Saddleback Leather has built a reputation based on distinctive, durable leather bags and accessories that invoke the spirit of adventure. Saddleback has steadily introduced new styles and designs since their inception, but 2016 brought us a new material choice in the Mountainback product line: waxed canvas. I’ve spent a month testing the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag, one of the newer designs in the lineup. It’s a completely new thing, yet still distinctively Saddleback. Ready to find out more? Let’s go adventuring!

Materials & Construction

Saddleback Leather claims that they sourced the finest materials available to build the Mountainback waxed canvas line, and it shows. The primary material in the Front Pocket Gear Bag is 24 oz. olive/green waxed canvas imported from Scotland. It’s thick and supple to the touch, water repellant, and develops its own unique character over time as it collects marks and scars from your daily adventures. You’ll find ridiculously thick 1/8″ “old bull” leather used in the trim, handles, and reinforcement points throughout the bag. All the hardware is custom made from beefy, surgical-grade, rust-proof 316 steel. It’s an impressive roster of materials that give the whole bag a substantial, rugged feel.

Materials are only as good as the construction that keeps them together, and the build on this bag is equally impressive. All the waxed canvas edges on the bag are trimmed off with marine-grade polyester stitching in dark brown to match the leather, with extra reinforcement at every corner. All major use points are reinforced with the old bull leather on both sides of the canvas which has been both stitched and secured with hand-pounded copper rivets. The back and the base of the bag both have massive pieces of thick leather for added protection and additional bag structure. After a month of extensive testing, I’ve yet to find a stress point that isn’t overbuilt to take years of sustained abuse.

It is important that to note that all of the quality materials come with a cost in overall weight. The Front Pocket Gear Bag comes in at 5 pounds unloaded. It’s lighter than some of Saddleback’s all-leather offerings in a similar size but still pretty substantial for day-to-day carry.

Saddleback Leather’s president, Dave Munson, has stated that he took a lot of queues for the Mountainback line from sail construction to ensure that the waxed canvas build would be as tough and durable as the leather products he is known for. I think he’s succeeded in that goal. There’s a ton of careful attention to detail here to ensure that the build quality matches the material choices.

Design and Function

The basic form factor of the Front Pocket Gear Bag is that of a flap-over messenger, with some clever innovations that add functionality and usability. We’ll work our way from the inside to the outside of the bag in this review, looking at the details as we go.

The overall measurements of the Front Pocket Gear Bag sit right in the “just right” sweet spot for a work/casual bag at 12-1/2″ tall by 15″ wide by 3-3/4″ deep. The main compartment is 11-1/2″ by 14″ by 3-3/4″, allowing there’s plenty of room to load a 15″ Thinkpad, a tablet, a notebook, and still leave room for extras. There’s a pocket on the back wall of the interior that will accommodate a 13″ MacBook or iPad Pro (you can even add a notebook), but bigger laptops will ride in the main area. The unstructured nature of the waxed canvas is really accommodating, allowing you to overstuff or pack an assortment of oddly-shaped items. Got lunch and a light jacket to throw in with your laptop? No problem. Need to haul a six-pack and tools to the campfire? Done.

(Side note: the six pack in the picture is Kona Brewing Company’s, Koko Brown. It’s a nut brown ale with hints of toasted coconut. Smooth, nutty and highly recommended!)

You have 6 pockets to organize your stuff, starting with the two side pockets. These pockets are tall and narrow, measuring 6-1/2″ by 3-1/4″ by 3/4″ each. They will take a an iPhone 6s in a case, but it’s a tight squeeze. I feel that these pockets are better suited for longer, thinner items like pens, knives, or a multitool. A cigar case would fit nicely in these as well.

Under the flap you will find the pockets that give the bag its name, and they are my favorite part of this particular design. Each pocket is 11″ by 6-1/2″ wide and 2-1/2″ deep, big enough to take larger water bottles. You can fit a bunch of smaller stuff in these like power bricks, iPhone chargers, sunglasses cases, etc. without compromising the space in the main compartment. There’s no closure mechanism for these pockets, but the top 3″ can be folded over and secured when the bag’s flap is locked in place. These pockets are attached to the bag on three sides, giving you a pair of bonus stash pockets behind them for quick access items like a phone, a wallet, your passport, and the like. It’s a great setup that gives you lots of organization options.

