Organizes - Great for staying organized so you can find stuff in your bag e.g. chargers, lipstick, cables, nose powder, batteries, etc.
Closure - Closes securely with free leather tie so your stuff won’t spill out
100 Year Warranty - Have your great-grandchildren talk to my great-grandchildren, and we'll fix it or replace it for free. Only for 100 years, though.
Full Grain Leather - Only thick Full Grain leather; not Top Grain or the weak Genuine and Bonded leathers.
No Breakable Parts - No zippers, snaps, buttons or any other breakable parts to fail or scratch your gear. How much is a billion dollar submarine worth with a cardboard hatch?
Industrial Thread - Stout industrial marine-grade Polyester UV-resistant thread. It’s used for airbags, sails, work boots and other heavy-duty applications. I ought to keep an extra spool in my truck for towing.
Lining - Unlined for flexibility and lighter weight
Fully Tanned Leather – Good tanneries remove natural oils and preservatives from the hide and then replenish them with high quality synthetics and oils. Then they soak and tumble it for up to 20 hours until the new colors and oils reach the middle. Cheap tanneries only tumble them long enough to color the surface and leave the middle to dry up and crack.
Insulates - Heat is a killer of cameras and electronics. When I lived in Juarez, Mexico, it averaged 95 degrees every day in the summer, and I didn’t have A/C in my truck. If I put my Nalgene water bottle filled with ice on my seat between me and Blue, then the water would stay cold for about an hour. If I put it in my thick leather bag, it would stay icy for about 5 hours. On the conductivity charts, leather isn’t as insulative as Styrofoam, but it’s more than wood. Think about that when your candy bar and deodorant are sitting in your hot car melting.
Seams - A few large pieces of leather with as few seams as possible. The more seams, the weaker the bag because a seam is where the needle tore a bunch of holes in the leather and weakened it. Check out this junk duffel I bought in a moment of weakness and desperation in Mexico made of 85 small pieces of leather.
Dimensions
5 ⅞” (14.9 cm) Tall
6 ⅞” (17.5 cm) Wide
1 ¾” (4.4 cm) Deep
Weight
0.35 pounds (0.15 kg)
Sample Accessories Load
Phone charger, lipstick, computer charger, mouse, hard drive, nose powder
Leather
100% hypoallergenic 4 to 5 oz (2.0mm to 2.2mm) thick Full Grain chrome tanned leather. Usually, cowboy and work boots are made with 1.8mm - 2.0mm thickness. And, our leather isn't “buttery soft” (fibers separated and broken down by hours of tumbling and stretching at the tannery). It’s your job to tenderize it over the years.
Thread
The double zero continuous-filament Polyester thread we use is a little thicker than what is used on most boots. It’s impressive and expensive. Common thread is made of short little fibers wound together into one long thread. This thread is made of long continuous fibers that won't fall apart in a strong wind. Polyester thread is also the only thread I know of that doesn't deteriorate with exposure to the sun like Nylon or Kevlar.
How can I get my spouse to understand that I need this?
Here's your rationale: Buy the best, cry once. It's all about the cost per year. In college, I bought a pair of very expensive shoes for my job as a waiter. I couldn't afford them, but I bought them anyhow. They were really light and comfortable and took me through two years of waiting tables and one year as a limo driver and another year of occasional use. And then they still looked good for a month of Sundays. Cost per year was about $25. Most of the other waiters bought a new pair of $55 heavy and uncomfortable shoes every 6 months because theirs wore out and looked ratty by then. One of the principles the successful in the world understand is this: If one buys quality from the start they save money. Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish. This will be one of the most savvy investments and inexpensive leather pieces you'll ever have. And remember, you must truly love yourself before you can love others. A couple of other things to think about you'll be more popular. Everybody isn't buying one. I'll invite you to my birthday party. What's wrong, you chicken?
Which color should I get?
Pick the one that fits who you are. I've observed what the bag owners tend to be like based on the color they have chosen over the years. The category below that fits you best is probably the color you'll enjoy most. Remember, your first inclination is usually the correct one.
Tobacco Light Brown (Sanguine)
Easy going
Laid back and casual
Likes old Land Cruisers
Forgives quickly
Creative (enjoys writing)
Loves big dogs
Traveler
Never met a stranger
Low maintenance
Lots of random thoughts
Inventor
Funny
Loves the outdoors
Adventurous
Only wears clothes because you have to
Carbon Black (Phlegmatic or Choleric)
You look good in a thick black leather jacket
Rides a cruiser type motorcycle
Wear thick black framed glasses
Drives a Volvo or Saab
Perfectionist
They know your name at the coffee shop
Sci-Fi is your favorite genre
Are very interested in Oriental culture
Prefer cats over dogs
Loves modern contemporary style square furniture
Chestnut Reddish Brown (Choleric or Melancholy)
Professional
Highly educated
Belongs in a Mercedes Benz or Jaguar
Classier than most
Perfectionist
Has excellent taste in dressing and decorating
Great sense of humor
Intellectual
Smokes a pipe instead of a cigarette
Appreciates the finer things
Dark Coffee Brown (Phlegmatic or Choleric or Melancholy)
Loves the outdoors
Is the best friend of many people
Reads a lot of books
Loves big dogs
Intellectual
Loves adventure
Independent
Musical
If you still aren't sure, then just buy all four colors.
