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Classic Leather Briefcase Explained by Dave
Large Sized Briefcase Comparison
The Classic Briefcase in depth description and explanation on design
How to Knock Off a Saddleback Leather Co. Briefcase
I ordered my large classic briefcase (chestnut) back in late January of 2014, and had it by the end of that month, though I never got around to filling it up and using it until February. It's coming due for its second bath of leather milk in a couple months. It's as rugged and useful and durable as described. I liked it so much, I got a matching side pocket duffel that I use on road trips -- and that's also a great bag with fantastic utility. So many reviews, on the SBL pages, are put in right after the bag shows up, but comparatively few come in after regular duty over time, so I figured it was time to chime in. I'll probably throw a YouTube review up when the 2-year anniversary actually rolls around. Anyhoo ... It's been a great bag. The exterior side pockets needed to be stretched out to hold water bottles, but if you treat with leather milk and force some knobby-bottom bottles (like 16 oz coke or dasani bottles filled with hot water) in there as far as they go, and sorta twist them around for 5-10 minutes, they'll stretch out the bottoms of the pockets so that they fit stuff a bit better. I stuff a collapsible umbrella in one side, and a water bottle in the other. When traveling, I can put both my 13" work laptop and my personal laptop in the back pocket, along with a hardcover laboratory book, with no trouble at all. Interior pockets are holding up well, and are good for my backup battery, cords & cables, biz cards and a mouse. The front pocket usually holds my cameras and my in-flight bag of electronics & headphones and doodads. Everything fits. With the flap buckled closed, I've had it in the soaking rain without any problems and no wetness on the inside. It's been scratched up and beat up and even though Dave says we chestnut people are picky sticklers, I'm not, and this horse rides well when rode hard. So, it works as advertised. It's not perfect, though, and maybe no bag ever is. 1) I had to reverse the two hold-down straps so that the buckles hang down from the top, because in the default config they stick out and catch on all kinds of things. 2) Like others have said, the shoulder strap is amply long, and since I don't need it as long, I had to loop the end of the strap back around and force it back through the loop to keep it from flapping around. That took awhile, and lots of sweat. Sure wish Dave was selling those loops as a loose accessory, because extras sure would be handy for strap management. 3) The "converts to backpack" thing is a gimmick, and I tried it, but my hair and my scarf kept getting (sometimes painfully!) caught in the ring, so that's just not as practical as it seems. When it's like that, and you want to pick it up and put it on, you sorta have to grab by the carry handle, and then it can be awkward to put on because the 2-strap config for backpack mode isn't anchored in the middle. One strap fights against the other as you fight to wear it, and that's too much fighting when you have a lot of stuff in it. So, no backpack-style for me. 4) The top flap is cut a bit wider than the attachment points for the shoulder strap, so the leather has bent and worn on those 2 areas at the edge, precisely because I only use the shoulder strap. Not sure what can be done about that, but it probably helps keep rainwater out, regardless. 5) I tried to request a single, long shoulder strap pad instead of the short two-piece (backpack friendly!) arrangement, but SBL said no to that accessory idea (like they did with my extra loops request). It's a shame, too, because I think lots of people would buy and benefit from both of those ideas, and the margins would be better, too. Whatever. Maybe that will change in the future. Overall, it's been a fantastic change from the nylon messenger bags I used to use. It's built like a tank, holds everything, and my complaints don't much affect the value. If you want a backpack, get an SBL backpack, but know that the briefcase doesn't do a good job of being a backpack. Because I'm an optimist and believe in my heart that most people are good and have positive intentions, I'm going to round up and give five stars, but it's more like 4.5. If you're on the fence and are worrying about spending this much, don't worry, you'll be happy. You'll get all kinds of complements from people (worldwide!) who notice and appreciate fine luggage, and you'll suddenly notice other happy Saddleback customers are out there, all over the place. These are great bags that are not cheap, but they are worth every penny. Cheers!