(Side note #2: that’s a Tervis 24 ounce mug in the picture, and its fits quite well in the front pocket. And yes, that’s my Star Wars mug… not my kid’s!)

The messenger-style flap on the bag also sports some clever tricks. A flap that is wider than the opening keeps the elements from getting into your bag, and the heavy-duty leather grab handle uses a sliding design that sits flat when not in use. The closure mechanism is something new to Saddleback designs, and is taken from old-style military bags. First you’ll find a steel d-ring secured to each front pocket. A pair of leather straps on the flap can be hooked into these rings by slots cut into the straps, and then secured with an additional leather strips (including a pair of leather pull-tabs) that slide through the rings. It’s an ingenious setup that enables you to quickly open the bag without fumbling with clips or buckles. As with the rest of the bag, every detail on the flap and closure has been considered for reinforcement at key wear points and quality construction.

This attention to detail continues with the shoulder strap. The strap material is primarily waxed canvas that looks to be doubled over then heavily reinforced with extra stitching. The clips are chunky, stainless steel monsters with heavy-duty spring clips. The attachment points on the bag itself use heavy-duty 1″ grommets, reinforced with leather and additional canvas strips on the inside and the outside of the bag. The strap is adjustable with another stainless steel sliding clip that does not slide about when secured. Finally, the strap pad is a thick, 9″ piece of the old bull leather that stays put where you set it. The whole strap design is ridiculously overbuilt, and could probably be used to tow a small boat in a pinch.

Rounding out the design, we have two thick leather pads that provide additional structure and protection to the bag. The pad on the base not only provides protection when you put the bag down, but it also enables the bag to stand on its own without tipping over. The back pad is marvelous, adding comfort and preventing the bag’s contents from poking you while moving about. The combination of these two elements give the bag some structure, but don’t take away from the floppy flexibility the waxed canvas provides to adapt to your packed goods. The back pad is also open at the top, so you can stash a tablet or notebook in there if you like… just don’t stash small items in there, as there are gaps between the rivets that would enable those items to fall out if you are on the run.

The Bag In Use

There’s something alluring about Saddleback’s rugged, go-anywhere brand image that I appreciate. But image isn’t everything…a good bag has to provide strong functional usability if you’re going to living with it every day. After a month of testing, I believe that the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag is an excellent performer in the day-to-day grind (as well as the occasional wild adventure). It also has a ton of personality.

The Front Pocket Gear Bag is a deceptively simple, adaptable bag. It’s big enough to haul your work gear for the office commute, yet adaptable enough to be your go-to bag for day trips, travel, and weekend adventures. The pocket design gives you plenty of flexible organization options, including quick-access areas for regularly used items. The closure system is simple but secure, enabling quick access to your content when you need it. It will take the elements in stride if you wander off the beaten path, but still works great if you’re hopping on a train to go to a meeting in the city. It’s very easy bag to live with in all kinds of situations.

From a style perspective, this bag is all about that rugged adventure vibe. It’s a good looking travel companion, and wouldn’t look out of place paired with a fedora and a bullwhip (and perhaps a golden idol?). I’ve been using it as my daily work bag, and it looks great in office settings that lean towards business casual… I think pairing it with it with a suit for a formal meeting is a bit of a stretch. You’re good to go taking it anywhere else from the coffee shop to the beach to the flea market. Some additional color options would be nice to appeal to different tastes, but I think the green choice is a good all-around neutral color for most situations. It also looks fantastic paired with the dark brown leather.

If you know Saddleback products, you know that they tend to be heavy given the use of all of that thick leather. At 5 pounds this bag is not a lightweight, but it is definitely lighter than all-leather Saddleback products of similar size. I have found it to be surprisingly comfortable to carry. The shoulder strap is really excellent and does a great job distributing the weight. 5 pounds empty is still a heavy bag, however, and weight can add up quickly as you start loading up your stuff. You should consider your daily carry requirements if you’re considering this bag and weight is an issue for you.

The Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag has no buckles, snaps, or zippers to close the interior pockets. This means no additional hardware that could break, and enables quick access to all parts of the bag. This can be problematic on flap over-style bags like this, however, as you don’t have many options to secure your important doodads. I prefer to use organizer pouches for all of my little stuff, so I don’t have an issue with this. Sometimes on bags like these things tend to fall out when the bag is tipped over. I have not experienced this in a month of use, as the deep pockets tend to keep things from falling out… it is something to be aware of, however. I’ve seen no issues so far with the closure style on the flap, but some may wish for a more secure option (like buckles) as seen in the leather Saddleback lineup. It’s really a matter of personal preference, and the trade off for quick access to all of your things at any time.

As far as durability goes, it’s a beast. Waxed canvas builds up a patina as it gets used, and you can see from my pics that this bag has been through its paces in the first month. Other than these marks, I have not seen any sign of wear & tear in any stitching or key stress points. I am traveling several times over the summer for work & vacation, and I’ll update this report as I go.

Pricing and Value

It is important to consider pricing on this bag, as it ain’t cheap. At $440 the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag is a significant investment. Given the price, I think it is important that we take a moment to discuss the relative value of this particular bag.

The market for waxed canvas products varies wildly, but there aren’t too many designers playing on the premium end of the business where I would put the Mountainback products.  Some smaller designer shops like Vermylea Pelle and Defy Bags come to mind, and Filson is legendary in this space. All of these brands build higher-end waxed canvas bags at price points that are similar than the Mountainback line (some offer less expensive options), but there is still a wide variety of design and materials choices that make a straightforward comparison difficult. Filson, in particular, has a

Its also important to consider that the $400-$500 price range puts this bag in the same category with a whole lot of premium competition. You’re stepping into a bracket that includes all kinds of leather options, luxury brands, and even custom bags from smaller design shops. I think that the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag holds its own in this category based on the quality and craftsmanship in the design, but there are lots of options available for you to consider based on your style and personal preferences.

Saddleback also offers a range of bag designs in the Mountainback lineup including satchels, backpacks, and gear bags with prices starting at $150 (and some lower-priced accessory bags). Sizes and features differ from the Front Pocket Gear Bag, but you’ll get the same quality, materials, and construction you see here. Check out their site for more information.

Conclusion

I’m a fan of quality bag design, and I think that Saddleback Leather has made a great product in the Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag. While its a completely new design and material choice, it’s still got that adventurous vibe that Saddleback is known for. Attention to craftsmanship is apparent in every aspect of this bag from the hardware & material choices to the rock-solid construction. It’s a great multifunctional bag with excellent usability that works well as a work bag, a travel bag, or a general-use day bag. It’s a significant investment at $440, however, so you’ll want to be sure to consider all of your options before you dive in. Saddleback does offer a variety of styles in the Mountainback lineup at their website in addition to the Front Pocket Gear Bag, with pricing ranging from

I’ll be sure to update you on my adventures with this bag as I continue to use it. Thank you for reading!

Source:  The sample for this review was provided by Saddleback Leather Company. Visit their site for more info and you can also find this bag on Amazon.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags

Saddleback Leather Mountainback Front Pocket Gear Bag review originally appeared on on June 13, 2017 at 7:02 am.

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Let’s talk about hybrid/convertible work bags for a minute. Are you a briefcase, messenger, or backpack person? What if you didn’t have to choose? I like the flexibility of convertible bags, but finding one that is both functional and business appropriate has been a challenge. After two months of testing, I think I’ve found it. Let’s have a look at the Topo Designs Commuter Briefcase!

Style, Materials, and Build

Topo’s signature adventure-oriented design style combines unusual color combinations & elements in products that typically look more at home in casual or outdoor environments. The Commuter Briefcase, however, bridges that gap with a business-friendly look that can still rumble on the weekends. Horween leather accents and a streamlined profile make for a good looking bag when dressing up for meetings, but it still works with a pair of jeans for a trip to the coffee shop as I have demonstrated in the pics attached. I like the way that Topo plays with adventurous color palettes in all their products, and you’ll find that design aesthetic here as well. There’s all black version for the conservative types, but you’ll also find a navy & green version of the bag that play with bright color accents to give the bag a unique pop (mine is the navy with brown leather). Some may find it to be a bit too casual for formal settings, but I think it works in most business settings.

