Compartment wise, youve got nice clean document pockets that function as laptop sleeves on both sides of the bag, and you might have noticed that all of the edges are rolled. In the past few years, Filson has expanded their use of their more than 100-year-old Tin Cloth to their bags (which originally used rugged twill). It is large enough to hold about a weekends worth of clothes. The 256 end pockets are very small and practically unusable. The change in color on Tan tin cloth is more distinct than on the Otter Green tin cloth. Rest assured, I hope this post will be of help to you. The construction and lifetime warranty bears serious emphasis: if the bag seems expensive, remember youll never need to buy another one. 
The contrast of Tan and the rich brown bridle leather is what makes a Filson bag iconic! She didnt know I already had the same model (Ive been told Im a person hard to find gifts for!). The Best Briefcases by The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/our-favorite-briefcases/ 2. The following two tabs change content below. I just toss my water bottle into the main compartment. I like duffle bags for this reason as I tend to just throw everything in the same compartment and just shuffle through it when I need something! I suppose if you want the best of both worlds, you can take Filsons Oil Finish Original Wax and apply it on a rugged twill bag. That the first item of clothing a date looks at is your shoes. Keep a close eye and be sure to rewax highly creased areas like this one. All rights reserved. Tin Cloth is most well-known in the Filsonss Tan color, while Otter Green comes as a second. A bit of history about the change of ownership that happened recently. I, myself, currently own both the Medium and Large sized Filson Travel Bags, so my review on the VP Duffle bag will be based primarily upon my comparison with those. Filsons twill comes with an applied treatment (not waxed) and still holds up to rain well fresh out of the factory. When you send the bag in for repair, they will either repair it or replace it with a brand new same bag if they deem it not worth the repairs (time/cost of repairing that bag outceeds the time/cost of producing a new bag). When you open a zippered bag, one hand pulls the zipper while the other holds the tab to allow you to unzip. It was actually dye coming out from the bridle leather handle straps. Filson recommends a stiff bristled brush to clean the material and spot cleaning. Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs. Wolverine 1000 Mile, Interview With Sagara, Indonesias Best Known Bootmaker, The Ultimate Guide to How Boots Should Fit (5 Areas to Look At). Filson 258 end pocket. Shop All Electronics Cameras, Photo & Video, Shop All Electronics Cell Phones & Accessories, Shop All Electronics Computers, Laptops & Parts, Shop All Electronics Tablets & Accessories, Shop All Electronics Video Games & Consoles, Shop All Electronics VR, AR & Accessories, Filson 24 Hour Tin Briefcase Navy Blue Travel Work Messenger Laptop Bag, Rare Cinder Tin Cloth Filson Original Briefcase 256, FILSON waxed rugged twill ORIGINAL BRIEFCASE bag Dark Shrub CAMO NWT, COPY - Filson canvas and leather briefcase. Between the Sportsman and Small Duffle, I decided on the Duffle because of the simpler design and lesser price. Bag turned inside out. It starts off soft (likely because its Chromexcel leather) and the underside surface has more grip than Filsons. Otter Green tends to hide stains very well such as dirt, spilled coffee, or indigo dye. The CXL on my Alden footwear, Viberg footwear, and Tanner Goods wallets did not even come close! Theres not a lot to talk about with regard to the interior.
It is due to both the cotton twill softening and also that the bag is only one layer throughout (except for the storm flap). Most carry on requirements limit your total linear inches to no more than 45 inches. One of the interior end pockets in Tin Cloth and the manufacturing date label. So what has Filson done with this leather? The VP 20 Weekender Duffle seems to encompass many elements of the retired Filson Travelers Bag. At this point I owned 3 briefcase options the Filson 256, the Filson 258, and the Vermilyea Pelle briefcase. Yes, you read that correctly! The older model shoulder pad is one single piece of leather.
VPs shoulder pad length is about 12 inches while Filsons shoulder pad length is about 8.5 inches. My opinion of a Filsons Brown is that it doesnt have much of a contrast between the brown leather straps and the canvas. Whites 350 Cruiser Review | The Best Work-Casual Boot? Attention Returns Department The way that Tan patinas is that it picks up dirt, indigo dye, and easily darkens.
