Free shipping, 30-day satisfaction guarantee - longer for gifts
Large size features suede side of pigskin lining
Covered by our 100 year warranty
Two spacious, secure front pockets with space behind to tuck in maps and small notebooks
Hidden pocket behind the main strap holds a cigar or pens
Wide rear external pocket for newspapers, thin books, or magazines
Interior of bag has two side pockets for pens, pencils, flash drives, and other small items
Shoulder strap is removable so it's simple to carry as a thin portfolio or briefcase
Internal key strap for runaway keys
Converts from shoulder bag to backpack for impromptu hikes
Made of tough full-grain leather which takes hits well and looks even better with age
Built with only a few pieces of leather to minimize seams and weak points
Stitched with marine-grade thread
Because of natural oils shade may vary
Dimensions (approximate size):
Adjustable strap length: 34 ½” - 59 ¼”
Medium
Exterior: 15” W x 11 ½” H x 3 ½” D
Interior: 14 ½” W x 11” H x 3” D
Holds up to a 15" Macbook, and most 15" laptops
5.35 pounds
Large
Exterior: 17” W x 12” H x 3 ¼” D
Interior: 16 ¼” W x 11 ¾ H x 3” D
Holds up to a 17" Macbook, and most 17" laptops
5.75 pounds
We use natural Markings Equal Inclusion of Exceptional Imperfection Ornamentation
"... Saddleback Leather no longer discriminates against any cow on the basis of age, appearance, lactose intolerance... if the beast has a natural marking or brand, or whether or not they worship the Divine Bovine."
Truth is, sometimes beauty is only skin deep... like with cows. Their poetry is notoriously terrible, but man, their hides are nature's art. We don't believe that flawlessness equals beauty. Beauty is when we're able to see something as it really is.
This is true with humans too. There are lots of quality people who are really beautiful not in spite of, but because of the marks life has given them.
A variation on our Thin Briefcase, with two external front pockets in place of an interior accessory division. Holds up to a 17" laptop.
As the story goes, I was an undercover FBI agent and my black lab, Blue, was a drug dog when I first moved to Juarez, Mexico. And the gang on my street didn’t like it much. Well, at least that’s what my little old landlord lady, Donita, told them.
You see, she didn’t like the gang hanging out on our street because of all of the late night noise, broken beer bottles and the trash they always left behind. And, therefore, she used me to scare them off.
I mean, it definitely was believable. What in the world would a clean cut white guy and his canine sidekick be doing renting a shabby little room in Donita’s hacienda, right?
Well, it worked. The gang moved a few blocks away and our street got nice and peaceful again. Peaceful until the little old lady’s Chihuahua went into heat and Donita had the scent of love all over from holding her. Well, Blue fell in love and it wasn’t pretty… but that’s another story.
I'm not sure if your current briefcase would make anybody wonder what you do other than work at some average job for average pay. This briefcase will suggest a story about you that may not be true, but it'll sure be fun.
This bag is awesome! It smells just like a brand new baseball glove and reminds me of great times when I was a kid every time I use it. At first I thought it wasn't going to have enough storage areas, but the front pockets actually easily hold all of my stuff. It is unbelievably well made and I am thrilled with it. I have the large size bag.
Picking the size
by Curtis - verified purchaser | 1/4/2016 4:56 am
I purchased the large thin front pocket briefcase in DCB color. Having toiled over which size I finally pulled the trigger on the large and I am happy I did so. I stand 5'10" tall medium build. The large size is perfect. The medium would have been too small. As I already have the classic in the large size, which I use for longer trips, I wanted something for everyday commuting. This is noticeably lighter and more compact than the classic which is more than double the width. Since I tend to pack heavy, this had enough space for everything I would cart to and from work.
It goes without saying this product is beautifully made, strong and very smart looking. I actually wanted Monday to come so I could go out the door with it!!!
Little Brother
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
Just ordered this in the Chestnut color. This will be the little brother to the large classic Briefcase I ordered from SB a couple of years ago. Looking forward to years of service.
Gorgeous!
by Buslady | 12/29/2015 2:43 pm
My hubby surprised me with the tobacco one, I was literally floored. I mean jaw dropped floored. Folks lemme tell ya this bag is amazing. It is exactly as described. It is tough as rocks. It's going to be my carryon for our trips, carry my tablet laptop, ipad, and other entertainment for the boring plane rides. I don't think there is any negative things I can say about this. I love the imprint of Blue just inside the front flap. Breaking it in is going to be fun, yes it's stiff, but as use happens...it'll soften and age and become that well loved gorgeousness. Not one zipper or cheap items on the bag, as I said exactly as described on site. It WILL last a lifetime plus some. I'm already looking at a smaller everyday bag....
