Kenneth Cole's Risky Business messenger leather satchel for men in dark brown

Kenneth Cole's Risky Business messenger leather satchel for men in dark brown

Kenneth Cole's Risky Business messenger bag in dark brown is a decent option for someone looking for a cheap and simple leather utility bag, but shoppers should consider their needs carefully before buying.

It meets most of my carry needs and wears fairly comfortably. I've had my bag for a year and I usually use it as a work and every day carry (EDC) bag, and it's adequate for both purposes. Among the things I typically carry are: 3 ring binder with work papers, cell phone, pens, markers, pencils, note pad, key ring, extra glasses with case, 2 zipper bags with utility objects (lighter, matches, paper clips, small LED flashlight, batteries, floss, compact mirror, flash drive, pill box, lip balm, bandaids, pocket knife, etc), and a magazine in the back pocket. If i'm taking a long trip or i'm going to have leisure time, I can fit a medium size paperback in the main compartment as well. I'm new to the "man purse" movement, but after carrying this bag for a while and having constant easy access to most of the stuff I need at any given time, I probably won't be looking back. I have yet to have anything break or fail, the lining is still intact, and the snap closures and zippers are still working fine.

feature of leather satchel for men

There aren't a lot of negatives for me, considering the price and utility. But I have a significant problem with the bag, and it's something one also finds in almost all leather shoes under $300 or so. The leather is very poorly tanned and is top grain only, meaning it's simply too thin for serious use. I've had this bag for about a year, but I haven't used it very much. Even after light use, the parts of the bag that rub other surfaces most often (especially the bottom and corners) are wearing away rapidly. The worn spots are a light cream color and are easily visible on my dark brown bag. Properly tanned leather is the same color all the way through. The color on this bag is literally paper thin, and carrying around a dark leather bag with glaring white streaks announces to the world that I buy cheap stuff. I'm worried that after heavier use this bag will just become an eyesore that I leave in my closet.

leather satchel for men

I would only recommend this bag for someone who specifically needs leather but can't spend much. It's not designed to last long or for heavy duty daily applications. Quality leather bags of any kind can cost serious money, but are meant to be heritage pieces that last a lifetime or longer and age with grace. A number of small leather goods companies in the US, UK, italy, etc, sell bags like this for $500 or more. The difference is that they're made of meticulously tanned full grain leather and they come with lifetime warranties. Part of the appeal of leather for a bag like this should be that leather satchel for men will last longer and look better than canvas. But with the cheap, thin leather Kenneth Cole is using, it neither looks as good nor functions as well as the material should. I would suggest saving about $40 by shopping around for a good canvas bag, unless you absolutely need leather.

leather satchel for men

On a related note, it's worth mentioning that last year, Kenneth Cole made the baffling decision to put up a series of billboards against teachers' unions. I doubt I'll ever understand why a fashion house thought it prudent to preach politics, especially a subject that has absolutely nothing to do with their products. In effect, buying something with a Kenneth Cole logo now amounts to an anti-union political statement. I certainly didn't intend anything like this when I bought the bag. When I go out to eat, I shouldn't have to hear what the manager thinks about Palestine, deregulation or estate taxes. Likewise, when I buy a bag, I just want a container for my stuff, I don't want to be talked down to by a textile manufacturer or inadvertently promote charter schools. Because of this absurd campaign I doubt I'll be buying anything else from Kenneth Cole.