Should I get a Filson bag in Otter Green or Tan? That there are a lot of subtle differences between boys and men but a well put together outfit with a sturdy pair of boots is one of the clearest signs that a guy cares how he is perceived by the world. So back to my Filson 261 Otter Green tote, Ill now talk about the design. In the long run, Tan gets darker in most areas of abrasion. The bridle leather zipper pull that comes with the bag makes it very easy to blindlessly grab. Here are the after images of the Otter Green zippered tote by itself and also compared with a Tan zippered tote. I cant say for sure that these changes are applied for the 258 Padded Computer Briefcase. In contrast, the aging of Otter is an unusual phenomenon.
It also takes a lot more labor than leaving the edges raw, and if a briefcase costs a thousand bucks like this one, pretty much every guy will assume the edges will at least be rolled. The primary change I noticed after it dried was that the canvas portions of the bag lightened a few shades. The major gripe I have with this bag is the single layer twill cotton bottom. I speculate that the waxed finish helps attract dirt to its surface. Filson Tri Fold Wallet. A reference for the bags size. 257 and 258 getting wide and chunky!
The shoulder strap, shoulder pad, briefcase handles, parallel stitched leather were very similar in thickness 4.0mm +/- 0.2mm. (We do not repair nonVermilyea Pelleproduct.). The associate went to go physically check and he responded there was 1 left on the shelf! The main zippers are Heavy duty YKK and have a great brass shine. I was able to get the bag on sale. Filson Photographers Backpack 70144 Review, Comes with a water repellant finish that will wear off over time, Material is quite stiff and takes a long time to soften up, Twills diagonal weave (the weave used on denim) makes it more resilient than canvas to clean tears, Lighter in weight (Filson typically uses about 15oz) than the rugged twill, Provides less structure when the bag is empty, Repels water better than the rugged twill because of the coating and tightness of the weave, Consequently, this tight weave and wax makes the material not very breathable, Attracts dirt/debris more quickly than the twill, Has a cold, clammy feel especially when newly rewaxed, Tumbled Solid brass Hardware (patinas much nicer than Lacquer coated brass), 5/6oz leather on Bag, Double Thick 5/6oz Leather strap work from Horween Tannery in Chicago. In addition, the bottom of the three pockets have a closed bottom. Less than 6 months later, my now ex-girlfriend purchased a Vermilyea Pelle Briefcase for my birthday. It really can work in the office or with some nice jeans. Its 3.5 ounces; the average robust leather bag is at least 5 ounces, or 2 millimeters thick. (I know this from experience; the handle on my Filson backpack once broke off.). Because the CXL leather is very thick and packed with oils, the D ring leather attachments at the briefcases ends bend easily without any leather cracking. Vermilyea Pelle Ranger Tan/Brown Chromexcel Briefcase, Filson Photographers Backpack 70144 Review, Filson Otter Green vs Tan Aging and Patina, Filson Otter Green Zippered Tote Bag 261 After Cleaning, Filson Zippered Tote 261 Otter Green Review, Vermilyea Pelle 20 Weekender Duffle Bag Review, Filson vs Vermilyea Pelle Briefcases Comparison Review. It also adds another layer of security in those pockets in case your bag ever completely flips over (lol). The bridle leather also started to crack on one strap, but it was only on the surface. The Filson Small Duffle packed about 3/4th full carried on the shoulder strap. I also applied Obenaufs Leather Oil to the bridle leather. Overhead view of all 4 briefcases. The strap is adjusted with a belt buckle and comes with a shoulder strap thats lined with felt wool, For the first few weeks of use, the wool will slip off your shoulders now and then as it molds to the shape of your body. I spot waxed the particular areas with Filsons Original Wax for more durability. I think the duffle bag looks great when filled up, but not so great when near empty. I was living in Cupertino, CA at the time and the closest retailer was Doms Outdoor Goods, one of the largest Filson approved stockists in the US, and it was located in Livermore, CA. The contrasting brown bridle leather against the tan canvas really makes a bag pop. If you have a bag with Talon zippers, it for sure was manufactured in the 90s. The zippers now are Filson logod instead of YKK, but are still robust and smooth to slide. As of now Im at about a dozen plus Filson bags (Im a bagoholic!). That simply means that if you click the link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission for sending you there. It measures 15 inches long, 3.5 inches wide, and 12 inches high, carrying about 11 liters. Filson Company These issues are easily repaired by taking it to your local tailor or leather repair shop. Theres a misconception that this whole bag is made from bridle leather, which is tanned to be strong and flexible enough for use in bridles, but its actually just the accents the handle, the trim on the zippers, the pull tabs that are bridle. Filson started producing luggage only in the ~1980s to early 90s and before that only clothing. Navy and Brown are great colors for the briefcase if you want something thats less flashy. But those are really only advantages for leather that you wear; when it comes to bags, guys tend to want vegetable tanned leather. If you had a Talon era bag and Filson era bag (todays) and compared the leather, the Talon bags leather was significantly better in quality.
