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Buckle & Seam Sienna 15″ Messenger Bag review

I have developed a real affinity for leather products. When they are well made, they are sure to last a lifetime. When Buckle & Seam offered their Messenger Bag – Sienna 15″ for review, I was eager to give it a try. I found that it is an attractive bag and has a variety of pockets and slots to organize my materials, but for $320 + shipping, it is not as well made as I had hoped.

What is it?

The Buckle & Seam Messenger Bag – Sierra 15″ is a leather messenger bag for business use and accommodates 15″ laptops.

Package contents

The Buckle & Seam Messenger Bag – Sienna 15″ came in a navy blue non-woven polypropylene material bag (or poly non-woven which is the same material used in reusable grocery bags) and also came with printed materials about the leather and leather care and about their commitment to educating Pakistani girls. The cards were actually printed in German, so I had to use Google Translate to help me understand the information.

Design and features

This messenger bag is the larger version (Sierra 15″) that Buckle & Seam offers and will hold a 15″ laptop (there is also a 13″ version without a handle – Cara 13″). The bag is made using full grain leather (their website states that the bag is made with the “entire grain – meaning that all layers of the leather have been kept and worked together”).

The leather has been vegetable tanned which is more environmentally friendly than Chrome VI tanning or other chemical tanning processes and takes four to five weeks to complete. This leather is susceptible to scratches and will develop a patina over time. They call the leather Crazy Horse Full Grain Leather.


The true colors of the bag were difficult for me to accurately replicate using a camera. The color displayed on the left in the photo above has red tones in it that my bag does not have. My bag is actually very brown – no red at all as depicted in the photo above on the right.

The front of the bag shows how the bag is assembled with a double stitch using recycled polyester thread. The main compartment flap uses a tuck catch lock closure.

The plain navy blue custom lining of the bag was “developed by our in-house design team and [is] manufactured only for us out of premium cotton” according to Buckle & Seam’s CEO, Marco Feelisch. There are different lining colors and patterns to choose from: Dots, Checked, Boats, Paper Planes, and Plain.

The bag comes with a key to lock the tuck catch lock closure. When the bag was shipped to me, the key and the Buckle & Seam tag were tied to the bag through one of the pen/pencil slots using a strip of leather as shown above.

Here is a close-up view of the tuck catch lock closure. I’m not sure what kind of metal the bag uses in order to determine if the hardware will endure years of use (perhaps brass?).


The key is very small and thus very easy to lose. However, the locking mechanism is not complicated. The two prongs on the key insert into the lock and when turned in a clockwise direction lock the bag such that the button can no longer be pressed to release the closure. So, if you should lose the key, a paper clip or similar device could be used to access your contents.


The above photos show how the metal D-rings are attached to the sides of the bag. The D-rings are used to attach the leather shoulder strap to the bag. 

Here is a close up of how the D-rings are attached to the bag using stitching and two metal rivets. You’ll also notice that all of the edges of the leather have been turned in and sewn (I kind of like seeing the raw or burnished edges of my leather products which also helps me to see the quality of the leather being used).

The back of the bag also shows the stitching and another zipper pocket. YKK elastic zippers are used on Buckle & Seam’s business bags according to Mr. Freelisch.

The back zipper pocket will hold more of your documents (11.5″ wide x 9.5″ high) but, in addition, it also has a trolley strap so that you can slide the messenger bag over a suitcase handle to make traveling easier (Buckle & Seam calls it a “hidden trolley solution”).

The trolley strap is attached to the bag using elastic fabric and can be tucked back into the pocket until it is needed again. I do wonder if the elastic fabric will hold up to traveling over time. 

The bottom and sides of the Sierra messenger bag are made from three pieces of leather. The seams of a bag can be weak points especially if there is weight or stress exerted on those areas. Such an issue can be eliminated by using a single thick piece of leather to make up the sides and bottom of the bag. 

The handle is sewn and riveted onto the bag.

The Buckle & Seam website states that they use leather that is on average 1.8-2mm thick. However, the handle of the bag is one of those areas where two thin layers of leather were sewn together to make a handle that measures about 2mm thick. This is thin for a handle and since this is a high-stress area, could very well fail if it is used a great deal. 

