Saddleback Leather

[vintage68]

Anyone deal with Saddleback Leather Co.?

I tried to load an image from their website but couldn't do it for some reason.

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/

Anyone have one of their bags? Customer service experience? I just ordered the satchel on the homepage. Looks like great heavy-duty adventure gear with a vintage feel...

 

[Nightman]

Hello forum, long time lurker and love this board. Cheers!

Let me introduce myself; Rob Stevens, from Old Bridge NJ, by way of Bayonne, NJ, just outside of Manhatten, NY. I'm a 37 yo professional with a global media company, who has a deep appreciation of the finer things in life. I think all things are better when carried out with style. Great board folks!

I thought my first post should be a productive one and will attempt to give an honest review of my newly ordered Saddleback Leather XL Dark Coffee Brown briecase.

I literally just clicked the "buy now" button and am very excited to start down the road of classic style and rugged adventure. I'm fairly confident that I made a good choice for a travel bag and will let the forum know what my "real world" opinion is.

Keep up the good work and thanks for creating a forum that I can enjoy.

Rob
I have a trip to San Francisco coming up in a month, so this bag will be a welcomed companion. Next up will be a custom 1945 US Army from Custom Hide for my everyday travels and meetings. I'm equally confident that this bag will meet or exceed my expectations as well.

 

[KeyGrip]

Welcome to the Lounge, please keep us updated.

 

[acl1]

Paging JLStorm, didn't he review it already?

 

[JLStorm]

Im fairly happy with the bag although the way it is tanned and the process used that is designed to make the bag look aged quickly really gets on my nerves. All the details are there on the styleforum posts along with some questions from some other members.

 

[rover]

I read JLStorm's review and think it is good to have a variety of opinions. I think he fairly points out the real quality of the bag and fairly expresses his tastes. I have been carrying a Saddleback briefcase for over a year and simply love it. The leather is becoming more an more supple every day, and in my opinion, just perfect. There are other options if the "ruggedness" of the SBL product isn't what you are looking for, but if it is I don't think you will find a better quality bag. I actually have to get around treating mine for the first time. I don't feel any rush too as I don't feel the leather is suffering from use at all.

 

[skinny tie]

saddleback makes some tough bags...dave has taken it everywhere and it seems to hold up very well

 

[AngryNJ]

I really appreciate this thorough review. I was looking into this company a while back and had a hard time with the incredibly varied praises and complaints about this company. Your review it thorough and detailed. Thanks!

 

[FRASER_NASH]

I have the Saddleback large briefcase and I often use it as an overnighter, as it's big enough for that to be honest. I don't know if they have changed their leather or use different weight leathers on different models, but 'this one' is ****** proof!! Actually, if truth be told, it's almost 'too heavy' and ****** proof for a basic brief case and that's one of the reasons 'probably' that it's getting more use as an overnighter!! But I love it. It's BUILT to last. This beast is rivetted and stitched to epic proportions and could probably do a tour of Afghanistan or Iraq in its' stride!! But 'light' it is NOT (So be aware of that, as it's heavy before you even pack it with kit). Each to their own, but as I'll reiterate, 'I' like it

 

[Seb Lucas]

Tough Leather Gear: Saddleback Leather Co

I just got their large satchel and a wallet sent to me.

I think they are well made, but not all that much different to leather goods I've purchased from craft markets. I imagine that Saddleback uses better thread, perhaps, but I don't see all that much difference between it and the gear I bought directly from crafts people here in town in past decades. But it is harder these days to find good solid leather luggage.

My problem is that the satchel is so heavy and ***bersome and fiddly to buckle up, that I can't see myself using it. I've tried and it annoys me. It also doesn't fit all that much gear. Back to my (high quality) polyester travel bag with velcro.

The leather looks really cool, but functionality matters more to me. As someone who walks everywhere, I can't see myself carting around such a big lump of leather.

The wallet is okay. Certainly not much different to wallets I have bought from good street market vendors. Nice thick slabs of leather, to be sure and will last, but not very elegant which is fine by me.

Having said that Saddleback obviously make a great product in terms of build quality and appearance.

 

[PADDY]

Seb, there's a SADDLEBACK thread already. I'm mobile here, so cannot currently 'merge' them. Folks - please use the 'search' function first, as it's your FRIEND Thanks, Paddy.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I just took the plunge and ordered a couple of Saddleback leathers' briefcases (in black), very retro looking and very expensive. Does anyone have any experiance with Saddleback leather? Any photos of yours?

There's a thread on this elsewhere - 2 in fact.

I have the large Saddleback sachel. Very well made but no fun to use. Too heavy and stiff for my taste. It sits on my back like a brick and weighs heaps even when empty. I have no interest spending the next year or two hoping for it to soften. Looks cool but I'll keep it as an ornament and stay with a high quality rip proof vinyl which moulds to the body right away.

