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Review: The Briefcase from Pad and Quill is a beautiful gear bag that’s built to last a lifetime (+giveaway)

Being a writer and video creator, my bags are easily some of the most important possessions I have. The reason is obvious: they protect my essential tech and gear. I’m always super picky about which bags or backpacks I choose for this hefty task, and most of them come at a steep price. They hardly every look what you may call “good” though. I’m usually all about function over form when it comes to my bag decision. Choosing durability and features like pocket space usually means you’ll need to compromise on design.

With that said, I don’t consider myself a “briefcase” kind of guy. The style has just never been my thing because briefcases tend to be rather conservative on space and stiff in shape. So what’s with all of this talk over bags and briefcases? It just so happens that I’ve found a briefcase that’s actually kind of a bag, and it delivers both form and function. If this is what you’d call a briefcase these days, I’m all in. Meet The Briefcase from Pad & Quill

This is definitely one of the more interesting bags I own. Truthfully, I hate calling The Briefcase what it’s named after though. It’s a canvas bag that’s beautifully design and sports leather accents with silver hardware. It’s quite beautifully hand crafted from some of the best materials that can be used to make something like this. The main compartment is crafted from a 24-oz waxed canvas which is quite thick for protection and along the top there’s the beautiful leather for style and durability.

The Briefcase has a comfy leather strap that clasps onto either side of the bag for over-the-shoulder action, but it also features dual recessible straps or handles along the top that allow you to just carry it around. That’s where the tribute to briefcase-style bags originates, thus its name.

Looking deeper than its exterior, Pad & Quill’s Briefcase has a heart of gold. Beauty and brains or something like that, right? It’s rocking a healthy number of pockets on the inside, which I’m always a big fan of as someone who totes a lot of gear. Fully stocked up, I was able to fit the following items with room to spare:

I’m not saying I’d actually need all of this stuff in a single bag while on-the-go (though it has come to that in the past), but it’s nice to just shove all of my gear plus more in a bag and have it when I need it. It’s especially nice to have room to do so in style, and that’s the key factor to this equation. The Briefcase nails this.

Form and function are great, but they mean nothing without some durability to keep them going. I’m not going to say that this bag will protect your pricey MacBook and cameras if you drop it all down a flight of stairs. (It probably won’t, and I’m not willing to test it. Sorry.) But durability doesn’t always mean hard-shell, impact-resistant, bulletproof protection. Sometimes it’s more about longevity than anything else. This bag will last you a lifetime. I realize this sounds a little crazy, but you could seriously pass The Briefcase down for generations and it would likely survive thanks to the rich materials behind it and quality craftsmanship.

I’m not a professional bag collector or anything, but I know nice things when I see them. This is a nice thing. With that being said, nice things come at not-so-nice prices, or at least your wallet may think so. The Briefcase will set you back $295 (yes I realize that’s a fat stack of George Washingtons), but consider what you’re getting here: a hand crafted leather and canvas bag that will truly last generations if you’d like it to. If I add up the cost of all the inferior, throwaway bags I’ve purchased over the years (which have ultimately failed me), I’m definitely ballparking or over the price point for Pad & Quill’s Briefcase.

Obviously, it’s definitely not for everyone. If you’re not a huge bag person who appreciates rich materials, it may not be for you. It’s kind of like the comparison between analog and smart watches. Technology will always become dated, but a true timepiece will last lifetimes. The Briefcase from Pad & Quill is the fine timepiece equivalent of the bag world and a worthy bag to tote your expensive gear. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at The Briefcase from Pad & Quill (click to enlarge):

Pad and Quill has offered up a free giveaway to someone who retweets this post or likes it on Facebook.  We’ll pick a winner and update here next week.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Comments

  1. That is one gorgeous product!

  2. vicentegeorge - 9 years ago

    That’s a really nice piece! Excellent choice! Would be great have one 😊

  3. Ali Raja (@A1iRaja) - 9 years ago

    simple and sleek design!

  4. mtitech94 - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on Joel's Site.

  5. Mike Thurlow (@t33low) - 9 years ago

    Great bag! Great review! I want one.

  6. This is a beautiful bag! I want it terribly.

  7. Russell Johnson - 9 years ago

    Can someone please recommend a more affordable alternative to this? Love the looks, but not looking to spend over $100.

  8. Philip Brookes - 9 years ago

    Wish I could just Tweet this, but the default Tweet comes up too long :( What words should I cut out??

  9. shannon28734 - 9 years ago

    I want this. It is beautiful.

  10. Winski - 9 years ago

    The more road warrior that gets in your blood, the more ‘longevity’ sneaks in there as well. There are ALWAYS two parts to a case story. What you can pack comfortably, AND what e case will PROTECT that’s vital TO YOU as you lug it thru airports, x-ray machines and baggage claim machines that are maintained by babbions.. Computing hardware has gotten much better at being much stronger for road work but it’s still fragile, electronoic gear at it heart. Protect it likr it means something to you.

    These Pad and Quill bags may look great but look to have ZERO, ZERO protection from the bumps and slices of daily, weekly and monthly travel.and getting banged around a bit… My money’s on a different brand, Tumi,, but it’s worked for me protection-wise for 25 years…

  11. Where can i buy one of these ?

  12. Marcel Zuidwijk - 9 years ago

    Wow, nice briefcase! I wish I had one like this on my latest business trip in Tokyo. My camera, my MBP, iPad and headphone would have fitted in superbly :D

  13. Ben Wolfe - 9 years ago

    I like the sense of timeless craft in what you make, and tweeted the review because it’s very likely the bag I’ll choose when the time comes. (So if I can win one first, all the better.)

  14. Joseph Condon (@newfguy) - 9 years ago

    Too bad it uses leather. Why kill an animal so that you can tote stuff around?

  15. Ilko Sarafski - 9 years ago

    I feel that this time around I’ll win it! I can just feel it! :) :) :) Great bag, nice article, gj Dom.

  16. William Jay Horsley - 9 years ago

    Very nice.

  17. Al Vila - 9 years ago

    Dom , this is the Bag for me its beautiful

  18. Me likey!. Me want!

  19. Chris Hughes - 9 years ago

    Thing’s just a straight up knock off of the Filson Original Briefcase.

  20. levanid - 9 years ago

    Can anyone recommend me a smaller bag similar to the one in the post here? I mean I don’t need a 15″ bag. A want a bit smaller bag that fits my 13″ rMBP not the one for 15″.

  21. Just Will (@JustWill312) - 9 years ago

    This is meant for me!

  22. splogue - 9 years ago

    They didn’t kill an animal to make the briefcase, they killed it to eat it. The leather is just a happy side benefit. BTW, they make this same briefcase in all leather for $200 more, and it looks amazing!

  23. Damian Finger - 9 years ago

    Who is the winner? =[

  24. Very nice. Looks like it will fit in with client meetings when a good impression is needed and casual days when shorts and sneakers are the dress of the day.

  25. Aditya Chavali - 9 years ago

    Who is the winner?