The leather shoulder strap is adjustable by using the metal buckle. 

The shoulder strap is made up of what looks like three thin layers of leather sewn together but I also noticed that in order to get the length that they desired, the strap is made up of sections that are spliced together as well. The seam you see above also exists on the other side at the same point. Again, the shoulder strap is a high-stress area of the bag and thus has greater potential to fail in the future because of the design of the strap. This could be eliminated if the strap were made entirely from one or two thick layers of leather without splicing.

The shoulder straps are attached to the bag using swiveling metal lobster claw clasps. 

The main compartment of the bag is entirely lined with cotton lining. This compartment contains a padded laptop pocket. The material that separates the laptop from the main compartment is sewn into the inside of the bag using two 2″ wide strips of elastic material on each side (top and bottom) so that the pocket can stretch to accommodate thicker laptops. The top of the laptop pocket uses a round magnetic closure (about 2 cm in diameter). This pocket will accommodate 13″ and 15″ laptops according to the Buckle & Seam website. 

The main compartment’s internal measurements are about 14″ wide x 3″ deep x 11.5″ high.

Besides the main compartment, there are a couple of other pockets located toward the front of the bag. The thin zippered pocket shown above has internal measurements that about 11.25″ wide x 9.75″ high.

The open front pocket, which measures 14.75″ wide x 8.5″ high internally, contains all the organizing slots and pockets which include places to hold three pens/pencils, a pocket for business cards, and a phone pocket. You may also store more documents here if desired.

Use

After filling the Sierra messenger bag with some of my materials, I found that it could comfortably carry a 1″ binder and a couple of thin paper folders as well as a pencil case. In the laptop pocket, I was able to store my portable keyboard which measures 11.75″ x 7.75″ x 0.75″ (my laptops are larger than 15″ and thus do not fit). 

In the front pocket, I stored two pens, an insurance card, my Nexus 6 phone (without its case), and small zipper pouch.

The pens fit snugly and were a bit difficult to retrieve as was my phone. My phone measures 6.25″ tall x 3.25″ wide x 0.375″ deep. If your phone is any larger, it will not fit in the phone pocket. I normally have a thin case on my phone and it would not fit in this pocket with the case on.

The Sierra messenger bag organized my materials well and the padded compartment was nice and seemed to provide enough protection for my portable keyboard.

However, when the bag was full, the above photos show how much stress is placed on the handle when carried this way (and I do not even have a laptop inside the bag). The leather that the handle is sewn and riveted on is not very thick here but they have included under the handle attachment sites a 7″ long x 0.5″ wide rigid strip of reinforcing material hidden on the underside of the main compartment flap behind the lining of the bag.

The Sierra messenger bag was easy for me to carry using the shoulder strap but was a little bit of a challenge for my husband to keep it on his shoulder when worn as shown above. However, you can use the shoulder strap as a cross body strap as well.

Buckle & Seam products can stand a small amount of water but are not waterproof. And according to Buckle & Seam’s website, if your bag gets scratches on it, they can be minimized or eliminated by rubbing your finger or a clean smooth soft cloth over the marks. For deeper scratches, you can apply a neutral leather wax to the area but be aware that the leather may look darker for a while.

The humanitarian side of Buckle & Seam

Buckle & Seam makes their leather bags in Pakistan. The founders of Buckle & Seam traveled around and worked in Pakistan and were drawn to the country and its people. They are committed to providing the highest standard of working conditions for their employees. And for each bag sold, a part of their revenue goes to sending a girl to school in Pakistan.

