The Rugged Romance of Saddleback's Leather Flight Bag (Review)

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★ Shop Saddleback's Flight bag: stridewise.com/saddleback-fli...
★ Full article + Pics: stridewise.com/saddleback-fli...
★ Troy's 11-year-old Saddleback briefcase: stridewise.com/saddleback-lea...
★ The Best Leather Bags for Men: stridewise.com/best-mens-leat...
★ The Best Leather Backpacks: stridewise.com/best-leather-b...
We're welcoming Troy Barmore back to the hosting seat with this review of Saddleback Leather Co, perhaps the best known company in the space of rugged, adventure-ready leather bags for men. Troy's reviewed their briefcase before - an 11-year-old one, if you can believe it - so there was no one better to take a look at what the company is up to today and tell us his thoughts on the smaller, more wearable, more useful, still very Saddleback-y Pilot bag.
00:00 The unique allure of Saddleback bags
01:49 Saddleback's Pilot bag features
03:29 Saddleback's leather quality
06:24 Saddleback's Pilot Bag: The Pros
08:58 Saddleback Pilot Bag: The Cons
09:55 Are Saddleback's Leather Bags Worth It?
#leatherbags

Пікірлер: 81

@dasphoenixable 10 ай бұрын

I’ve owned saddleback bags in the past but always ended up selling them. I love the style of this bag, however for me if I’m buying a bag at that price point I would want veg tag (which I’ll admit is a personal preference) and at a minimum finished edges. I don’t really care where it’s made as long as it has good construction which saddlebag does. These days I feel like they have priced themselves above where they should be and with everything else on the market you can get similar quality at a better price.

@AdamGoldbach 10 ай бұрын

If I may ask, what other bag manufacturers did you prefer?

@aslamc9288 7 ай бұрын

They have a veg tanned version of the flight bag in a color they call “clay”, I believe, which is similar to tobacco. I have one, it was a limited run, but they come up for sale used every once in a while.

@andrgara 4 ай бұрын

@@AdamGoldbachcheck Coronado Leather! I think all of their products are Veg tan

@exxie1 10 ай бұрын

Great, now I want a Saddleback bag because Stridewise posted about it

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

haha you should watch the other review of their billion-pound satchel kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qbWDZZaoztTRg2w.html

@exxie1 10 ай бұрын

@@Stridewisei'll watch it next. The reason why I got a Cravar bag is because of Nick, and I live in Asia. I would go Asian first before anything else, I'm sure you understand the sentiment. And I think I would want a Saddleback bag in the future just for its heritage. It's the archetypal man bag through and through. Beautiful looking bag and amazing narration of what it is man 👍

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

@@exxie1 Very happy when people support Cravar, I love that brand too. Which bag did you get?

@exxie1 10 ай бұрын

@@Stridewise I got the FC 13 in brown color, I also got two belts from him in brown and black. I would never thought I'll get compliments for my belts but I do haha! Yeah man, Yoki is a great bloke! I actually got discounted for the FC when I told him I got his belt first when we were talking. I might also get a black FC some time. Absolutely top notch brand

@birdytiger 10 ай бұрын

I love this channel knowing full well I am unlikely to ever own any of it. This bag is like, a full dishwasher I could put in my house

@stanbrown915 3 ай бұрын

The owner is a great guy. He came out and greeted me like I was his most important customer.

@corensam 10 ай бұрын

Another shoutout to that writing. Go Troy!

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Troy's a great writer! He's a full time writer

@aaronwilson4258 10 ай бұрын

I've had this bag for four years. It's great; I use it everyday.

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

I bet it looks great too!

@ASONAChurch 9 ай бұрын

Nicely done. A memorable review - good job!

@Stridewise 9 ай бұрын

Yeah this was a special one!

@Reviews-For-You. 7 ай бұрын

I agree - not a fan of the computer pouch. I use my flight bag as a professional pilot and it is just ever so slightly on the smaller side, but it still works. Like you said, it kind of forces one to be very deliberate in what they carry around with them. Your video reminded me that even after owning this bag a few years, I had never known what that "false bottom" flap was about. I LOVE that idea.

