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
How It's Made | The Saddleback Waterbag Leather Duffle Bag
How to make a leather duffle bag like a cow. With as few holes as possible
I bought the large DCB waterbag for a few reasons...1) it looks way cool, 2) I wanted something more flexible & easier to use than the side-pocket duffel, 3) I was a big fan of the fact that it came from a single piece of leather. It is huge inside. My 6-year old said he thinks I could put him inside & close it up...nope we didn't try it. The large also comes with a 9-inch high insert in addition to the 6-inch version. Both of the inserts make the bag heavier...but do add structural support. I really see me just filling the bag without the inserts & cranking the straps down. I am slightly concerned about checking it at the airport & scuffing it up or having TSA or the airlines dude steal it. I am considering finding a super cheap, large cloth duffel to go over the water bag when I check it. It also has two D-rings on one end similar to the medium...but it doesn't turn into a backpack like the medium. So you can use those D-rings to lash extra gear, devise a way to attach the bag to a wheeled, collapsible cart, etc. I am sure I'll come up with my own use for them. As mentioned above, I originally got the side-pocket duffel...which is well made & cool too. It just wasn't flexible for carrying all kinds of items easily. It was also too heavy; the waterbag without the inserts is lighter. I ended up turning the duffel into a car supply gear bag in the back of my Shelby GT500. Yep, it is muy expensive. That is why I waited until I saw the one I wanted on Dave's Deals. Heck, if you buy right now you'll get free shipping which will save some add'l coins. My overall recommendation is to get it, use the heck out of it & don't look back.
The most versatile bag that I own and also hands down the most beautiful. At first, I thought this bag was too small when I received the medium in the mail. However, after packing it with 4 pair of jeans, 5 shirts, shaving kit, sweatshirt, shoes, etc. I was suprised I still had room for more. The straps act as compression straps allowing you to tightly pack all your belongings. I prefer to completely remove the liner, I've found it can carry more and is more comfortable when wearing as a backpack. The bag has a different look depending on how you close it, it's fun to find your own way of closing it depending on how much stuff you have in it. The smell of the leather is incredible, you will not be disappointed. The bag in chestnut has more of a classy look and less likely to show scratches than the tobacco, it just depends on what you like. Personally, I would like a Waterbag in all three colors but that would be a little outside my budget. Buy it, you'll love it.
Another SBL product - the fourth, most expensive, and by far most beautiful to date. Just incredible - first off, the flexibility to reduce this bag so much and expand it as needed will be key in travelling with my wife, who regularly finds something on our travels that needs to come home. What others say is true; you will be duly noted in a lobby, on a train, or in an airport with this bag. Based on the number of high end automobiles at the entry, I'd guess the doorman at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel probably see a fair amount of beautiful bags and they certainly took the time to admire and comment on my Water Bag. Be advised that this monument to testosterone is not to be used by most women traveling without a gent. My wife fill this monster fairly high on a solo transcontinental flight, found herself with a 45 pound behemoth without wheels and was surprised she couldn't get it around like her purse. All this said - it belongs in a category with a 7 Series BMW, with a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, with a Burberry trench coat. Except that it is all that, and something that fits on a safari and is actually "cheap" for what you get. Honest. Just buy the darned thing and give yourself the treat of a lifetime. PS: At this point, I am a confirmed Dave's Deal guy. The standards at this company are impossibly high. Currently I am waiting for someone to tell a joke while putting together a Medium Chestnut Simple Backpack.
I never write reviews and I'm not going to write a book here, but I have to say that the Waterbag (medium) is an awesome bag that will probably last for the rest of my life. The quality, workmanship and detail is just A1. I'm a very satisfied customer with all of Saddleback Leather products. I have the MacBook Pro sleeve and the iPad case and I will be back to buy more from Saddleback Leather. The products are not cheap but as they say you pay for what you get. I can't imagine a better made bag and the quality of material used to make it. Now the reason why I bought the Waterbag is for numerous reasons. I will use it not only for travel but to keep my camera (DSLR) safe and dust free while driving and looking for things to shoot. Well let me explain. Before I kept my DSLR and 70-200mm lens on the front passenger seat so that I would have a quick access to my camera. Dust and sudden stops were just a big problem for me. Dust is self explanatory and sudden stops would send my camera flying off the seat. Well now with the Waterbag on the seat, nicely strapped, all I have to do is put my camera in it and fold the sides over and my problems are over. The DSLR stays dust free and not a chance that it will fly off the seat to the floor while braking. Thanks Dave for making such quality products. Keep up the good work and craftsmanship, hope your sales soar through the roof.
Large Tobacco waterbag. When this bag arrived, I was so excited and couldn't wait to get it out of the box. The materials, construction and finishing that typifies SBL were immediately apparent, and the smell gorgeous! As soon as it was fully unpacked and all of the packing materials cleared away,I had another look. As it is an 'unstructured' bag (by design) it sort of flops around when empty, looking a bit clumsy and sad. However, when you start to pack it with your stuff, it really starts to awaken and look like the exceptional piece of design that it is. I can pack this out with as much clothing and stuff as I need to last me a good couple of weeks travel and still easily roll the top over and synch the straps down - I don't tie it too tight as I carry some breakables, but it goes over very nicely. I am experimenting with folding the tops in rather than rolling it (buckle side fold over the top and strap side over the top of that - tucking the ends in) which seems to work really well. I am just under 6 ft, and the large bag is very comfortable. The only thing I miss is the option to change it into a backpack like the medium one, however potential loads would perhaps strain and stretch the leather too much (I am sure Dave has thought of this already!) Overall a great piece of design and of luggage. I can't recommend this highly enough. If you are wavering over the smaller duffles and this bag - I suggest you get this one. There are enough buckle holes in the strap to really wrap this up around whatever you put in it. Great bag, great quality - keep them coming guys!