According to UNICEF statistics, Pakistan’s Adult Literacy Rate is 54.9%. Already one of the lowest rates in the world, the situation for women is even worse. Only 45% are able to identify and write their name – the only two criteria to be considered literate according to UNICEF. Such circumstance in a country vast of resources and craftsmanship, is a true inhibitor to greater growth of Pakistan and improvement of living conditions for millions of Pakistanis. (Buckle & Seam – One Bag, One Child Program)

What I like about it

  • The messenger bag has an attractive design
  • The bag has a hidden trolley strap to make travel easier (strap that fits over a suitcase handle)
  • The leather is vegetable tanned which is more environmentally friendly than other chemical tanning processes
  • The founders of Buckle & Seam are committed to the people of Pakistan and providing good working conditions for their Pakistani employees
  • They are helping to fund the Anum School for girls located in Pakistan to help decrease the illiteracy rate among women in Pakistan

What needs to be improved

  • The handle is way too thin; much thicker layers of leather should be used to make the handle more resilient
  • Sections of the shoulder strap were spliced together to make up the desired length which weakens the strap; eliminate splicing and use thicker layers of leather to make the strap
  • The sides and bottom of the bag are made using three pieces of leather; improve strength by making the sides and bottom of the bag out of a single thick piece of leather
  • I personally, would like to see the bag made of thicker leather all around for a more robust feel

Final Thoughts

The Buckle & Seam Messenger Bag – Sierra 15″ is an attractive business messenger bag with many pockets and slots to organize your materials. It is made from vegetable tanned leather which is more environmentally friendly than chemical tanning processes. Buckle & Seam also donates a part of their revenue to send Pakistani girls to school to help increase the literacy rate.

However, I was disappointed in the quality and craftsmanship of the bag. The handle was made from thin layers of leather which make me question its durability. I also had the same feelings about the shoulder strap because it was made of what looks like three thin layers of leather sewn together and in order to get the length that they desired, the strap is made up of sections that are spliced together as well. The strength of the bottom of the bag could be improved by making it out of a single piece of leather instead of three. The zippers were YKK elastic zippers, but I could not tell what type of metal the hardware was made from and whether or not the hardware would be durable over time. Buckle & Seam uses recycled polyester thread in assembling the Sierra bag, which sounds great but will it last?

In addition, the Buckle and Seam leather products are backed by only a two-year warranty. It has been my experience with other companies that create premium leather products that their products are backed by a much longer warranty. Thus, the length of the warranty will tend to reflect the quality of the materials used and craftsmanship.

Buckle & Seam is environmentally conscious and has a wonderful commitment to the Pakistani people and more specifically, educating Pakistani girls. However, I personally would not purchase the Messenger Bag – Sierra 15″ at this time because it was not as well made as I had hoped for the price you pay. They seem to be committed to improving their products, so I look forward to their future bags.

Price: $320
Where to buy: Buckle & Seam
Source: The sample used in this review was provided by Buckle & Seam. Please visit their website for more information.

Optoma NuForce BE Free8 Bluetooth wireless earbuds review

Two words: wireless earbuds. If there has been one product one that’s absolutely exploded in the past few years, it’s probably been these little buggers. And, since Apple released their AirPods, the competition has become increasingly sophisticated. I’ve had the opportunity to review several wireless earbuds here at The Gadgeteer, and always up for trying out another if they look interesting in some way. The Optoma NuForce BE Free8 Bluetooth wireless earbuds had a few things going for them: an interesting look, a cool charging case and I’d already reviewed a few Optoma earbuds in the past and been generally impressed with them. How would the BE Free8 earbuds fare?  Let’s find out.  Gadget on!

Hardware Specs

  • IPX5 water-resistance rating
  • 4-hours of continuous, uninterrupted usage per earbud charge
  • Up to 3 extra charges from charging case for 16 hours total listening time
  • AAC and aptX® LL technologies provide high fidelity audio
  • Patented SpinFit ear tips for secure and comfortable fit
  • Activiate Siri and Google Assistant with the built-in microphone
  • NMFI (Near-Field Magnetic Induction) Technology for reliable connection between earpieces w/ 33 feet Bluetooth range
  • Weight: 1.6 oz

Packaging

The BE Free8 packaging was very sophisticated and upscale.  Outside, images and descriptions of the product.
The rear of the package had an exploded view of the guts of the earbuds, and a list of features.
The inside packaging included a quick-start style diagram, and the earbuds and battery case were snug in a black foam block, with the accessories and instruction manual underneath.

