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Most of our leather briefcases convert into backpacks, including this one. Run the adjustable shoulder strap through the o-ring on the back of the briefcase, and clip it to the d-rings on the bottom. Now your hands are free to carry more luggage through the airport. This leather briefcase has a false bottom to hide your passport, spare cash, and other secret things. The d-rings are great for strapping on blankets, jackets, and wet sandals. And the main strap has a hole at the very tip, just in case you overstuff your bag or want to put an umbrella under the flap. The two front pockets actually have hidden pockets behind them too.
This leather briefcase is made of full grain leather, which is the strongest there is. And then, we line the leather with pigskin, which is more durable than cow skin. Our thread is some of the best in the world. The strong industrial marine-grade polyester thread doesn't deteriorate like Nylon when the sun touches it. Our custom hardware is 316 Stainless Steel which means our clasps can hold up to a 750 lb. bag of cats. It's the metal of choice for when your life depends on it.
We only use full grain leather. Sure, we pay a higher price to purchase full grain leather to make our bags. And we pay more by using traditional craftsmanship. To us, these are essentials to offering a leather briefcase with a 100 year warranty. Leather is like a roof. First, there is plywood, tar paper, and then shingles. The grain is like shingles. It's the toughest and most water-resistant part of the leather. A lot of companies shave off that grain to get rid of scars or blemishes so they can use more of the hide, but by doing so, they get rid of the toughest part. We don't do that.
Did you know pigskin is actually stronger than cowhide? It is, and that's what we line our leather briefcases with. Not only is it stronger, but it is also more flexible and has a nice feel. We could have left it with just thick full grain leather, but we wanted to give you the best of the best. By using both, you get the best for the inside and the outside of this large leather briefcase.
The hardware on this backpack briefcase is all 316 Surgical Grade Stainless Steel. That's the good stuff. The kind that doesn't corrode, pit, or rust like other metals. It's the best for when your life depends on it, and it's what we use because your life could depend on this briefcase (ya never know, right?).
Polyester is awful for underwear or sheets, but it is the best for thread. We found the strongest polyester thread and used it in our leather bags. It's a marine-grade, UV resistent polyester thread that doesn't deteriorate when sun hits it.
Two small internal pockets are located in the main compartment, which is great for holding things such as pens, pencils, and other things that you might put in small pockets. The internal compartment is split into two main areas with a large capacity to hold a large laptop or two. So you can fit that huge 17" laptop in here without a problem.
The two front pockets on this briefcase are large and ideal for holding chargers and cables, passports and travel docs, phones, glasses, and a multitool. And behind each external pocket, you've got a hidden pocket. These pockets are great for things you might access more often, such as a cell phone or a USB hub, depending on how secure you need it to be and your own packing method.
Yes, this briefcase has a hidden compartment that is large enough to fit a passport. It is located on the bottom of the leather bag and can be easily accessed by lifting a strip of leather. You will see it right away. The false bottom is great for hiding things such as money, your passport, or anything else you might not want anyone to find.
When I tell you we thought of everything, we did. In between the front pockets is a pocket that is good for carrying a cigar, a flashlight, pens or pencils, or Epi pens.
Not everyone wants a shoulder strap; they might prefer the hand strap or the backpack feature, so we made it removable. The durable shoulder strap is also made of full grain leather, just like our leather bags, and has the same quality stainless steel hardware.
It is also functional as a great carry-on for short trips or long trips. You can fit your large laptop and maybe even a change of clothes and other gear. For example, you might not want to put your suit jacket inside, but an extra t-shirt and shorts to wear. The Front Pocket Leather Briefcase fits nicely under seats on the airplane.
Front Pocket Briefcase Explained by Dave
Front Pocket Briefcase & Thin Front Pocket Briefcase Comparison
Large Sized Briefcase Comparison
Front Pocket Leather Briefcase in depth explanation of the design
How to Knock Off a Saddleback Leather Co. Briefcase
I've had this bag for about a year and a half. I have the large in Chestnut. It is amazing. I'm a doctor and I take it to work with my everyday. It holds my computer, articles, textbooks (from time to time), my stethoscope, my lunch and a few other essentials (pens, tylenol, hospital credentials, etc). I get a compliment on this bag every time I leave the house. It is nearly impossible to walk through the airport without someone asking where you got it. It's big enough to fit most anything you need. It's small enough you can stuff it under a seat in an airplane as your personal item. It's just now starting to get broken in. Has a few scratches on it and it only looks better with time. I can wear it with my scrubs or jeans and a tee-shirt and it doesn't look too dressy. I can carry it with a suit and tie and it looks great, too. Amazingly crafted. Will outlast the 100 year warranty.
You typically get what you pay for; I've had nice, but significantly cheaper briefcases; this is easily the best I've ever had. It looks amazing; it's durable; comfortable to carry and holds 2 large laptops and charging accessories; or 1 large laptop and books/notepads/ and charging accessories with a little room for other items (magazine, newspaper, etc). I'll say this; my personal laptop is very large (slightly larger than the MacBook the Large can hold). It fits in the Large size but it's a bit snug (not too snug where it's damaging anything). I'd recommend going to an XL Classic briefcase if your laptop is 17 inches or above. But it's hard to deny how great this thing looks.
