Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures

[Toombs]

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My Filson Bridle Leather briefcase in its usual place in my office. It has been in regular rotation depending on my job for 25 years. There are more practical bags out there, but very few material things make me smile as much as this bag. The leather's heft and bag's construction make you feel like a confident, captain of your destiny even when you don't. This was bought in pre - internet times. I remember calling Filson and they gave me a list of retailers that had recently received a shipment of this bag. I called one that was in New York City, and bought two of these. I may have even mailed them a check to pay for them. The second one has never been used and is sitting in my closet at home.

Checking in again with some Filson ephemera because we now have a Filson Historian @OtterMeanGreen. So in some of my original posts, I said that I purchased my bags in 1993 or 1994, and that the leather briefcases came from a store in NYC and shipped to me in Georgia.

On Sunday while cleaning out an office that I no longer use, I found the original receipt for the second of my leather briefcase purchases. Apparently I purchased the second briefcase on Nov 29, 1993. I say that it is my second briefcase purchase because I bought some extra luggage tags on this receipt. So at this point I had at least one briefcase, two tan bags, and another briefcase on the way.

I googled “Upland Trading Company, inc” and it appears that they are now closed. Their registered contact agent is Armando Negro and they filed their incorporation papers on August 2, 1993. I am pretty sure that I dealt with Armand Negro when I called to place the order. He talked at length about how much I was going to love the bag, it was a new product line for them, and that I would be giving this bag to my children one day because the leather was so thick with such a beautiful finish. He had a very distinctive accent that was very different from my distinctive southern accent.


As a side note to the belts, I also have a Filson Double Bridle Leather belt that has seen very little use because 26 years ago office attire was much more formal. As office attire became more casual and the belt would be appropriate, my girth surpassed the belt size.

 

[DuckMan_11]

Also, I noticed a new duffle on the website today. Seems to be similar to the excursion bag, but only available in the mossy oak pattern right now.

https://www.filson.com/filson-x-mossy-oak-camo-tin-cloth-duffle-pack.html#sku=20078379-fco-005136882

I’m not sure what to think of this bag. I want to like it, but would probably just grab my excursion bag.

 

[Soletrane]

View attachment 1154163

Checking in again with some Filson ephemera because we now have a Filson Historian @OtterMeanGreen. So in some of my original posts, I said that I purchased my bags in 1993 or 1994, and that the leather briefcases came from a store in NYC and shipped to me in Georgia.

On Sunday while cleaning out an office that I no longer use, I found the original receipt for the second of my leather briefcase purchases. Apparently I purchased the second briefcase on Nov 29, 1993. I say that it is my second briefcase purchase because I bought some extra luggage tags on this receipt. So at this point I had at least one briefcase, two tan bags, and another briefcase on the way.

I googled “Upland Trading Company, inc” and it appears that they are now closed. Their registered contact agent is Armando Negro and they filed their incorporation papers on August 2, 1993. I am pretty sure that I dealt with Armand Negro when I called to place the order. He talked at length about how much I was going to love the bag, it was a new product line for them, and that I would be giving this bag to my children one day because the leather was so thick with such a beautiful finish. He had a very distinctive accent that was very different from my distinctive southern accent.


As a side note to the belts, I also have a Filson Double Bridle Leather belt that has seen very little use because 26 years ago office attire was much more formal. As office attire became more casual and the belt would be appropriate, my girth surpassed the belt size.

Thank you for sharing! In 2019 dollars, $400 would be about $700 according to the online inflation calculator. And I think prior to its discontinuation, it was nudging up towards $995. So interestingly, the price on the field satchel was much more stable than with the twill bags (I recall the original briefcase went for only $135 MSRP in the mid to late 90s in NYC at Paragon Sports).

I have the field satchel next to me on my credenza. I like the unique and paradoxical mix of rugged + formal. I think Filson knew what they were doing when they put "field" in front of "satchel".

Speaking of formal, you mentioned office attire being more formal back in the day. It certainly was! I carried a full leather briefcase (sadly not a field satchel) starting out in the early 90s (along with a suit) but over time, office dress codes relaxed and black nylon laptop bags (Tumi being the prestigious entrant in that category 25 years ago) emerged then messenger bags then backpacks in recent years (especially with many younger people now entering the work force).

 

[Churchill W]

Thank you for sharing! In 2019 dollars, $400 would be about $700 according to the online inflation calculator. And I think prior to its discontinuation, it was nudging up towards $995. So interestingly, the price on the field satchel was much more stable than with the twill bags (I recall the original briefcase went for only $135 MSRP in the mid to late 90s in NYC at Paragon Sports).