Contents

  • BE Free8 Bluetooth wireless earbuds (left and right)
  • Charging case
  • Micro USB charging cable for Charging case
  • SpinFit short earbud tips (S/M)
  • SpinFit long earbud tips (XS/S/M)
  • Instruction booklet

Features & Functions

Right out of the gate, I was impressed with the look and feel of the

The BE Free8 included two types of their SpinFit ear silicone tips, all of which are shown in the image above.  On the left are three sizes (extra small, small, medium) of longer/deeper style tips, and on the right are two sizes (small, medium) of shorter/shallower tips.  Because of my past difficulties with keeping earbuds in my ears, I went straight for the largest, deepest tips, the ones shown to the far left in the image above.

Ergonomics

Installing the earbud tips onto the bases was simple, and once installed, I played around with the best way to orient the BE Free8 in my ears.  They have an interesting form factor: a generally triangular shape, but quite rounded and with a bit of a lobed contour.  Due to this, I was skeptical that they’d fit in my ears, and if they did, that they’d stay there.  In fact, I was pleasantly surprised.  After I got the SpinFit tips into position, rotated the BE Free8 around a bit until they fit snugly into my outer ear.

Sound

The SpinFit tips didn’t really seem to be anything particularly special compared to the many other audio headgear I’d tried previously.  They are round and made of soft, compliant silicone, and in fact, I’d even tried other earphones that included both short and long tips.  However, the combination of the SpinFit tips and the overall shape of the BE Free8 and how they fit into my ears seemed to help with ambient noise blocking.  This, coupled with the AAC and aptX LL enabled the BE Free8 to them deliver some really good sound.

Phone Features & Controls

The BE Free8’s controls are limited to a single, tiny button on each earbud.  And when I use the word “tiny,” I mean it—these soft buttons are only a few millimeters in diameter.  For this reason, I found them difficult to locate when I reached up to activate one of the BE Free8 controls.  I had to basically feel my way around the earbuds until I located them.  I thought I’d get used to this after a while, but even after using the BE Free8 for several weeks, this wasn’t the case.  Additionally, I would mention that the only indication of which earbud was left or right was a tiny letter “L” and “R” on each of the tiny buttons.  These letters on the buttons were harder to read than the buttons themselves were to find while wearing them.  I found all of this to be a bit of an ergonomic fail.  The buttons themselves control such features as audio pause/play, track advance and Siri (0r Google Assistant) activation in normal mode, or answer/ignore/hang up a call when in phone mode.

Moisture Resistance

The BE Free8 touts an IPX5 standard water- and weather-resistance rating.  I can’t exactly test for strict adherence to this standard, but I can vouch for the fact that I used the BE Free8 during exercise, and they didn’t seem to be affected by the…ahem…generous amount of sweat I typically generate during a strenuous workout.  If they can pass my workout sweat test, that’s more than good enough for me.

Battery Life & Charging

 

The BE Free8 includes a sleek-looking charging case.  This case is gloss black with a bit a teardrop shape and looks to me like something a Sith Lord or ninja would favor.  Which is very cool.

The case has a flip-open, spring-loaded lid and there are two charging pockets that the earbuds fit down into, with each pocket including tiny charging contacts.

Above, the flat, ribbon-style micro USB cable has been plugged into the battery case so that the case can be charged.  There are three tiny, white LEDs that illuminate left to right to indicate the charge level of the case.  Optoma claims that the earbuds themselves will provide 4 hours of usage on a full charge, while the charging case adds an addition 3 extra earbud charges for a total of 16 hours of battery life between the earbuds themselves and the charging case without having to recharge anything.  I think that’s theoretically possible, but this brings me to a difficulty that I had with this product, which I detail below.

When I placed the earbuds into their charging pockets and closed the lid, I was never quite sure that the earbuds were fully seated onto the charging contacts, even with the lid closed, which should have pushed the earbuds down and held them onto the contacts securely for charging.  The result was that I don’t think the earbuds were always being charged while in the charging case, which limited the battery life of the earbuds.  After analyzing the situation, I think that this was caused by the use of the largest, longest earbud tips.  The size of these tips seemed to make the earbuds more difficult to insert into their charging pockets—they didn’t seem to fully seat, even with the lid closed, which may have prevented the earbuds from charging.  If using any of the shorter and/or smaller earbud tips, this didn’t seem to have been a problem at all.

