Saddleback Leather suitcase open and empty.
SKU 01-60-0007

Grandfather Suitcase

22.00 lb

27.00

19.00

9.00

(20 reviews) Write a Review
$1,379.00

The Grandfather Suitcase in Africa

What People Think

5

Here is the thing

I believe in climate change and that the earth is in a bad environmental shape, and wether you're a believer in this or not, do yourself a favor a buy this suitcase, i have the medium size and it's crazy well manufactured, i think Dave is loosing it to how much he's doing these products so well! it's surreal! it will be the last suitcase you'll buy unless you buy 2 3 4 or more of that one, it's a shame that the medium size doesn't exist anymore because it's the perfect balance between what an airline weight limit is and what you need to pack for few weeks!
28th Sep 2016
Walnut B.
5

5 Stars!

I have three of these suitcases, large size which is the size currently available, in tobacco, medium in dark coffee brown, and small size in chestnut. The medium and small sizes are not currently available, but may occasionally pop up in Dave's Deals. I purchased the medium coffee brown from Dave's Deals. The small size is a little larger overall compared with the hard sided carry-on, and I check in all of these bags when I travel with them. I select the size(s) to bring based on my travel needs each trip. The bags do not lock; if they did lock, I still would not lock them, as that would encourage thieves to cut the leather straps. I have checked these bags twenty or thirty times on major airlines, sometimes with just clothing inside, occasionally with other items inside that I could not or did not wish to carry-on. Not once has anything ever been stolen. A few times I have had a paper inside notifying me that TSA inspected my bag. Never have I had a problem yet, hope I never will. I of course don't check money, jewelry, or expensive electronics. These suitcases are tough and continue to hold up well. The baggage handlers treat them rough, I have scuffs, scrapes, and a couple of gouges in the leather. The bags continue to look better each trip, and improve with age and wear and tear, particularly the tobacco. Everyone loves my suitcases. Every trip I am asked by people I have never met, where did I get them, how can they get them, etc. I carry these bags most of the time; usually it is a short walk from the airport curb to the check in counter, but sometimes longer distances. Packed full, my large suitcase is usually 40-45 lbs, the other suitcases, a little lighter. For longer walks, I ordered extra Saddleback briefcase straps, and I clip a strap to the rings where the handle attaches, and carry a suitcase over my shoulder. On the occasions when I am carrying two of these suitcases, along with a carry-on, and a briefcase, then I strap the two suitcases and sometimes the briefcase too, to a lightweight folding luggage cart. When I get to the counter, I fold up the luggage cart, put it in a plastic bag, and then into the suitcase, it is quick and easy, and an easy answer for those that may require rolling luggage for any number of reasons. The look and feel, build, and overall quality and durability of these suitcases is truly outstanding; there is really nothing else on the market that even comes close. I continue to be very happy with these suitcases.
10th Sep 2016
Walnut B.
5

Exactly what I had envisioned!

I have looked at the leather suitcases for years and never had the nerve to pull the trigger. I finally had enough money in pocket to get one and my only regret is how long I waited! I was thrilled when it arrived and love the look and feel of the leather, the sturdy construction, and the romance of the classic design. Nothing could compare, however, with the feeling of receiving praise and compliments everywhere I took it! Fellow travelers, airport staff, and resort staff all raved about my Saddleback luggage! Incidentally, I absolutely stuffed the suitcase to the point I had difficulty closing it and it still weighed in at just under 50 pounds. Amazing! I had everything I needed for a week of being very well dressed (suits, ties, pocket squares, dress shoes, etc.) in Las Vegas.
23rd Mar 2016
Walnut B.
5

BUYING ONLINE

It's always a leap of faith to buy online without seeing the product first. My suitcase exceeded my expectations. They really are "all that" ! Thanks for making a great product!!
24th Jan 2016
Walnut B.
The leather suitcase is not lightweight, but it's not too heavy either. It has a balance that makes it challenging to fit 50 lbs. (23 kgs) into it. The interior is just one simple wide open space with two interior straps to hold clothes in place.

