SKU 01-20-0006

Squared Leather Backpack a.k.a. The Tank

5.31 lb

18.00

16.00

8.00

$659.00

Saddleback Leather Review: A Carnie's story and leather backpack

What People Think

5

Unbelievable

After traveling recently, I decided to move beyond rolling luggage that lasts but a couple years. This backpack was the obvious choice. Spectacular workmanship.
13th Jul 2024
Chicago traveler
5

“THE TANK” backpack

My new prized possession !!!
16th May 2024
JAMES S FULLWOOD
5

The Original Tank Tobacco

I’ve had this for years but never used it until now because it weighs around 9 pounds, empty. Now need a backpack so I pulled this bad boy out and started to use it (and building muscles at the same time). It holds a ton and my only limitation is the how much I can add to the weight of this, full of books, journals, the extra large Saddleback wallet (also in Tobacco) and still carry it without falling over. I love the original wrap around shoulder straps and they are breaking in, slowly. I am an avid Saddleback customer and the quality of their products is top notch. I don’t yet know how to break in the body of the Tank… the leather is so beautiful and thick. But it’s just fine being stiff. Saddleback is the place that I shop for myself whenever I need to give myself a present. And after all these years, the leather smell is still terrific. By the way, I am a 5’3” 71 year old woman and it’s not too big at all.
14th Dec 2023
Diane
5

Better than expected

This is my second purchase from saddleback….it was like Christmas when I got the delivery. And I wasn’t disappointed when I opened up! Website pics don’t do it justice— it is even better in real life! I was going to get a different colour than my first saddleback (flight bag) but I’m glad I chose the dark espresso brown again. It’s a classic. Well done saddleback!!
11th Aug 2023
Rolando Lopez
5

Perfect Bag for life

Went on my first weekend trip with my new Square Backpack and I was able to pack everything I needed and then some. Replacing a Jansport bag that has served me for 25 plus years. My Saddleback
Square Backpack is as classy as it is durable and brilliantly engineered. This will be the pack I take touring on my motorcycle as well as 99% of all my travels. I will also be using this backpack for work.

Jon B
5th Nov 2021
Jon B.
This full grain leather backpack has a laptop pocket on the front exterior and one in the back, as well as tall side pockets with hidden pockets. The lower and side d-rings are great for securing on tripods, blankets, and dirty and wet shoes. The shoulder straps are minimal but adjustable.

Product Details

100-Year Warranty

Fits a 16" Laptop

Dimensions (W x H x D)

12" x 17.50" x 6"

Weight: 5.50 lbs

Design of this Full Grain Leather Backpack

This is the 4th Edition of the Squared Leather Backpack and has been refined over the years to what it is now. You'll see old pictures with a fat flat handle, but the new one is high and thinner. And it's still over-engineered. It has no breakable parts like buttons, magnets, or zippers and it's still reinforced with rivets through and hidden polyester strapping at all stress points. In addition, this newest edition of this leather backpack is made from only two large solid pieces of leather instead of three, which means that there are fewer seams on this backpack to tear apart.

We only sew five stitches per inch, so there is more leather between the needle holes. All of this we factor into the quality of the bag. The fewer seam feet (A term we made up to talk about the number of seams a backpack has), the fewer perforations the leather backpack will have to tear. If we built the body with four pieces instead of two, you would end up with almost double the Seam Feet in your leather backpack and therefore double the perforations. I once found one leather duffle bag made of 85 pieces of leather.

The Squared Leather Backpack has been refined over the years to be more durable, with fewer seams and perforations.

Materials Used to Make The Best Full Grain Leather Backpack

Full-grain leather is the strongest and most water-resistant leather you can use for a backpack, and we use the thick version of it. Like boot leather, but a tad thicker.

And if that isn't enough to make it strong, we lined it with pigskin, which is tougher than cow leather. Finally, we sew the leather backpack all together with a very expensive German industrial marine-grade polyester thread that doesn't deteriorate in the sun as nylon thread does.

But what's really amazing is our custom 316 Stainless Steel hardware. I believe we are the only company in the world using such strong hardware to make a leather backpack. The buckles can hold up to a 750 lb. bag of cats without breaking. It's kind of like killing a fly with a shotgun, but I tell you this, you'll never have a problem with hardware breaking on your backpack. If it does break, it'll either be an excellent story or an unfortunate one.

The backpack is made of full-grain leather and has pigskin lining for durability. It is also fitted with 316 Stainless Steel hardware that is resistant to corrosion and breakage.

Functionality Of These Leather Backpacks

This leather backpack has a laptop pocket on the front exterior and one in the back that can fit a 17" laptop. Both tall side pockets have a hidden pocket behind them for quick access or for sticking in longer things. You will be able to carry a lot more than some sling bag.

The lower and side d-rings on the backpack are great for securing on tripods, blankets, and or dirty and wet shoes. The shoulder straps are minimal, but with a comfortable and adjustable shoulder pad to distribute the backpack's weight where you need it. (Backpacks shipped may come with our Tube Pads.)

