When I opened the box, the smell immediately hit me.  That smell of well-tanned leather.  You know the smell.  You hold it up to your nose and leave it there for awhile.  Yeah, it was like that when I opened the box on the Mr. Lentz leather briefcase.  I have had ‘genuine leather’ goods my whole life that turned out to be not so genuine.  So I was very curious if Mr. Lentz could make a leather good that truly was of the highest quality.  So let’s jump right in.

I’ll go ahead and let the cat out of the leather bag and tell you that this leather briefcase is just about as fine as they come.  And for the price of $398 (plus more if you want it personalized or with the optional inside storage add-on that I got), it better be good, right?  But before I go further, let me provide you what Mr. Lentz states about the size and details of this briefcase:

LARGE: The exterior of this size measures 15.5 inches wide x 11.25 inches tall x 3 inches deep. The interior space is: 14.75 inches wide x 11 inches tall x 2.75 inches deep. The large size will fit Macbook Pro 15″ laptops.
*Hardware change note: the shoulder strap now contains two steel clips on either end that clip onto the hardware on the sides of the bag.

INTERIOR POCKETS ADDON: These are 2 pockets total attached to the interior via 6 heavy duty military grade snaps. The pockets are both 6 inches wide x 5 inches tall, and one contains a flap closure, the other is open with a small key ring attachment.

PERSONALIZATION LOCATION: If you choose to get your Briefcase stamped or branded with initials or a name, the personalization will go on a small tag of leather that will be riveted to the main body of the bag. It will be located under the top flap, near the opening of the bag.

Additional details:

• Included is a free tin of Mr. Lentz handmade leather conditioner
• 100-year warranty against defects
• Handmade per order in the USA
• Solid brass rivets
• Full-grain vegetable-tanned leather

What I liked

This bag is top notch.  There isn’t a stitch on the entire bag, as every piece of leather on the bag is attached using rivets.  Just about every leather good I have ever owned has started to come apart at the stitched seams sooner or later with normal wear and tear.  But with nary a stitch in sight and with a 100-year warranty on defects with this product, this bag is going to last me a very long time. And just as with all leather goods, I expect it to get softer and more supple over time.

The inside of the bag is natural and unlined and the buckles are stainless steel and very high quality.  The handle on the top is soft and easy on the hand, and the straps that buckle and close the bag on the front actually wrap around the bottom and snap into place at the top of the back.  What that enables you to do is unsnap the straps on the back and insert like a newspaper or something there, then snap it back to hold the item tight.  There is also a pocket on the back of the bag that can hold a small stack of papers or folders, and it has one snap to hold it closed.

I got the bag with the optional inside storage add-on that is basically 2 pockets.  One of the inside pockets is open with a key ring attachment, while the other has a closeable flap.  Having the inside storage is definitely nice for your phone/keys/etc, but it does take up room inside the bag.  The removable adjustable shoulder strap is wide and spreads the load on your shoulder, so that is nice.

Other things to consider

I didn’t really dislike anything about this briefcase, but there are some things to consider if you decide to purchase this.  I was able to fit my 15″ laptop with power supply inside the bag, but it was tight.  With my laptop inside (it is old and pretty thick) I wasn’t able to get much more inside the bag. So I had to utilize the outside pocket to hold folders and papers.  Finally, it is expensive, no doubt.  Dropping over $400 for a leather briefcase isn’t a small thing, but I truly believe that you have to pay for quality.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this briefcase and it has become my daily go-to bag for carrying to meetings.  The quality is outstanding and I doubt anybody can outlive the warranty.  I highly recommend this bag.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mr. Lentz. For more info visit his website to order and check out some of their smaller leather goods on Amazon.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags, Leather

Mr. Lentz leather briefcase review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 10, 2017 at 9:31 am.

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Let me begin by saying hello, my name is Ryan and I an a leather addict.  Admitting I have an obsession to leather products is about as far as I am willing to go in this 12 step program so with that out of the way, let’s talk about Mr. Lentz and his Work Bag.