Like many others, I secretly visited the SBL website for years perusing the many beautiful pieces, and eventually talking myself into taking the plunge and ordering a large dark coffee brown classic briefcase. When it arrived, I was somewhat surprised at how supple and pliable the leather was, i really felt somewhat cheated out of the experience of breaking it in, it already seemed to be right out of the box. But I got over that, and commenced my journey. I've had my briefcase just a few months shy of a year, and I have had no feelings of regret in purchasing it. I've used it for a great many things. I've used it for normal business (laptop, files, pens, cables etc), it's seen service as an overnight bag (change of clothes, dog food and treats, collapsible bowls), it's carried recording equipment, wood carving tools, anything and everything I've needed a bag for to transport something, has been in my SBL briefcase. I don't treat it with kid gloves, that would be disrespectful. It's made for life, and it lives mine along with me. It's more than up to the challenge. I've grown very fond of this bag, it goes where I go, it does what I need it to do without complaint. As others have said, it's classic styling and ruggedness will garner you many compliments and questions. The only real problem with Dave's products are, you'll want to live your life with more SBL companions. I can think of worse things though.
Where to buy? Used eBay, or Dave's Deal? Pretty much I was finding that I would pay a minimum of $450, shipped out of eBay ... and at that, I'd have to take DCB or Chestnut. I got tired waiting for auctions to end. Why not spend the extra $80 and not worry about what I was getting from eBay? I purchased a 10% discounted bag in my fav color from Dave, and basically the savings paid for a Bible cover (also DD, 25% off). As others say, I couldn't find a problem. Time to get here: From Texas to basically Buffalo, NY ... ordered on a Friday (late), it was shipped on Monday, arrived in Buffalo on Friday afternoon. Not bad at all. Amazon or Saddleback? I have AMZN Prime, and for Chamberlain's I'd definitely recommend AMZN. It will get to you faster and for free. For leather products, you can't get DD on AMZN, and if you like Tobacco I wouldn't trust AMZN to be a source. Once again, you have to weigh the cost of shipping (included w/AMZN prime) against Dave. I'm not patient, so I bought from SBL. What can you fit inside? Do I need to go to a Large? For me, I wondered how much in the way of clothing I could put inside. Pretty much, one day's clothing. If you are wearing wrinkle resistant shirts/chinos ... you can roll up and put in one shirt, one pair of pants, underwear, socks,a tie, shaving supplies (not a "kit"), smaller sweater (sleeveless vest, perhaps). Switched to more casual wear, possibly two pair of jeans and at least three polos. That would leave the second section for your laptop. Alternatively, I would guess you could easily fit 4-5 bottles of red wine in there. Each his own, but to me a Large might have been overkill on a daily use but better for overnighters. Of course, I'll eventually get a backpack or a Wetbag for airline travel to combine with this beauty. Here's the thing about what fits ... those marvelous straps let you expand. How many times have you been on a trip and bought something, and needed just a *little bit more room* on the way home? I just know that's what I am going to come to love about Dave's stuff. Quality/weight: No surprise about the quality and yes, source a DD because whatever flaws they are talking about I couldn't find. Weight ... again, the Large *might* have been an issue. I'm guessing about 20% of the weight of the Medium is in the strap, which is removable. Color: I'm color blind, and its really sort of hard to make out the contrast for me between all the colors. The Tobacco came in really quite a bit darker ... I loved it. The Bible cover was DCB, and honestly that would have been fine. How stiff will the leather be? Really, not bad at all. I'll get a followup review once I've had a chance to work with it for a year or so. But chatting online with Liz and dealing with this site has been great.
Good Morning Everyone, I have not bought one of your fine pieces of merchandise yet but I have seen your exceptional workmanship and have told a lot of others about your website. One of my friends went on the other day and purchased your medium size brief case and he cannot say enough good things about it. My goal is to continue to spread the word about your fine product and one of these day even order one for myself. Thanks and keep up the great work. Gary
I have owned a medium Classic Briefcase in Tobacco for around two weeks and generally I really enjoy it with two exceptions: 1) I know that Saddleback uses leather with some scars in it, but I was not expecting 7 very obvious scars right on the top of the bag. (at first glance they look like someone wrote on the bag with a black pen) 2) Contrary to the website, this color WILL rub off on clothing (as evidenced by two pairs of my khakis that now have quarter-sized brown marks where the bag exerts the most pressure against my body while carrying it.) All in all this bag is a beast and I really enjoy carrying it.. still though, it seem like for the money nothing short of perfection would be the standard.
