Great review and beautiful bag. I have a few questions: 1. How does the bag hold up with use so far? 2. Do you think fitting a 13' laptop in it will make it completely filled and unable to store anything else? 3. I'm debating between a few leather shop/company: Ruitertassen, Satchel & Page, Marlondo, Moose, WhiteBuffaloRepublic, and Custom Hide. Do you have any comments or advice about these brands and their products? 4. In the video, you have 2 field notebook cover (1 with pen and 1 without). Where did you get them? Thank you.
Really enjoyed this review. I'm considering this bag for my tablet/laptop and other electronics. I'd be curious what you think of Saddleback bags. I have a front pocket backpack that is serving me very well.
Anna Sutton You could barely fit a 14in laptop in the main compartment, but then you would have room for practically nothing else. You would not really be able to put anything in the side pockets because they would be compressed by the edges of the laptop. You would still have room to put stuff behind the divider and in the back magazine pocket.
James -- thanks for the review on this bag. Question -- where did you get the mounting hardware piece at the top of the bag? I've been looking for something like that. Thanks
It's a lucky line secure-a-key. Lucky Line Products Secure-A-Key Clip-On Key Hook, Silver, 1 per Pack (40401) www.amazon.com/dp/B000J2NVUA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Aw7twbME6QY98
Hi, thanks for the review. I have a question, does the bag close properly without leaving a gap such that rain or snow won't get in? I've been considering the larger mailbag but my main concern is that there seems to a quite a bit of room on the sides that rain or snow may get in through.
AS That's a good question, and the answer is no and yes. At first the vegetable tanned leather is quite stiff and un-yielding, not at all soft and floppy, so there is a tiny gap at the top. After a period of continual use the leather will become soft and floppy and because there are two adjustable cinch straps up at the top, you can make the opening smaller than the storm flap and you will have complete protection from the elements.
James Crane Thank you, and also your other reviews are fantastic as well, I really enjoyed them as I have been looking for a new bag. My current bag is a saddleback satchel but it weighs too much to be practical anymore for me for daily use, so the mailbag seems great considering it's larger and weighs less. Due to the slim mailbag being similar to the larger version, can you tell me how well it's aging? Also, do you happen to know of any other manufacturers with similar vintage inspired leather bags?
Absolutely! Norman Cahn's bags are all individually made by the artisan himself. The quality of the Soho is really the benchmark, and is clearly evident when viewed side by side. If one is looking for an economical yet high quality vegetable tanned messenger bag and don't need a lot of frills or features, then the S&P Slim Mailbag is definitely the bag to get. If you are looking for a top of the line, heirloom quality bag, then the Soho is the bag for you!
aaron wong no sorry I no longer have the bag. Although I loved the leather used on this bag, I didn't like the interior layout. I didn't find the pockets very useful for me.
That's for the quick reply. I have the bag. I agree, the pockets aren't very useful. I use the pen pockets, and the "phone pocket" is big enough to hold my small Anker portable battery/charger and my business card holder. Other than that, the main pocket is basically a bucket that you toss your other stuff into. I was just curious to see the leather after a couple years of use. It is breaking in nicely after about 7-8 months, but I'm not hard on my things so not much patina going on. For what it's worth, the Diplomat from Satchel & Page has a bit better pocket situation, and the lining is nice.
Hey James, this was a helpful review. I will receive mine next week.
Great review and beautiful bag. I have a few questions:
1. How does the bag hold up with use so far?
2. Do you think fitting a 13' laptop in it will make it completely filled and unable to store anything else?
3. I'm debating between a few leather shop/company: Ruitertassen, Satchel & Page, Marlondo, Moose, WhiteBuffaloRepublic, and Custom Hide. Do you have any comments or advice about these brands and their products?
4. In the video, you have 2 field notebook cover (1 with pen and 1 without). Where did you get them?
Thank you.
Really enjoyed this review. I'm considering this bag for my tablet/laptop and other electronics. I'd be curious what you think of Saddleback bags. I have a front pocket backpack that is serving me very well.
me too
any opinion of new leather they started using in August 2017?