Opening the box, the olfactory hue of quality vegetable tanned leather reminds me of all the reasons I love leather products, especially vegetable tanned leather.  Upon first inspection of the bag, I can immediately see that these were designed and made by a true craftsman with an understanding of what is important in high quality leather bags that are meant to serve a utilitarian function.  The leather as I mentioned is 100% veg tanned leather that is made in the USA and has a wonderfully finished and smooth exterior with an unlined natural interior. The rivets are nickel over solid copper and the buckles are stainless steel, no pot metal or plastic here, the hardware is as solid as it gets.  Quality hardware is important for both the longevity of the product and rust/corrosion resistance and Mr. Lentz did not cut any corners when it came to selecting this aspect of the bag either.

As someone with an admitted leather problem, I look for signs that the designer wanted to make something that will last and also be appealing to the eye.  There is no stitching on this bag whatsoever.  All of the seams, straps, buckles, and handle are riveted, producing a sturdy product with a very clean and unique look.  There is an optional shoulder strap for this bag for an additional cost but the one I am reviewing didn’t come with that.  If your intent is to carry this bag for a long period of time, carry a bag full of steel tools or just want the freedom of having two free hands, the shoulder strap may be a good investment for you.  For me, I don’t anticipate packing this with anything that I would need the strap for and with a bag this size it just seems at home in my hand.  The hardware to attach the strap to the bag is not included if you do not add the strap at the time of purchase.  You can request that the hardware be put on the bag if you think you want to buy the strap later but this would require contacting Mr. Lentz or making a customization request in the order, he even said you can send it back to have that option added, what a guy!  If you are on the fence, I would lean towards buying the strap , you can always disconnect it and store it when not in use.

One of the first things I noticed about this bag is that the entire body (not including handles, straps and buckles) of the bag is made from only three pieces of leather.  The flap extends all the way around the back of the bag and back up the front, creating a cylinder of continuous leather when closed.  The two end caps are separate pieces of leather that are securely riveted in place.  The continuous piece that makes up the body of the bag is a sign of quality in a leather bag.  The fewer seams a bag has, the stronger it will be, having fewer places to fail.

The size of this little duffel/work bag is fairly unique, in a very good way.  At 14.5″L x 7″D x 6″H, I was able to pack it with more tools than I would ever need for a project around the house with room to spare.  Other uses for this bag could include an overnight bag, an emergency kit for your car or home or even the coolest lunch box if you carry your lunch to work.

With a retail price of $280 (+$50 if you want the shoulder strap), the Work Bag is not inexpensive but within the first minute in your hands, you will see where your money has gone.  Straight into a quality leather bag that will outlast you, and if it doesn’t the 100 year warranty is there to have your back.

Proes: Made from the highest quality materials, rugged and sturdy design, simple yet handsome appearance, unique sized bag to meet your needs for short trips or around the house/shop/ranch/whatever, small business so you can expect a rapid response to questions and he will work with you on helping make your bag right for you, free shipping in the USA, HANDMADE IN THE USA, 100 year warranty.

Cons: The $280 (+$50 for optional shoulder strap) price tag may push the Work Bag into the luxury category for some, one color of leather is offered currently (but it is beautiful!), high quality leather products like these are very addictive…seriously, you’ve been warned so please don’t go writing angry letters to Julie demanding justice because you developed a leather problem because of me.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with this little duffel bag.  I am looking forward to using it in all those situations where other leather bags are just too big and to just get another piece of leather into my daily life.    He offers a number of wallets and accessories if you want to start with something small to check out first and also offers a larger duffel that is a sized up version of the Work Bag and also a briefcase.  I highly recommend this bag to anyone interested in quality leather goods that are meant to be used.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mr. Lentz Leather Goods. Visit their site for more info.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags, Leather

Mr. Lentz Leather Work Bag review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 29, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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