Just pulled the trigger

[bulgron]

Just ordered a Large Satchel and a Business/Credit Card wallet, both in dark coffee brown. I hope the bag is everything I expect it to be.

With the kind of stories that Dave puts up on his site, I simply couldn't NOT try one of his bags.

But I'm nervous that it's going to be worth the money. I guess I'll find out in a week or so.

 

[BRL]

I've got a large briefcase, which isn't much different than the satchel I'm guessing. It's a damn good bag. I'd take whatever Dave says with a grain of salt though.

Once I get some time in front of the home box I'm going to xfer over a detailed review I wrote, but for now you can check 'er out here. Sure it's a different bag, but I'm guessing there's still a lot there that will apply to the satchel.

 

[bulgron]

I've got a large briefcase, which isn't much different than the satchel I'm guessing. It's a damn good bag. I'd take whatever Dave says with a grain of salt though.

Oh, I know. But I do enjoy the stories, even if they are a bit ... tall ... sometimes. It's good writing and I like to be entertained.

Once I get some time in front of the home box I'm going to xfer over a detailed review I wrote, but for now you can check 'er out here. Sure it's a different bag, but I'm guessing there's still a lot there that will apply to the satchel.

Read your review. I've heard that the handle on the brief case is tight. Don't know if the satchel is different but at least I have medium sized hands so I don't think it'll be that big of a deal.

As for the leather being stiff ... yeah ... it is boot leather. I expect stiff. I expect to carry the thing around for a full year, sweating on it, getting it rained on, bumping it around, and generally abusing it before it starts to turn into a "good" bag.

From your review:

Someone mentioned once the idea of something like an ammo pouch that you could buy and attach to the strap; I would buy the HELL out of that as long as it was closeable, for the typical wallet-phone storage.

One of the things that bother me about SBL bags is the lack of organizational pockets. I intend to overcome this somewhat by using a Maxpedition EDC Organizer to hold some loose stuff that I carry around (lighter, flashlight, a few bandaids and aspirin, spare batteries, etc & etc). I intend to store it in one of the interior end pockets on the bag if it will fit, which from the stats it looks like it will. But if those pockets are too small, I might have to go with the mini pocket organizer. For my cellphone, I'll probably store that in one of the side pockets on the outside of the bag. Dunno if that's secure enough, but that's my 10,000 foot intention.

 

[BRL]

Read your review. I've heard that the handle on the brief case is tight. Don't know if the satchel is different but at least I have medium sized hands so I don't think it'll be that big of a deal.

Shouldn't be. Plus I believe the handle will soften eventually like the other parts of the bag, which will add some space to that area.

I expect to carry the thing around for a full year, sweating on it, getting it rained on, bumping it around, and generally abusing it before it starts to turn into a "good" bag.

You've got the idea. I just know the uber stiffness caught me off guard and has really adversely impacted my use of the bag, so I thought it would help put people who read the review on notice.

One of the things that bother me about SBL bags is the lack of organizational pockets.

Oh god yes. An EDC ninja will be quite dissatisfied with the pockets in Saddleback bags, although I think you'll appreciate the keystrap and exterior attachment points. Plus the shoulder strap is fucking awesome and meaty; quite a bit of possibility there. For interior storage your Maxpedition solution should fit the bill nicely. I have a cheap Staples pencil case I use for my computer cables and it works like a charm, but now that you've linked to the ME pocket organizer I'm thinking I'm going shopping . I believe the EDC Organizer will end up being too big for your bag.

For my cellphone, I'll probably store that in one of the side pockets on the outside of the bag. Dunno if that's secure enough, but that's my 10,000 foot intention.

Erp I hope you don't have any noodz on that phone, 'cause some stranger will be picking it up off the ground at some point, guaranteed. I wouldn't keep Barbara (my cell) in a Saddleback exterior pocket for all the money in the world.

Ultimately it sounds like you know what you're getting into, and if your bag is built like mine then you won't have a hard time appreciating it.

 

[bulgron]

I have a cheap Staples pencil case I use for my computer cables and it works like a charm, but now that you've linked to the ME pocket organizer I'm thinking I'm going shopping .

While you're shopping at maxpedition's site, check out the small cuboid:

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/CUBOID-SMALL-14p533.htm

I use one for storing all the different USB cables that I seem to have to lug around when I carry a laptop. Pretty awesome and lightweight too.

I believe the EDC Organizer will end up being too big for your bag.

Well, then I'll go with the mini. It should actually be amply large enough for what I need. But first I'll get the satchel and see exactly what I'm dealing with.