Bluetooth Connection

Initial pairing of the BE Free8 to my iPhone 6 Plus was quite simple.  Pressing each of the tiny earbuds and holding for about 6 seconds put them into pairing mode.  I then just selected “BE Free8” and boom, they were paired.  However, they did not seem to want to remain paired.  About every third time I removed the earbuds from their charging case, they needed to be re-paired with my iPhone all over again.  This became very annoying.

Optoma touts Near-Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) technology for a reliable connection between the earbuds, with a range of at least 33 feet, and I did find that to be the case.  Aside from a second or two of unexplained static here and there, I very seldom lost connection with my iPhone, and I don’t recall ever losing the connection between the left and right earbuds.

Positives

  • Slick battery charging case–looks cool
  • Earbuds fit pretty well (in MY ears at least)
  • Good sound, decent ambient noise blocking

Negatives

  • I had to re-pair them often
  • Largest size earbud tips got caught in the charging case and kept flipping inside out
  • Battery case sometimes didn’t seem to charge the earbuds

Final thoughts

The Optoma NuForce BE Free8 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds were a bit of a mixed bag for me.  I found their high gloss black styling to be very cool looking, including both their battery case as well as their charging case.  Speaking of the charging case, it seemed to generally work well, but occasionally one or both of the earbuds would not charge fully, I suspect due to the lid not completely closing.  Their sound was good, and they held a charge for a very serviceable amount of time, even longer using their battery charging case.  They fit fairly well in my ears, provided that I was able to get them positioned just right, but I did have to re-adjust them occasionally, and I also had to re-pair them more often than I would have liked.  Overall, the Optoma NuForce BE Free8 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds have great styling, good feature set and sound, but at $149.00 they seem a bit pricey considering their shortcomings.

Price: $149.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Optoma.

Waterfield Design Ranger iPhone X Case review

Hailing from San Francisco, Waterfield is known for their unique approach to bag & accessory design. Their products are *just* a bit different from what you’d expect. Take the Ranger iPhone X Case, for instance. It’s a beautiful full-grain leather case… but there is a lot more going on under that rugged exterior. Let’s go check it out! 

What is it?

The Waterfield Ranger iPhone X Case is a full-grain leather holster-style case for your iPhone. It’s specifically designed to the iPhone X specifications but will work for an iPhone 6, 7, or 8. An iPhone 7 Plus/8 Plus size is also available. I’m using an iPhone 6s for all the pictures you’ll find in this review.

Design and features

The first thing you’ll notice about the Ranger is the use of a magnetic Fidlock snap closure on the cover flap. The “male” end on the flap automatically snaps into the “female” receptacle on the case when it drops in place and is opened by pulling down on the tab. I love Fidlock hardware. It’s great for  one-handed release, but keeps the cover tightly secured when not in use.

Once you’ve opened the flap, you’ll find an ultrasuede-lined pocket for your phone. Contoured edges and open sides make it easy to slide your phone in-and-out with one hand, even if you have meaty fingers. There’s also a second pocket on the front face for small items like cash or your earbuds, but you won’t want to keep any cards in there with magnetic strips (the magnets on the case will scramble them).

On the rear of the case, you’ll find the attachment clip: a beefy 4” long leather strap that snaps to the rear of the phone case via a pair of quarter-sized magnets (one mounted on the strap, and one mounted on the case). These magnets are seriously strong, powerful enough to clip the case over your pants top, your jeans pocket, or even an open exterior pocket on your bag. I’ve been attaching the case to the exterior pocket of my Saddleback Mountainback gear bag, and it’s still super-secure despite all that heavy waxed canvas. It’s great for providing you options if you forgot your belt!

Rounding out the design, there’s a slot cut out on the bottom of the cradle to allow access to your iPhone X cable port. This slot is also wide enough that it doesn’t interfere with the phone’s speakers.