I have the field satchel next to me on my credenza. I like the unique and paradoxical mix of rugged + formal. I think Filson knew what they were doing when they put "field" in front of "satchel".

Speaking of formal, you mentioned office attire being more formal back in the day. It certainly was! I carried a full leather briefcase (sadly not a field satchel) starting out in the early 90s (along with a suit) but over time, office dress codes relaxed and black nylon laptop bags (Tumi being the prestigious entrant in that category 25 years ago) emerged then messenger bags then backpacks in recent years (especially with many younger people now entering the work force).

Ugh backpacks with suits. Not a good look.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

View attachment 1154163

Checking in again with some Filson ephemera because we now have a Filson Historian @OtterMeanGreen. So in some of my original posts, I said that I purchased my bags in 1993 or 1994, and that the leather briefcases came from a store in NYC and shipped to me in Georgia.

On Sunday while cleaning out an office that I no longer use, I found the original receipt for the second of my leather briefcase purchases. Apparently I purchased the second briefcase on Nov 29, 1993. I say that it is my second briefcase purchase because I bought some extra luggage tags on this receipt. So at this point I had at least one briefcase, two tan bags, and another briefcase on the way.

I googled “Upland Trading Company, inc” and it appears that they are now closed. Their registered contact agent is Armando Negro and they filed their incorporation papers on August 2, 1993. I am pretty sure that I dealt with Armand Negro when I called to place the order. He talked at length about how much I was going to love the bag, it was a new product line for them, and that I would be giving this bag to my children one day because the leather was so thick with such a beautiful finish. He had a very distinctive accent that was very different from my distinctive southern accent.


As a side note to the belts, I also have a Filson Double Bridle Leather belt that has seen very little use because 26 years ago office attire was much more formal. As office attire became more casual and the belt would be appropriate, my girth surpassed the belt size.

Awesome, thanks for sharing that with us. Such a cool momento.
I originally used the word “historian” so the eBay seller wouldn’t take offense to me correcting his listing and actually implement the changes I was suggesting. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out so well; like with that one seller who was claiming his 256 was from the 1980’s and no matter how much information I brought to the table, it wasn’t worth the effort.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

Ugh backpacks with suits. Not a good look.

Sounds like a challenge. We have several members with Journeyman’s who also wear suits. @mgrennier @CCF1897 @Soletrane ...do you guys concur? I don’t own a Journeyman (yet) or require a suit, so I can’t weigh in on this

 

[speedy611]

View attachment 1154163

Checking in again with some Filson ephemera because we now have a Filson Historian @OtterMeanGreen. So in some of my original posts, I said that I purchased my bags in 1993 or 1994, and that the leather briefcases came from a store in NYC and shipped to me in Georgia.

On Sunday while cleaning out an office that I no longer use, I found the original receipt for the second of my leather briefcase purchases. Apparently I purchased the second briefcase on Nov 29, 1993. I say that it is my second briefcase purchase because I bought some extra luggage tags on this receipt. So at this point I had at least one briefcase, two tan bags, and another briefcase on the way.

I googled “Upland Trading Company, inc” and it appears that they are now closed. Their registered contact agent is Armando Negro and they filed their incorporation papers on August 2, 1993. I am pretty sure that I dealt with Armand Negro when I called to place the order. He talked at length about how much I was going to love the bag, it was a new product line for them, and that I would be giving this bag to my children one day because the leather was so thick with such a beautiful finish. He had a very distinctive accent that was very different from my distinctive southern accent.


As a side note to the belts, I also have a Filson Double Bridle Leather belt that has seen very little use because 26 years ago office attire was much more formal. As office attire became more casual and the belt would be appropriate, my girth surpassed the belt size.

Thank you for posting this - it’s a wonderful living piece of history. What were we all doing in November 93? I was at university and I can’t think what sort of bag I was using. I do still have my fountain pen that I used all through that time though - a Parker Sonnet given to me by my father who was a senior guy at Parker Pen.

I had to read the invoice twice to remind myself that it was 3 luggage tags for $50 not 1 as today...

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

Thank you for posting this - it’s a wonderful living piece of history. What were we all doing in November 93? I was at university and I can’t think what sort of bag I was using. I do still have my fountain pen that I used all through that time though - a Parker Sonnet given to me by my father who was a senior guy at Parker Pen.

I had to read the invoice twice to remind myself that it was 3 luggage tags for $50 not 1 as today...

