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Review: Intrepid’s Journeyman – an impressive leather messenger bag that can go corporate

Indiana Jones meets bike messenger meets business briefcase is how I’d describe Intrepid’s $369 Journeyman messenger bag. My carrying case of choice over the past 3 months has been this hybrid satchel/briefcase that you carry like a messenger bag comfortably on your back with a big strap holding it up firmly but comfortably across your chest…

Inside the thick Saddle Leather enclosure held tight by two belt straps is a Herringbone-lined interior fit for the businessperson. It features a padded enclosure for both a 13-inch laptop (MacBook Air in my case) as well as a 10-inch tablet (iPad Air in my case) as well as stow-away pockets for phones, cameras, notebooks, pens/pencils etc. There’s even a hidden slot for a passport (shhh).

Going from “Bike Messenger mode” into business meeting, you swing the pack around to your front where you can unload the contents onto a desk or use the leather handle strap above to go full corporate.

The thick “saddle leather” couldn’t be more impressive and besides the normal scuffs you get from months of use, I saw no flaws in the leather or the marine-grade nylon stitching holding it together. It exudes quality and craftsmanship and I’ve gotten more than a fair share of compliments about it. The only downside is leather isn’t for everyone and the price is “you get what you pay for” high.

Intrepid’s Journeyman is highly recommended if you are looking for a new way to carry your Apple products or a great gift idea. 9to5mac readers can get 5% off using 5% Discount code: ‘IHeartIntrepidBags

Full gallery and specs below:

Journeyman Features:

  • Cross-body messenger design
  • Side mounted 2″ padded strap
  • Rugged full-grain Saddle Leather
  • Marine grade nylon stitching
  • Solid steel hardware
  • Herringbone lining
  • Suspended floating 13″ laptop pocket
  • Leather iPad pocket
  • Hidden passport pocket
  • Price: $369

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Comments

  1. Steve Grenier - 10 years ago

    Very nice. Love the design. The price is a bit much, but I would consider it.

  2. Yeah the price of these is absurd. The materials are very inexpensive, probably no more than $30 of materials that is cut to a pattern and stitched together. I bought a leather messenger for $70 about 5 years ago that’s made of much superior leather than these. Soft, supple calve leather. I use it almost every day. $369 is just silly. But whatever the market can bear.

    • Stephen Di - 10 years ago

      Hi Isreal,

      Stephen here from The Intrepid Bag Co. I can promise you that our materials are *substantially* more expensive than $30. We could meet that price point if we sourced from India or China. Instead we source our leather from the USA and accept only the highest quality saddle leather. That way we can be sure we are not contributing to any mistreatment of workers, abuse of labor laws, etc…

      The result is a higher price point unfortunately, but it does let us and our customers sleep easier at night knowing they are getting truly high-quality, hand-crafted, and clear-conscience products. :)

      • oscar (@d_oscar20) - 10 years ago

        i love the messenger bag but the price is SO high! =/
        if only it was more affordable. i think if someone is going to spend so much money it will probably be for a known designer. try to lower your price if you can. i would love to have this bag if it was more affordable.

      • The Journeyman is perfectly sized for my commuting on foot needs when I haul minimal gear to my client’s office. The best feature for me is the cross body carry and the way the bag lays against my back, not away from it. I’ve moved away from synthetics and appreciate the thick full grain cowhide leather Intrepid used on this bag. I own several full grain cowhide leather products from other companies and field test them all with hard use, both for urban and leisure settings. I expect this Intrepid bag to be just as durable as the other leather company products, and to outlast my lifetime. That said, I calculated the cost per use and it’s much more cost effective than the leather and synthetic bags I’ve already given away. I like that its use changes with each EDC requirement: tech support one day, consulting or project coordinating another day, day tripping, and (in my case with my minimal packing list) an extended weekend getaway with my puppy.

  3. Mitch Hamm - 10 years ago

    The Journeyman has some really nice features, but gets disqualified immediately for the buckle closures. I’ve relied on a Keen Brooklyn for the past several years and its hidden magnetic closures are the trick. There’s no way I could deal with buckles every time I needed to grab my iPhone for a quick look at something.

  4. Ender (@endgor) - 10 years ago

    Really love the design but the price is to high for me :( If it was around $250 or something I would buy it.
    Also noticed that you guys reduced the price today ($355) but it’s still around $400 with shipping to EU (Sweden) :(

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Avatar for Seth Weintraub Seth Weintraub

Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek sites.


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