Perfect
by Anthony - verified purchaser | 11/12/2015 5:39 am
This bag is everything I thought it would be, the leather is beautiful and when you put your hands on it the pride that the folks at saddleback take in making these shows, it's done right. If you're in Canada like me the briefcase will cost you just shy of $1000 after duties, shipping and the exchange rate, so that's a lot but it's well worth it and I can't imagine ever finding a better made bag.
Worth the wait!
by Adrian | 7/15/2015 5:40 pm
Received delivery of the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase, in the new black, prior to my recent business/leisure trip. Could not be more satisfied with the quality and overall workmanship. Was using a Zero Halliburton S3 briefcase for years, the new Saddleback briefcase priovides as much space with pockets for easy use. No disappointments, definitely makes a statement!
A Great Bag
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
Got my Dark Brown Bag and it is perfect for me. It is lighter than my old Classic Bag. It still has plenty of room for all I carry. It seems a little softer and will break in perfectly
Beautiful!!!!
by Shelbi | 7/29/2015 9:04 am
My fiancé gave me this briefcase for my college graduation gift. It is an absolutely beautiful bag. The leather is heavy and clearly good quality. The hardware is strong and looks very nice. I love that there are no zippers and that it can be a back pack too!!! Can't wait to purchase more items ð
happy birthday to me....happy birthday to me.....
by scott | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
I've purchased several SBL products for gifts but this was the first I've bought for ME!! I couldn't be happier with the bag, the construction and quality are top notch. I'm really happy with the carbon color as well! I originally was hoping to get the tobacco color but couldn't pass up the sale price on the carbon and now I want more! Thanks again for your dedication to quality work!
Great bag, great team!
by marc | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
I absolutely could not wait for the Breifcase. I was sooo iinpatient for the bag that I accidently had it mailed to the wrong address (purchased thru Amazon). The team at saddleback was great! They had the bag routed back to my house in days. Can I blame Saddleback for making me lust after the breifcase? Damn you Saddleback!!
As for the Briefacase, It is worth the wait. I can honestly say it does feel like a quality bag. My bag arrived in perfect condition, and the tobacco is stunning! It leather is slightly stiff and looks like it will break in well. The seams were perfect, the hardware top notch, and the extra pockets on the front will come in handy.
A Great Bag
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
I bought this bag because I was looking for something a little lighter than my Classic Bag. This fit the bill and then some. What a great style and bag!
Great briefcase for my needs.
by Micky | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
This briefcase fits my requirements for an everyday briefcase. From the house to the truck, from the truck to the office, and with me everywhere in between. I do not physically cary it around every day. But, I could. I did not want a big briefcase. I ordered tobacco, and it was a little lighter in color for my tastes. I applied some Obenauf's LP and this briefcase is beautiful. I ordered my son the thin briefcase in dark coffee brown. They are both excellent choices for someone that does not require a large briefcase. Excellent craftsmanship.
I love my bag, but...
by John - verified purchaser | 11/29/2015 5:48 pm
Over the years, I've owned many Saddleback products. They age well and look great. This bag is no different. I love my bag, but when I first received it, the metal ring to convert the bag into a backpack wasn't welded completely.
I emailed customer service immediately about this thinking that it was a manufacturing defect since all my other bags have completely welded rings, but was told that structurally there would be no difference between a completely welded ring and a partially welded ring. Aside, of course, from aesthetics. Because of this, I went on using the bag, but every time I saw that ring, it bothered me. It came to a point where I decided enough was enough and emailed customer service a second time a year or so later.
Customer support was wonderful (as they always are at Saddleback) in being able to offer me an opportunity to send in the bag to have the ring replaced with one that was perfectly welded, but for a fee. It was a shame to have to spend more to get my bag just the way I expected from the beginning, but feel it was well worth it. I sent my bag in and a week or two later, I received it with a brand new backpack loop and what appeared to be a fresh coat of Chamberlain's Leather Milk.
I am happy with my bag now, but wished I could have had a perfect bag from the beginning with no extra cost associated with it.
Now the one thing that would complete my wishlist would be a cell phone pouch that I can attach to my bag's strap. Please, Dave? I know others who would be interested too!
Outstanding!
