KPL 18 INCH Leather Briefcase Laptop Messenger Bag Satchel Office computer bag for men and women (18 INCH)

It was a little thicker than expected but then again I’m a big guy so it fits. The only reason I didn’t give five stars on all ratings is that I haven’t had it long enough to truly put it to the test. Looks awesome and feels great. Well done.

The leather itself is thick and the holes for the straps are small. I prefer that. The prong of the buckle has to be forced through the first time, but that means it will NOT accidently come unbuckled, and that the remaining, unused, holes are not obtrusive. There is an aroma to it, but I am sure that will off-gas. The interior is voluminous! I am opening it up by putting shoes in the middle opening. Im also leaving the top flap open to give it some flexibility. The zippers are all of good quality. Although the Care Instructions say conditioners and waterproofing products can be used, it qualifies that by saying, . . .with limited application. I wish there were better guidance. Amazon has something called Leather Honey, my nephew used straight Neetsfoot oil. I just dont know. Hey, it looks good, and seems durable! It would make a good gift, was a great price, and I would buy it again!

I’ll only add 1 photo but: I got this bag like a month and a half ago, started wearing it two days ago cause I was letting the smell air out (I prepared for it based on previous reviews). Here you go: 1. It is sturdy. It stands upright and I love that. 2. It is so beautiful, stylish and has an expensive look; it definitely met the “Grad School Professor” aesthetic I was going for. 3. It is spacious. It can hold my laptop, two planners, an umbrella and couple other things. Just trust me. 4. I wish the strap were thicker but it works 4/5. 5. The colour isn’t as dark as online (saw that on reviews too) but I trust it will get dark when worn. I feel like I’ll have it for a very long time. I really love it and I’m very surprised, having and using it now, that it’s s so inexpensive. Thanks, Komal!

Received the bag and was somewhat apprehensive about the potential for a bad smell, however, no bad smell. There is a natural odor that all natural leather products have as a result of the tanning process. The odor on this bag is slight and not offensive and I fully expect it to fade with time as all of my other leather products have. Bag is made of heavy natural leather and the stitching was strong and attractive. The hardware appeared to be solid and the quick releases on the main flap is an excellent feature adding to the usability of the bag. There is an outer zipper compartment on the bag of the bag and the main compartment is closed by a double zipper which appears to be solid and well made. I am very pleased with the bag. I will update this review as I conttnue to use the bag to more fully address the durability.

First off, Id like to say that I was NOT compensated nor provided with a review copy or anything of the sort, in exchange for my review. This is simply a review for the purposes of shedding some light on topics associated with this product that Ive experienced. I will address quality, detailing, and the infamous smell (spoiler alert: it doesnt smell). At the end, I will go over some things you can do to make the bag even better. I wont add pictures because others have uploaded them, and my bag looks exactly as those pictures do. Quality: This bag looks like it can easily be a $200-$400 bag. The leather is very good quality, feels soft, yet durable. When I open the flaps, they feel durable and tough, not cheaply made. It is a finely crafted piece, and it certainly does not skimp on important details to the structural integrity of the bag. The zippers feel a bit stiff, in a way reminiscent of more expensive products; it seems meant to be opened slowly, with care and precision. This is not a bag you would treat or zip up like you would a $20 Jansport. Shoulder strap works well and feels comfortable, and the buckles are tough. Detailing: It seems to me like this bag was handmade (It comes from India, I believe) and it shows. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on personal taste. For me, it is a good thing. The canvas stitching sometimes leaves a tiiiiiiny bumped up piece of string, and some of the rivets look placed by hand (deviation of about 0.15 inches on rivet placement, what holds the leather straps on the product picture in place. The smell: There are many people talking about a god-awful smell that is reminiscent of farmhouse or a dirty animal. Based on my receipt of the product, I have come to two possible conclusions: 1. People are grossly over-exaggerating the smell for whatever reason. 2. Komals Passion Leather addressed and fixed the problem that was causing the potent odor claimed in so many other reviews. Perhaps it is the second one, or I got lucky. To describe my experience, I was fearfully opening the packaging, expecting to have my olfactory bulb assaulted any second now, until... Nothing. No smell. I pressed my nose up close and smelled it; it smells like true leather. High quality leather, reminiscent of what one would find in an upscale store, such as a Saks 5th Ave. I went to a Saks 5th Ave recently to look at leather bags and out of curiosity, took a whiff (a good test for ascertaining leather quality, in my opinion) and lo and behold, the leather in this ritzy upscale store smelled... Like dog. That grainy, maple syrup smell some dogs get is what that bag in the store reminded me of. It was real, quality leather, and THAT is what this bag will smell like. Actually, I found the KPL bags scent to be less offensive, smelling faintly of a grassland. All in all, I believe this purchase is a steal at $73. I would buy this bag 100 times over, especially since it seems to be coming from a hard-working small business over. As a bonus, Komal (I hope thats his name) seems to be very responsive to people who have had issues with his product, as made evident by plenty of other reviews (I personally have had no interactions with him). So now, for some recommendations: -Treat it with a leather conditioner to loosen up some of the stiffness on the leather, and provide it with some protection against general use and the elements. The brand I used is Leather Honey. Provides protection and repels the elements without hardening your leather even more. A microfiber cloth is best to use. -Gently toy with the bag for a while. Meaning, open up the flaps, the zippers, get a feel for what the bag is like, and make it pliable to your needs. -Be aware that the clamps on the straps feel a bit rough, so some treatment may be needed for them (lubrication, against rusting) though I have no idea what to use. It could just be an inconsequential detail and I may have the wrong idea. In summary, this was an incredible buy and am very happy. It looks like this is a good business to support with excellent service and product. Seems handmade, which can be good or bad depending on taste, and there is no overwhelming smell. The metal used may need treatment to resist rusting, but this is speculation on my part.