@humphreyt991 10 ай бұрын

Amazing bag Nick

@gabrielespana319 10 ай бұрын

I was so certain I wanted the satchel and page 4 way briefcase and now y’all have got me going back and forth again

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

They're completley different products hey, which is sort of a good thing. It's harder to pick between two very similar things!

@jamrbn 6 ай бұрын

I’m about to close out my fifth year with this bag and it’s still going strong with constant daily use. I love it. Totally agree with your point about these bags encouraging you to carry only what you need. I love that this bag isn’t so big (as opposed to their classic briefcase) so that you can’t actually fill it up to an insane weight. Also I post updates on my bag on my channel if anyone’s wondering how it breaks in over the years.

@ramonalvarez5719 Ай бұрын

What’s your channel

@jamrbn Ай бұрын

@@ramonalvarez5719 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qcxpe89hnbCpiZc.htmlsi=Obs4aRiWVjciEOjU

@Rogueaviation 3 ай бұрын

Nah, Man. You're not being too sappy. If you don't have an emotional connection to a price of equipment as important as a daily bag, then why buy it? If there's no connection, it becomes disposable, like those countless number two pencils we all filled circles in with. I have an emotional connection to nearly every serious implement, accessory, and tool that I've bought or been gifted. My own flight bag is a mere canvas backpack, made in USA, back when that was important to most folks. It's been a constant companion, as faithful as a good copilot. It physically pained me to leave it behind when I had to upgrade to a bag that would carry more, and sit comfortably on the floor under the seats of the new airplane. Thanks for a great video. I loved it. Sincerely, Matt

@alexreiser6325 10 ай бұрын

Great troy! been looking for a good leather bag for my senior year in college

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

You'll be king of the campus no doubt

@the0user 10 ай бұрын

Saddleback is legit. Never had a bad experience.

@tx1hawkins357 10 ай бұрын

I use mine for Global travel. It does whatever I need. Proven over millions of miles.

@GatorAidMedical 10 ай бұрын

Love my filson 24hr briefcase. Looking for a classier version of that bag, torn between this bag and the Frank Clegg briefcase

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

that's tough. troy also reviewed this, a good option stridewise.com/cravar-c-o-15-review/

@reezethevampire 10 ай бұрын

I can definitely say I've been drawn to saddleback for years (though the only product I have from them is an amazing belt) and I've ignored most criticism of the company (mostly the prices and unfinished edges mentioned) because their bags really are just so damn cool.

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

I absolutely love it when I see people say "yeah caring about tiny details like edge finishing and stitch density is stupid, the product is cool and looks awesome so I want it" Here's to not sweating the small stuff

@kongmw 10 ай бұрын

6lbs for an empty bag is just too damn heavy for me for practical everyday use. Gonna stick to my Filson canvas briefcase 😢

@sandcat731 10 ай бұрын

Great review, feel the same, great bag

@googeluser7098 10 ай бұрын

Great review and you nailed the romanticism, we all want to be as cool as Dave. I fell down this rabbit hole maybe in 2009, I own more pieces than I’d like to admit but I’m proud I’ve stayed off their website for at least five years, some bags are smaller than I’d like but I generally never leave the house without something SBL.

@centuryfreud 3 ай бұрын

What bag do you like that has finished edges?

@zakka2047 10 ай бұрын

i think their waxed canvas bags (the older ones they dont seem to make anymore) looked better than filsons but the leather bags are way too bulky and heavy.

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Yeah it's a niche, but those who love it love it!

@Mrshyguy775 2 ай бұрын

Stated what color this is? Not DCB, right? More brown than chestnut?

@jasonk6298 10 ай бұрын

Are leather briefcases/attaches/whatever lighter these days? My first job out of college almost 20yrs ago I got overly excited and got a leather brief. Never again. Way too heavy and bulky.

@phugoid 4 ай бұрын

What's the colour of the bag in the video - chestnut or dark coffee brown?

@Stridewise 4 ай бұрын

i think it's chestnut

@sandcat731 10 ай бұрын

Cool wallet btw, it's that also saddleback or something else?

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

that's a saddleback one!

@sandcat731 10 ай бұрын

@@Stridewise beautiful patina, looks like it's one of the discontinued treasures hehe

@donovanclarke3826 6 ай бұрын

Anyone know what colour his bag is in?

