Saddleback Leather Company - Official Affiliate thread - Page 87

Drought hit cattle pretty hard this year, so yeah leather prices kinda suck right now.

Obviously the price increase sucks (got my class briefcase last week woo), but we should point out the effort and explanation SBL and Dave put out to send such a great explanation. Saddleback, that is outstanding customer service. I appreciate your explanation and the detail you discussed to explain the situation. I also agree with your philosophy on treating your people right. Thank - you for being up front, and more importantly, communicating with us.

Hey big fan of SBL been lurking on the forums for awhile and have been on the facebook page for awhile but just decided to join the forums here
 

I recently purchased a Saddleback classic briefcase. It's something I can use casually as well as professionally.

 

However, I was wondering how easily the leather should crease. The only reason I'm asking is that I'm getting non-uniform wrinkles/creases on my bag at the base of the flap (at the top of the bag).  When I open the flap, I get heavy creases/wrinkles on one side, but not the other. Is the wrinkling ok and the other half of my bag just has super-strong leather? I've opened the bag maybe 4 times (I haven't really used it yet) and I can feel that the leather isn't as smooth on one side, and I can see some slight discoloration along the area where it wrinkles when the bag is opened.

 

My bag also came with creases concentrated on an area on the front of the bag, almost as if it was hit by something.

Most Saddleback owners enjoy the character of the leather and how it ages with use. Without pics its hard to tell how severe your issue is, but if it is going to bother you return it while you can.

That creasing is normal and the nature of leather. It seems to be most noticible with the Dark Coffee Brown color. The pigskin on the lining is much thinner and doesn't show the wrinkles much.

 

I personally like the wirnkles. Shows the bag is actually being used and gives it character.

Thanks. Mine is dark coffee brown. I don't mind the creasing at the top. I was just worried that it wasn't normal since as of right now it's only happening on one side.

I bought my second bag from SBL recently. My classic large briefcase was a bit too much at times; as much as I love it, when my back problems flare up I just can't carry that much weight on one side. So, I picked up a large thin briefcase in the same color - chestnut. It was amazing to see the difference in color between the new briefcase and my old one, which has a couple of years' daily use on the clock. I hadn't really noticed the color change, and it makes me look forward to how my new one will look after some regular use. It also messes up my plan - I was thinking about selling the older one, but now I've decided to keep it for travel. I actually used it two weeks ago for a trip to Dallas, and that completely affirmed my decision to keep it.

I also got the email from Dave about the price increase, and based on my experience with them I have to say that if he had announced the price increase *effective immediately* and I hadn't yet bought this second bag, it wouldn't have changed my decision to purchase. In fact, I may consider buying another one in dark coffee brown in another year or so; it seems like such a versatile color.

Coffee Brown large satchel at two years, fresh from a hit of saphir renovateur. I've worn it 3-4 days a week. The patina and color depth it's developing are outstanding, particularly on the back where it rubs up against me as I walk. Can't wait to see what it looks like in another two years.

Nice looking satchel, Meso.  I love the side pouches on the satchel and the full size brief.  I wish they'd have done something like that on the Thin Brief.

Speaking of which, I saw a user post these pictures earlier:  

 

I love the extra storage the belt pouches provide, and I think they give the strap a "manly", utilitarian look.  The contrast is nice, too.  Any idea where to get that style of belt pouch?  I've been Googling for two days with little luck.  

I work in IT, and the extra compartments would really come in handy for a daily carry.  I'm thinking a Tobacco Thin brief with dark leather belt pouches, but finding the pouches has really become "make or break" for me with regard to buying the bag.

Hey everyone I'm looking for some advice becuase im thinking of getting a Briefcase but i am torn between the large thing and large classic briefacse i am 5'9" around 200lbs and a student so it will be for class and daily things like that i guess im just trying to maximize my utility per dollar becuase they are so expensive (to me) and was wondering what you guys think is the large thing enough for daily things and class or should i opt for the classic for the extra space

does anyone have pictures for comparison , or better yet experience with either and thoughts thanks a lot

I am roughly your same size, and carry the large thin briefcase every day. I travel for business 3-5 days a week, and it's a beast. I carry a laptop, notebook, tablet, cords, and a bunch of other crap. I've posted epics in this thread, I believe...

I have a large classic briefcase and use it daily for work and school. If you are carrying textbooks, you definitely want to go as large as possible. I carry a laptop, 3 inch binder, and ipad in on compartment of my class brief then various smaller items (pen case, cable bag with zagg sparq, cords, mouse, and whatever else is needed). The large brief is not too big and I do not feel that if it is not loaded to the gills I am wasting the size. There are times when it is stuffed to the max and when it isn't its comforting to know I can carry anything I might need.

My Large chestnut Classic and my Indy boots...wasn't trying to match. Lighting makes the bag appear redder than it is, but I'm considering switching to Dark Coffee.

Edited by FENWAY - 9/18/12 at 6:18pm

Here are some comparison pics: my new large thin briefcase, and my two-year-old large classic (notice the patina). If you have a strong back and need to carry lots of stuff, I recommend the large classic. However, I have occasional back problems that flare up from an injury 15 years ago so I got the thin recently to minimize the load. That said, I can still fit my laptop, iPad, iPod touch, Saddleback notepad, umbrella, and miscellaneous other crap in the large thin. I'd say that's sufficient unless you need to haul some textbooks too.