Design

The leather suitcase was purposefully designed without wheels for 2 reasons.

Aesthetics:
Wheels look bad with this old classic leather suitcase style (Imagine a $15,000 suit with roller skates). However, this is functional art, so you can put it next to your desk or sofa when not traveling.

Longevity:
Wheels on suitcases break or get flat spots on them, making that embarrassing tapping sound when rolling. And then when that happens, the suitcase is finished.

Product Details

100-Year Warranty

Dimensions (W x H x D) 

27" x 19" x 9"

Weight: 18 lbs (Check the weights of like-sized Tumi or Hartmann suitcases; you'll see it is about average.)

The Best Leather We Can Find

This leather suitcase was built entirely with full-grain leather. Here's why that's so important. The leather's grain is on the top of the hide and is the most durable part. The grain helps it age handsomely and stay water resistant (cows are waterproof, right?). 

Most companies buy low quality, heavily scarred-up leather, shave off the scars and blemishes (along with all of the grain) to save as much money as they can by being able to use more of the hide. If they shave off some of the grain, that's top grain leather. If they shave all of it off or split the hide in half, that's called genuine or split leather. We WANT as much grain on our suitcases and other baggage as we can get. We want it all. Therefore, we must select three hides with almost no imperfections to make each leather suitcase. And then, completely unnecessarily, I lined the suitcase interior with tough, durable pigskin.

Functionality

One time, we were taking a two month trip around the world, filming a documentary on the making of our canvas line, Mountainback. We had my wife and I, our two little kids, and our filmmaker, Joe. There were eight full 50 lb. Leather Suitcases and Beast Duffle Bags are packed for cold weather (Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand) and hot weather (Kenya and Rwanda). We also had 2 large carry-ons per person. You can imagine the size of the vehicle we needed to rent to fit all of our things. Well, when we got to Australia, low and behold, they only had tiny little vehicles to rent. This would have stressed out any traveler with lesser luggage, but not us. So I took the two removable belts off our suitcases and strapped most of the luggage to the cute little roof rack.

The suitcase is not lightweight, but it's not too heavy either. It is the right balance to make it challenging to fit 50 lbs. (23 kgs) into it. The interior is just one simple wide open space with two interior straps to hold clothes in place like they used to make them.

Luggage with Real Leather Straps

The leather straps that wrap around and buckle the suitcase closed are full grain leather, just like the rest of the leather suitcase. This is not the cheap fabric or PU (polyurethane) synthetic leather strap that most luggage brands use.

Durability

On the first major trip with my first suitcase, I carried this leather suitcase and my leather briefcase throughout Eastern Europe and North Africa for about 6 weeks. And about 3 weeks into it, the suitcase handle broke. The added complexity and energy exerted made me swear that would never happen to anyone who carried one of my suitcases.

The handle is now bolted onto the leather suitcase and hand-sewn with boot-cord to the body. It is scarce for leather luggage to have this sort of serious consideration, but I wanted you to have the best leather luggage set you can get. Good wasn't enough; great leather luggage takes time to be designed right, then it needs to be used and abused to discover any changes that can make it better. We did that.

There are no breakable parts like zippers, snaps, buttons, etc. Using those is like putting a cardboard hatch on a billion-dollar submarine. Once the hatch breaks, the submarine is worthless. So instead of metal hinges, I designed them with a double layer of full grain leather along the back. And the body is mostly handsewn with heavy-duty waxed boot cord for added strength.

