Customer Reviews

A Dark Tobacco Brown Leather Backpack Messenger Bag "They'll Fight Over When You're Dead"

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this bag on a whim and thank God I did. My previous bag was a real nice Mark Nason messenger bag which was very nice but I was always conscious of where I put it down, will it get dirty, oh my God it might get wet...... etc. But after awhile I got tired of looking out for this expensive bag of which I spent a lot of money on it; it should be looking out for me!! Well this Saddleback bag does it all and it can take anything you dish out to it; like real leather should!! The quality is outstanding. From the stitching to the hardware, you can beat the hell out of it and it can take it. In the couple of months I've owned it, it's gotten rained on, thrown, hit, scratched, punched, straps stretched, dropped numerous times, stepped on, etc.... and I still get compliments on it. It seems the more I torture it, the better looking it gets; like something handmade with impeccable materials should do. It's the last bag I'll ever need because it's become my buddy wherever I go and whatever she's carrying for me, I know it'll be safe. When I'm not satisfied with something, I'm always looking for another to replace it, Not with this bag. It'll probably outlive me, but for now, we're friends for life. Buy this bag and you won't be disappointed. I wish it were cheaper but as the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for". This bag is worth every penny, and now, she's worth even more to me.

I got this for my 13" Mac Book Pro [This bag could probably hold 4 of such] It has a fabric lined removal able divider {perhaps for loose papers or folders} and two tiny pockets on either side internally [Cell phone size] There is an outside side pocket but it's open to the elements. The leather is really thick, and ready to be further distressed by many years of use. Oh, and if you're a guy worried bout the whole 'Man Purse' moniker this bag looks like Indiana Jones dug it up from the tomb of a Pony express rider. More of an equestrian ~Tack & Bridle~ feel than anything else. It probably weighs between two and 3 pounds with the removable shoulder strap on.

I just got it. It is very well designed seemingly, not by a commercial designer, but by someone who has been out in the field and wanted a particular kind of container for a specific purpose.
It is very big and heavy. The ads say, it will last your lifetime, and it looks like it will.
It is more an ourdoorsy bag though, or maybe a student thing. I don't know whether an older person will feel comfortable lugging it in Neiman Marcus. It is attractive in appearance.
Using it as a shoulder bag, you're likely to have a dislocation, but as a backpack, the design is good and the weight is distributed and negligible.
It is worth the price.

I'm not a fan of "fine goods" such as expensive leather goods, designer jeans, fine jewelry, etc. Those things just aren't worth the money, and serve no purpose.

Make no mistake about it, this bag is not one of those things. At a price of $350, I was expecting excellence, and Saddleback Leather exceeded my demands.

I'm going to use the line "The picture doesn't do it justice", but I fear that might go ignored. Let me explain.
Firstly, the front securing strap pictured is not the one on the bags, perhaps the picture is outdated. The leather latch is more similar to their big bag models, and rather than a slit in the bad with a couple of rivets, the strap is riveted straight on to the bag (3 rivets), and looks much, much more attractive.
Secondly, the leather in the picture make the bag seem a bit soft and flaccid, while the leather is very thick and rigid. It's much finer than pictured.
Lastly, the top handle is much more attractive than the model shown. It's much more sturdy, and uses metal rings.

Cons:
The sides aren't lined with pigskin either, and much of the stress by the shoulder strap is put onto the stitching at the weakest part of the bag. While it shows no sign of tearing, if something were to not last a lifetime, it would be at this point. While lining the sides with pigskin would limit its ability to collapse, there could be some design changes to make this point more sturdy since its one of the weakest parts of the bag, and holds the most stress.
The bottom could be made rigid with some pigskin to help with durability.

My kids argue over what to call it -- I thought they weren't supposed to fight over it until I'm dead. I don't really care either way, it holds my stuff and it holds up. I've got a good long walk, bus ride, ferry ride, and another walk in my typical commute, so I generally have to drag some junk around with me -- as a junk dragging solution, this bag is rugged, incredibly well-made, and handsome. I usually have a compliment of writing supplies, a netbook and accessories, and reading material, and it all fits nicely here. If I occasionally need to bring something bulky -- a change of clothes, a bunch of books, a commuter pillow, or whatever -- I still have my old Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag to throw over my shoulder (it really is a big murse).

A couple things: This bag is made of thick, high quality materials, so it is heavy. It also doesn't have the myriad organizing options of the medium bag it replaced (the ultra-functional Black M-51 Engineers Field & Laptop Bag that I wore out fairly quickly.) But again, it will last forever, and it won't end up looking ratty after a year or two.

Very nice. If you want a bag to last for years, get this one. Impeccable service. Bag arrived very quickly. Seriously recommended and well worth the money.

What can I say? This is easily the best bag I have ever purchased. I looks great, feels great, smells great, and the quality is unrivaled. My one wish is that this bag, and their other products, cost less so I could buy even more. Everything on the bag is built to last and really looks like it will outlast me.

If you are looking for a bag, stop, and just buy this. The money is worth it.

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband last year and he really loves it! The leather was understandably stiff when it first came but it has softened up considerably over this past year. He uses it everyday for work and told me that when he first started taking it quite a few people at his office asked him where he got it. Great quality, really a great gift if you want to get someone a bag they'll be able to use for years to come.

This is my second bag from Saddleback Leather. I purchased this bag to tote my Macbook and papers to and from University. The bag is very well crafted and looks amazing. I own the tobacco brown and always get compliments. Be warned though, it is a bit on the heavy side due to its size. As well it does covert into a backpack for easy carrying.

The Messenger bag is a lighter version of the Briefcase. I own a large Messenger bag that I use as a replacement for the medium Briefcase that I own as well. It makes for easier mobility through airports.
I do wish that they where just a tad bigger. Since I use it as a replacement for the Briefcase, I need something that holds paper without having to fold it over.
The pockets on the side are nicer than the ones on the Briefcase as well. They're bigger which makes for placing a wider verity of items in them.
I can't carry as much with the Messenger as I can with the Briefcase. But for everyday use, the Messenger is nice companion.