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
I ordered the chestnut thin fron pocket briefcase. The bag is stunning! Beautiful. I tucked a rolled bath towel in the bottom to see how wide it would go. It widened very nicely. The pockets are generous and the adjustable strap is a winner. I took the shoulder pads off, but tucked them in a front pocket in case I need them. This is by far the nicest bag I have ever purchased.
Most Impressive!
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
Thanks to Collette for her suggestion to consider this bag. This bag is BEAUTIFUL. The compliments are flowing indeed. The leather smell is almost addictive. In my opinion, the bag is not particularly heavy, and it has enough room for my Mac (13 inch) and materials. I also purchased 1 matching cable bag for stuff, but the 2 front pockets are spacious for goodies you might have to bring along. This bag is phenomenal and I am beyond pleased with my purchase. I see it is sold out now....I know why.
Amazing Purchase!
by Heather | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
As a NYC businessman and someone who travels constantly- wishing he was Indiana Jones- I knew this would be the perfect purchase. I bought this for my husband for Christmas 2013 and he absolutely loves it. I research many sites and I truly feel that this is the best in class. The company was very helpful and responsive when helping to select the perfect bag. We went with dark coffee brown which is very versatile. Highly recommend this bag. It's worth the investment.
Total Awesomeness!!!!!!
by saul | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
So i purchased this thin front pocket briefcase in Tobacco color on Dave's Deals at 15% off. I honestly did not find anything wrong with the case, Maybe Dave needs to get his eyes checked? I'm a contractor and normally have at least 7 to 10 projects going at the same time, at first i thought all my files would not fit in it at the same time, i was wrong, there's plenty of space inside to at least hold 12 to 15 files. The build quality of this thing is AMAZING, I wouldn't be surprised if a bulldozer ran over this thing and nothing happens to it. You should see the looks and questions i get when i walk into construction meetings, it re-assures me that i made the right decision to order. If your looking for a briefcase to last forever, looks goods, attracts attention and can probably with stand the test of time, then DO NOT HESITATE like i did for 6 months and order this, you will not be disappointed!
Lumberjack/pastor appreciates the quality and versatility
by FrankApologist | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
*4 and 1/2 stars. When I first opened the box of my thin front pocket in tobacco, I must say I was slightly disappointed at first. I am used to carrying and using the classic XL briefcase, and the way the handle is attached to the bag differs on both of them. On the classic, inside the bag, there is nothing to catch on because the aluminum bar is in between the pigskin and the cowhide, but on the thin briefcase, the aluminum is encased below the layer of pigskin. I suppose it is not that bad, especially because of the warranty, but I just feel that the ergonomics of the classic bag is a little better. The pictures on both reveal what I am talking about. I got the thin front pocket because my classic XL is simply a ginormous beast of a bag, and there was a lot of empty space in it. Now my thin front pocket is nicely packed full with everything I need and it doesn't look like I am moving to a different state every time I go to church. The only other thing I have an issue with is the cigar pocket. The buckle is attached to this tiny pocket and basically, the integrity of the entire bag being closed rests on this sewn-on pocket. Just as before, however, the warranty is impressive, and I believe that the quality of the bag will hold up in spite of the issues I have. I also wanted to see a tract in it but didn't. I once had a job tanning leather for "king Louie the V" myself, and I know that the quality of Saddleback Leather is absolutely of the highest grade. I am pretty hard on these types of things, generally speaking, and in any event, the bag is awesome and I am definitely keeping it.
HIGHLY FLEXIBLE AND MASTERFULLY CONSTRUCTED
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
Words cannot sufficiently describe my satisfaction with this product.
I put considerable thought into this purchase... quality, flexibility, and price were all considered in my evaluation. I realized that I can either get a piece of crap bag that I will have to replace every 2-3 years, or invest in a top quality one. I chose the latter. I have absolutely no buyer's remorse despite the price tag (which is still reasonable when compared to designer-type stuff). The bag can be worn casually or with a suit--it can even be turned into a small backpack. It smells incredibly awesome. It is a pleasure to use this bag whenever I can, and I am looking forward to decades of service. Thanks for the hard work you all put into this product, and keep up the solid work!
Beautiful bag
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
I bought this briefcase as a Christmas present for my boyfriend. WOW. What a work of art. It is quite a handsome, well-made bag. The craftsmanship is apparent. I was hesitant at first to purchase the bag because of the price, but I think it's worth it. It looks great, smells great, is big enough for his 15-inch laptop, and looks like it will last a lifetime. I can't wait for Christmas now so I can see the look on his face when he opens it!