Another nice feature with the strap is that the the trigger clasp that attaches to the bad itself (via a D-ring) swivels a full 360 degrees. Ive had my experience with both types of shoulder pads, and I do prefer the single piece one.
Just note that its just not the most substantial leather on Earth. He was tripped up by the coating, which gives it a slightly more plasticky appearance. And please explain the reason for the return and the outcome you desire. Filson briefcases have the tendency of their bridle leather to crack at this area. Unlined tin cloth on the Filson x Levis Trucker jacket. Between the two Filson colors, I went with the tote in Otter Green instead of Tan because the color is more masculine for a guy carrying a tote.
Their sole leather shoulder bagis the leather version of that ubiquitous rugged twill briefcase. Thee rest of it is what they call 3.5 ounce waterproof, vegetable-tanned leather.
It fact, back in 2015, Railcar was the only local stockist that carried VP! I dont use these pockets because theyre too far in when the bag is filled.
All images 2017-2018 Aun Tay. 
Learn about the Lyst app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The reason I purchased the bag was that it was discounted I cant remember off the top of my head what the % discount was on the tag, but to my knowledge, it was the first time Ive seen a VP included in a sale. Whats cool about VPs bags is that they use copper rivets at all places of stress. I applied a few coats of Obenaufs Leather Oil to all leather areas which was much needed. The shoulder pad is now made of two separate leather pieces (one thin and one thick) stitched together with a foam insert in between. I use the last hole even though I tend to like my shoulder straps short to keep the bag closer to my body. I let the bag dry inside out in my patio for a few days. Putting aside the fact that one review on Filsons site complained that the treatment rubbed off on his trousers, some feel that the coating diminishes the bags aesthetic qualities. Tan is the classic Filson color and is likely how people recognize a Filson bag. Filsons first original colors were Otter Green and Tan. Tin cloth seems to darken (or patina) easily. Indigo rub off from your denim is likely the first sign of patina youll see! Each of them are large enough to fit my 32oz Hydro Flask. Since the 2010s Filson started using their own branded Filson zippers which likely were just YKK zippers. The 257 and 258 briefcases have much larger end pockets, enough tofit in a large water bottle such as my 1L HydroFlask after being stretched. The stain was brown/tan-like in color and had a distinct outline of its edges. Although the dimensions of both new and old shoulder pads are the same, the necessary stitching to hold the two pieces together reduces the foam area coverage. The minor issue I have with the single piece leather shoulder pad is that the pads leather ends tend to fold in. [Related: 13 Alternatives to Filsons Backpack]. Case in point: I showed this bag to a friend who makes veg tan leather bags for a living, and he actually mistook it for chrome tanned leather because it didnt have the kind of color depth or handfeel that he had come to expect from veg tan. Its functional, but its not garish, overbuilt, heavy, or jangly. So the question thats more important to ask is whats covered and whats not. Thats pretty cool! The 256 could not fit my 15.6 Acer laptop at all even without a case. The copper rivets are at the bottom of the bag to attach the handle straps to the bag, at the handle holders, and also at the shoulder strap attachments. I like both of these changes. I dont baby where I place my bags, and as you can see, I cant even find any scratches or nicks on the CXL leather bottom yet! All of my other Filson bags including the briefcases, totes, field bags, sportsman have a two layer bottom. The bag is no longer available directly from Filson, but is currently readily available from Amazonin both Tan and Otter Green. Within the first year of use after I purchased my Filson Otter Green Zippered Tote in back 2013, I noticed a stain on the bottom exterior panels of the bag. I guesstimate the distribution of colors is about 