Name: Executive Leather Messenger
Brand: WaterField Designs
SKU: EMCOMPCCLRZZZZ
Price: 459.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.86 (198 reviews)

Full size, Grizzly Leather

Executive Leather Messenger

Our distressed full-grain leather looks better and better with age

Designed for comfort: ergonomically-placed handles, adjustable straps

Slot for carry-on handles

Full-size fits up to a 16" laptop and your work essentials

Grizzly leather's beautiful patina (Pictured: Staad Attaché)

Fits laptop and tablet

Two deep organizational pockets (one zips closed)

Compact and Full sizes

Executive Leather Messenger

Part of the All-Leather Collection

Available in three full-grain leather colors

Chocolate Leather

Grizzly Leather

Black Leather

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Handcrafted from full-grain leather, this classic messenger bag has modern features for today’s digital lifestyle: padded laptop and tablet compartments and ample pockets for storing tech gear.

"A timeless, splurge-worthy leather bag."
- New York Times Wirecutter

Materials:

Full-grain, naturally tanned leather
More details here

Dimensions & Weight:

Compact:

14.25” (l) x 2.75”-3” (w) x 10.5” (h); 3.25 lbs.
36.19 (l) x 6.98-7.62 (w) x 26.67 (h) cm; 1.47 kg
Volume: 7.5 liters

Full:

15” (l) x 3.25”-3.5” (w) x 12” (h); 3.5 lbs.
38.1 (l) x 8.25 (w) x 30.48 (l) cm; 1.58 kg
Volume: 10.5 liters

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Domestic: USPS & FedEx. Details.
International: 4-5 business day delivery. Country duty/tax calculated at Checkout. Details.

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Nice quality bag

Nice quality bag, and I like the compact size that makes it ideal for daily use

Disappointing Patina and After-Sale Support

I purchased the full-size Executive Leather Messenger in Grizzly Leather about 2.5 years ago and have used it daily for work.

One of the main reasons I chose the Grizzly Leather was WaterField’s website showing how the leather would develop a rich patina over time, including a reference to the appearance after about one year. I really liked the aged look shown in those photos and expected my bag to develop in a similar direction.

Unfortunately, after 2.5 years of regular daily use, my bag has developed very little noticeable patina and looks nowhere close to the example shown on the website. I understand that leather is a natural material and that every bag will age differently, but there is a significant difference between normal variation and seeing almost none of the transformation that influenced my purchase.

I contacted WaterField about this and was initially asked to send photos. After I did, the response was essentially that patina develops differently for everyone. I found that disappointing and somewhat dismissive, especially considering the way the aging characteristics of the Grizzly Leather were presented when I purchased the bag.

At roughly $450, this is also a very expensive messenger bag. After 2.5 years, mine has started to lose some of its original shape as well. Overall, it is an okay bag and the materials feel substantial, but at this price I expected more, both from the product and from the customer support after the sale.

Had I known that the patina shown in the marketing photos might not develop even after years of daily use, I would have thought much more carefully before choosing the Grizzly Leather or purchasing the bag at this price.

Based on my experience, I would not recommend choosing the Grizzly Leather specifically for its advertised patina, and I am not sure I could recommend the Executive Leather Messenger overall at its current price.

Excellent

Got this for my son’s birthday and he loved it. A beautiful bag.

The Ultimate

I've had this bag since 2023, and it's been with me to London, Paris, Taiwan, Tokyo, Dublin, as well as work every day.

I've flown with it, biked with it, hiked with it. It's gotten wet and dirty and it still looks as great as the day I got it.

No part of it feels worn out or failing, and it still looks good and impresses when I'm meeting an important client.

10/10

My first product from here and I love it

My first product from here and I love it. Well put together with high quality material.

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Waterfield Designs Executive Leather Messenger review: Professional practicality

iMore - September 8, 2019

“When you want to make a statement with your laptop bag, look no further.”

Design details

ALL-LEATHER COLLECTION

The All-Leather Collection brings together premium full-grain leather designs that balance refined style, everyday functionality, and rugged dependability. Each bag is built to last, with smart details that make everyday carry easier. Check out the full collection.

FULL-GRAIN LEATHER

The authentic, full-grain leather we use to make the Executive Leather Messenger is absolutely beautiful. See it, touch it, and you'll be hooked.

The distressed leather develops a beautiful patina, and your bag will age well as the years roll by.

CARING FOR YOUR LEATHER BAG

We usually recommend not doing anything to the full-grain leather of your bag, letting it develop it's own beautiful patina over time. However, you may want to freshen it up a bit with a leather conditioner. The leather may darken a bit, so test the reaction first on a spot that's not highly visible, like the bottom of the bag. For the distressed leather that we use, you can also spread the oils around and smooth them out a bit with heat from a hair dryer.