Men's Leather Satchels

Men's leather satchels make a smart and practical alternative to a briefcase or backpack. If you're in the market for a casually comfortable bag that multi-tasks, a satchel or a messenger bag may present the perfect solution.

Ditch the briefcase!

Whether you work on Wall Street or whip up mochas at the local coffee shop, you probably have a few personal belongings that you carry day in and day out on the job. It's not just women, but men, who have quickly acquired enough small electronics and devices to warrant their very own carry-all. From laptops, to iPods, cell phones, phone chargers, handheld gaming systems, books, small tools and other toiletries, it makes sense to stow away your things in a useful and practical bag.

Messenger bags have quickly replaced the bulky boxy shape of a typical briefcase and the school boy charm of rugged backpacks or bookbags. While a backpack may serve its purpose out on a wilderness trail stowing bottled water and maps, in the corporate world, a backpack screams amateur and collegiate. On the other hand, a briefcase has long been known as the staple of every successful businessman. While briefcases still have their place in the office, many men feel their limited storage and hard shape make them less than ideal in both a stowing and fashion sense.

If you decide a leather satchel is better suited for your traveling needs, you'll want to shop for one that meets your stowage demands at a price you can afford.

Because leather satchels have inevitable staying power, it makes sense to shop around for a premium leather product and make the timely splurge once, rather than every season, which is much more likely if you purchase a man-made material or a bag with shoddy construction. Leather goods, when properly cared for and maintained, age with such character and beauty, they actually get cooler year after year, so go ahead and shell out a few dollars and invest in your bag's future!

When you begin your quest for a leather satchel, it makes sense to visit both leather goods stores and tack or saddle shops. Both types of establishments will carry a variety of handcrafted leather goods. In addition to local retail stores, Internet and catalog businesses such as the following carry a wide array of leather bags that are perfectly suited for men:

• Sundance Catalog is widely known for their handcrafted and unique artisan leather goods, including satchels and bags.
• Leatherpaks carries a selection of bags crafted by Capecod leather, LeDonne, and McKlein USA.
• Express Leather features a variety of messenger bags filled with pockets and plenty of stowaway spaces.
• Handbags by DMG specialize in old world craftsmanship and special tanning processes that create natural and beautifully distressed bags.

Once you have your bag, you're ready to pack it with all the essentials. With proper organization, a bag can carry all your goods effectively. To prolong the life of your leather satchel, keep it clean and apply a leather moisturizer as needed to keep the leather soft and supple. To avoid interior stains, make sure items like ballpoint pens are kept capped at all times.

If you plan on stowing a laptop computer in a satchel bag, keep the rest of your belongings to a minimum. Laptops should never be stuffed in a bag filled with other belongings. A better option for a laptop carrier would be a soft sided briefcase that has a divider to separate the electronics from paperwork and pens.

Leather satchels have quickly become the hip alternative to a typical briefcase. With their endless versatility and appealing looks, it's no wonder men have started donning this hip new sack as an alternative to a backpack.

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