Are you in the market for a new weekend duffle bag? Here’s what we honestly think about the Satchel & Page Weekender bag.
Admittedly, I am a sucker for a good neutral weekend bag. If my partner or I go on a short work trip, we reach for a weekend duffle bag. I also use them to send my kids to their grandparent’s house for a night or two. There really isn’t anything you can’t use a good duffle bag for. So, when Satchel and Page asked if I could sample and review their Weekender, I jumped at the chance.
I have regularly used this Satchel & Page Weekender for the last month, and I will tell you about it. Here is my initial take, how it packs, and what I think about it after using it.
Let’s get started.
About Satchel & Page
Before I dive into the review, let me give you a short introduction to the brand. Daniel Ralsky founded Satchel and Page after a trip to Japan. Ralsky’s one-month-old bag broke, so he went on a mission to find a new one. He searched for something stylish and unique but, above all, durable. His search left him empty-handed, so he chose to make one instead.
Ralsky found inspiration in a World War II family keepsake—a map case. He wanted to design products in the same clean and timeless style from that bygone era. When you purchase Satchel & Page products, you receive a well-made, luxurious item rich in history.
The Satchel & Page Weekender: A Product Overview
If you’ve read my review of the Carl Friedrik Carry-On X, you’ll know I am an admitted overpacker. Because of its size and pocket organization, I chose the Weekender duffle bag over the Satchel & Page Gladstone. (The Gladstone is similarly sized but differently shaped and without a front zipper pocket.) The bag measures 12” H x 20.5” W x 10” D, which makes it an excellent bag for tossing in the trunk of your car or carrying on for airplane travel.
The bag also has a quick-grab pocket located in the front between the handles, which is ideal for passports, boarding passes, AirPods, keys, etc. Basically, if you have something small that you need to grab at a moment’s notice, you can place it there.
The Weekender contains two zippered compartments. The first compartment is a slim compartment designed for your laptop, essential papers and files, wallet, phone, pens, etc. The second compartment is the main compartment for your clothes, shoes, dopp kit, etc. It is quite spacious, with plenty of room to pack essentials for two to three days worth of travel.
The bag features 8-oz. leather handles for carrying. It also has 4 D-rings attached to the sides for shoulder carry (it comes with an adjustable leather shoulder strap). The extra D-rings are handy for attaching keys, luggage tags, etc.
The last thing to note is the rich leather. It’s a French cowhide that is tanned and finished in Ponte a Egola, Italy. Satchel and Page does not use paint or chemicals. Instead, the brand vegetable tans its full-grain leather through to the core.
The Satchel & Page Weekender: My First Take and a Few Noticeable Details
The Weekender came quickly and was well packaged. It has a dust bag to keep it safe in storage, which is a nice touch. I immediately took in the beautiful leather scent when I opened the box and dust bag. It smelled like genuine leather, not chemicals, which sometimes happens with chemically dyed leather.
The color is a beautiful warm brown–think of milk chocolate with the slightest touch of red. It’s absolutely stunning. It’s understated yet rich and pairs perfectly with just about anything. If you’re looking for a quiet luxury bag, the Weekender is undoubtedly it.
The Weekender is a very handsome bag. It’s elegant, sturdy, and roomy. It’s well-stitched and reinforced, and the Japanese YKK zippers ensure your items are secure. The lining is a coordinating tobacco suede, but it’s easy to see items at the bottom of your bag.
One thing to note is that the leather is soft, so it’s easy to scratch and mark. In fact, I accidentally scuffed the top of it with my fingernail, as you can see above. Personally, I like this touch as it gives the bag character–in a few years, your bag will tell a story of your travels. This bag is not for you if you’re not a fan of natural (or accidental) imperfections and wear.
Most impressively and importantly, the bag comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know you are protected if there’s a manufacturing, hardware or material defect.
Packing Up The Weekender
The Satchel and Page Weekender arrived just in time for a three-day trip to the Central California coast in February. Northern and Central California coastal regions are typically chilly in the winter months, so this means packing heavier items like jeans, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc. And I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I am an over-packer. (And no, I haven’t learned just to pack essentials yet…)
I attempted to pack the following items:
- Two pairs of jeans
- Two sweatshirts
- Two pairs of pants
- A few shirts
- Pajamas
- Topo Designs Dopp Kit
- Birkenstock Clogs
I was able to fit everything I wanted into the bag except for my dopp kit. To be fair, if the weather was warmer (which means lighter clothes), I would have been able to pack everything I needed. My spouse decided to use this bag instead, as he’s a minimalist, and it fit everything he needed to bring with excess space. Needless to say, if you are a light packer or even a “normal” packer, the Weekender will give you plenty of space.
Pros and Cons of the Satchel & Page Weekender
Like most things in life, there are pros and cons with the Satchel & Page Weekender. Here are more details to consider if you’re wondering whether or not the Weekender is the bag for you.
Pros
- Packability: The Weekender actually packs quite a bit. It’s spacious and easy to pack. You don’t have to worry about Tetris-ing your items into the bag so they fit. Just fold them, put them in, and you’re good to go.
- Aesthetic: It’s such a beautiful bag. If you’re looking for something elevated and polished, it doesn’t get any better than the Satchel & Page Weekender. And it will just get better with time and use–that’s one of the things I am most excited about with this bag.
- Warranty: A bag with a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects? Count me in. When you spend a pretty penny on a bag, you want one that holds up over time and that the manufacturer stands behind. You’ll get that with this bag and brand.
Cons
- Weight: In general, leather bags are heavy. This one is no different. Empty, it weighs shy of seven pounds. To compare, the Herschel Novel Canvas Duffle (which is another one I use) is only two pounds. I realize that comparing canvas to leather is like comparing apples to oranges, especially in this case. However, if you’re used to carrying light bags, you’ll be surprised by the extra weight.
- Opening: Despite the handy front compartment of the Weekender, this is where I think I would have liked the Gladstone a bit more. I wasn’t a fan of how closed off the opening of this bag is. You’ll have to pry it open a little bit to pack it. I worry this will put excessive wear and tear at the base where the zipper is sewn into the bag.
- Durability of the smaller hardware: Once we got to our room, we opened the Weekender, and the leather zipper pull popped off. Maybe it was just a fluke, but the zippers, leather, and handles are incredibly sturdy. The zipper pull seems flimsy, especially in contrast to how substantial the other hardware and leather weight is.
Is the Satchel & Page Weekender Worth It?
Yes, the Satchel & Page Weekender is a beautiful, sturdy made leather duffle bag well worth its $675 price tag. I don’t doubt that it will last for decades if not become an heirloom piece over time. Personally, my favorite thing about this bag is how it will patina and wear over time. It’s like a vintage marble counter in a baker’s home, with each stain, scratch and etch a loving memory.
If you constantly travel for work, this bag is certainly for you. It’s perfect for packing everything you need for both work and play. However, if you don’t need the two separate compartments, I think the Gladstone or the Pilot’s bag might even be a better option. Regardless of whichever you pick, I’m sure you’ll absolutely love this brand and its offerings.
Do you have a Satchel & Page bag? Share your experiences in the comments below!
