Our hope is that you’ll be proud of your bag because of the compliments you get and how long it lasts. But our deeper hope is that you join our community of those nurturing the vulnerable and loving the unloved. We do more than just quality leather bags; we do quality in all areas of our business.
Our purpose is not to change the world by loving orphans, single moms and ex-prisoners one at a time. It’s to work with a Love 41 community/family of loving and nurturing people to do it. If you want to but you’re not sure how, then join us on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter to learn more. We’ll help you get plugged in.
Read More
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 will only reiterate what other satisified reviews have already said - "What a gorgeous bag!" I have spent many a months pouring over reviews and comments before taking the "proverbial" plunge. How can i justify a $600 bag? Let me just say that the pictures DO NOT give it justice. This is a gorgeous bag. Roomy, Thick, and just plain rugged. It smells incredible. I am about 5'9 and this bag is just perfect. I call it the goldilocks bag; being just right between the classic briefcase and the thin briefcase. I have the tobacco it is just the right color. It is not too light. I cant' wait for the patina that will just make this thing even more beautiful. So just do yourself a favor and get it! You will not regret it.
I have had this bag for about 2 weeks so keep that in mind while you read this review. I was deciding between this bag and the Classic Briefcase and in the end I decided that the front pockets, bigger side pockets for water bottles, and one strap keeping it closed rather than two was all more appropriate for my needs. So far it has exceeded my expectations and has served as a wonderful office bag. Just as some background information, I am 24 years old and I work in tech; this is the first large purchase I have made since college, in fact I made the purchase to reward myself for paying off my student loans quickly. Space: I am able to easily fit my 15" laptop, a few notebooks, a book and various electronic chargers in the main compartments with room to spare. I think this space will actually increase a little over time as the bag gets worn in, it is still in the very stiff stage and the leather does not stretch much. The two side pockets have enough room to fit water bottles as long as they are not to large or oddly shaped like the Fiji bottles. The front pockets are so far my favorite part; they can carry a small book/notebook or any other relatively small item. I have been keeping a moleskin notebook with a pen in one and snacks for work in the other. There is also space between the two front pockets that can hold a pen or flashlight, and there is space between the front pockets and the main compartments that can hold paper or maps (not sure if people still carry maps but there is space for it). I think that will be a good space to hold boarding passes and other travel documents. Function: I use this bag every day for work in an office and I also plan on traveling with it pretty frequently. This was really one of the only bags I could find that fits in the office as well as the outdoors which is important to me because my first trip with it will be to Switzerland and southern Europe and I am going to beat the hell out of it. I think it will be a great carry-on bag that can hold all my immediate necessities. Being able to convert to a backpack is going to be nice when I'm running through airports. As far as backpacks go, this converts very quickly and easily. It is not the most comfortable backpack but then again, if I had wanted a backpack I would have just bought one instead. The only lack of function one might find is that you have to open the main compartment strap to get to the front pockets, so far that hasn't mattered to me at all but some might find it bothersome. Size: One of my biggest concerns when deciding between this bag and the Classic Briefcase was the size. The Classic comes in a few different sizes and there are many videos and reviews that lend to the size specifications, but this bag didn't have nearly as many resources so I was nervous that it would not be the right size for me. I am 6' about 175 lbs and it is a great fit for me. I think it is most comparable to the Large Classic Briefcase if you want to do further research. If I was much smaller I would probably think the bag is too big but as it is now I am fine. The size of the interior is most important to me, as it has to hold all of my junk, but the exterior is important as well. I don't want it to seem like I am dragging around an enormous bag or a small man purse but this bag meets perfectly in the middle. A few reviews have talked about the weight of the bag as a negative; to me this is just a sign of quality. Leather has weight. Sturdy D-rings have weight. Support around the seams has weight. If your top concern is weight then you are better off buying something that is not leather and you are shopping at the wrong place. Quality: I won't say much here because it has been talked about on every review for every product. The quality and craftsmanship is amazing and I suspect why most people love their items so much. I have not had the bag for long but it has the feel of something that will last a very very long time and be able to endure a great deal of strain. Summary: All in all I am immensely happy with this bag. If you are thinking about taking the plunge, do it! You will not regret spending the extra money to get such a versatile and quality bag. I will update my review after I break it in and beat it up a little more. Dave, thank you for creating something so special. Please be proud of your work and don't let your company outgrow your morals.
