“They’ll fight over it when you’re dead.” That’s Saddleback Leather’s motto for their products. Saddleback Leather sent us a review unit of their Thin Front Pocket Briefcase, and after a month of man-handling it in person we can confidently tell you that Saddleback Leather’s motto isn’t just a boast; It’s the truth. As if the company’s tagline wasn’t assurance enough though, Saddleback Leather stands by its words by backing all of their products with a whopping 100 year warranty.
The Thin Front Pocket Briefcase exterior measures 15 inches wide by 11.5 inches high and 3.5 inches deep. It features five front pockets: Two large pockets with covers and straps that’ll keep your possessions secure and two smaller uncovered spots behind them which can keep smaller items such as cell-phones stowed away yet still remain easily accessible. The fifth pocket is hidden “behind the main strap” and is meant to safely store a “cigar or pens.” The rear has a large external pocket for a notebook, magazine or newspaper.
After opening the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase you’ll discover a large chamber lined with natural pigskin that’s 14.5 inches wide by 11 inches high and 3 inches deep. That’s large enough to fit a 15 inch Macbook or similarly sized laptop. There’s two side pockets which can store smaller electronics such as flash drives or a phone charging cord. Additionally, there’s an internal key strap that’ll keep your keychain from getting lost at the bottom of this handsome bag.
An adjustable leather strap attaches to D-rings so that the Saddleback Leather Front Pocket Briefcase can be used as a messenger bag. At 5.35 pounds, we found ourselves using it as a messenger bag more often than as a traditional briefcase, especially when stuffed with a heavy gaming laptop. We should note that the super strong leather strap can be reconfigured so that the Saddleback Leather Front Pocket Briefcase can be used as a backpack too, adding extra versatility and allowing you to carry an even heavier load easier or for hiking. Eight additional D-rings (two on each corner) allow you to store additional gear to the exterior of the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase such as a tripod, water bottle, sleeping bag, or anything else that you’d like to take with you on your adventure.
Every part of the Saddleback Leather Thin Front Pocket Briefcase exudes its high quality hand-craftsmanship. The full-grain leather was very stiff upon arrival and over time will actually look better. Saddleback Leather uses as few pieces of leather to help minimize the amount of seams and weak points. Unlike other manufacturers, Saddleback Leather isn’t content with cotton or nylon thread. They use polyester thread to sew the seams. Polyester is four times stronger than nylon, and is both UV and saltwater resistant. Saddleback Leather uses no breakable parts. There are no zippers or snaps. Metal rivets, metal buckles, and metal D-rings are the only hardware on the Thin Front Pocket Briefcase. Any force strong enough to break these metal pieces would also rip the leather, and your life would probably at more risk than your bag is.
Positives:
Incredibly versatile: Transforms from briefcase into a messenger bag or backpack.
Fantastic craftsmanship: Gorgeous and durable, it’s backed up with a 100 year warranty.
Negatives:
Heavier than most other leather briefcases, but that’s because Saddleback Leather uses more leather than its competitors.
Final verdict: Five out of five.
The Saddleback Leather Thin Front Pocket Briefcase is perfect in a professional setting while meeting clients and also impresses in every day use. It’s available two sizes, medium (15 inches wide) and large (17 inches wide) and in four different colors: Tobacco, Dark Coffee Brown, Chestnut, and Black. At $459 we can’t say that the Saddleback Leather Thin Front Pocket Briefcase is inexpensive. We can, however, guarantee you that it’ll be the last briefcase that you’ll ever buy and if properly cared for will become a family heirloom that will last generations.