A solid companion
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:38 pm
This was the second bag that I got from Saddleback Leather. The first bag I got was a medium round satchel. I loved the quality of the first bag I got; but it was just too small for what I needed. (My wife also thought it looked like a purse)
So, I sent the satchel back and ordered this bag. I almost made the mistake of getting the thin briefcase; but, I am SO happy that I got the thin front-pocket briefcase!
This bag is a great size to carry around everyday. It is very functional with the two front pockets (and the two "hidden" pockets behind the front pockets) From the moment the shipping box was opened, I could tell this was a well made bag. It is strong and each piece of the bag carries that substantial weight of quality.
I did a TON of research online about bags before I purchased a Saddleback Bag, and this is the only choice for anybody wishing to purchase a bag that they can count on and love. It is my LAST bag!
Thin Front Pocket Briefcase - WOW
by CryptoMan - verified purchaser | 11/12/2015 8:14 pm
After over a month of constantly reading descriptions, watching videos, and scouring the Internet for other reviews, I finally bought the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase (medium) in chestnut. I ordered it late Friday and it arrived Thursday via UPS ground.
The testimonies, pictures, and videos do not do this bag justice. It truly is a work of art! The moment I opened the box and ripped open the plastic bag holding the briefcase, the intoxicating smell of leather rose up and thus began this briefcase's hold over me. (I can't stop sniffing this thing.) The leather is perfectly tanned, nary a blemish, and looks amazing in the sunlight. The bag has a robust heft without actually feeling heavy. The leather is solid and expertly made. I must say that this is the highest quality leather product I have ever encountered other than perhaps a cow itself.
The hide is thick and solid, yet is pliable and gives just enough. I can immediately tell that the leather will soften well as it ages with use. As I carefully inspected the stitching and seams it was readily apparent that a human assembled this bag, someone who took great care to make it right. The pockets are surprisingly more capacious than I expected, and even the "hidden" pockets behind the visible pockets are pretty roomy. My 14" (diagonal) ultrabook laptop just fits inside along with a large hard-sided notebook, an iPad Mini, a mid-sized moleskin notebook, and a file folder with a few sheets of paper, with a bit more room to spare. There's room on the sides of these items for me to fit an umbrella as well. Once the leather softens and relaxes, even more will fit, I'm sure. The hardware (rings and buckles and such) are all solid quality. The streets of New York City will be no match for this briefcase. I travel frequently for work so this bag will be run through its paces, and there is no doubt in my mind it will be a great asset.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a little gift in the hidden left-hand pocket of the briefcase. I won't give away the surprise but it means a lot to me and it makes me even happier that I gave my money to Saddleback Leather. Dave and Suzette are good people with good hearts. I encourage you to read their stories and get a feel for their character, which shines through the products they sell.
Customer service is excellent. Thanks to AK, I also bought two belts (Four Stitch and Old Bull), both of which arrive next week. Oh, on a whim I bought the Sleeve Wallet with the briefcase. That's pretty cool, too.
So, if you're considering a briefcase, you cannot go wrong with a Saddleback Leather product. Quite honestly I was a bit hesitant because of the price but now that the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase is in my hands, I think it's probably worth more than I paid for it. But don't worry, Dave, you'll be getting plenty more of my money in the coming months.
The Perfect Bag
by Trent | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
I'm a software engineer; so wherever I go - my tools of the trade must come with. This includes my 13" Macbook Pro, my iPad Air, the necessary accessories and, of course, my holy grail "Design Patterns" nerd book and my Moleskin notebook (also wrapped in glorious Saddleback Leather). This bag fits them all like a glove.
Quite simply, I'll never have to buy another bag again for my nerd accoutrements. Thank you, Dave, for this amazing product.
Outstanding!
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
I liquidated a lot of stuff to raise the money to buy this bag for myself. I am beyond pleased. I ordered the chestnut. This bag is stunning. While it seems sufficiently thin, I rolled a bath towel and pressed it into the bottom to help the bag stretch. It widened nicely. Ill probably leave the towel there when I am not using the bag. The outer pockets are a nice size and the hidden pocket is great for pens, a stylus or similar object. This is by far the nicest bag I have ever owned. I cannot see the need to buy another anytime soon. If I do, it will be from SBL.