I found Saddleback after my last briefcase purchase did not work out. Have you seen the video about knocking off a Saddleback bag? Unfortunately for me, I unknowingly purchased a knockoff several years ago; it wasn't real leather, and after a few years the nice looking surface wore off and I was left with this ugly light gray......mess. It was embarrassing. The subsequent search for a real briefcase ended at the Saddleback website. I just received the front pocket briefcase in dark coffee from Saddleback and I am very impressed. 15% off on the Dave's Deals page, which should have identifiable flaws at 3 feet but I can't see any from 1 foot. And it's built like a brick poophouse. Size is right for an everyday bag - for me anyway - I carry a fair amount of stuff around. Also a decent size for business trips. Tough, well built, a tad on the heavy side as you would expect, smells great, looks great, super functional. In terms of constructive suggestions: The strap seems a bit overbuilt for everyday use. Great for backpacking, but most business people don't carry a briefcase on their back. I could see Arnold S. lugging a Gatling gun with this strap quite comfortably, hunting aliens in the jungle. It's quite long and bulky, so right now I keep it tucked inside the briefcase most of the time. I'm looking for a shorter, lighter alternative. A few little nits - the little side pockets both inside and out are a bit tight, hopefully they loosen with wear. I can't fit my smartphone in the inside pocket, only pens, and the outside one won't fit a water bottle. I'll walk on the case some tonight and see if I can loosen things up. But in summary, awesome design and construction, Saddleback, I love it!
Bag came today, as promised. First thing I noticed upon removing the bag from the UPS packaging was the smell: a deep, heady leather smell, almost seemed surreal. I instantly wanted to stick my head into the bag and breath, which I did: when my wife walked into the room as I quietly sat with a scotch in one hand and a leather bag over my head, she completely understood (she's a great gal!) Second thing I noticed was the feel: the leather in my hand felt thick and durable to the touch. The thick leather handle of the bag itself feels like a sturdy weapon. The shoulder strap also is a thick, weighty strip of leather: if I'm ever dangling for dear life off a cliff by a bag, I would want it to be this bag. Leather is stiff, thick and smooth, cool to the touch. Break-in period has begun! Bag doesn't seem too big at all, contrary to what some hipster-youtubers are saying: this is a briefcase, bottom line. I'm 100%-biker (that means I don't own a car, fairly easy to to maintain in the southwest); in the summer I take annual cross-country road trips. I've gone through many laptop bags. Nowadays I can look at a brand new bag and tell where the weak spots are, I can predict where the inevitable wear and tear will appear first. Not so with this bag though, its construction seems to have been designed by an outdoorsman who knows what he's doing. Durability and practicality seem to be job one here: fine, thick stitching and carefully treated sheets of leather create an unparalleled level of protection around this briefcase. And as a biker, I appreciate the metal rings stitched onto the outside of each corner of the bag, and especially the large thick ring at the top next to the leather handle. This bag was made for utility. One small complaint though: I wish the bottom of bag was reinforced. As it is now, the bottom of the bag curiously feels like the thinnest piece of leather on the whole. I occasionally carry large capacity hard drives with sharp corners and this is a concern; while I do believe this fine leather will stand the test of time, I'll be reinforcing that bottom with a nice thin slice of cedar. (Another reviewer said he removed the second shoulder pad off the strap and used it as reinforcement for the bottom of the bag-- good idea, too!) Reinforce that bottom with a piece of wood, a old cloth, anything-- and you've got the perfect briefcase for the refined material possessions of a grown-ass man. Overall, this is an excellent bag with uncommon craftsmanship: it can effortlessly perform on the road or in the office. I look forward to putting this bag to the test with my daily accessories, to and from the office: laptop (no ipad for me, thank you), hard drives, cables, SLR camera, travel humidor, butane lighter, knife, flashlight, flask, Bible (yes, me too) and whatever book-of-the-day I'm reading. So far it looks promising: I'm giving it 4 and a 1/2 stars out of 5 (reinforce that bottom and I give all 5!) I'll check back in a year after a few trips and let yall know how it's holding up post break-in!
Let's begin with this, I don't usually write reviews. But my contact with SB was fantastic and requires comment. William, who apparently just started there, was great. Helped me through a tight logistical spot with amazing patience and ease. Good guy. Now, more than ever, customer service is how to build loyalty. Job accomplished and well done, William. Then I received my Chestnut Front Pocket Briefcase today. I had surprised myself getting sucked into the angsty nonsense over what color. Chestnut was my second choice. I was fearful I missed my gut instinct and went with too red a color. Not the case (get it?). It is more deep brown. Will work perfectly for clients and court, etc. I have to say that I was blown away. Just fantastic. Even got the luggage tag to affix to it. Thought it was overkill for the price. But it's great too. This is no "murse." It's a briefcase for a day's work. Tough, thick, lots of rings, heavy metal buckles, tough dark pigskin interior, rivets, good stitching, etc. I get it now. To all those who whine online that it is heavy, stiff, too basic, too big or this or that, then this isn't for you. For all those who like a tough dependable piece of equipment that will travel well and look good too, this is for you. Nice work and thanks William!