The Ranger uses a full-grain distressed leather that’s just beautiful. It’s soft and supple out of the box with luxurious hand feel, and there appears to be no dye bleed after several weeks of use. It smells fantastic out of the box and, as you can see from the photos, is picking up some nice character after several weeks of use. Waterfield also offers the case in either chocolate leather (shown here) or black if that’s your preference. Personally, I think the chocolate leather shows a bit more character.

I’ve been waiting to get my hands on a Waterfield product for a review, and I’m impressed. The materials and components are all top notch. Everything is made in San Francisco in small batches, and you can see the quality craftsmanship that goes into the finished product.

Positives

  • Simple one-handed access to your phone.
  • Great soft, supple leather quality.
  • Fidlock magnetic closure automatically snaps shut.
  • Extra strong magnet clip ensures that it will stay put — even through thick fabrics.

Negatives

  • Magnets will scramble magnetic strip cards — keep them in your wallet.

Final thoughts

Holster-style phone cases have fallen out of popularity with phones getting leaner & tougher, so your relative happiness with this case will depend on your personal preference. It’s easy to operate with one hand, and the versatile clip design allows for multiple attachment points. Like all Waterfield designs, the materials and hardware are fantastic. If you like a holster style phone case, the Waterfield Ranger is just about as good as it gets.

Price: $89.00
Where to buy: Waterfield Design
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Waterfield Design.

TEWELL RetroRock AC Powered Bluetooth Speaker review

This may be one of the coolest looking vintage-styled speakers I’ve reviewed. Seriously… if you don’t tell anyone they might think you swiped it from your dad’s (or grandad’s) rec room. With Bluetooth connectivity and great sound, however, it’s more than just a good looking room ornament. Let’s get our groove on with the Tewell RetroRock!

Retro-Styled Goodness and Simple Controls

The TEWELL RetroRock speaker is a beauty. The vintage look is highlighted by a metallic fabric front face, gold accents, and a leatherette casing. It’s even got an old-school toggle for a power switch and an honest-to-goodness volume knob! 

It’s a good-looking accessory that stands out in any room. My wife even asked to put it on display on the bar in our kitchen. This is a thing that never, ever happens.

The Tewell RetroRock offers Bluetooth connectivity or an aux-in audio cable port to connect to your preferred music device. A recessed panel on the top of the speaker contains all of the controls (and the aux port). There’s a button to switch between Bluetooth and aux mode, and three buttons for Bluetooth control (play/pause, next track, previous track). The buttons all have nice tactile feel, and everything is laid out nicely so that you’re not fumbling for the controls.

Rounding out the package, you’ll find a standard AC jack on the back. A power adaptor and aux cable are included in the package. The whole unit is a shelf-friendly 10.2” wide by 5.9” tall and deep, and weighs about 4.5 pounds.

As far as connectivity goes, Bluetooth connectivity is a pretty straightforward affair. Turn the unit on and pair with your device. A blue led light around the volume knob flashes rapidly during pairing mode, and goes steady when the connection is made. I tried pairing it with multiple devices without an issue.

If you want to use the aux cable, plug in and hit the Bluetooth button to start playing from the cable. Hit the button again, and it picks up the last Bluetooth device automatically. All the controls are simple, no user manual required.

Does It Bring the Funk?

The Tewell RetroRock sports two 12w speakers on the front face, and a “bass reflex system” with the bass port on the rear of the unit. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not an audiophile, but I’m impressed with the sound quality. I tested the speaker with a variety of music styles, podcasts, streaming music services, and stuff loaded to my devices. Audio is crisp and clear. The bass has a well-rounded, deep resonance that adds nice depth. Quality is also consistent at high and low volume ranges without breaking.

Other Considerations

While the RetroRock has a 30-foot range for Bluetooth devices, I did notice some drops if the device is farther away than 10 feet from the speaker. After reading the reviews on the RetroRock, however, I don’t see this as a commonly reported problem. I also noticed that sounds quality and volume range seems to be slightly better when using the aux cable, but it sounds great either way.