Benefits of a Leather Backpack or Any Full Grain Leather Bag

There are many advantages of a leather backpack. Let us start with a full grain leather bag will develop a beautiful patina over time and tell your story. The more you use this backpack, the better it looks. This will also protect your belongings from the elements better than some synthetic material. Full grain is the most water-resistant, so a little rain won't hurt it. That's what you get with high quality leather goods. Another significant advantage of our Squared Leather Backpack is that it's virtually impossible to tear.

The squared bottom backpack is made of full-grain leather, lined with pigskin, and sewn together with German marine-grade polyester thread for durability. It also features strong 316 Stainless Steel hardware.

The most significant advantage of all is highly debatable between these two. The first is the impression you are going to leave people with about you when you carry this classy high end leather backpack. And the other, this backpack will last longer than you, with a 100 year warranty. Sure, you can get a cheap dust bag, but it won't do much good.

Maasai Spear Throwing Bedtime Story for the Kids

The Maasai tribe is the most renowned tribe in all of Africa, if not the whole world. Ernest Hemingway and even H Rider Haggard wrote about them as a fierce warrior tribe, legendary with the spear. It's not an accident that they've survived for so long.

The full grain leather Tank backpack has a laptop pocket on the front and one in the back, which can fit a 17" laptop. It also has tall side pockets with hidden pockets behind them for quick access or for sticking in longer things, as well as lower and side d-rings for securing tripods, blankets, and dirty and wet shoes.

But as my mom used to tell me, "Talk is cheap son. Put up or shut up". So yeah, you'd think I was pretty tough too if I carried around a big long spear and talked about how I killed a lion with it to become a man. And how even my smell and the sound of the little jingly things on my skirt scares the lions away. Blah Blah Blah. But it's another thing to show it. So I took the family to the middle of nowhere Tanzania and demanded to see some action behind all the legendary schmegendary tough talk. And this is how it went down.

We drove in a cool Toyota Land Cruiser, which is the Saddleback Leather Backpack of the auto world, to this cold high elevation Maasai village near the Ngorongoro Crater. The chief was not there, but one of his eldest sons, Daniel, was and oh how he loved my leather backpack and satchel and insisted on carrying them. He spoke some English and so went on and on about my pig lined leather backpack and leather satchel. He couldn't believe such a thing existed made out of cow and pig.

He went on to explain and show us their daily lives and also how their multiple wife system worked. He only had two wives, but his dad had 10 because he was had so many cows and had proven his ability to protect and provide for them. And I thought just having Suzette as my wife was complicated.

So then I asked Daniel about their spears and how they protected their people and animals with them. He showed me how they hold their spears to most efficiently fight off the lions, leopards, and hyenas. I asked him about throwing the spears, and he told me that they throw their spears for sure, but only when they're in a group. Because if you're alone and throw your spear and you miss, you'll become fast food for the lions. That's when I announced the backpack spear throwing contest, and the winner got my Leatherman Multi Tool. The one who could best run a spear through my leather backpack from a distance was the winner.

The Squared full grain Leather Backpack has been refined over the years to have fewer seams and less perforation.

So I hung my Squared Leather Backpack up on a tree, and the men took turns throwing their spears. But what they were competing for was not just the Leatherman. Daniel told me that part of what gets a man the most wives is by proving that they are the most capable of protecting and providing for the wife and children. How high they can jump, how far they can run and how many cows they have for milk are all factors. And how well they wield their spear to pin a leather backpack to a tree is another. From what I experienced, all of that talk about some fierce and highly skilled spear wielding African tribe called the Maasai, is all well deserved. And I've got spear holes in my leather backpack to prove it.

Makes a Perfect Full Grain Leather Laptop Backpack

This Tank of a backpack is not for the faint of heart. It's big but not pretentious, and it's built to last. This is the one if you're searching for a leather backpack that will allow you to haul around your 17-inch laptop and gear easily. It's also perfect for traveling as it fits everything you need.

A Perfect Carry-On Large Leather Backpack

You should not have problems getting through TSA with this as your carry-on backpack. It's a perfect size and has plenty of room for everything you need while still being small enough not to be a pain. This is an excellent backpack for a fun weekend trip, or work trip, with enough room for your laptop plus maybe a change of clothes, and whatever other gear you might need.

The Tank is the perfect large leather backpack for those who need a little extra room but you don't want to sacrifice on style or quality. It's rugged and tough, yet refined and sophisticated. If you're looking for a perfect backpack that will turn heads and last a lifetime, this is the one.

Just the Right Amount of Pockets

This is not some little boy's backpack; this is a man's backpack. You don't want junky zippers for a crayon pocket, but you might want to be able to slide a 17-inch laptop in one pocket and another laptop in the other. You might also want a pocket for your phone and another for a machete or sword. And the large main compartment can even hold some changes of clothes and possibly a tent (not set up) along with your bible. So you've got all the interior and exterior pockets you need, even a front pocket, without losing the cool factor. We know you need multiple pockets in your leather backpack, but you don't need 50.