6 Otter Green, 5 Tan, 1 Black, and 1 Brown. YKK zippers were also solid, theyre a well known zipper company based in Japan. Comparing VP to Filson who has been producing luggage since the 1980s wouldnt be fair. Veg tanning is the way weve made leather for thousands of years, and its often contrasted with chrome tanning, which was invented in the mid 19th century. I get around this by just grabbing a lateral part of the bag with my other hand while zipping and unzipping. The duffle design has no exterior pockets. The Tin Cloth that Filson uses is 15oz compared to Barbours waxed cotton jackets which is 6oz or less. Looking back, I would have somehow covered the leather straps or at least let the bag hang on on something while I scrubbed just the canvas. The other closest stockist was all the way in San Francisco, Unionmade Goods, but they only stocked the tan color according to their website and my experience visiting the store in the past. I called Doms beforehand to ask if they had a Filson 261 in OT in stock. The Filson 258 Padded Computer Briefcase I bought used on eBay because it was from the YKK zipper era, had a single leather piece padded shoulder strap, and an absolute steal($132.40 USD shipped). The handles cant be buttoned together like they can with my Filson duffle. Heres a search for all used Filson bags and sorted by newly listed. Compared to Filsons Bridle Leather, the CXL leather on the straps is nearly twice as thick (5.3mm vs 2.7mm). From the 3 tags I joyfully have now, the average width of a tag is 3.7mm (+/-0.4mm), basically the width of two US quarter coins! Take a look at your pair of raw denim Belt loops are typically attached to the pant with bar tack stitches while your front pockets and coin pocket will have rivets. Most of the newer bags that have tin cloth come with a Nylon Webbing Shoulder Strap instead of a Bridle Leather Shoulder Strap (priced at $85 on their website!). This repair is similar to how bags come back repaired from Filsons Restoration Department. Nearly seven hundred more than the twill one? In doing so, you get the water repellancy from the original wax and also the thickness of the twill. The design is a nice mixture of unconventional and classic. I dont find it useful because its too short. Tin cloth bound seams for extra durability. They come with edges burnished, are well waxed, and likely come from the same quality supplier as the laces I use on my Viberg boots. It wasnt gifted to me, this isnt a review product believe me, I would have loved to not pay full price for this, but Filson does not care for reviewers. My first briefcase was purchased in mid 2015 towards the end of my first year of graduate school. The question of Red Wing versus Wolverine has been. How the Heck Do I Take Care of Chromexcel Leather? I initially thought it was a coffee or beverage stain spilling on the inside, but then noticed it appeared only on the outside panels of the bag no stains were present on the interior.
Vermilyea Pelle Briefcase, Filson 256, Filson 257, Filson 258. I learned a couple years ago that rivets are able to handle stress from any direction where as bar tack stitching handles stresses from the directions perpendicular to them. Waxed canvas closeup from the VP Weekender Bag (same bag makeup). Here are the sections well go through so you work out if its worth a buy: This leather comes from the beloved 150-year-old Pennsylvania tannery Wickett and Craig, one of the few remaining American tanneries that focuses exclusively on vegetable tanned leather. Now, that weatherproof-ness might be the best or worst thing about the bag, depending on where you stand. VP briefcase handles attach on the exterior pocket. The main potential downside is that the leather gets its weatherproof-ness from that coating thats applied to the leather. Just extra information for the enthusiasts or if youre considering purchasing a vintage 257 from eBay!*. The most outstanding change is the bridle leather, a much darker brown (dark chocolate burgundy) versus the older leather that is well known to patina/fade to a chestnut brown. With Filson products including bags, garments, etc, they will either repair or replace the item free of charge.