I own a 2012 medium classic brief. The front pockets make the FPB classier and more formal.The FPB dimensions are better - less wide, and bigger in length and width. I was worried this bag would look too big on me, but because when it hangs on my shoulder it doesn't stick out as widely, it looks better. The lower profile handle is sleeker. The light color of the natura pigskin is easier to find things in, and it feels luxurious like suede. The only thing I don't like as much is the color and the finish! The old chestnut was redder and had a sheen to it. The new chestnut is mostly a medium brown. It only has that special red under certain lights. The sheen is much less now. I tried a couple different polishes/oils to bring some sheen back but it didn’t work. I'm not sure how the new finish will patina. It's still great leather. I'd love it more if I didn't have the old one! But it’s still worth the upgrade. If you liked your chestnut browner/less red and less shiny, this is for you.
I am an orthopaedic surgeon from Mumbai, India. I got a few smaller Saddleback items on amazon.com whilst I was in the US earlier this year and I loved them. I got this in medium from amazon as saddleback do not process payments on credit cards originating in India. Tobacco was easily my favourite. This briefcase, is perfect. I carry my Macbook pro, a few cables, some journals, my diary, sandwiches, water bottle and my Kindle. Having read all the reviews, I was prepared for a really heavy bag. However, its just right and given this quality I am not sure how it could possibly be any lighter. I don’t really see the need for the D rings and may get rid of them. Personally, I do not really see myself using this in the backpack mode as well. Will probably get rid of that O ring too. I do feel, it will look better (if at all thats possible!) without the extra shiny metal rings which I am unlikely to use anyway. All in all, a super purchase. Thanks Dave for giving us an incredible product.
I see so many reviews written by people when they just ordered something and they "can't wait to get it!!!!" Well that's crazy. Of course you like it or you would not have bought it. I waited almost two years to write this review because I needed to make sure my opinion was sincere. I bought this bag in the Tobacco color in August of 2014. I originally wanted to get the darker chestnut color, but when my brother showed me the beautiful patina on his Tobacco Saddleback wallet, I bought the same wallet and this briefcase in Tobacco. Some reviewers commented that the color is a little darker than what is shown in the pictures. This is true but if you look at the videos, the color is consistent with what you should expect. DESIGN: Loved the design when I bought it. Still love it today. As with any briefcase (or really anything new that you use every day - e.g., a car), there will be some time to adjust to it and how you are going to use all of the features. Yes, you need to open the flap to access the front pockets. Once you are used to this, it's not a big deal. Further, the leather on the flap and the belt have softened so nicely over the past two years (and 100+ business trips) and I'm so used to opening the buckles that I can now open any of them with one hand easily. The pockets on either side of the gussets are a little tight. The leather does stretch, but I still struggle a little bit to get a water bottle in there when my laptop is in the bag. I'm 32 years old and going on 60 so I still get a print newspaper every morning that I read at the office. The external back pocket is perfect for this. The two front pockets are great. I use one for computer cords and the other for pens/pencils/highlighters. I put ballgame tickets in the area behind the front pockets and this is the perfect place for keeping them from getting destroyed. I use the little key chain for my Secure ID token and I may be the only person in my office who has never lost that token as a result. It would be nice if the pads on the shoulder strap had something to better grip on my shoulder because it can slide (especially if I'm wearing a sport coat). USE: Is it a little heavy? Yes. Do I notice anymore? No. People pick up my bag all the time and comment on how heavy it is, but (1) I always carry a lot - and this bag facilitates that and (2) Too may people are used to carrying these wimpy little light weight bags and I've never had one that lasted more than 1.5 years - hence my decision to buy a bag that may last me the rest of my career. The bag always fits below the seat on any airplane (and I've been on over 100 since I've bought it) and the outside pockets can be convenient for pocket items that you need to remove when going through security. I've never felt the need to use the backpack option. WEAR AND TEAR: Mostly nothing but the good kind. I will say that because Saddleback doesn't paint or seal the edges of their leather (and I fully understand and appreciate why) the leather on the main belt used to seal the flap has frayed a bit on the edges. It's not enough so that anyone notices (except me of course) and it's not even a problem. I could just see some people complaining about that. I love the fact that it looks well-worn and the leather has softened beautifully over time. I always carry the bag with the front pocket side away from my leg and, as a result, the inside has been worn a little more and has developed a beautiful dark patina. I'm looking forward to the rest of the bag aging similarly. Overall: Very satisfied. I was never tempted to return or replace this bag - not a single time in two years. I do get a lot of compliments, but that shouldn't be the reason you buy it. If it is, you're making a mistake. Like any briefcase, it's not for everyone. But if you're looking for a briefcase that looks great and won't need replacement, and you can handle the other factors discussed above, this is an amazing buy. It has met every expectation I had.