Is Full Grain Better Than a Genuine Leather Backpack?

Genuine Leather just means that it's made of leather. See, full grain leather is the top layer of the hide and has all of the natural grains and markings. It's the highest end leather you can get, and it's what we use for our Squared Leather Backpack. This type of leather looks better and ages better than any other, which is why it's used for high-end luxury goods such as leather backpacks and leather laptop bags.

Is Full Grain Better Than a Top Grain Leather Backpack

Full grain is the best quality of the leather hide you can get, and it's what we used to make this backpack. It's going to last longer, look better, and age better than any top grain leather backpack. It's also more expensive, but it's worth it.

Top grain is the second-best quality of leather, and while it's not as good as full grain, it's still pretty good. It's going to be cheaper, but it won't last as long or look as good.

What About Fake Leather Backpacks?

Over time, real leather will maintain its shape and appearance better than faux leather or PU leather; it is more flexible and won't suffer from wear-and-tear as much. Also, instead of wearing out, real leather develops a patina on its surface that many people find attractive.

Leather Backpacks That Become a Family Heirloom

These are the men's leather backpacks you buy once and hand down to your son. It will get better with age and will last for generations. If you're looking for an heirloom quality leather backpack, this is the one. These are not just great quality; they are the best quality leather backpacks. Some backpacks will be destroyed if you leave them in direct sunlight for an extended period. Not these backpacks. That is the difference in quality versus other leather types.

Great for Everyday Use

From trips to the office, class, or outdoor activities, this durable bag is the right style for you. It has a beautiful vintage look and the strength to handle it all. When you are looking for a new bag or leather rucksack that is not going to fall apart, from the shoulder straps to the old school buckles, this leather bag will last. And everything is easily accessible and durable. There is also more space for carrying anything you might need to access quickly, from laptops and phones to other devices. Carry it in style.

Like Our Other Leather Bags, You Get Color Options

We don't make these some weird color like pink or rainbow; we stick to the classic standards. So depending on what we have in stock, you can choose between black, chestnut, tobacco, which is light brown, and dark coffee brown. But these are the colors that never go out of style, and they all look great with the vintage style of this natural leather bag.

Why You Want This More Than Other Men's Leather Backpacks

You've seen them, the cheap genuine leather backpacks that are made overseas. They use low quality leather, lower quality hardware, and lower quality stitching. But this backpack is different. It's made of full grain leather, the highest quality you can get. The hardware is solid 316 stainless steel, and the stitching is top-notch. This real leather backpack will last you a lifetime.

Stylish, Sophisticated, and Rugged Backpack

This bag is stylish, sophisticated, and rugged all at the same time. It's perfect for those who need a little extra room but don't want to sacrifice style or quality. It's also fantastic for those who want an heirloom quality bag that will last for generations.

A Newsletter That Will Make You Think About Leather

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Write a Review
  • Posted by Chicago traveler on 13th Jul 2024
    5
    Unbelievable
    After traveling recently, I decided to move beyond rolling luggage that lasts but a couple years. This backpack was the obvious choice. Spectacular workmanship.
  • Posted by JAMES S FULLWOOD on 16th May 2024
    5
    “THE TANK” backpack
    My new prized possession !!!
  • Posted by Diane on 14th Dec 2023
    5
    The Original Tank Tobacco
    I’ve had this for years but never used it until now because it weighs around 9 pounds, empty. Now need a backpack so I pulled this bad boy out and started to use it (and building muscles at the same time). It holds a ton and my only limitation is the how much I can add to the weight of this, full of books, journals, the extra large Saddleback wallet (also in Tobacco) and still carry it without falling over. I love the original wrap around shoulder straps and they are breaking in, slowly. I am an avid Saddleback customer and the quality of their products is top notch. I don’t yet know how to break in the body of the Tank… the leather is so beautiful and thick. But it’s just fine being stiff. Saddleback is the place that I shop for myself whenever I need to give myself a present. And after all these years, the leather smell is still terrific. By the way, I am a 5’3” 71 year old woman and it’s not too big at all.
  • Posted by Rolando Lopez on 11th Aug 2023
    5
    Better than expected
    This is my second purchase from saddleback….it was like Christmas when I got the delivery. And I wasn’t disappointed when I opened up! Website pics don’t do it justice— it is even better in real life! I was going to get a different colour than my first saddleback (flight bag) but I’m glad I chose the dark espresso brown again. It’s a classic. Well done saddleback!!
  • Posted by Jon B. on 5th Nov 2021
    5
    Perfect Bag for life
    Went on my first weekend trip with my new Square Backpack and I was able to pack everything I needed and then some. Replacing a Jansport bag that has served me for 25 plus years. My Saddleback
    Square Backpack is as classy as it is durable and brilliantly engineered. This will be the pack I take touring on my motorcycle as well as 99% of all my travels. I will also be using this backpack for work.

    Jon B