Great review, sealed the deal for me and ordered the bag. I was wondering, where can I find that key clip you have on the side of the bag?
He answered below and added link
Hi James, great review, thanks! Love the watch too, what is it?
+Jeroen V Thank you Jeroen, the watch I'm wearing in the video is a Deep Blue Pro Aqua Diver. Thanks for watching!
best bag
Could you fit a 14in laptop in he main compartment area or no room with the organizational pockets?
Anna Sutton You could barely fit a 14in laptop in the main compartment, but then you would have room for practically nothing else. You would not really be able to put anything in the side pockets because they would be compressed by the edges of the laptop. You would still have room to put stuff behind the divider and in the back magazine pocket.
May I ask where you got the wallet with the rivets? It's beautiful.
James Jones the two rivet wallet is from Mascon Leather.
James Crane thank you for your wonderful reviews.
James -- thanks for the review on this bag.
Question -- where did you get the mounting hardware piece at the top of the bag? I've been looking for something like that.
Thanks
It's a lucky line secure-a-key. Lucky Line Products Secure-A-Key Clip-On Key Hook, Silver, 1 per Pack (40401) www.amazon.com/dp/B000J2NVUA/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Aw7twbME6QY98
+James Crane Thank you Sir -- appreciate the info.
Thanks James for posting- the bag looks very stiff. Did it soften over time?
Tbone Maline yes it softened up very nicely!
James Crane, how ya mate. Please, could you inform where can I buy one of that eyeglasses case? Thanks
cesar nannin Yes the eyeglasses case is made by TQ Leather, here is the link. etsy.me/1B0oARQ
Hi, thanks for the review. I have a question, does the bag close properly without leaving a gap such that rain or snow won't get in? I've been considering the larger mailbag but my main concern is that there seems to a quite a bit of room on the sides that rain or snow may get in through.
AS That's a good question, and the answer is no and yes. At first the vegetable tanned leather is quite stiff and un-yielding, not at all soft and floppy, so there is a tiny gap at the top. After a period of continual use the leather will become soft and floppy and because there are two adjustable cinch straps up at the top, you can make the opening smaller than the storm flap and you will have complete protection from the elements.
James Crane Thank you, and also your other reviews are fantastic as well, I really enjoyed them as I have been looking for a new bag. My current bag is a saddleback satchel but it weighs too much to be practical anymore for me for daily use, so the mailbag seems great considering it's larger and weighs less. Due to the slim mailbag being similar to the larger version, can you tell me how well it's aging? Also, do you happen to know of any other manufacturers with similar vintage inspired leather bags?
Hi James is the soho by Norm C bag worth the extra $$ in your opinion compared to this bag?
Absolutely! Norman Cahn's bags are all individually made by the artisan himself. The quality of the Soho is really the benchmark, and is clearly evident when viewed side by side. If one is looking for an economical yet high quality vegetable tanned messenger bag and don't need a lot of frills or features, then the S&P Slim Mailbag is definitely the bag to get. If you are looking for a top of the line, heirloom quality bag, then the Soho is the bag for you!
omg! youre the guy from Toronto right? aha holy bag!
No sorry not Toronto, California.
+James Crane how is your bag holding up so far? is it heavy good for travel use?
Is it heavy?
Not really! Good weight to it
Hi James do you feel such satchel and page mailbags are heirloom quality bag?something that can be passed down a generation?
Kevin lamel yes the Satchel & Page bags are very well made and should last for decades!
Do you still have/use this bag?
aaron wong no sorry I no longer have the bag. Although I loved the leather used on this bag, I didn't like the interior layout. I didn't find the pockets very useful for me.
That's for the quick reply. I have the bag. I agree, the pockets aren't very useful. I use the pen pockets, and the "phone pocket" is big enough to hold my small Anker portable battery/charger and my business card holder. Other than that, the main pocket is basically a bucket that you toss your other stuff into. I was just curious to see the leather after a couple years of use. It is breaking in nicely after about 7-8 months, but I'm not hard on my things so not much patina going on. For what it's worth, the Diplomat from Satchel & Page has a bit better pocket situation, and the lining is nice.