How Much Should You Spend a Leather Messenger Bag? (Price vs. Quality Guide)

Buying a leather messenger bag can leave you with a surprisingly wide range of prices. You might find one for less than $100 while another costs several $100. At first glance, they might look pretty similar. Both are brown or black. Both have a shoulder strap, and both have pockets for your everyday essentials. So what are you actually paying? And more importantly, how much should you spend on a leather messenger bag? There is not one price that works well for everyone. A good leather messenger bag should be judged by the material, construction and how you plan to use it. Paying more does not automatically mean getting a better bag  but choosing the cheapest option is not always the best way to save money either.

Why do leather messenger bags cost so much?

The first thing to understand is that leather itself can vary considerably. A bag made from natural leather can have a very different cost depending on the type of hide, how it has been processed and the finished product. For example, full-grain leather retains more of the natural surface of the hide and is often valued for its durability and ability to develop character with use. Other leather types might be coated or processed differently to create a particular look or feel. Then there is all that comes after leather. The bag needs to be cut, stitched, fitted with hardware, and finished. Better hardware and careful construction can also add to the cost.

Is an expensive leather messenger bag always better?

Not necessarily. This is one of the easiest mistakes to make when buying leather goods. A higher price can reflect better materials and construction, but it can also reflect other factors that do not necessarily tell you how well the bag will work for you. The smarter approach is to look at what you are getting for the price. You need to check the leather type, look at the stitching and check the hardware. See how the compartments are designed and whether they suit what you actually carry. If the product gives you useful information about all of these things you can make a much better decision than you can from price alone.

What Should You Expect at Different Price Points?

 

The leather type matters

If you are comparing 2 messenger bags and one is made from full grain leather while the other uses a different leather material the difference in price might have a reasonable explanation. Full grain leather retains the natural grain of the hide and is known for its natural texture and ability to develop a patina. That can be especially appealing if you want a bag that changes with use rather than just always looking brand new. But don't assume that simply seeing the words full grain leather means you can stop looking at the rest of the product. A good leather bag still needs good construction. Leather is important, but so are the parts holding the bag.

Look at the stitching

Turn your attention to the stitching. This might not be the first thing that you notice when looking at a messenger bag but it matters a lot for the product you plan to carry regularly. Look at the areas that receive the most stress, like handles, shoulder strap attachments, and pockets. The stitching should look neat and consistent. If the bag is designed to carry a laptop or other heavier items, the points where the strap attaches to the body of your bag deserve particular attention. You don't want to choose a bag based only on beautiful leather to discover that the construction doesn't suit your everyday load.

Don't forget the hardware

Zipper buckles, rings and other hardware might seem like small details, but you might use them every day. A messenger bag with a shoulder strap that is difficult to adjust or a zipper that constantly catches can quickly become frustrating. Hardware also contributes to the overall appearance of the bag. Vintage-style messenger bags might use buckles and antique-inspired hardware while more modern designs might use simple closures. Think about what you prefer and, more importantly, how practical the hardware will be during your commute.

What about the inside of the bag?

This is another important area where price and quality can sometimes show up. Don't just look outside. Think about what you need to carry. If you are taking your laptop to work every day, you will also want a suitable laptop compartment. You might need room for your charger, notebook, phone wallet, and other essentials. A messenger bag that looks great but has nowhere useful to put your charger is not going to make your commute easier.

How often will you use it?

This is probably the most important question when deciding how much to spend. If you need a messenger bag every day for work it makes sense to pay more attention to durability, comfort and materials. You are going to use the bag hundreds of times. If you are buying leather laptop bags for occasional weekends or short trips you might need the same level of investment. Think of cost in terms of use. A $250 bag that you carry 5 days a week for several years can make more sense than buying a cheaper bag every year because the previous one did not hold up to regular use. That does not mean you need to spend around $250. It simply means that the cheapest price is not always the lowest overall cost.

Where does Wild Vintage fit in?

If you're looking for a leather messenger bag with a classic vintage-inspired look take a closer look at Wild Vintage’s leather messenger bag collection. The collection includes different styles for work, commuting, travel and everyday use so you can just compare designs based on how you actually plan to carry them.

So there is no magic number that tells you how much you could spend on a leather messenger bag. The better question is what are you getting for that money? A lower priced bag might be perfectly suitable for occasional use while an everyday work bag might justify spending more on labour, construction and storage and a very expensive bag is not automatically better just because the price is higher.