My New Favorite Thing
by anonymous | 7/15/2015 5:39 pm
I started looking for a bag for work several months ago and happened upon Saddleback's website. After reading about the quality of the bags from the website descriptions, watching just about all of Dave's videos, and reading many reviews I decided to buy one. Once it arrived I found it to be exactly as it was described on the website. The leather (mine is DCB) is sturdy, thick, and smells AMAZING. The natural pigskin liner provides a nice contrast. All of the buckles, straps, and hardware are heavy-duty. After examining it I could see why Saddleback gives a 100 year guarantee. As other reviewers have noted my bag was stiff when it arrived, but it has broken in nicely in the last few months. I don't think I'll be wearing out this bag anytime soon.
Now that I've been using the bag for about 6 months I am a little embarrassed at how much I like it. I really like the look of it, feel of the leather, and the smell. It just smells amazing. So much so that I find myself taking a deep sniff just about every time I load or unload it. Bottom line--these are great bags. If you are on the fence about spending the money just do it. You won't be disappointed.
BTW, I ordered the medium notepad holder to use at work and love it too. Looks great and, of course, smells amazing.
Natural Marking
We wanted to let you know that this was recently added to the cow hand hoof-book, in the section governing acceptable hides:
"...Saddleback Leather no longer discriminates against any cow on the basis of age, appearance, lactose intolerance...if the beast has a natural marking or brand, or whether or not they worship the Divine Bobine."
Truth is, sometimes beauty is only skin deep...like with cows. Their poetry is notoriously terrible, but man, their hides are nature's art. We don't believe that flawlessness equals beauty. Beauty is when we're able to see something as it really is. This is true with humans too. There are lots of quality people who are really beautiful not in spite of, but because of the marks life has given them.
Leather is special because it's durable, natural, and it tells a story about a cow's life. Maybe the leather in your bag was from a real Casanova. Maybe he got tipped a lot. Maybe the bulls really liked the way she moooved. We don't know for sure, but we want you to see those stories and add your own as you carry your bag around.
Just to be clear, some leather definitely does not make the cut, but a lot of what has been rejected in the past for being too naturally beautiful, will.
We cut the nasty looking marks out and throw them away and the cool or insignificant ones we leave. When you want to know what the story is behind one of the marks on your leather, look it up here.
Stretch Marks
Marbly lines generally regarded as not cool marks on mothers, unless the mother is a cow or pig and then they're more than cool.
Stretch marks appear when the animal grows quickly or gets really fat for a time in life for some reason.
Veins
The veins and stretch marks are what give the leather that cool marbled look.
Did you know that if they slaughter a cow in the winter in a place where it's really really cold, that it'll have more pronounced veins because the blood rises closer to the surface to keep them warm.
Wrinkles
Almost all thick leather wrinkles when it is bent back on itself. Kind of like when you squat down in a pair of leather shoes and wrinkles appear about 4" from the toe.
Insect Bites
These pesky insects don't leave cows alone either. Ticks, mosquitoes and other bug bites show themselves as a tiny black or white spot.
You ever see birds sitting on top of cows? They're filling their craws with these bugs.
Pores
It's common to see very fine holes on leather if you look closely. Cows have hair too and if it isn't completely removed in the initial tanning process then you'll see them.
Scars
Itching oneself against or running scared through barbed wire, mesquite bushes or cactus will cause long thin black lines. If the bulls liked the way the cow moooved, then she'll get hoof marks which are usually up to an inch wide and a few inches long.
The bigger scars happen when they got gored or kicked hard. Two small single black scars not far apart are often bat bites. Those are found on cows in more jungly areas.
Callouses
If a cow sleeps on it's right side for years or has a habit of rubbing one spot with his horns or any kind of regular friction in one place, you get a callous.
These markings are usually smooth, not raised, small and circular in shape.
Brands
The mark of a cow well loved. Brands can be shapes, letters and numbers. We only use the nice and smooth healed up ones.
In third world countries, some ranchers don't have enough money to buy a branding iron, so they heat up a piece of iron and draw a picture on the cow. Whatever's clever, right?
Which leather is better, the old or the new?
The "new" leather is the same quality as the "old" leather. We just stopped letting some of the cooler marks fall onto the cutting room floor.
Will the scars and marks hurt the construction?
Nope. Any mark or scar that is possibly weaker than other areas, we cut out and throw away.
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 cows do not require any special handling.
What if I want a lot of marks?
If you don't get lots of marks, please don't return it in hopes of the next one having more. But hopefully, the Divine Bovine will smile upon you and you'll receive a bag that tells a cool story. If it doesn't have a lot of story on it, then you'll have to add your own by using it hard.