(By the way… that is a Ramones T-Shirt I am wearing in the pics. Pair that with a sports coat and you’re good to go for any high-level board meeting. Right? Maybe? OK. Moving on…)

Underneath the good looks, materials and construction in the Commuter Briefcase are all about quality and durability. 1000D Cordura is the primary material with a Horween leather base and padding all around to protect your delicate electronics. The interior is lined with a coated pack cloth that is both stain and water-resistant. While buckles and clips are all plastic, they are heavy duty and built to take heavy abuse. All the zippers are overbuilt built with glorious, chunky YKK zips that will probably outlast the bag. Assembly and stitching throughout is exceptional, with reinforcement in all the right places and no loose seams to be found after kicking it around for two solid months.

Layout and Design

The Commuter leverages a classic briefcase form factor with excellent accessibility. A top  zipper (with two pulls for left- or right-side access) opens to the main compartment, which includes a padded laptop sleeve. The front zippered pocket runs the length and height of the bag and is big enough to accommodate a tablet and extras. A couple of additional small pockets are built into the laptop sleeve (one open, one zippered, and two pen loops). It’s a simple, functional layout is gives you quick access to everything in the bag. On the downside, there’s not a lot of pocketing for corralling your extra bits. If you need of extra organization, you’ll want to bring your own pouches and accessories to manage your stuff.

At 16″ by 11″ by 4.5″ and just over 2 pounds I feel that the Commuter Briefcase hits the sweet spot for overall size, capacity & weight. You can load up a 15″ laptop, a tablet, chargers, headphones, a notebook or two, and all of your daily bits & pieces (chargers, pens, keys, etc.) with room leftover to pack a snack or a small lunch. If you want to go minimal (like a tablet and essentials), it’s still streamlined enough that you won’t feel like you’re carrying too much bag. While I have not flown with it (yet), I expect that the size will make it an excellent personal item to stow under an airline seat.

One Bag, Three Carry Options

The Commuter Briefcase’s key differentiator is the three-way carry system. Numerous bag designers have developed variations on this theme, but this may be the best implementation I have seen yet. 

The first carry option is briefcase style, in which you carry the bag by the two top handles. The handles themselves are substantial nylon webbing, wrapped with Horween leather grips that add a touch of padding. Some may want more padding, but I find that they are comfortable enough without being so bulky that they get in the way when not in use.

There’s a detachable shoulder strap for messenger mode, made of nylon webbing with heavy-duty plastic swivel buckles with an 18″ closed foam pad. Drop length on the strap accommodates a broad range of body types, and the generous shoulder pad makes it easy to find a comfortable position. This is my main carry mode and I have found that the pad, while thin, is very comfortable. The thinner pad also makes it easy to stash when not in use without taking up a lot of space in the bag.

For backpack carry, you’ll find a pair of shoulder straps stashed into a rear pocket. Rotate the bag to a vertical orientation, pull the straps out (they are permanently attached at the shoulder points), and clip them into attachment loops at the “bottom” of the bag. There’s also a nylon grab handle that sits at the top of the bag in this configuration. The setup is comfortable for all-day carry with good padding and nice adjustment length in the straps. Topo also includes a removable waist strap if you need it.

Daily Use

Testing bags is one of my favorite things, so I am very particular about how a bag’s intended design translates into daily use. After two months of living with Topo Designs Commuter Briefcase, I think it hits all the marks for functional usability. It’s easy to use, adapts well to many situations, and (most importantly) works well in all of its intended forms.

For commuting and life in the office, it’s a great choice. The size is just right to carry your laptop and all of the workplace accessories and works well whether you’re traveling by car or by train with easy access to all of your stuff.  Getting in and out of the bag during meetings is easy if you need to grab things, and it’s light enough that you don’t mind slogging it around from conference room to conference room. It doesn’t look out of place in business environments, and looks good dressed up or dressed down for casual days.