Are the animals tortured before they are slaughtered?
Absolutely not ! With some pigs we do use waterboarding and sensory deprivation techniques previous to slaughtering them, but the cows do not require any special handling.
Where can I see one of the bags in person?
I don't have any of the items in stores and we're not big fans of folks coming to our home in San Antonio because of the weirdo factor. My sister, Patricia and her husband (my Chess and Scrabble nemesis), send out the leather from their place near Ft. Worth, Texas, but again, because of the weirdo factor they're not set up to show either. If it helps, everyone tells me that they look better in person.
How much do they cost you, Dave?
Well, I lived for three years in a $100 a month apartment in Mexico with no hot water, because of these bags. My dog, Blue, and I drove for thousands of hours all over the North American continent because of these bags. I had a crooked Federale sent to kill me because of these bags (I convinced him that Señor Alarcon would never pay him) and we became friends). I've shed gallons of blood and tears and sweat and at least a quart of other people's, because of these bags. I've slept in my car or on the rack of my old Land Cruiser at least 150 times because of these bags. I've lost weeks of sleep and have gone hungry for days because of these bags. I was broke for years and even had to trade two of Blue's little puppies for a month's worth of tacos in order to eat because of these bags. I've been detained by who knows how many Mexican police because of these bags. I've thrown away thousands of dollars and made hundreds of mistakes because of these bags. I've been stolen from, taken advantage of and robbed because of these bags (they even stole Blue once, but I got him back). All of these things and more have happened to me because of these bags. They cost me a lot.
Great for cigar accessories
I have a couple of these bags. I carry a cigar or two in a wooden cigar tube, along with my matches and cutter, rolled and tied up in the bag, stuck into my sport jacket pocket. This is more of an accessory, but it's rustic yet classy, and I dig it.
I teach at the one of the largest medical schools in the country and enjoy reaching for my smoking bag, unrolling it and casually cutting & lighting a rich and well aged cigar in front of residents and medical students. They are often aghast at a professor of medicine who smokes cigars! It starts conversations about the wisdom of moderation....and the health benefits of actually enjoying life with prudence and good taste. I admit that the whole thing is a bit vain and professorial, but I grew up in the 60's and 70's, and forgive myself this mild anti-establishment indulgence. SBL items are prudent choices, and made in good taste. Watch it though - they can be addictive...
Great for Tools
I used this for cables at first, but I didn't think it was a good use for such a tough bag. So, I put a bunch of my often used, small tools in it (screwdriver with different attachments, tape measure, pliers, allen wrenches, etc.) and I use it around and outside the house for small projects. It's great! I don't always have to lug around the toolbox when I only need a few tools, and it works perfectly because it's so durable.
Awesome pipe bag
I have been on a quest for something classier than the purple velvet bag from a certain blended Canadian whiskey for my pipes, tobacco, zippo and other accessories needed for pipe smoking on the go. Thanks to George's comments below.... I knew I had to try this out. It arrived today in record time after ordering just 2-3 days ago. The cable bag is PERFECT for the pipe smoker... it is currently holding two good sized pipes, two tobacco pouches, a zippo, pipe tool and two boxes of matches. And.... there is still room! This bag is way better looking in person that the pics here show. You need this bag... I bet you could find a hundred uses for it.
Typical Saddleback Quality
I just received this on a Dave's Deal, and of course I can't find a flaw on it. This is in DCB to match my large classic briefcase. I've loaded up with iPad and iPhone chargers, some extra batteries, a wireless mouse and a few thumb drives and there's plenty of room to spare. The bag is made of just four pieces of leather, and the cord to tie it,shut looks like it'll last at least as long as the bag. Now, it's just a matter of using the hell out of it and watching the character develop.
Pipe Case
Though this is described as a cable bag, I purchased this with another use in mind. I am a pipe smoker and this pack is perfect to carry 1 or 2 medium-sized pipes, plenty of tobacco, a few packs of matches, and all other paraphernalia that one might need.
Goes without saying, but it makes a great conversation piece, too. I am about to order a second one right now perhaps, even for cables.
Wow! Built like a tank!
I bought the Cable Bag for two things; 1) To carry laptop cable and accessories in my Messenger Bag, and 2) To carry and protect my Bible when I need a case.
My Bible is a Holman large print Compact Bible. The length and thickness of the bag is perfect, it is about an inch too wide. But I just wrap up the bag and it works fine.
This is the first unlined Saddleback product I've bought and I was truly surprised at how thick it is. Seriously. I finally understand what Dave means by 'like boot leather but thicker.' And the leather strap for closing it, although not covered on the century warranty appears to be double thick/glued leather like what the case is made from. I don't think I'll ever, ever wear it out.
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