@troybarmore5832 5 ай бұрын

Chestnut

@robert84_ 10 ай бұрын

Are you being "too sappy or too poetic"? Nah, I get it. You hit almost every point on why I I buy the things I like even if it doesn't have the best practicality out there. That's why I own the thinner Saddleback bag in coffee. The look, feel, smell, sounds...everything just clicks when it's resting at my desk in the office at work :)

@therevan7288 10 ай бұрын

Bro I use the same Pomade at 0:07

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Troy ensures everything he owns is of the highest quality, even pomade

@rangerdanger222 9 ай бұрын

Who are the other companies that compete at the price point?

@Stridewise 9 ай бұрын

For a similar look, probably Marlondo and Coronado bags

@williamchan8866 10 ай бұрын

In hot climates weight is everything, less is freedom and not be bog down by such a heavy bag…..better for fall and winter.

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Unless you like rucking!

@zman8340 10 ай бұрын

Where are they made ?

@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday 10 ай бұрын

China 😂

@heiner71 10 ай бұрын

Mexico

@zman8340 10 ай бұрын

@@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday for that price ?

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Mexico! Sorry, should have specified

@alui5362 10 ай бұрын

yup, overpriced for what you get. it's a bit like filson. their name has gotten big, so the price has gone up while quality has been cut.

@amanasd26 10 ай бұрын

all that exposed stitching makes it look tacky as well

@cmiller7299 9 ай бұрын

My first leather bag was a Saddleback, but overtime I just couldn't stand their marketing and company ethos. Holier than thou types.

@Stridewise 9 ай бұрын

It's funny, that's largely why I (Nick) didn't settle on them as a brand. But I get the appeal for sure

@luisdavidsandoval6072 10 ай бұрын

Good video, script SS tier

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Troy is a brilliant writer

@troybarmore5832 10 ай бұрын

Awe shucks guys 🥰

@DoMiNxXoXo 10 ай бұрын

🥺👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@amanasd26 10 ай бұрын

Yeah, there are dozen bags that are almost half this cost that match this quality. It offers nothing special for the cost.

@Stridewise 10 ай бұрын

Which of those bags in particular do you like?

@amanasd26 10 ай бұрын

@@Stridewise buffalo jackson roosevelt pilot is one.

@aslamc9288 7 ай бұрын

@@amanasd26That’s a nice bag, but I do have questions about longevity against Saddleback. For one, it seems like it’s made from a lot of pieces of leather. That means a lot of stitching, which means the stitching takes the most pressure and becomes a more likely point of failure. It’s also got zippered compartments, which, and maybe this is too much Saddleback marketing for me, but I also look at zippers as a point of failure. I’ve had numerous bags, jackets, etc that have become unusable because of zipper breaks. It is a bigger bag, which means you can put more in it, but I look at the flight bag as the ultimate personal item for a flight. You can fit everything you need in there, have easy access, never have to take it off to sit down while waiting in the terminal (true of any shoulder bag, fair), and with the Gladstone closure, you can be completely comfortable that nothing will slip out of your bag while it’s stowed safely under your seat. I have a few SBL products and my flight bag is my dedicated air travel bag. I’ve been looking for alternatives to Saddleback for a while now, but it seems like I just can’t find the right fit and feel over Saddleback and any price. Just my personal opinion though. For bags, SBL is my first stop. For wallets, not so much. I find them overly thick and bulky, for wallets I go to Bellroy.

@amanasd26 7 ай бұрын

@@aslamc9288 You're definitely buying into the marketing too much, if you're worried about stitching then saddleback has a lot of exposed stitching. As for zippers on the buffalo jackson they use ykk zippers and offer more security for a bag such as this so I think it's a good thing. A flight bag should be both practical and secure

@transc3ndus 10 ай бұрын

You can't argue that chrome tan leather shouldn't be cheaper than veg tan leather. It takes a lot longer to produce a piece of veg tan than it takes to produce chrome tan. The fact that you prefer the attributes of chrome tan for your specific application doesn't warrant the bigger price. For me, this whole review is a great example of buyer's bias: you fell in love with the product that you got (and that is ok), but you're trying to make us also love it but talking romantically about it. This a great bag if it was about 20 - 30 % less, IMHO.