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A men's leather messenger bag should carry a 15-inch laptop, a charger and a day's papers, sit flat on the hip, and look better in ten years than it does today. We make three on one proven 15.5-inch pattern: the Morpeth in full grain leather, the Leyburn in full grain buffalo leather and the Penrith in waxed canvas with leather trim. They cost $185 to $235.
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The Hebden
The Hebden
The Hebden
The Hebden
The Morpeth
The Leyburn
The Penrith
The Morpeth
The Leyburn
The Penrith
The Morpeth
The LeyburnThe Morpeth is the smart one: a structured full grain flap that closes on a solid brass push-lock, plus a top grab handle so it can be carried like a briefcase into a meeting. The Leyburn is the rugged one: thick buffalo leather with an oiled pull-up finish and a flap held by two buckled straps. It looks broken-in within a month. The Penrith is the light one, at 2.4 lb empty. Its waxed canvas sheds rain, and the strap, trim and base are full grain leather, which makes it the bag for a wet commute or a bike.
| Morpeth | Leyburn | Penrith | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Full grain leather | Full grain buffalo leather | 18 oz waxed canvas, leather trim |
| Size | 15.5" x 11.5" x 4" | 15.5" x 11.5" x 4" | 15.5" x 11.5" x 4" |
| Laptop | 15-inch, padded sleeve | 15-inch, padded sleeve | 15-inch, padded sleeve |
| Closure | Brass push-lock | Two buckled straps | Two buckled straps |
| Top handle | Yes | No | No |
| Empty weight | 3.1 lb | 3.1 lb | 2.4 lb |
| Colors | Black, chocolate, cognac, olive, tan | Black, chocolate, cognac, oxblood, tan | Five canvas and leather pairings |
| Price | $215 | $235 | $185 |
Start with the laptop. All three take a 15-inch laptop in a padded sleeve. For a 16-inch machine, go to the Durham in men's leather satchels. Next, think about the commute. In a city with a lot of rain, or on a bike, the Penrith is the practical choice. If you walk into client meetings, the Morpeth's clean flap and push-lock look the most formal. If you are hard on bags and like them to show it, choose the Leyburn. Last, decide on the closure: a push-lock is quicker, while buckles stretch a little further when the bag is packed full.
A 15.5-inch messenger is the natural size for most men. It is wide enough for a full-size laptop but not so wide that it swings into people on a crowded train. At 4 inches deep it lies flat under an overcoat. The strap adjusts to a 23-inch drop, so on a tall man the bag still sits at the hip when worn across the body. Shorten it if you prefer to carry the bag on one shoulder.
A messenger is carried on its strap. A satchel adds a short top handle, so it doubles as a briefcase. The Morpeth sits between the two. The Durham is a true satchel, with two compartments for people who carry more, and the Hebden is a lighter 15-inch satchel with a front pocket, for a 14-inch laptop. See men's leather satchels, or our leather briefcases for handle-first bags.
Start with where the strap meets the bag: it should be stitched and riveted through doubled leather, not glued to a thin tab. Check that the laptop sleeve is padded and separate from the main section. Look at the hardware, because solid brass does not flake the way plated zinc does. Read the leather grade closely: "genuine leather" and "bonded leather" are lower grades, and full grain is the top. Our guide to the best leather for bags explains every grade. Finally, look at the edges: burnished edges last, while painted edges peel.
Black is the most formal and goes with everything. Chocolate and cognac go with brown shoes and a navy suit. Tan starts light and darkens fastest, so pick it if you want a bag that looks lived-in. Olive, on the Morpeth, reads as brown indoors and green in daylight. Oxblood, on the Leyburn, is a deep red-brown that shows the buffalo grain best.
A messenger bag is one of the most common leather gifts for a new job, a graduation or a third anniversary, which is the leather anniversary. Initials are pressed free, and a blind press is the most popular choice on men's bags, because they show only in the right light. See graduation gifts for him, 3rd anniversary gifts for him and our article on 3rd anniversary gift ideas for him.
Each messenger is cut and stitched by hand in our own workshop after you order, and leaves within 5 to 7 working days. You can return it within 30 days, initials or not. We cover the stitching for life and the hardware for five years. See our warranty.
Read our guide to the best leather messenger bags for men. You can also browse leather laptop messenger bags or men's crossbody bags for lighter days, go back to all leather messenger bags, or see every men's leather bag.
It depends on your day. The Morpeth in full grain leather is the most formal, the Leyburn in buffalo leather is the most rugged, and the waxed canvas Penrith is the lightest and the best in rain. All three take a 15-inch laptop.
For a 13 to 15-inch laptop, a bag about 15.5 inches wide and 4 inches deep. That size carries a laptop, charger and notebook and still sits flat at the hip on most men.
Across the body, with the strap over the opposite shoulder and the bag resting at the hip or slightly behind it. For short trips you can wear it on one shoulder with the strap shortened.
A structured leather messenger is as acceptable in an office as a briefcase. The Morpeth, with its push-lock flap and top handle, is our most formal option.
Both are full grain. Buffalo leather comes from water buffalo hide: it is thicker, has a bolder grain and an oiled pull-up finish that hides scratches. Our cow-hide full grain is smoother and develops a more even patina.
Yes. We press up to three initials on the flap in gold, silver or a blind press, and personalized bags still have 30-day returns.
Full grain leather and solid brass hardware are built for decades of daily use. We cover the stitching for life and the hardware for five years.
Cut when you order and dispatched in 5 to 7 working days, or 4 to 6 for the hand woven Wren. A monogram adds one working day.
Shipping and deliveryThree letters in gold foil, silver foil or a blind press, set by hand before the bag is boxed, on every bag we make.
PersonalizationIf something is wrong, the reply comes from the workshop rather than a call center, and the repair is done by the person who made the bag.
Talk to usNothing we sell is bonded, corrected or finished with a plastic film, which is what makes a cheap bag flake at the corners.
Full grain explained