The Tewell RetroRock is not a battery-operated device, so you can’t charge it and move it around the house. Tewell offers a chargeable variant called the “RetroGo” that is portable and wireless if that’s your preference.

There’s also no microphone/speaker integration on the RetroRock for integrated Bluetooth calling. If you get a call, it will switch automatically to your phone and back again when your call is complete. I don’t see this as a big drawback, but you may want to consider this if you’re shopping based on feature sets.

Tewell offers an 18-month refund or replacement policy if you find any defects with your speaker. At this price range that’s a pretty impressive warranty. According to other reviews, they also offer excellent customer service support.

Positives

  • Great looking retro-styling
  • Bluetooth and Aux-cable support for compatibility with all of your devices
  • Simple, easy-to-use interface
  • Great, deep sound
  • Excellent customer support & warranty

Negatives

  • Does not support integrated Bluetooth phone calls
  • Noticed some drops in Bluetooth connectivity, but it does a good job of picking up if drops occur

Final thoughts

I really dig the Tewell RetroRock speaker. Not only does it have great sound and device compatibility, but it’s a great looking and interesting design piece that you’ll be happy to display anywhere in the house. At a retail price of $69.99 with excellent customer support, it’s also a great value. The battery-powered version, the RetroGo, retails for

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: the sample for this review was provided by Tewell.

Pad & Quill Heritage Apple Watch band review

 

If you own any kind of Apple product you have probably heard of Pad&Quill. Well known for producing luxurious leather Cases for iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks they also make leather bands for the Apple Watch. I was fortunate enough to receive the Heritage Apple Watch Band to review.

What is it?

The Pad&Quill Heritage Apple Watch Band is a full-grain leather strap made for the 42mm Apple Watch Series 1, 2, and 3.

 Design and features

I own a lot of Apple Watch Bands, you could say that I’ve never seen one that I don’t want to buy. However, the P&Q Heritage band is the first one I’ve owned that screams craftsmanship right out of the box. From leather to stitching, you can tell that the utmost care went into making this strap.

Even the box the strap comes in has a real artisan look, right down to the old-fashioned Pad&Quill wax seal.

 Quality, quality, quality!

The construction of this strap is meticulous. From the elegant contrasting stitched French-hemmed edges to the durable matte black nickel hardware. The leather is a luxurious American full-grain whiskey leather and the stitching is a UV-resistant marine-grade stitch. That’s the same stitch used in making sails and parachutes.

Each band is hand-made by a Skilled Artisan. This is one of the things that makes P&Q’s bands stand out from all others. Not only does a skilled craftsman make each band but they also discreetly sign each strap’s interior.

Another unique thing they do is add a single orange tie-off to each strap. The orange tie-off signifies P&Q’s tribute to World Vision. Not only is it cool but it makes for an interesting conversation piece when people ask you about your new watch band.

P&Q is so confident in the skill of their craftsman that they offer an INSANE 25-year leather warranty with every strap. So you’re not only buying quality you’re also buying confidence. I love that.

I really like how this strap looks and feels on my wrist. The robust non-tapered design gives the band a substantial and rugged look and feel. It really transforms the whole look of my Apple Watch. And like any good watch band, its look effortlessly transitions from workweek to weekend.

 

The band is a little stiff at first, and the size adjustment holes are a little on the small side which made putting the band on the first couple of times a little challenging. But once broken in I can honestly say it’s the most comfortable Apple Watch Band I’ve ever worn.

Positives

  • Handcrafted by a skilled artisan
  • American full-grain whiskey leather
  • Great looks
  • Extremely comfortable
  • 25-year leather warranty

Negatives

  • Leather is a little stiff
  • Small adjustment holes

Final thoughts

The Pad&Quill Heritage Apple Watch Band isn’t simply just a watch band, it’s a piece of artisan artwork and a great conversation piece. From the full-grain whiskey leather to the craftsman signature, and trade-mark orange tie-off everything about this band speaks to its quality and craftsmanship.

IMHO, if you own an Apple Watch you need to have this strap as part of your collection.

Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Pad & Quill
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pad & Quill. Please visit their site for more info.