The Perfect Briefcase and Padfolio | A Review of Satchel and Page
There are a few milestone pieces that men get in their lives. Your first custom suit marks a level of success in your career, and a high-quality leather briefcase and padfolio do the same. Sadly in today's world of low-quality goods and casualization, a heritage leather briefcase is becoming a rarity, and many people don't know what a padfolio is. In today's article, we talk about why you should consider getting a leather briefcase and padfolio and look at one of the best ones we have seen so far.
The leather briefcase used to be a status symbol and signified power. Think about a skilled lawyer or a powerful business executive. I would be surprised if you didn't also picture a briefcase in each of these individuals' hands. A quality leather briefcase and padfolio send the message that you are a skilled professional who means business. Whether you bring this to a client meeting or interview for your next job, this is a sure way to set yourself apart. With so many 'good' options at much lower price points, heritage briefcases don't get the recognition they deserve.
What Makes a Quality Briefcase/Padfolio?
A few things that a quality briefcase will have are 1) excellent leather quality, 2) great organization, 3) excellent build quality and hardware.
Excellent Leather
The quality of leather a briefcase is the most crucial detail in any leather good; this is only rivaled by the piece's construction quality. Having a bag with quality leather allows it to age gracefully and last for decades if properly cared for. Often cheap items never look better than the day you purchased them, and this is true of inferior quality leather but the opposite for high-quality leather.
The leather used on the Satchel and Page briefcase, as well as padfolio, is an Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather. What this means is it needs far less care, is more durable than most leathers. Vegetable-tanned leathers only need to be conditioned, instead of also needing polishing, which makes them low maintenance and an excellent choice for items that get heavy wear. Vegetable-tanned leather is known for giving beautiful patinas that only look better with age. My bag looks fantastic, but I can't wait to see what it looks like a decade from now because I know it will continue to get better.
Great Organization
Now, this really could come after great hardware and build quality, but if you have a great leather bag with a terrible organization, it can lead you to avoid your briefcase. Some key things I look for are a centered laptop sleeve, pockets for pens, wallet and business cards, and a place for my MacBook charger and padfolio. A well-organized bag can improve your business rather than detracting from it.
The Satchel and Page Briefcase has all the pockets you need just in the place you need them. The most significant advantage is the center laptop pocket. I used another leather bag with a laptop pocket on the side and ended up scratching my laptop. The padfolio has a place for a pen, legal pad, iPad, business cards, and button closure. Both are simplistic in look, but efficient in their ability to store and organize everything you need. So far, I have found that there are organizational pockets or dividers exactly where I need it and space where I need it. Satchel and Page have thought through their products and made it very intuitive to use.
Great hardware and Build Quality
If you have never zipped a quality zipper, you are missing out! The feeling of a high-quality zipper makes even a cheaper bag feel more expensive. The same is true of cheap zippers making an expensive bag feel cheap. If there is one area you do not want your bag manufacturer saving a few dollars on it is quality hardware. Hardware is much less expensive for a manufacturer to upgrade when considering the cost of quality leather anyway. Still, very few companies make an effort to source high-quality hardware.
The Sachel and Page briefcase is a practical work of art from the quality zippers; to the key hook, every aspect is high quality. The look, feel, and smell of this bag make you want to get packed for work. Let's take a look at each of the points that make a great bag.
My Experience
The Counselor Bag
Working in the bespoke clothing industry, I have a great need for high-quality accessories. Nothing could be more damaging to a client's mindset than their clothier walking into a meeting with a cheap cloth bag and scattered papers everywhere. As I started to get more business, I knew I needed to find a proper bag and padfolio. I tried one leather bag before getting a Satchel and Page bag and greatly regretted it. At the $350 price point, I expected a decent bag, but sadly it was not. Let's take a look at why I love my Satchel and Page bag.
To start, I got the Satchel and Page Counselor, it fits my needs best as I need a larger bag to carry some cloth books from time to time, but Satchel and Page offer two smaller options as well. When you buy this bag, as I mentioned above, you are getting a leather quality that can last your lifetime, and it will undoubtedly do that with style.
When I opened the box, I was greeted by the incredible smell of high-quality leather, something I usually only get when buying quality shoes. The thickness of the leather in this bag allows it to stand on its own, which I had issues with on my cheaper leather bag. Also, the color of this bag is just amazing! Satchel and Page doesn't offer much when it comes to color selection, but when you have nailed down a tone this incredible, it seems unnecessary too. The other thing is that the lining of this bag is a high-quality suede lining that is buttery smooth, an area where most other bags cheap out.
The hardware and materials used to put this bag together are top-notch. I have noticed that when a company uses high-quality materials, they make sure you know. Looking at Satchel and Page's site, you can see that they use YKK zippers, high-quality brass hardware, suede lining, and high-quality thread. This thing is built to last decades and to look good doing it! My viewpoint on stuff like this is if it is an item that is meant to last, never buy a cheap option. A cheap bag looks worse with age and lasts five years, but a great one can be passed down to another generation.
The Padfolio
Padfolios are something you see less and less of, but when someone pulls out a high-quality one, you know they mean business. Equally valid is when someone pulls out a cheap flimsy padfolio, you think they are inexperienced. A great padfolio doesn't need to be fancy, but it does require a few things. For me, the Satchel and Page padfolio is perfect. It has a place for a notepad to take notes during client meetings, storage for a pen, a stack of forms (could store an iPad if you needed), and two slots for business cards. I could honestly only bring my padfolio to the shop and be able to get things done.
The Satchel and Page padfolio is made of the same high-quality leather and hardware and build quality as the bags are. While some may see these purchases as a bit excessive, I see them as one of the things that separate those who are successful in their careers and those who are not. I say this not because the bag makes the man or woman, but because those who care about these small details have what it takes to succeed in their chosen career.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the Satchel and Page Briefcases and padfolios are some of the highest-quality best value products I have seen. Everything has been well thought out, constructed, and gives the luxury experience without the luxury price tag. If you need a quality leather briefcase or padfolio, there isn't one I could recommend more highly to you. Stop debating and just get one, you will thank me later!
Zach Mitchem
Youtube: Muscular Style
Blog: Muscular Style
I have been lifting weights for over 15 years and have been a competitive weightlifter and powerlifter. I have had issues with finding clothes that fit properly for as long as I can remember. In 2017 I stepped up my style game in a serious way and realized there are very few decent options for muscular men at the average online or brick and mortar store. I started a journey to find options that fit the muscular man, and the start of the 'Muscular Style' blog was born.
I write about style with the intent to help you avoid all the wasted time and frustration I have encountered in my journey. I want you to be able to buy quality clothing that fits well. Currently, I work as a professional clothier at Smith Bespoke in Salt Lake City and have made helping men dress better into my career.