Thats not a giant amount of space, but this is a briefcase, not a mailbag or duffle. The VP briefcase handles attach to the document pockets which makes the pocket access obstructive because the handles have to be folded away from the bag. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I knew about the brand because on Reddit shared that the bags are warrantied for life. Holding the bag in front of me, I think those are the areas that the bag will actually fail first. If you have a new bag, I recommend wedging random objects in those pockets to stretch them out. However, the major changes in quality over the years was most prominent in the bridle leather used and not so much the zippers and twill canvas. Plenty of leather shoulder bags are heavy and unwieldy, like my 7-pound Saddleback with 6-millimeter thick leather. Youd have no issue seeing somebody using this bag with a suit or with jeans and a henley. Personally, I take a damp rag and wipe the areas down. I will state that there are only so many designs of bags that are practical. Both of their reviews were accompanied with attractive, droolsome pics. Other uses include an umbrella, sunglasses case. Between the two, Barbours jackets are soft, while Filsons Tin Cloth jackets remain quite stiff throughout its lifetime. Storm flap to prevent the elements from getting your stuff wet! The two pieces of leather do eventually break in/soften up, but I dont think the foam insert does as much. The 258 had too much unnecessary padding which made it quite bulky in width and heavy. Filson Small Duffle Bag next to Vermilyea Pelles Weekender Duffle Bag. The only situation of a Filson garment/bag that is not under lifetime warranty is items purchased from a Filson outlet. (Yes, I own a lot of Filson bags. The brownish water that constantly came out after each wringing deceived me into thinking that the bag was still dirty. The two longer pockets are great for papers/documents, quick access things. What I believe IS covered by the warranty is any hardware failure or overlooked/missed stitching. It costs more than the best leather bag should cost, yes. All of Filsons briefcase end pockets start out stiff but do stretch a bit over time. Heres a gallery of the before images of the Otter Green Tote over several years (I tried to color balance the images to look somewhat consistent). The oil was not needed for conditioning purposes, but in hopes that it would soften the leather, and it did! The Travel Bags had 4 outer pockets (2 lengthwise and 2 widthwise) and one large empty compartment. *The changes below have already been applied to the 258 Padded Computer Briefcase for many years already. I contacted the dude, received a prompt response, and we met the following day at a Starbucks. Ive had my eyes on this Filson Photographers Backpack for a couple years now. Read more. Ive heard stories of hunters absolutely wearing the hell of of their Tin Chaps, getting them ripped and torn against brush or rough terrain, and then sending them back at the end of every season to get them repaired. The underside of the leather is overall smoother, but does still show piling. The duffle is shaped like a trapezoid, tapering slightly as you go up. Looking through the options online, the zippered tote stood out to me because I wanted an everyday bag and not a briefcase at the time. Its pretty low-key and doesnt screen Filson from far away. But when I do, I plan on using Lexol Leather Conditioner (I prefer it over Venetian Shoe Cream). The color started out as a dark forest green and lightened up to a a grey likely from sunlight and rain. Oh yeah, I only thing thats missing from this bag is the two water bottle pockets at each end. Maturity comes slower than that and while this may sound silly, I think one of the marks of manhood is the first time you pay top dollar for a pair of quality, durable, head-turning boots. Scotchgard is a synthetic water repellant spray used for furniture/fabric/carpet, and it does not change the original color.