UPDATE: It has now been 4 Years since I purchased this bag, and it has been easily one of the best purchases I have ever made. It is a workhorse, carrying all that I need with ease, and I highly recommend the 18 inch version for anyone that needs a messenger bag for documents up to 11x17 size. All in all, a superior product. I have now had this bag for three months, and I could not be happier. It looks very stylish, and is cavernous. All of the things that I wish to carry I can fit inside with ease. As an orchestral conductor, I regularly have to carry music scores of the 11x17 variety. I can fit them easily within this bag and zip the compartment shut. Like most leather, the bag is stiff when purchased but becomes worn over time. There is no odd smell; it smells like leather should smell. The one thing I will caution is carrying irregularly shaped objects (or too many things) in the front pouch. True to leather, the pocket can become formed around what you regularly carry there, and therefore may jut out when the top flap is closed. Overall, a fantastic purchase. If the opportunity arises to purchase again, I would do so in a heartbeat.

I got a new computer at work, a Dell 7730 laptop that measures 10.8 x 16.3 x 1.2, which wouldnt fit in the old messenger bag Id been using. I have a roller computer bag that I use on trips but it was a bit much for daily use, so I looked for a larger messenger bag and found this KPL one. Ive been using it for about two weeks now and am pleased with it. My computer just fits in it. Its a tight enough fit that I cant easily slide the computer in one-handed. However, getting my computer in and out seems easier, either because the bag is looser or because Im more used to it. I like that the bag stands up on its own. My old smaller messenger bag, which I loved, couldnt sit standing up. This bag can sit by my desk, ready for me to put my computer it in when I leave my office. Its a very big bag, and I really use it only to carry my computer from my home to my car to my office and back. I keep a few other things in it, including a small umbrella, but I dont try to put a power adapter in, preferring to have one at work and one at home. For true road warrior trips, Ill revert to the roller bag. I like that the shoulder strap is removable. I took the padding piece off the strap because for me the piece was too wide to be comfortable, and I prefer just using the strap without it. With my computer loaded the bag does bounce uncomfortably off my hip as I walk, so I do keep a hand on the front of the strap to restrain the bag, something I didnt really have to do with my older smaller bag. The quick releases on the front are essential and work fine. I saw some people asked questions about this, and yes, at least on my bag, there are two quick releases on the front of the bag that are usually hidden behind the buckle straps connected to the top of the bag. I did adjust those buckle straps on my bag to use the closest hold to the top, and the top does seem a bit lose but not enough for me to bother punching another set of holes. That there are two straps is something else Ive had to get used to — my old smaller bag had only one, which was more convenient — but given the size of this bag and that it carries larger heaver items, I understand why two are necessary. One more thing about the quick releases — I took a photo of one to upload with this review, and looking at the photo I noticed that the bracket on the quick release already looks banged up. It doesnt really come into contact with anything except leather, so I dont know why its so banged up, not that it really matters since its hidden most of the time. I didnt spend nearly as much on this bag as on my old bag and got it only because of my new computer, but for the price its a good bag.

This bag is great! I wanted to take a couple of weeks to use it before reviewing and it has been everything I wanted. What is really nice is the bag has filled out in its depth. So you can set the bag down and it remains standing vertically, like a briefcase. Too many bags like this just flop over when you set them down. I really like the fact that you can fully secure this bag by zippering it closed. I originally thought this was desirable because I was concerned my laptop might slip out of a more open model. The design of this one has the laptop pocket tucked under the top edge of the bag, so it covers and protects the laptop without actually needing to zip it closed. Very easy to use, plus you can still zip it up whenever you want to secure it a bit more. I have been carrying a laptop and 10 tablet very comfortably with lots of room to spare. The interior canvas lining seems legitimate, in that it is not some sort of stick-on applied material. It is actual canvas stitched in with the leather. And the leather is substantial! Thick and quality come to mind. Mine was plenty raw but the smell fades quickly, like 6-7 days for me, but the color is still getting richer and darker. Overall this is a really quality item and I am happy to recommend it. I feel like I will have this item for a long time going forward.

This really is a solid bag. Great quality, lots of space, and it looks great. My only critique would be that the shoulder pad is a bit small, it would be nice if it were several inches wider. But that’s not a deal breaker.

So beautiful. Very well made. Package was well wrapped for transit. I will purchase from this company again!