Customer Reviews

A Dark Tobacco Brown Full Grain Leather Notepad Holder (Medium) "They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead"

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I got the notepad holder in chestnut and I love it. While it's not perfect, it's the best notepad holder I've found. I wanted a durable pad holder (I usually go through at least one a year) so I immediately thought of Saddleback as I have a wallet and briefcase from them as well.

When I saw this product I was a little skeptical about the size, but the quality and features won me over and I took a chance. Yes, it does seem strange to talk about features on a notepad holder, but it is warranted. The dividers, including slots for business cards and magazines, have come in very handy. Rather than having just one pocket to store papers in, there are two dividers. I'm an attorney and often need very quick access to a particular document in court, and separating them in the dividers helps me stay organized. The pen holder works great, it is big enough to slide a pen inside, but thin enough that you can clip a pen on as well.

The notebad holder is big, no getting around that. It fits perfectly in my large Saddleback briefcase, but a smaller bag might have trouble fitting it. The size isn't for no reason though; the pad can hold A4 size paper or 8 x 11, and can hold spiral bound notebooks as well as more common glued pads. It's too small for legal size paper, but that is used so rarely it's not too much of a downer.

The notepad is definitely built to last. The outer leather cover is backed in pigskin, double stitched, and riveted. Each of the dividers is backed in pigskin and double stitched. The notepad holder is backed in pigskin and double stitched. For those keeping score at home, that means everything other than the pen holder is pigskin lined and double stitched, and the cover is riveted as well. This thing is not going to fall apart.

In terms of ascetics, I recommend the chestnut color. The holder is stiff at first, but once you work the hinge you can get the cover to fold under easily. This also results in a beautiful "burst" pattern on the hinge where the leather looks lighter because of all the microcreases from folding it under. It makes a great contrast with the deeper chestnut of the flat parts of the holder and looks to age beautifully. Whenever I'm in a meeting and pull this notebook holder out, people take notice. It's a beautiful accessory, and I'm sure it will last me my entire career.

My only complaint is the size of the Saddleback logo stamped on the lower right corner of the cover. I wish it was on the inside. Small price to pay though; I'd buy one again in a heartbeat.

Will last a life time. Nicely made and well thought out. Pretty heavy though. Not so practical for using in the field. If you meet with clients, pulling this thing out will surely impress.

Typical Saddleback quality. Yes, it's quite expensive compared to most China-made pleather and cardboard notepad holders from the big box. But as Saddleback El Presidente Dave Munson says they'll fight over it after you're dead, it's truly that nice. Stitched and riveted construction (I don't know how you'd ever screw it up) and made with top quality thick leather, it's built like something from Texas in 1880. As a result, now more than ever I sit in my cube listening to the officious, supercilious overweight office jockeys engage in their inane phone conversations, maniacal laughs, and excessively loud pointless discussions about bread and circuses and wish I'd been born a century earlier.

Anyway, this pad holder is big and thick so if you're not used to carrying a full size tablet with accessories you'll be surprised at first at its bulk. After using it for a while it feels natural though. It'll hold an 8.5" x 11" pad either top or side hinge (a nice touch if you use the side bound sketch books and such) on the right side with a single horizontal pen loop. The pen loop is generously sized but will only hold one pen (G2s or a Space Pen are what I use in the loop, YMMV). I wish it was oversized to hold two pens as I usually carry two pens (as the triathletes with rifles say two is one and one is none) but that's a minor complaint. The left side has a nicely divided set of pockets (I have the older version with three full size paper pockets, it appears changed in the current version) for separating out paperwork and two smaller pockets, one perfectly sized for business cards. It's simple and effective, no zippers, Costanza walletesque pouches, or other crap to fail. I typically roll with a pad in the holder on the right side, loose pages organized on the left, and carry whatever folders, documents, bound materials, etc. I might need sandwiched between the front and back covers. It works well to carry around and organize materials without carrying a bag or briefcase.

The leather gets better with age and wear but if you're a perfectionist you'll never be happy with the rubs, dings, and scratches from use. Food for thought. It looks great in my opinion, and you'll look professional and serious with something of this caliber over a cheap, cheezy notepad holder. If you're the kind of guy who stopped wearing white tennies to work long ago and appreciates nice stuff this is the notepad holder for you.

Bottom line: If you need a top shelf notepad holder and want a lifetime investment this is it.

It amazes me that everything I've read about SBL products says the same thing: These things are thick! This holder is no different. I use mine EVERYDAY. It's in my backpack 24-7. I take it to every meeting and conference, and it has even made it down to the ships in my 'yard. The leather is perfect, the stitching pretty perfect. Rivets are classy. Internal pockets are 'ok' but tuff to fit folders and paper into still, and it's been weeks of constant use. The leather takes scratches dents & dings VERY nicely, and the piece is more flexible than I expected, which is great, given it's thickness. The SMELL is absolutely wonderful; I am known to creepily sit in meetings & sniff my pad! I have it stuffed to the gills right now with a yellow legal pad, biz cards, ref manual, few thing legal folders, and two full folders. I am forcing a 'set' onto this piece so it can hold what I want it to hold from here on out. Know that you WILL have issues with this thing fitting into certain messenger bags, backpacks, and briefcases; It's just that large. It is heavy, thick & pricey, but like they say it's worth it. I plan to add one more for personal / home use in a different color. God Bless ! VR/SLD in CT