Chrome tanning has plenty of upsides besides the fact that its much cheaper and faster to make: it holds color well and it tends to be softer, more flexible, and have an easier break in. I have a 258 model manufactured in 2002 which had these new modifications even though it was made in the same year as my 257. From what I see on the most recent briefcase models, Dustin has moved the key clip to attach at a seam above one of the three interior pockets and also lengthened it (great change!). Also note that the bridle leather is always brown regardless of the canvas color bag you choose (black is an exception it uses black bridle leather). I think I can fit two fingers width in the pocket! Beyond the (Ubiquitous) Filson Bag byThe Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/beyond-the-ubiquitous-filson-bag-1405700557. Contact uswith a description of the problem and we will email shipping instructions. Filson bags are still buy it for life bags because they still have a lifetime guarantee regardless of when/who you purchased it from. Also, about all of my classmates were also using backpacks (98% of 200 people)! Youll likely need more than one tin worth to cover the whole bag. Supposedly the largest pocket! Tiny edge pocket available on Filson 256. This is the summarized information I received from customer service at Filson regarding the warranty process: You send in your item to be evaluated by Filsons return team for a possible repair (no guarantees that they can until they receive and evaluate it). Red Wing Iron Ranger Vs. Wolverine 1000 Mile Which Is the Best Mens Boot? On the other hand, this design allows the bag to, The length of the key clip is about 0.5 inches and located on the interior side of the bag. Im biased towards olive because it is also my favorite color for menswear.
Click to see all listings. I used a mixture of water and a few drops of laundry detergent and then vigorously scrubbed whole bag in the bathtub using a soft plastic bristle brush. After some research, these were the Filson options that fit the requirements at the time: At that time in 2014, Filson had already discontinued the 246/248 which in my opinion were really well designed bags. The improvements include a leather bottom, copper rivets, better materials (both canvas and leather), added snap buttons on the two exterior pockets to prevent the pockets from flaring out. A tailor can stitch up the fraying prevent it from becoming worse, and a leatherworker can apply a bit of glue in the cut in the leather gash so its hardly visible. I really like the designs of the newer bags such as the 24 hour briefcaseand the 48 hour duffle bag. In one of these pockets theres a small key clip on the inside. (Im not even sure how youd even repair this other than replacing the whole bottom anyways). Especially if the bag is carried by your side rubbing against a pair of raw denim. I really like the rawhide leather pulls that Vermilyea Pelle includes on their zippers. Filson luggage tag in Tin Cloth.
Head over to read my review on the Filson Zippered Tote to learn more about the my opinion on Filsons change in quality over the years and why I recommend buying a used one. Avoid the stitching on the outside.
They they felt the garments were like armor protecting them from the harsh rain, wind, and brushes during the Klondike Gold Rush. Their materials are top notch, but at the end of the day, Filsons versatile designs are what got them to the top of the industry. Around that time Filson the company was sold to Bedrock Manufacturing, a company that also owns Fossil and Shinola Detroit. But at the end of the day, the new pad is by no means bad, and there are methods to quickly break in the pad. To my understanding, normal wear and tear is NOT covered by the warranty such as the waxed canvas eventually fraying/wearing through because of abrasion, the stitching coming undone, or bottom leather getting deep cuts. Filsons original line of luggage used 22oz rugged twill as the primary exterior material. No biggie! Also, the interior seams are bound with tin cloth for extra protection against the elements. While Tin Cloth repels water better than the rugged twill, the fabric is very unbreathable because it is tightly woven. Its a hugely popular model because it does a great job of straddling the line between rough and functional and, on the other side, streamlined and dressy. The current leather feels more like foam and not leather. But the similarly priced Mackinaw wool jacket is, I believe, good value for what youre getting. I felt it was due time to really try and get the stain out or at least reduced. 1. Filson briefcase handles attach directly to the main bag.
The Ranger Tan waxed canvas is a dark tan color, is quite heavily waxed, and the texture of the canvas feels pebbly/bumpy (because of the canvas weave compared to unidirectional twill on Filson bags). You will likely see that the tin cloth seams have darkened/patina faster than the twill around it. I gladly handed it over to my girlfriend to use as her work bag. Now regarding that warranty from a company that has been around for more than a century, lets talk about Vermilyea Pelles.