Best Backpack Reviews

This is a top notch product sold by a top notch organization. Couldn't be happier !!! A Briefcase for life !!! Many positive comments on this item. Well worth the price !!!

I needed a new wallet and saw Saddleback on here, checked out the other goods they sold and found this briefcase. I have been looking for a leather briefcase like this for a long while, and finally found it!! I got it last week and used it yesterday to carry all the items I needed for a trial. The large is pretty big (which is exactly what I needed). It holds my 17 inch Apple MB Pro with a ton of space for whatever else you may need to put in a briefcase.It is a sight to see! Soo beautifully made, leather is unreal and smells like you are sitting in a new car! Cant say enough about this bag! Check out their website when you get a chance, it is amusing and shows you why these products are more expensive than the other crappy leather goods out there. I can really see this bag lasting for 100 years!!

As a retired professional guide, I find this pack to be ruggedly constructed and designed for comfort. The zippers, seams, loops, fabric, all the essential materials, are designed to function well and take abuse without failing. The zippers flow easily and do not jam. The pack is designed for versatility with access from numerous locations. The top telescopes to a considerable height to accommodate increased volume. Smaller loads are easily cinched down by compression straps. The downside to all this is the seemingly endless number of straps hanging everywhere, resembling Medusa's head. I miss the big side pockets that used to be almost standard on all backpacks. Fortunately, one Osprey Crampon Pocket straps perfectly to each side of this pack, with the pair adding an extra 400 cubic inches of volume. The yoke system of this pack is superb. Weight is distributed to the top of the sacrum and the hip points by the well designed and very large padding in the waist system. Some believe the weight of the pack to be a disadvantage. This pack plus the Osprey pockets come in at around 9 pounds. I have put 40 pounds of gear into this pack for a 49 lb. total. I have put the same 40 pounds in a 5 lb pack (45 lb. total) and into a 4 lb. pack (44 lb. total) and the 49 lb. total of this pack is immensely more comfortable and easy to carry than the others. I am now close to 60 y.o. and the most I have put in this pack is about 70 lb. In my 20s, I carried as much as 120 lb in my old Synergy…

If there is a sturdier or more beautifully made leather briefcase out there, I don't know where you'd find it. After owning this for a couple months, I understand the company slogan, "They'll fight over it when you're dead." There is no point in waxing euphorically for paragraph after paragraph of how much I like this case, so let me pick the nits, so to speak.First, if you carry a small footprint, "road warrior" laptop as I do, then the "medium" size bag I purchased will work for you. However, the larger "desktop replacement" laptops with 17"+ screens and more robust footprints will require the "large" bag, which is an inch or so wider than the "medium." I personally can't imagine needing the "Xtra-large" size, but if you carry a full office-load of stuff when you travel--say a laptop, projector, and portable printer--then maybe the large case would work as a one-bag solution. It should be noted that all Saddleback gear is made with thick leather and sturdy hardware, which translates into pieces that are heavier than your average designer leather accessories, so picking the smallest size briefcase that fits your needs is recommended. The heavier weight is mitigated by the fact you can repurpose the case into a backpack by running the shoulder strap through the "D" ring in the middle of the bag's cover, so lugging it long distances through airports (or wherever) won't wear out your shoulder or…

... you know, what ever you carry around on a day-to-day base better fits your needs perfectly - right ? I travel a lot for work - a lot on business, ... so a LV briefcase is just too pretentious. So, I got myself a nice "Porsche Design" backpack and that did the trick for a while, until the zipper gave up B-cause I stuffed too much stuff into it. Anyway, I needed a new one: ... TUMI is pretty cool here, down in TX - so, I kind of fell slowly in love with that back-pack: ... nice: you can store your passport behind the middle zipper - and your bloody keys in the left front pocket and still having the right front pocket for a bottle H2O ... - that's great: whenever you need something: it's right where you zipped it away. ... but: ... zippers to both outside pockets are off - totally off - like eating your cereal with your other hand = off. Please reverse those zippers of the two outside pockets immediately - it's the difference btw. a Ford Mustang and a Porsche - the Mustang drives you nuts, and the Porsche makes you feel home. And, that tag thing: NO !! - please: it could be such a cool back-pack, but that cheap China-Made name tag is just too much. This is not check-in luggage - does not need a tag. ... it's just too much lip-stick on an otherwise beautiful woman. ... and: how can AMAZON sell it 20 buck cheaper than the TUMI Store - is you marketing VP paying attention here ??

I usually base my purchases on the number of positive reviews, but this item did not have any reviews at the time. From the pictures it looked great and suitable for my tastes in style, so I decided to take a chance and purchase it. After receiving the bag and looking it over I was extremely pleased with the product. It has a nice clean and simple design. My 15" Macbook Pro is nice and protected while inside it and it has compartments and pockets for all kinds of other things. When wearing it, it feels comfortable and not bulky. I usually prefer simplicity in the styles and things I buy, so this bag was perfect for me.