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Related Products

(20)
Write a Review
  • Posted by Walnut B. on 28th Sep 2016
    5
    Here is the thing
    I believe in climate change and that the earth is in a bad environmental shape, and wether you're a believer in this or not, do yourself a favor a buy this suitcase, i have the medium size and it's crazy well manufactured, i think Dave is loosing it to how much he's doing these products so well! it's surreal! it will be the last suitcase you'll buy unless you buy 2 3 4 or more of that one, it's a shame that the medium size doesn't exist anymore because it's the perfect balance between what an airline weight limit is and what you need to pack for few weeks!
  • Posted by Walnut B. on 10th Sep 2016
    5
    5 Stars!
    I have three of these suitcases, large size which is the size currently available, in tobacco, medium in dark coffee brown, and small size in chestnut. The medium and small sizes are not currently available, but may occasionally pop up in Dave's Deals. I purchased the medium coffee brown from Dave's Deals. The small size is a little larger overall compared with the hard sided carry-on, and I check in all of these bags when I travel with them. I select the size(s) to bring based on my travel needs each trip. The bags do not lock; if they did lock, I still would not lock them, as that would encourage thieves to cut the leather straps. I have checked these bags twenty or thirty times on major airlines, sometimes with just clothing inside, occasionally with other items inside that I could not or did not wish to carry-on. Not once has anything ever been stolen. A few times I have had a paper inside notifying me that TSA inspected my bag. Never have I had a problem yet, hope I never will. I of course don't check money, jewelry, or expensive electronics. These suitcases are tough and continue to hold up well. The baggage handlers treat them rough, I have scuffs, scrapes, and a couple of gouges in the leather. The bags continue to look better each trip, and improve with age and wear and tear, particularly the tobacco. Everyone loves my suitcases. Every trip I am asked by people I have never met, where did I get them, how can they get them, etc. I carry these bags most of the time; usually it is a short walk from the airport curb to the check in counter, but sometimes longer distances. Packed full, my large suitcase is usually 40-45 lbs, the other suitcases, a little lighter. For longer walks, I ordered extra Saddleback briefcase straps, and I clip a strap to the rings where the handle attaches, and carry a suitcase over my shoulder. On the occasions when I am carrying two of these suitcases, along with a carry-on, and a briefcase, then I strap the two suitcases and sometimes the briefcase too, to a lightweight folding luggage cart. When I get to the counter, I fold up the luggage cart, put it in a plastic bag, and then into the suitcase, it is quick and easy, and an easy answer for those that may require rolling luggage for any number of reasons. The look and feel, build, and overall quality and durability of these suitcases is truly outstanding; there is really nothing else on the market that even comes close. I continue to be very happy with these suitcases.
  • Posted by Walnut B. on 23rd Mar 2016
    5
    Exactly what I had envisioned!
    I have looked at the leather suitcases for years and never had the nerve to pull the trigger. I finally had enough money in pocket to get one and my only regret is how long I waited! I was thrilled when it arrived and love the look and feel of the leather, the sturdy construction, and the romance of the classic design. Nothing could compare, however, with the feeling of receiving praise and compliments everywhere I took it! Fellow travelers, airport staff, and resort staff all raved about my Saddleback luggage! Incidentally, I absolutely stuffed the suitcase to the point I had difficulty closing it and it still weighed in at just under 50 pounds. Amazing! I had everything I needed for a week of being very well dressed (suits, ties, pocket squares, dress shoes, etc.) in Las Vegas.
  • Posted by Walnut B. on 22nd Mar 2016
    3
    Large suticase
    I bought the large suitcase last year. Overall, I like it. The outside DCB leather is nice quality and I saw only very small marks on the outside. The light pigskin leather on the inside was a different issue. There was a large crease running down the entire lid of the briefcase. Saddleback customer service told me that it was not a defect despite it looking rather bad. I kept the briefcase but still wonder if I should have returned it. I expect natural marks on the leather, but this crease was not a natural range mark. If it was not for this issue, I would have given the suitcase five stars.
  • Posted by Walnut B. on 24th Jan 2016
    5
    BUYING ONLINE
    It's always a leap of faith to buy online without seeing the product first. My suitcase exceeded my expectations. They really are "all that" ! Thanks for making a great product!!