Briefcase: Like or dislike? - Page 2

Looks heavy and bulky.

Let me ask you this. If two guys walk into your office and one has a a slim, trim briefcase and another guy is lugging in a big, heavy leather bag, which one makes the best impression?

Yes, much better for mine.

Better, but still too bulky.

The man carrying the big heavy bag would make a better impression on me since it would take a stronger man to carry it. The stronger man would be in better shape and probably live longer. Saddleback bags are even bulkier than this and look utterly fantastic. Back to the OP's question: The bag from that link looks ok, but I am now wondering what this bag will look like in 3 years. Maximus Mark, can you post photos of yours? It would be valuable information to see.

Exactly! How much shit do yu n eed to carry on a daily basis? Are you in a business where a laptop/manuals/mouthwash is needed every day? I see people in my office carry bags like that every day and the only thing they ever take out of it is the newspaper!

It's a hard question to answer, because there are a lot of practical (i.e., non-look/non-style) issues involved. It depends on what industry you work in, how much stuff you have to carry each day, and so on. I think the briefcase looks fine, but it really depends on what you carry every day.

IMO, a good guideline is probably to get the smallest possible bag that can carry your necessities. If you get an oversized bag for your needs, you will probably end up filling it with stuff you don't need.

I recently moved from a messenger bag to an Ernest Alexander waxed canvas tote and I love it. But it might not be the style of bag that would suit your needs.

the hartmann looks superb. love the clean lines and twist clasp. elegant yet highly functional.

i can't believe that a place like hartmann won't provide pics of the insides, though.

How will you use the briefcase? What goes into it, where will you take it? How will you be dressed, usually, when carrying it?

The scholar is a good-looking bag in whiskey. It could be great if you carry a lot of books and papers as a rumpled professor working in a casual environment. But it could fail if you carry only a laptop and wear charcoal pinstripe suits to work in a bank.

Context provides about 70% of the information needed to evaluate the purchase.

I have a shell cordovan soft briefcase like the one in the pic.

I have the scholar in whiskey. It's ok for what it is, but if you use the strap prepare for the top to get wrinkled"”the strap attaches to the side of the bag, so it scrunches the top flap when the bag is worn. Furthermore, as people have said, the strap itself is quite narrow and can be uncomfortable when the bag is fully loaded.

On the plus side it was relatively inexpensive, and I do get compliments on it"”it's nicer than the nylon bags most students have. Also, while it looks very boxy at first, once broken in the bag takes on more of a triangular profile from the side, unless completely full. That is, since your carrying it from the top, the top half compresses. The only problem then is that you end up with a gap between the flap and the top of the compartments, which may annoy you if you live in a rainy climate.

I don't really care for the original bag, or the Jack Georges bag. If you actually require something large check these out:
http://www.glaserdesigns.com/Pages/B...sesStyles.html

I'm not a fan of the styling but at least they'll be high quality, and that always looks good.

If you're willing to go slimmer, this company produces amazing cases:
http://www.swaineadeney.co.uk/leathe...ses/index.html

I have an SAB case and love it. If you can't afford to spend this much money, I also have a Filson Field Satchel:
http://www.filsonluggage.com/Filson_...hel-721-1.html

I didn't love it when it was new, but now that it has some wear, it has grown on me. It's nowhere near as nice as the SAB case though!

Have and almost identical case in tan leather that I got from Levenger on super sale.
Love it. Holds a couple of books, my 13" macbook and all the pens and pencils required for a given day (as well as chargers, etc.) I travel pretty frequently and it has held up surprisingly well. I brought my brother basicially the same bag you showed from customhide and it is nice, but there are some little details that are annoying. Primarily the quick snap buckles are small. Too small. Also I would have to say that the shoulder strap issues are not that intense.