Erp I hope you don't have any noodz on that phone, 'cause some stranger will be picking it up off the ground at some point, guaranteed. I wouldn't keep Barbara (my cell) in a Saddleback exterior pocket for all the money in the world.

lol. Good to know. Although, I must admit that I don't have any particular fondness for my phone (Moto Droid). In fact, I find the thing kind of annoying. In fact, having the thing drop out of my bag and smash all over the ground might be kind of a blessing ....

Ultimately it sounds like you know what you're getting into, and if your bag is built like mine then you won't have a hard time appreciating it.

I hope so. I've been using a Maxpedition Lunada for a EDC bag. It's super comfortable but not quite large enough. Plus, I'm sick and tired of the tacticool look. I think something like the SBL satchel will be a nice change once I figure out how to switch everything over so it's easy to get at stuff.

 

[Skrapmetal]

The handle on the large satchel is nothing like the handle on the briefcase. Plenty roomy.

I keep my iphone in the exterior pocket on mine, but I have an otterbox case with a clip that I secure to the outside of the pocket, and the silicon creates a substantial amount of friction against the leather which keeps it in its place. It actually takes a decent amount of intent to get the phone out if I slip it all the way down in the pocket.

And owning both the satchel and maxpedition's edc organizer... I'd have to say that it isn't too big by any means. It'd slip into the inside back pocket nicely with room to spare. I don't bother, though... there are three pockets inside and three outside on the satchel, which is generally enough for me. I have a few loose things rolling around in the bottom of my bag, but nothing major.

 

[bulgron]

And owning both the satchel and maxpedition's edc organizer...

Will the edc organizer fit into one of the interior end pockets? I simply have no idea how large those actually are.

 

[Skrapmetal]

Will the edc organizer fit into one of the interior end pockets? I simply have no idea how large those actually are.

No, it wont... not unless you folded the EDC in half, and it'd have to be pretty empty to do that.

 

[bulgron]

No, it wont... not unless you folded the EDC in half, and it'd have to be pretty empty to do that.

Interesting. It sounds like the mini wouldn't fit either.

 

[Skrapmetal]

That's what I carry in mine daily, with the nalgene bottle(s) removed because they just sit ontop of the stuff at the bottom. The yellow pouch is an AMK .5 ultralight first aid kit (which has been rebuilt for my uses, but the pouch is awesome). It is roughly the same size as the Maxpedition EDC pouch. There is more in there you can't see... there are some mechanix gloves under the socks, and a small otterbox with some stuff in it under the granola bar and earphone case. The leather pouch is a kangaroo leather tobacco pouch I found on ebay, has a lighter and a rite-in-the-rain pad/spacepen in it.

You can see the clip/cover part of my phone case in the outside pocket (phone was busy taking pictures!). When I am carrying the bag around, I unclip and slide it farther down into the pocket where it rides safely.

That's about six months of pretty hard wear on the bag, carrying it daily back and forth to work and carrying it for short jaunts in the woods. When I reconditioned the leather with Chamerlain's Leather Milk, it really seemed to fade the leather. I don't know if it took away some of the tanning dye, or if that was gone and replaced by dirt so I didn't notice the fade until it was cleaned up.

 

[BRL]

Hey bulgron, get your bag yet? Don't forget to post first impressions. I'm guessing one of the things you'll notice is the amazing smell of the leather... my home office and truck smelled like the best parts of Tijuana for two weeks after I got mine.

 

[bulgron]

Hey bulgron, get your bag yet? Don't forget to post first impressions. I'm guessing one of the things you'll notice is the amazing smell of the leather... my home office and truck smelled like the best parts of Tijuana for two weeks after I got mine.

Nope, don't have it yet. The bag just shipped today. I'll definitely post impressions and pics once it shows up.

 

[Matteo Escobar]

So, have you received the bag?

 

[bulgron]

So, have you received the bag?

See this thread.

Just took it for a week's vacation in Santa Barbara and San Diego. Great bag. I stuffed it full of way too much stuff and then wandered around Sea World with it. It rides awesome, even when overloaded.

 

[Matteo Escobar]

Awesome. My large Carbon Black Briefcase just arrived a few hours ago. It actually exceeded my expectations, I can honestly say it's worth every penny.

A question for anyone reading........What is the flap on the inside-back-bottom of the bag for?

 

[BRL]

Just a hidden compartment for money or paperwork.

 

[bulgron]

Awesome. My large Carbon Black Briefcase just arrived a few hours ago.

Awesome.

I'm thinking about buying a medium briefcase for my laptop and for when I want to carry around large zoom lenses. But at the moment I'm still trying to be a "one bag guy".