storm comes up.

It also features a unique locking system on the shoulder straps, which took me a few weeks to figure out. There are two claw clasps on the shoulder straps that act as the anchor for the strap itself (hard to explain, but check out the photo above). There are two D-rings — when the bag is in normal-unlocked mode, the claws are attached to the upper rings. But, if you want to lock the bag to you, then simply unhook the claws, cross them across your chest, and attach them to the lower D-ring. This is a great design — it is incredibly secure.

The inner pocket is fairly spacious and features a divider to separate out your documents/laptop/reading material etc. and it features two smaller outer pockets to hold a journal, keys, wallet, etc. Great function in the pockets.

Nice design feature on the inner pocket.

This bag also functions as a great ice breaker with the ladies. No need to start an awkward conversation when the conversation starts on its own with this beautiful conversation piece. Just a thought.

aesthetic

I have received more compliments on this bag than any other bag that I own — period. It is a cool looking bag — that classic leather on canvas look, complemented by the simply beautiful roll-top. It is a very simple design, but classically cool and aesthetically beautiful.

Leather on grey canvas -- classy, classic, and stylish. — Leather on grey canvas — classy, classic, and stylish.

The tan leather on the grey canvas is perfectly contrasting and the copper rivets on the tan leather is a beautiful touch. 10 stars. Perfect landing. Aesthetically speaking, this bag is perfect.

Also, any ladies out there looking for a good looking but not super rugged leather and canvas bag, this is a great option.

BestLeather conclusion

If you are looking for a cool, beautiful, classic, simple backpack, think twice before you click “buy” on the Herschel Supply bag and check out the Lineo Rollup Parva from Orox Leather. At $445, you are getting what you pay for — a well built, well designed, well functioning and unbelievably cool looking bag.