This is not a man purse. This is not a European Shoulder Bag. This is a satchel, a briefcase, a thing to be worn proudly. I realized a while back that I am no longer a boy, and was tired of carrying things around in a backpack.I am 6'3" and weigh around 265ish, and I bought the XL big. It is big, but not so large that I feel like I am carrying a suitcase around with me. I am able to put my 17" laptop with accessories, a large frame revolver, clothes for an overnight, plus a bottle of whiskey if the occasion requires it.The craftsmanship is superb. I admit the price was a little harsh, but now that I have it, I feel it was worth it. The site says you only cry once, and it is a true statement. I cried when I bought, but that has long passed and the bag is mine now and will be for quite some time. I get compliments almost daily, and the longer I have it, the better the bag becomes. Like a fine wine or fine woman, this bag is meant to be enjoyed for the remainder of my days.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 starsSaddleback Leather Backpack, January 12, 2009 By Brian L. Mcfall (St. Joseph, Michigan) - See all my reviews(REAL NAME)  Extremely well made backpack that will last for generations. Very happy with my purchase.

This is a great pack. It is packed full of features which are great. It is a great pack for anybody that needs a pack for weekend or weeklong trips.

I bought the Aether (large) in the spring of 2011 and did three trips with it; the Chilkoot Trail and West Coast Trail x 2. Lots of room for the 5, 6 and 7 day trips. Pack weights: between 36 and 45 lbs wasn't a problem. I bought it with a large hipbelt. Waist is 34" and the large belt was cinched in to the max (should have got the medium). I wasn't kind to the Aether and threw it around quite abit. Despite the abuse the pack stood up well. Never a problem with straps loosening off, good attachment points for the hiking poles etc. My hiking partner had a very expensive Arcteryx pack. He didn't have half the handy attachment points that the Aether does. I would like to have seen a couple of small pockets incorporated into the hip belt...

I have to start off by saying that this briefcase is incredible. I'm 6 feet tall and bought a large dark coffee brown, which is perfect. I was searching for bags for a while to find a replacement, and I was so lucky when I found this company. I debated over the DCB or chestnut color and the chestnut was just too red for me. The dark brown will go with just about anything. I use it for professional and casual purposes. I definitely recommend the briefcase and the color. Also, the Saddleback story is great and I will happily support them in the future by purchasing other products.

OK, I've had a few bags. May I name them?- Hartmann - still my main luggage, in 'Belting Leather.' Nine pieces.- Victorinox, in Nylon and leather. Two mongo briefcases.- Porta Brace, in Cordura Nylon (yes, I'm a broadcaster)- Think Tank, in Nylon and their very cool Pinestone Retrospective design- RoadWired - a boutique brand that rose and kind of became obscure- Lowe Pro - The DSLR mainstay, in both 'sling' and waterproof- Billingham - the standard of excellence in England and the world- Kona - who knew a bike company made such a cool backpack?- Costa Del Mar - who knew a sunglasses company made such a cool backpack?- Orvis - Geez Louise, they make so many cool bags, packs and duffles- G. Loomis - OK, so who knew a fishing rod company made great luggage?- Waterfield Designs - the old Apple HiFi case - wonderful.- Jansport - several backpacks from this heritage company- Not to mention the Apple iPad2 Smart Cover, and countless Casemate, Mophie, Vaja, and other stuff.So, I'm a slightly experienced traveler, with a wide view of the available luggage and case options. But I'm now transitioning to Saddleback, and selling everything else on eBay.The reason?Not '75 pockets'Not 'tuff nylon shell'Not iPhone cable pass-throughs'Nope- the reason? This is the real deal. Made to last a lifetime. Heavy leather, heavy stitching, precise workmanship. Flippin' gorgeous.This stuff is made like a saddle. It's that tough. It's true, old West, bulletproof heavy leather gear. No funny fashion, no…

No time for total writeup - hiked 60 miles this summer with this pack (Mount Rainier and Eagle Cap wilderness) and it was excellent in almost every way. I still feel it's probably the best balance of comfort, build, durability out there but I will take away 1 star due to limited outter pockets. I wish there were a couple outside pockets for things - the top of the pack works in most cases but it's a larger disorganized mass of maps, 1st aid, pocket knife, chap stick, sunscreen and many other small things. Not always easy to find and easy for something to fall out. So that's my only wish.... highly recommended - took off the top satchel and used to carry photo filters for sunrise/sunset photography.

This is a great bag and almost immediately got earmarked as a family heirloom! Solid build quality and holds a LOT! The only downside is the bag itself it quite heavy and once I have it jam packed with a couple of laptop computers and various other goodies it's a heavy burden on the shoulder... but that is nothing to do with the bag that's just my own obsession with carrying heavy stuff around :)This is my fave bag and gets lots of positive comments from the security boys and girls whenever I fly. It fits in the overhead lockers on every flight... even the small planes (but it sometimes needs a little jiggle to get it in).Thumbs up!

Tumi bags are unrivaled. The level of quality that is associated with these bags is amazing. I use this for business and pleasure. It fits my 15" MacBook Pro and iPad comfortably.