Front Pocket Leather Backpack

10.00

$649.00

(228 reviews) Write a Review

Design of the Front Pocket Leather Backpack

There is no luck in making a quality leather backpack. And this leather backpack with pockets is no exception. It was purposefully designed with no breakable parts like zippers, snaps, or velcro. And any stress spot is reinforced with Polyester straps hidden beneath the leather and riveted. The body of this leather backpack is built with just two big pieces of leather, which means there aren't many seams. The fewer the seams, the stronger the backpack because backpacks come apart at the seams before anywhere else. And then we only sew 5 stitches per inch, so there are as few holes as possible. Quality can be measured in Seam Feet (how few feet of seams a bag has. We made that term up).

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Materials used to create this Leather Backpack with Pockets

This backpack is made out of strong materials. The full grain leather is very tough and more resistant to water. The lining is made from pigskin, which is even stronger than cowhide. The hardware is made from 316 Stainless Steel, which is very strong and will not rust. The thread used to sew the backpack together is Polyester, which does not deteriorate in the sun as nylon thread does.

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Full Grain Leather

The leather of this backpack is the strongest and most water-resistant we can find (full grain), and then we line it with pigskin, which is stronger than the cow skin. It's rare for a low-quality company to use full grain to make a leather backpack because it's so expensive. When I say "Full Grain Leather" I mean that it still has all of the tough, tightly woven fibers on the top of the hide.

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A Genuine Leather Backpack is Missing the Strength

Most companies shave off the scars and blemishes from the top of the hide (watch how they shave it here at minute 6:30) and shave off the strongest and best part of the hide (the grain) while doing it. They shave it down to genuine leather. They do it, so they don't have to cut around the marks and throw those pieces into the trash as we do. We throw away 25% of the hide. They don't throw hardly anything away. But since it still has leather, they can call it a genuine leather backpack. It will not last nearly as long and is missing the beauty.

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A Vegan Leather Backpack is Plastic Garbage

Vegan leather is ridiculous. It doesn't even make sense. It's usually polyurethane or PVC, which is a plastic. Do you want to wear a plastic backpack? No? We don't want you to either. You and I both know that will not last longer than your carebear backpack as a kid.

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Seriously Strong Hardware in this Leather Backpack with Pockets

I know using 316 Stainless Steel custom hardware is kind of like killing a fly with a shotgun, but we did it anyways. Check that one off the list of potential problems. Our large pieces of hardware on our backpacks are rated strong enough to hold a 750 lb. bag of cats before it gives. Seriously, I hope you google it to understand more. If your life is going to depend on any metal, let it depend on 316 Stainless Steel.

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The Best Thread to Hold it all Together

We sew it all together with thick and strong Polyester thread. It's industrial strength and doesn't deteriorate with exposure to the Sun's UV rays like Nylon thread does. This Leather Backpack is very strong from the nature of the materials we use.

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From a Brown Leather Backpack, to a Black Leather Backpack, you have options

We know not everyone has the same style. So this leather backpack with pockets comes in four different colors. The light tan color (called Tobacco) develops a beautiful patina over time. There's also Dark Coffee Brown, Chestnut (reddish brown), and Black. So find the style that will suit you.

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Very Spacious Main Compartment

The interior main compartment has enough space for your 17" laptop, a charger, other electronic gear, some personal items, your passport, a book, or possibly a few books. You could probably even fit a monkey in there if you had to. But we wouldn't recommend that. This is a very durable leather bag with plenty of room.

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Adjustable Shoulder Straps

We want this leather backpack to be easy to carry on and off your back. So we made the most comfortable straps that are easily adjustable. This makes for easy access as you take it off to grab something out and toss it back on your back.

Details

100 Year Warranty
Fits all 17" laptops
Hidden Pockets Behind the Pockets

Dimensions (W x H x D)

12" X 17" X 7"
Weight: 6 lbs

MATERIALS

Full Grain Leather
Pigskin Lining
Custom Stainless Steel Hardware
Industrial Marine-Grade Polyester Thread

