The Keswick — Olive & Tan Waxed Canvas Weekender Bag

The Keswick is a soft-sided weekender: a wide canvas duffle with rolled leather handles, a leather base and a detachable shoulder strap for the walk from the station.

Olive canvas, a muted field green, with tan leather trim; the green mellows as the wax wears in.

It packs two to three nights of clothes, a wash bag and a pair of shoes, and at 20 inches wide it fits the overhead locker and under most train seats.

Inside there is a zip pocket for documents and two open pockets, and the zipped end pocket keeps shoes or a damp towel apart from your clothes.

Choose the Keswick if you want a light travel bag that can be thrown in a car trunk and cope with rain. For full grain leather, look at the Barnard in leather gifts for him, or browse all our waxed canvas bags.

The canvas

We use 18 oz waxed cotton canvas, the same cloth as our Ellis totes. The wax makes it water-resistant: rain beads and runs off, and a shower will not soak through. It sheds weather rather than sealing it out, and it is not meant to look new forever: fold lines and darker hand marks build up into a finish of its own. Every edge that takes wear, the handles, straps, corners and base, is full grain leather.

How it is made

Made to order in our own workshop. Every piece is cut by hand, the seams are stitched with waxed thread, the edges are sanded and burnished rather than painted, and the hardware is solid brass. Three initials are pressed free on the leather patch, in gold foil, silver foil or a blind press.

Care

Brush off dry dirt and sponge marks with cold water. When water stops beading, usually once a year, rub in a little fabric wax and warm it with a hair dryer. Never use detergent or a washing machine, and condition the leather trim twice a year.