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4.5
I love fine leather bags so I gravitated to the more expensive ones for an upcoming overseas trip.This bag looks beautiful and is well made with fine details and quality materials.However, the designer must live in a yurt in Tibet and has not turned on the generator to keeps tabs on cell phones for the past two years. If you have a conventional (standard) cell phone, stop reading and order. You will not be disappointed. If you have an Iphone 6 Plus-sized "phablet" phone you will be annoyed. Neither of the presumed phone holders (pockets) at the front will hold a Iphone 6Plus or similar phone. That's a huge deficiency and makes the specific phone pocket useless for large smart phones.More bad news, there are CC card holder slots inside but not one deep enough to hold a checkbook. I carry my credit cards in my wallet, as most men do. (In fairness, the inside fabric pocket that I choose, in desperation, to use for my phone was probably intended for a checkbook.) That inside flap pocket can hold an Iphone 6 plus --but barely--and only one with a minimalist or no cover. I cut the cloth flap off (a shame) so that I could squeeze the phone down --but it is still sticking up beyond the top pocket edge. A work around. Sure there are still places to stuff your larger phone but none of the "quick draw," accessible type. Nice bag. Not nice design A bag designed for fashion and luxury but not for much of current technology.UPDATE:OK...I have just schlepped this bag through Germany and Poland for a week and if it wasn't so scuffed from the trip I would return it.Let me sum it up:Gorgeous quality. Beautiful leather, Handsome bag, but designed by a totally clueless person who probably also designs horse saddles and leather undergarments as all part of the job.But, if you want to loose stuff or even have it pickpocketed, this is your bag of choice.(at the risk of repetition)1) The outside front cell phone pocket will hold an Iphone 5-size phone but nothing bigger. Forget 6+ or Samsung, or any larger phone.2) The pocket next to it can hold a small phone or odds and ends. But also no large size phone.BUT HERE'S BAG KILLER:Both outside pockets use magnetic snap closures (see image), little magnetic buttons. God's gift to pickpockets, airline security belts and anyone or anything you brush against. They are very difficult to close because the leather is flexible and won't stay put while you try align and "dock" the little magnetic buttons. They offer NO security. None. Brush against anything and they pop open, and stuff can easily spill out, fall out or taken Friggin AWFUL. I am 77. At that age one tend to check whether one's fly is zipped up in case one's wife does not remind you or the kids aren't around to say "Dad!!!" Same thing here--constant check that the flaps are closed. If these pockets had buckle straps of one style or another, or quarter turn closures, it would be fine . But my trip was way too much of "fly zipped-CHECK, Bag pockets flaps closed-CHECK"There is no internal key ring holder. Some inside pockets should be mesh for better visibility (I owned a camera bag company and we agonized over such details. I also suspect the inside fabric material compartments will not wear well in heavy use, but that's just a guess. There is no transparent inside business card holder, should the bag get lost and there is still an honest person or two out there who might find it and seek to return it.Anyway, beauty is (cow)skin deep and this is an example.This is roomier than the Piel camera case I had while still being practical. I use it to carry a 7 by 10” sketch pad, plus colored pencil set in the rear compartment. The front compartment can easily carry a large wallet. It has an interior zippered pocket. It has a front compartment suitable for carrying a cell phone with a secure magnetic closure. One other compartment is suited for ease of access for one of the larger cell phones. Both compartments are lined with tan fabric. The handle is secured by large double bolts on either side of the handle. It also comes with a shoulder strap with secure clips. There is also a full width narrow compartment which also has a secure magnetic closure. The sides are reinforced to prevent crushing. There are four metal trivet legs to keep the leather base somewhat free of the ground. Leather is medium belting leather which is thick and durable. Piel products are easily on a par with Coach. Materials are top notch and this case is no exception. This is a superb leather case.The leather is too hard. The picture is different from the actual item. The one in the picture is nicer.For 20 years have been purchasing this man bag got my spouse! Quality workmanshipPurchased as a gift for my husband for Christmas. I was tired of seeing him load his stuff into a beat up canvas tote bag he had gotten at a work related convention, but I was a little worried he would not feel comfortable carrying a "Man's Bag". To my relief and surprise, he filled it with his iPad, water bottle, pens and pencils etc...and has carried it to work, casual outings, hikes, dinner's out and everywhere we go! I asked if any of the guys at work had given him any grief over carrying his leather bag and not one had! Guess they were tired of seeing the ratty looking canvas tote bag too!The bag is constructed well, is large enough to carry a big bottle of water, an iPad or small laptop, with plenty of room to add pens, a book, papers and has a section where you can organize your credit cards and identification. The long strap is removable, and attaches with toggle hooks that keeps the strap from twisting up.I am very pleased with this purchase.I got this bag about a week ago. So far it fits my needs perfectly. Such as key need to be able to carry a few file folders in main compartment. I am very pleased with quality of leather (not cheap feeling or looking) and quality of construction: stitching, seems, zippers. I also like the fact that it has 4 metal caps on the bottom (though standing it on its own is a little percarious, and I often end up leaning it against something.)Bottom line (so far) handsome well constructed, good quality leather bag.When anything is purchased through mail order the only time one has to hold, touch, feel, or examine an item is after purchasing it and it has been sent to you, trouble invariably looms. This happened to me with this item. When it arrived, I discovered that the small case attached to the front of the bag would not hold my sunglasses, I had no choice but to return it ... at my expense. While the quality of the item was exemplary, it would not work for me. What all sellers should do is assure no-expense returns on all items. Why should anyone have to bear this cost since their only exposure to it is after-the-fact?I bought the black one, this is my second purchase of this exact bag.My first purchase in 2007 was in saddle/tan.Some of the differences are magnets are used instead ofvelcro, and the strap hardware is a little more robust.Review for the new Black Bag:Good quality leather - hardware made well -construction is very good.Size is generous for a smaller bag. Magazines, Ipad, file folders all fit.The feel of the leather feels like real leather, not like some other bags made inChina. Also, one reviewer mentioned the magnetic flaps don't stay put, mine work fine.I would definitely recommend this bag.