5
Extremely Satisfied

Hey SBL, This backpack has served me well so far in its early infancy. Just in the last two months it has been in Maine, Hawaii, and a splattering of places inbetween. It doubles as a 3 day bag on travel trips, as a book bag for school work, and as an extended cooler for adult beverages. There isn't much more I can say about the quality of the product that others haven't repeated below. SBL is simply the real deal, enough said. The only critism I have of the bookbag is that none of the pockets were 'quick' enough for me to access. This isn't a ding against SBL's design, but more something I came to realize specific to my uses. I needed atleast one of the side pockets to be easier to access. Some would argue what is easier to get into than a buckle? Well you come to appreciate the need for faster access when you are driving, walking through an airport, or have your hands full. I know Dave doesn't do custom work, yet I still asked and SBL kindly declined which I was completely fine with. So I decided to search for a local leather smith who was brave enough to work on such a high quality bag for me. I tasked them with modifying the side pockets with "collar cinches". Hopefully the picture below is accessible (SBL please feel free to use it as you wish): http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/705/dsc0339by.jpg/ The leathersmith removed the buckles on each side pocket and replaced it with this cinch. It locks down securely, and will not open unless you specifically lift up to unlock. The more you pack into the pocket, the more securely snug it becomes. Came out exactly as I had wanted. I'll be going overseas in the next few months again and I will try to grab some more shots for you SBL. Thanks SBL. -D

Posted by Cathy V. | Jul 23, 2014
5
The Hidden Cost of SBL...

I ordered this bag roughly a month ago for a trip I was taking to Costa Rica. First I should start by thanking the numerous people that helped me get it in time for departure. I could go on for days about the customer service at Saddleback Leather. I got the large backpack in DCB and right out of the box, after being hit with a tidal wave of leathery scent, it fit very nicely. I loaded every pocket to the max and tossed it around in my truck for two weeks at work. Then I let my 2 children load it up with all the toy and abuse the bag for a week. After that it was off to backpack around Central America. The bag worked perfectly and that's where the hidden cost of SBL comes in.... You will want to travel, you will want to take the bag to amazing places, you will want to break the bag in and make memories while you do it... Not to mention you will want to buy a lot more leather Don't be afraid of taking your bag out and getting it dirty, I climbed to the top of Cerra Chato with it and it was covered in mud, sand and sweat. It still has that wonderful smell. The extra pockets behind the pockets are great for holding a little point and shoot camera or a water bottle. My only criticism is that I wish the pockets were riveted into place. The stitching looks plenty strong and all, but 6 extra rivets and there is no possible way the bag could be any stronger. It's all cleaned up and ready for its next adventure. If you are on the fence, I strongly recommend going for it. If you don't like it, I'll but it from you...

Posted by Dustin | Jul 23, 2014
5
Love it Soft

I finally convinced my husband the front pocket backpack REALLY WAS what I wanted last Christmas, and he caved in and bought it for me. Though he did not consider the price an issue (hey, I'm a really great wife!), he complained that it didn't look very "feminine". I guess he never did get over the fact that I've never been one of those dainty, diamond and lace gals he married the first time around. All I could do was roll my eyes and assure him it was absolutely gorgeous, built like a demon on steroids, and I simply had to have it. When the box came and I tore it open in a leather-scented ecstasy, he begrudgingly admitted it was a very well-crafted, "HANDSOME" bag . . . but then he just had to point out that it seemed "a little stiff". I looked him straight in the eye and told him, "Honey, it's just like a good man - you have to love it soft." I didn't hear anymore complaints after that. And, oh - FYI: not a week goes by that I don't get a compliment on this bag from both men AND women!

Posted by Anonymous | Jul 23, 2014
5
Amazing bag

I purchased the Large Front Pocket in Chestnut a few months ago, and have been using it every day since then. It was little larger that I anticipated, but it is just fine for my daily stuff. My range of EDC stuff is pretty wide and encompasses a lot of stuff, so this bag became my EDC bag. I love the innovative use of shoulder straps and pads, and as is typical for SBL, the construction and quality are unmatched. The backpack actually made me do something which would have been unthinkable several years ago - I sold my SBL briefcase. However, it ended up sitting in a corner all alone, and that just wasn't right. After all, it was the proper thing to do after I got a friend hooked on it. Anyways, depending on your height and weight, if you are about 5"9' or taller and carry around a lot of crap like I do, consider the large, you may thank yourself for it later. I also use three medium utility straps for this backpack, one for the stenum (the two d-rings on the shoulder straps) and two for the waist. That helps plenty when biking or other physical activities.

Posted by Anonymous | Jul 23, 2014
5
A Wonderful Companion!

My lovely wife purchased the front pocket backpack in Tobacco Brown, as a Christmas gift, and it is everything I hoped it would be! I travel for work 2-3 times per month, and this pack will fit my clothes and belongings for a typical 2-3 day stint. Also, when not traveling, I will be taking this backpack into the woods on hunting and hiking expeditions several times a year, with no worries at all regarding its durability and usability. A total side note, but, I recommend picking up a pair of the leather straps, as the D rings on the bottom of the pack work really well for attaching anything from a rolled up jacket, or even a rolled sleeping bag for those overnight hiking trips. Thanks Dave and Co. for making another fantastic product!

Posted by Cedric M. | Jul 23, 2014

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