What if I don't want any marks?
Not all cows live hard lives and so not all hides have a lot of scars. If you order Carbon or Coffee, the thin or small scars won't stand out much. They show up nicely on Tobacco though. People who like the Chestnut color (red/brown) seem to like more perfect leather and we're very aware of that. It's not right or wrong; just a preference. Generally, we cut the big scars out of the chestnut leather, but there will always be a few here and there. If you get your bag and you really don't like it, send it back and we'll take care of you. We're not worried in the slightest. And remember, it's not the scars that make the bag, it's the bag. The marks just add to it.
Can I get Chestnut and Coffee with cool marks?
The amount of markings on Chestnut will be less than on other colors because we cut more of the bigger scars out of that leather. We know that, in general, Chestnut people aren't too big on large scars. Marks tend to blend in with the Coffee, but you'll still see them.
Are some scars more valuable, or sought after than others?
Yes. Absolutely! For example, most of our designs have pigskin interiors, which generally have a smooth matte quality. Often, these pieces will have a scrape or scar-type marking on it. These are, in fact, scars associated with the romantic life of the pig. More than most other animals, the pig is known for its violent mating behaviors and is aggressive, selfish and generally demeaning to its female partner. The male pig bites, scratches, gouges and anything else he can think of to have his way (in some rare cases pigs have been known to use other strategies, like cleaning the pigpen, bringing flowers, showing kindness to her relatives, etc,). Thus, many female pigs, at least the desirable ones, are pretty scarred-up. In the pig culture, this is a sign of status. The best hides for our purposes (i.e. creating the best leather bag possible) are the female hides because they are so much larger than the males and therefore we can get larger solid pieces (and girls just have better skin). Therefore, our pigskin will sometimes have various scarring patterns. We refer to these as 'love scars'.
How will this affect my warranty?
This won't have any effect on an existing warranty or a new warranty.
Why haven't you done this before?
Saddleback started and grew strong exactly because of allowing scars and marks and brands on our leather. It's what made us into who we are today. The marks became less and less frequent since the people cutting the leather didn't understand why anyone would want leather with imperfections. So, they thought they were helping us and and it just kind of stayed that way until now.
If you are using more of the leather per hide, will the price go down?
The marks and scars have always represented a very small amount of leather. And actually, the bags now may cost us more since the leather cutters spend extra time placing various scars and brands, which they didn't do before.
Can I see what it will look like before I buy it since this makes the leather so much different from bag to bag?
We have some pictures of the sorts of marks that might be on your bag, but we don't have shots of every piece. We wouldn't ever send out something that we wouldn't send to our own mom and dad. You'll love what you get.
Is this truly cooler leather or are you just trying to save some money on cheaper hides?
I'm pretty sure that if you ask anyone who's been watching Saddleback for any length of time, they'll tell you that we're not so much about the money as we are about creating things that bring people joy. It's art and it's quality and we just like it. It makes us happy. And don't forget, Saddleback has a steady history of constantly improving quality in design and materials. There have been several changes to designs that cost us more money to make, but that we did for no other reason than to raise the quality bar. It just seems like the right thing to do. So, to go against everything that we are known for, stand for and teach would be really inconsistent and pretty risky too. And the hides are the same expensive quality hides that we've used for years, but we're just not cutting out as many of the stories.
If this is so great--as you say--why are you the only ones doing this?
I suspect that other companies think that nobody would like it and they're not willing to take the risk to learn if it's true or not. Also, there are so many variables in the marks and scars on each hide that it's very difficult to teach a person which ones to cut out and which ones to leave. It could get very expensive if the cutters aren't trained well and they allowed some of those nasty looking lumpy scars onto the bags.
Can I still buy the old style if I just don't like this change?
Once we're out, we're out, but surely you'll be able to find some on eBay as people are wanting to sell theirs so they can buy one of these.
Will the colors be different?
Tobacco and Carbon are different, but Coffee and Chestnut are the same.
Is the leather going to feel different besides just looking different?
It's the same leather with a different look.
I bought a Tobacco bag 6 months ago but now I want this new Tobacco. Can I trade?
I would suggest that you either sell yours on eBay, which you may get more for, or you look into aging your bag more rapidly. Get on Youtube to see techniques on how to age leather. Remember you loved that bag enough to buy it. You may be pleasantly surprised. The only difference between this tobacco and our last tobacco is the amount of clear and natural oils and waxes on the hide.