10 Things To Know When Choosing A Weekend Bag
With the huge span of prices asked for a premium travel bag or duffel, how do you know whether you’re getting good value for your spend?
1. The Leather
Almost all premium bags feature leather – for good reason, it is simply the best material for the job. For optimum strength and longevity, it should be high quality, full-grain leather. (We discuss the grades of leather in this blog more fully.)
These two requirements make the leather expensive, but worth a no-compromise approach. If the leather on your weekend bag doesn’t smell richly of leather and have a visible, naturally-random grain pattern, it may well be of a lower grade.
2. Other materials
If the bag is not all-leather, the durability of the additional materials is importand to consider. Some weightiness is likely – thin fabrics will generally not last the distance. Any fabrics benefit from being water or stain-resistant – cleanable fabric is helpful.
Tusting canvas is all treated with a stain-repellent fabric protector and our leathers, being full-grain are eminently cleanable.
3. The Zip
As any mechanical engineer will attest, moving parts are the ones that wear out first under repeated use. The principal moving part on a piece of luggage is the zip. A metal zipper will stand up to far more use than a plastic one, and the better engineered that zip is, the longer it will last. We source our zips from Riri, the Swiss maker, whose zips have a global reputation for excellence and are superior to all others we have tested.
4. The Fittings
Other fittings include metal frames and fasteners, zip-pulls and base studs. All add cost to the construction, so this is a place that designers can reduce cost. Look for sturdy fittings that have enough substance to withstand many uses whilst not fading, stretching or peeling.
5. The Construction
How a large bag such as a weekend bag is actually designed and put together is critical to its strength and durability. The bag needs to be intrinsically capable of taking its full load and designed to withstand the peak force of being picked up, or caught by a handle by accident. Reinforced handle attachments are essential.
6. The handles
Are they comfortable, yet sturdy? A bag should be easy to hold by carrying handles or shoulder strap. Since handles are a chief area of wear, those that are attached to a frame, rather than being sewn directly onto the bag, are more easily replaceable down the line.
7. Workmanship Details
Expert finishing is time-consuming and therefore pushes up the cost of your bag. All of the leather in your bag should have carefully finished edges. If cut edges feature, they should be edge-stained and buffed smooth, otherwise, edges should be turned in or piped. Stitching should be even and straight, with ends all hidden or sealed off to prevent fraying. Is the bag straight and balanced?
8. Features
It may seem counterintuitive initially, but cheaper bags often feature more pockets and features than their premium alternatives. This is because they often make up for their low-cost materials and mass-produced construction with a plethora of distracting detail. This work is time-consuming to create and therefore it is normal for more luxurious weekend bags to work with a more considered and minimalist approach, using though-out essentials rather than a ‘more is more’ default. The important thing is that there is enough detail included to make your weekend bag useful to you, and this means a few good pockets and thoughtful design.
9. Does it actually work?
This might seem like stating the obvious, but a weekend bag that’s awkward to use, typically because the entrance is too small for easy access, is just an irritatingly unhelpful companion. One that is well-designed, giving a wide opening that allows for a clear view and easy packing and unpacking will instead be an ally for your adventures.
10. Who made your bag and will they stand by your bag?
Where was the bag made and is the brand (and its staff) accessible to you and committed to supporting your ownership of your new weekend bag? Does it come with a long-term promise of care if something goes wrong or proves to be faulty? Can it be repaired? A brand that manufactures its own goods, rather than one that contracts the making to a third-party factory, will be far better placed to repair its goods.
A luxury weekend bag is a serious investment and possibly a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. You’ll want it to be a rewarding decision, giving you a bag that brings pleasure every time it is used and a long life span to enjoy it for. That’s not just a good-value aim though – the longer your new bag serves you, the more fundamentally sustainable it is. Furthermore, if the materials it is made of are sustainable in themselves, then there’s a win-win for the planet too.
Read more about the sustainability of our goods here.