In 1993 I was 9 years old and had very little use for a briefcase. Although as a kid growing up in the early 1990’s I was privileged with seeing the original Jurassic Park in theaters through the magical eyes of a child. But if you want to get technical, in November 1993 i was in Grammer School in the 5th Grade I think.

 

[JustinW]

1993, I was full time in the Australian Army Reserves completing medical training and taking time out from a long deferred postgrad history degree I’d lost interest in. I’d just spent the summer bumming around Europe, I was also falling in love for the first time and beginning to wonder what I was going to do if/when I ever grew-up. I was getting my style cues from whichever band was on the cover of the NME and Melody Maker at the time (I recall a Slowdive parka and Ride stripey shirt).

 

[Davey13]

In 1993 I was 9 years old and had very little use for a briefcase. Although as a kid growing up in the early 1990’s I was privileged with seeing the original Jurassic Park in theaters through the magical eyes of a child. But if you want to get technical, in November 1993 i was in Grammer School in the 5th Grade I think.

Still not sure why Jeff Goldblum was in that movie, but great movie nonetheless. I also remember seeing this in the theater with my dad, one of my favorites for sure.

 

[Soletrane]

1993, I was full time in the Australian Army Reserves completing medical training and taking time out from a long deferred postgrad history degree I’d lost interest in. I’d just spent the summer bumming around Europe, I was also falling in love for the first time and beginning to wonder what I was going to do if/when I ever grew-up. I was getting my style cues from whichever band was on the cover of the NME and Melody Maker at the time (I recall a Slowdive parka and Ride stripey shirt).

I envy you, Justin. I spent too much time focused on working or just as often, trying to find work (it wasn't a great period economically here in North America for graduating GenXers in the early 90s). I very much regret not bumming around Europe in my early twenties as a rite of passage. I was there as a teen and much later in my late 30s and 40s, but never in that sweet spot of young adulthood where you're free to pursue almost anything (or anyone)!

 

[Soletrane]

Sounds like a challenge. We have several members with Journeyman’s who also wear suits. @mgrennier @CCF1897 @Soletrane ...do you guys concur? I don’t own a Journeyman (yet) or require a suit, so I can’t weigh in on this

As I have written in this thread before - people who are notably stylish appear to be able to wear apparently incongruent things and make it rise above the expected. The devil is, of course, in the details. The right suit and accessories worn with the right backpack in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, I cannot count myself among the truly stylish so can offer no advice in this matter.

 

[FilsonDude]

I agree with Soletrane, backpack and suit is not a common combination and perhaps not seen as “acceptable” but it can be done tastefully with the right stuff.

Speaking of backpacks, I’d like to see what you guys think is the best one done by Filson past and present.
There’s been many mentions of the Journeyman here and I personally own and use a Rucksack almost everyday. I was at my local Filson earlier this week and handled a Journeyman for the first time. Honestly I wasn’t overly impressed with it. The extra pockets and storage options are nice but it just didn’t feel as “rugged” as the Ruck. Case in point is the tiny thin leather carry handle that seems oddly out of proportion. That’s just the first impression I got ... maybe you guys can convince me otherwise.

my Ruck

 

[speedy611]

As I have written in this thread before - people who are notably stylish appear to be able to wear apparently incongruent things and make it rise above the expected. The devil is, of course, in the details. The right suit and accessories worn with the right backpack in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, I cannot count myself among the truly stylish so can offer no advice in this matter.

I think this is well put. I love the images of Ralph Lauren in tuxedo and cowboy boots etc. I think a lot of being truly stylish rather than just fashionable is dressing as much for yourself as for others and doing so because you like the clothes - for whatever reason. That authenticity carries through whether it’s a suit and tie or ripped jeans.
Diminishing self consciousness comes with age and experience, and certainly as I get older I wear more and more unconventional stuff. If everyone else is in tightly tailored single breasted suits, I’ll be there in a soft shoulder double breasted POW check.

As ever Filson ticks the boxes for quality, heritage, durability, and yes, style.

Carry on!

 

[coolarrow]

I think you can pull off a backpack with a suit. I only have a practical caution: the straps from your backpack can ruin the padding of the suit shoulders. Before I came to filson, I packed my work stuff in Timbuk2 bike/messenger type bags. I guess I would carry this bag over one shoulder only. After one year, one of my suit jackets developed a serious dimple. Made me look unbalanced, lol. The only way to carry a backpack is over 2 shoulders or 1, right?

I'm more careful to carry my filson bag with the handstraps now. But I will sometimes cross body it when I have to carry other stuff with my hands.