The Commuter Briefcase works just as well as a travel companion for day trips or extended adventures. It’s light and streamlined enough that you can use it like a messenger bag, yet still have a protected spot to stash your tablet if you need it. It’s not fully waterproof, but the materials are rugged enough that it can take some abuse while the coated pack cloth gives additional protection against dirt and spills with water resistance. The backpack mode is great if you want to go hands-free, and works well for all day carry if you need it. I have a business trip to Europe coming up over the summer, and I’m looking forward to testing this bag out as my personal bag for airline travel, business meetings, and sightseeing. I’ll post a report on that when I get back!

Nitpicks and Caveats

I don’t see any big deal-breakers in terms of design flaws here, but the Topo Designs Commuter Briefcase does have some quirks that you should know about related to organization, style, and design choices.

Some have commented that they would like to see more organization in the Commuter for corralling loose bits. I find that some bag designers tend to over-design these spaces to the point that they become very mission-specific. My preference is to add organizer pouches for customization, and I think that the open layout of this bag lends itself well to that. If you prefer more built-in organization, however, this may not be the bag for you.

There is a pair of cinch straps on the bottom of the bag, but they don’t seem particularly necessary to me. I think they are better suited for securing longer items (an umbrella, a tripod, or maybe a rolled up jacket). Nor have I found a need to use the waist strap. It’s a nice bonus, but it’s just not necessary for a bag of this size unless you’re hiking (in which case you would probably use a backpack). These are both nice little additions, but I don’t see them as necessary for a bag that if focused more towards business and casual use than true outdoor adventuring (I would use one of their backpacks for that). 

While the look of the bag will definitely stand out in the office, materials and hardware tend towards functional use. Some may not like the use of plastics and nylon in all of the buckles, snaps & straps. Quality is excellent, and I don’t see any potential fail points in these items. They do tend to favor the rugged end of the bag’s style, however, and you may find them out of place if you are looking for a more formal look in your daily carry. 

Finally, the backpack straps are permanently stitched to the bag at the shoulder points and are not removable. They also tend to protrude from their pocket a bit when stored. Some reviewers have commented that these issues can be irritating, but I have not found this to impede the other functions of the bag. Honestly, I think this a trade-off that you have to consider the ability to convert to backpack mode on-the-fly; if this is a function you don’t plan to use much, you may want to consider a bag specifically designed for briefcase-style carry. 

A Note on Accessories

When I purchased this bag, I also bought two additional items to help with organization. I’m pleasantly surprised to report that I found both items to be even more useful in practice than I expected.

The Topo Medium Accessory Bag is treated to use. Its made from 1000D Cordura with the same coasted pack cloth as the bag, and includes loops and attachment points to hook it to a chord or carabiner if needed. At 9.5″ by 7.5″ it’s perfect to round up all my chargers, cables, and loose bits; it also fits nicely in either the main compartment or the front compartment with plenty of room to spare.

The Topo Designs Strap is a 10.5″ nylon strap with an additional 8.5″ hook-and-loop fastener extension. Topo makes these as a multifunctional accessory: you can use them to manage your skis or tools, to peg your pants leg while biking, or even as a watch strap. I found that this works great for securing a water bottle to my bag strap.

As with the Commuter Briefcase, both accessories are rock-solid builds and look like they will take long-term abuse. They are nice additions that extend the usability of the bag, without any extra frills that interfere with their functionality.

Conclusion & Pricing

After two solid months of living with the Topo Designs Commuter Briefcase on a daily basis, it has quickly become one of my favorite bags. Attention to detail and function translate to a design in the Commuter that is easy to live with and adapts easily to work, play and travel. It looks good in professional and casual settings and works equally well in all three carry modes. Overall this is one of the best realizations of a one-bag, multifunctional daily carry solution that I have found yet.

Topo Designs builds all of their products in an environmentally-friendly facility in Colorado and uses materials that are all sourced in the U.S. The Commuter Briefcase retails for $189, which is a good price considering the features and the fact that’s made in the USA. Topo also makes a variety of accessories at different price points; the medium accessory bag I tested is $17, and the strap is $12. To find out more and to check out their whole lineup of gear (including clothing and accessories), hop on over to Topo Designs web site.

Note: This product was not supplied for testing by Topo Designs. I paid for this with my hard-earned nickels. Visit Amazon for current pricing and to order.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags

Topo Designs Commuter Briefcase review originally appeared on on May 30, 2017 at 11:02 am.

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