Kurt Conner—November 15, 2017
I love it when I run across an exceptional value - and this bag is one of them. You have probably done your research and already know that quality leather products are pricey - especially if they have a well-known logo attached to them. I bought a "THE BRIDGE" briefcase in the 80s for $700! I still have it and it has been a great bag. Was it an exceptional value? No. However, I got exactly what I paid for - a high-quality bag of Italian design and $400 worth of the ability to say "Look!, I have a "THE BRIDGE" bag. Well Times have changed and all I look for now is how much can I get for my hard-earned money. Dollar for dollar, the value of this Polare product is truly exceptional: Though all the great reviews helped, I was still a bit skeptical in making the purchase ($200 for this kind of bag? What's the catch?). However, after receiving it, any doubts I possessed have been completely erased. • It's a great looking bag! I'm sure that's why you're doing the research on it. • It's made of quality leather. We're not talking flimsy, wafer-thin ransom note of leather-like remnants here. This is heavy full grain leather and will take a little braking in. • It's well constructed - from both functional and durability perspectives. I use mine as a laptop and camera bag - which are kind of heavy items - with no problem at all. • It has no logos on it. BAM! You just saved $400. I like that. I'll put my own brand on it.........literally. With this product, you get exactly what you think you are buying and then some. This heavy leather bag is a well designed quality product that lives up to the seller's claims. If you like the looks of this bag, you will be blow away by the quality for the price. It makes me wonder how they can make money selling it for so little. Oh well, I'll let Polare worry about that. Read more
Casper Casper—May 16, 2016
Long review short: This bag is awesome by itself, especially with some simple upgrades. The leather is thick, smells awesome, and looks good, strangers will compliment you. As for the upgrades: Eventually undoing and redoing the 3 buckles becomes tiresome, so I did add a couple clips to the bag. Also the bag is versatile, without too many frills or pockets of unusable sizes; a big plus for me. But I didn't want a bunch of loose small things to dig through, so I got a smaller leather organizer bag for my cards, money, etc to throw in it. Along with some nice cases for art supplies. Long review Long, I normally don't write reviews but I knew I wanted to when I first got this because I was looking for a bag in my price range for awhile, and hopefully this will help someone like me: i always carried a lot in my pockets, and wanted to move most of that to a messenger bag, I had Ralph lauren canvas one from goodwill for a while, but I tend to carry even more decently heavy stuff, like laptops and multiple text books and art supplies when I have a bag and eventually the strap ripped away from the bag on it, so I decided my next one will have to last and threw down for a thick leather messenger bag. It smells like leather when you first get it and the leather really is thick. I had to get longer screws to attach the conchos when I added the clips. I babied it for the first couple weeks, but I've started to unconsciously pull it around to re-position it in my car or on a table by the straps that buckle over the top when its open, and it doesn't show any signs of wear yet from doing that. Its a big bag, and I carry a decent amount in it. Normally I carry a couple books, markers, colored pencils, calligraphy pen, wallet, a travel tea set, coffee mug, a sweater, and cleaner spray for my glasses, Along with some other random stuff. Only time it ever seems too small is when I wear too many layers and need to stuff a jacket in it along with everything I already have in it. I've carried my lap top in it before without issue. Its not a bag of holding, but its not too small. I'm a little dubious on it in backpack mode. I tried it once when i first got it and I couldn't get the straps to lay as flat against me as I would prefer, but it certainly can be done, I prefer it as a messenger bag through, since I have a different backpack I use with it sometimes. I haven't used conditioner on it yet. My bag does have the natural leather look on it where it has marks from the animal's life. Eventually I'll condition it, and if it helps diminish marks and I remember I'll update. Its been in the rain a couple times, dried out fine and was dried the next morning, stuff inside did NOT get wet, which is awesome. I was hoping that my coffee mug would fit in the side pockets, but it doesn't. I might be able to force it, but I don't want to do that. Its a normal sized travel mug that fits in car cup holders. These are the conchos I used to secure the clips: http://www.amazon.com/WESTERN-HEADSTALL-SADDLE-GWE849F-EP-21RT11510/dp/B017904VQ2?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_6 , the clips theselves were from buckleguy.com one cool thing about keeping my sweater in it is that it naturally perfumes my sweater to smell like leather. Read more
DJAR—November 6, 2017
I have owned this bag for about a year now. I bought it as an early present to myself, with the exception that I would not be able to use it until I got a new job and transitioned to management. Well, got the job in July '17 and have been using it daily, and it is a beast. Still looks just as good as the day I got it. I got a smaller, lighter bag, since this one is, heavy to say the least, but I can't hold all the stuff I "need", i've tried to pare down my daily carry. To no avail. I carry my surface pro 4, battery back up, two cable bags, with presentation remote, various adapters, charging cables/hdmi/vga/usb cables, earbuds, sewing kit (just in case), microsoft arc mouse and foldable keyboard, utensil kit (for lunch), I also carry a notepad, pens, highlighters, mechanical pencils and erasers, and about five folders with various management docs, in case I need them - various employee schedules, work distribution lists, etc... basically, my whole office is in the bag, and while I don't carry it daily, I have a 17 inch usb monitor that will aslo fit, even with all the other stuff in the bag. Pretty beefy if you ask me. That said, like I said, I tried to use a lighter bag, but the straps were not as beefy and while I found the bag held the stuff I needed, the strap was going to fail, so back to this bag. The buckles, straps, everything really, just top quality. I was worried I overpaid, but compared to the options, I feel that for what you are getting, its a fair price. Very nice, durable, leather bag. I have not carried the bag in the backpack configuration, but have tried the straps in that configuration just to make sure i knew how to set it up. Nice to have the option though. If I were traveling through an airport, or long distance, that would definitely come in handy, any over the shoulder bag will slip off, and usually when you are running to catch a flight. So the option to carry backpack style is nice. Read more
