Whether you are looking for a leather handbag, garment bag, duffle bag, briefcase, or laptop or tablet case, you want to make sure you end up with a bag that will faithfully serve you for tens of years. After all, leather bags are not exactly cheap and the items that they hold and protect are in many cases more valuable than a stack of bills.
Quality is Actually Cheaper in the Long Run
The first step to finding a quality bag is accepting that you need to start out with a quality bag. Going this route will save you money in the long run since it will negate the need for you to keep replacing bags as their parts give way.
Quality Leather
Of course, the type of leather your bag is made out of will go a long ways towards determined the quality of your bag. Cowhide leather has many great qualities that bag makers and buyers look for. Cowhide is extremely durable and can be finished to stunning effect. However, some people prefer leather with a finer grain since it is smoother and gives a more even finish.
Though it is not as strong as is cowhide, lambskin leather is beautiful. However, if you decide to purchase a lambskin leather bag, please keep in mind that it will wear, scratch, and tear easier than a similar cowhide bag will. If you must have lambskin, go with smaller bags and cases.
Choose the Right Leather Bag Color for You
Most people in most situations would do very well going with a black or other dark colored bag. After all, black is the color of business and style. However, if you are a more casual or sporty person or someone looking to give a fun impression, go with a brown, white, or other colored leather bag. The better your bag’s color and style fits you and your lifestyle, the more likely you will be to use it. And it is this frequent use that will make your investment a wise one.
The Parts of the Bag You Must Inspect
It is not just the type of leather your bag is made out of that gives it its quality. There are plenty of other parts that make a bag a great one. When you are evaluating bags, make sure you check out its hinges (do they open and close smoothly and freely), its stitching (is it smooth, does it look as if it was sewn with care, is it strong enough to last, is it double or triple stitched), and its locks, straps, zippers, and other enclosures (do they work cleanly, are they strong and solid instead of hollow tubing?)
Finding the Right Sized Leather Bag for You
Finding the right sized bag is in many ways the most important decision you will have to make when it comes to ending up with the right leather bag for you. After all, if your bag is too small or much too large to carry what you’re going to ask it to to carry or too heavy for you to carry around comfortably, odds you are not going to use it as much as you’d like to.