 

[scotrace]

Now the threads are one. We like to keep things together.

 

[Edward]

Im fairly happy with the bag although the way it is tanned and the process used that is designed to make the bag look aged quickly really gets on my nerves. All the details are there on the styleforum posts along with some questions from some other members.

Any chance of a reposting here for those of us who do not frequent the Style forum?

 

[Edward]

I have the Saddleback large briefcase and I often use it as an overnighter, as it's big enough for that to be honest. I don't know if they have changed their leather or use different weight leathers on different models, but 'this one' is ****** proof!! Actually, if truth be told, it's almost 'too heavy' and ****** proof for a basic brief case and that's one of the reasons 'probably' that it's getting more use as an overnighter!! But I love it. It's BUILT to last. This beast is rivetted and stitched to epic proportions and could probably do a tour of Afghanistan or Iraq in its' stride!! But 'light' it is NOT (So be aware of that, as it's heavy before you even pack it with kit). Each to their own, but as I'll reiterate, 'I' like it

Fifteen years later.... I recently bought a used model of the large, 'slim', single-buckle briefcase. Mine is the older model without the waterbottle pockets on the sides. Which is fine with me, I don't tend to feel the need to have a bottle always to hand that quickly... It's a great size for me. Bigger than some of my other days bags, but perfect for when I want to fly. I've used it on a trip already, two nights away visiting the folks back in the old country. Perfectly within the minimum-size cabin baggage that all the airlines going out of London now allow for free. Just neatly works as an overnight bag. I managed to fit pjs, a toothbrush, two changes of underwear, my tablet, a clean shirt, reading glasses, phone and phone charger, and mp3 player all in there. Much more minimal packing than I'm normally comfortable with, but kinda fun to do it that way. Trying the same thing next month with a third night programmed in.

It's encouraged me to keep an eye out for more of their stuff. I'll only be buying used, given they're not cheap, exacerbated by the historically low value of the £ against the $ this last decade. There do seem to be a lot of used options out there, though, given they are clearly not for everyone. It's one of my heavier bags, certainly, but for the sort of use I'm putting it to that's not an issue. When I need something smaller and lighter, I have other options (most of them also leather). There are a lot of competitors out there now, in 2025; I've had good results buying from Etsy with a little care to avoid the obvious nasties. (I did once order one from eBay that I returned because it smelt odd, like chip fat rather than leather, and because it was, more importantly, misadvertised. The backpack conversion in it only worked for anyone with probably an absolute maximum of a 38" chest, given the shortness of the strap. Quality was dubious as well, but it seems in this game you very much get what you pay for. The SB is now the grundnorm I measure others against. I won't always need something as robust, but it's a useful reference point all the same.

 

[vAx]

I had a large, thin briefcase in coffee brown that I bought from the States way back, 2013, I believe. Wow, 12 years ago… I’m getting old!

I recently sold it since I never really got around to using it. It was just too large and heavy for my liking, but I can’t fault the construction or build quality, it was an absolute beast of a bag. If you don’t mind lugging around an extra 2 kg or so, I’d definitely say go for it. I still have some pictures from the sale that might be of interest to someone.

I also bought an old leather Bull Belt (I think that’s what it was called), and that one’s still getting use to this day. One of the Chicago screws came loose, but that was quickly fixed with a little Loctite.

 

[Edward]

I had a large, thin briefcase in coffee brown that I bought from the States way back, 2013, I believe. Wow, 12 years ago… I’m getting old!

I recently sold it since I never really got around to using it. It was just too large and heavy for my liking, but I can’t fault the construction or build quality, it was an absolute beast of a bag. If you don’t mind lugging around an extra 2 kg or so, I’d definitely say go for it. I still have some pictures from the sale that might be of interest to someone.

I also bought an old leather Bull Belt (I think that’s what it was called), and that one’s still getting use to this day. One of the Chicago screws came loose, but that was quickly fixed with a little Loctite. View attachment 743279 View attachment 743280 View attachment 743281

That's exactly the one I have. Only shame is that the original owner cut off all the hoops other than just the two needed to hold the shoulder strap. It was done well so no damage, just means it can't be set up for wearing over both shoulders as a backpack. Still, I'm not complaining given that likely brought the price down; it was significantly less than the others on ebay at the time, and I think I paid about 20% of the price of the current equivalent new. The key strap is still in place, though, which is one of the greatest design features when using it as a travel bag. Nothing worse than putting my keys in a bag to get through airport security, then standing outside the black when I get home digging around for them...

It does have a fair bit of heft to it which I like, but that's definitely long been the main opinion splitter with SB. It's the one thing (obvious cost aside) that would make me wary of flying with one of their suitcases, given the weight of the case itself would eat heavily into the overall baggage allowance.