Executive Leather Messenger

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.

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

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. Well put together with high quality material.

I’ve put almost half a million miles on my WaterField Executive Messenger Bag, and somehow this thing looks better today than when I bought it. Airports, client shoots, coffee spills, overloaded laptops, being crammed under airplane seats… it’s taken an absolute beating and just keeps going.

And the customer service? Unreal. After 5 years, I finally had an issue with it. I reached out, and before I could even finish being annoyed about it, a replacement was basically already on my doorstep. That level of support is rare these days.

At this point, WaterField isn’t selling bags — they’re selling lifetime companions for people who abuse their gear for a living.

Unfortunately, I’ve now made the dangerous mistake of browsing their website again to see what I want next. My wallet would like to formally file a complaint.