No two leather messenger bags are the same, and it’s important to get a feel for designs and styles so you can choose one that best suits your needs. Before you make your purchase, below are some features to keep in mind.
You’re likely aware that there are different kinds of leather, but you might not know the difference between them until you start researching leather products. We’ve done the heavy work for you and compiled the details below so you can decipher between different leather types when you’re looking for a messenger bag.
Top-Grain Leather: Top-grain leather undergoes buffing and treatments to eliminate imperfections, making it the highest quality leather on the market. With time, your bag will develop a patina that has a beautiful look and feel.
Full-Grain Leather: The thickest type of leather around, making it excellent for durability. It’s usually good for life, but it’ll take a while to break in because of its thickness.
Nubuck Leather: A velvet-like leather that usually originates from calfskin. It’s notorious for its durability.
Lambskin Leather: Offers leather that’s soft to the touch and has a presentable appearance. However, it’s not as durable as the cowhide leather we’ve covered here.
Genuine Leather: The less attractive underside of leather bags. It’s flimsier than the leathers mentioned thus far and usually falls apart after a couple of years of constant use.
Suede: Originating from the underside of animal skin, suede has a velvet-like finish. It gets marked up easily, though, and doesn’t have the lifespan that nubuck leather does.
Faux Leather: A synthetic, vegan-friendly leather. It’s typically the cheapest option for leather products.
Let’s face it—your messenger bag isn’t strictly for looks. Everyone’s needs are different, but below are some features you can keep an eye out for while browsing bag options.
Large Compartment: The area where you can store any large, miscellaneous items. Since large compartments can become unorganized, bigger isn’t always better here.
Interior Pockets: You don’t want your laptop mixing with your pens and ties. For that reason, it’s important to find a bag with interior pockets that suit your needs. Pockets that fit laptops, headphones, and writing utensils are among some of the popular options.
Exterior Side Pockets: Perfect for storing items like a phone, wallet, and drink. Some men love exterior pockets, while others prefer less cluttered-looking bags.
Leather messenger bags come in several closure types. Choosing a closure that both protects your belongings and is easy to access is critical for a functional bag. Below are some options you’ll have to choose from.
Single Clasp: With the push of a button, you’ll be able to open a single clasp bag. You can do this with one hand.
Buckle: The most secure closure and also the most labor-intensive. You’ll need two hands to use a buckle, but it’s a great choice for carrying sensitive documents and expensive equipment.
Magnetic Snap: A simple pull with your finger is all you need to use a magnetic snap. It’s one of the most convenient but insecure closure options.
Flap: The easiest bag to access since a heavy flap covers the main compartments. However, it’s not as secure as the other closure types.
You’ll quickly get a feel for the messenger bag styles on the market and will likely gravitate to a particular kind. To start you off, though, below are the three most common styles of bags.
Vintage: If you’re an outdoorsy person or love a more casual, western look, a vintage bag is a great option. Often, these bags come with antique-looking clasps.
Utilitarian: Men who need tons of organizational pockets, padded interiors for electronics, and other accessories for daily use will love utilitarian-style bags.
Minimalist: Minimalist messenger bags are easy to spot because of their no-frills design. They often have no external pockets or concealed pockets. Often, the leather has a smooth finish.
All of the bag styles mentioned above offer options for messenger bags with and without removable shoulder straps. An advantage of removable shoulder straps is that if you pack your bag with heavy items, you can carry it with a handle, thereby decreasing stress on your neck, shoulders, and back.
Designed for professionals, this stylish Banuce leather briefcase will have your colleagues doing a double-take. The bag is made of full-grain Italian vegetable-tanned leather. Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest and rarest methods of tanning leather.
A rust-proof zinc alloy makes up the hardware, ensuring its durability and longevity, but not sacrificing on look. The bag is secured with a lockable closure and two extra buckles for added security. Multiple sizes of pockets and an adjustable strap make this bag customizable to any lifestyle or need.
If you’re looking for an understated vintage aesthetic without losing professionalism, this Clifton Heritage briefcase may be right for you.
Made of 100% genuine leather, this briefcase is both stylish, durable, and yet understated. Clifton Heritage is a well-known brand and ensures that high-quality lining and hardware are made to last as well. An adjustable and removable shoulder strap gives you the option of using this as a briefcase or crossbody messenger bag. A large main pocket and smaller accessible pockets allow space for a 15” laptop and many other personal items.
Rustic town offers a crossbody bag built to look sleek enough for business, but comfortable for daily wear. The bag is made of 100% genuine goat leather, hand-crafted and tanned.
Three internal compartments make it easy to organize your things, while the main compartment is padded for a 15” laptop. A heavy-duty canvas lining increases the bag’s durability. The shoulder strap is adjustable to your comfort level.
Cuero’s vintage handmade leather bag is for the real vintage lover. The bag has a unique but classic look, with elegantly designed pockets and closures — and it’s definitely not for the minimalist.
This bag is also made from genuine goat leather, and is extremely durable. The interior has ample space and multiple pockets. You can fit a large 17” laptop inside comfortably. An adjustable and removable strap makes this a versatile bag.
This Sweetbriar bag and the Berchirly we listed in 9th place are perfect for vegans who want a classic leather look without the animal materials.
While vegan leather isn’t as durable as most real leather, this bag provides great longevity and craftsmanship. The interior pocket is padded for your laptop.
A large internal compartment allows for a 15.6” laptop and other papers, books, or devices. The top handle and removable shoulder strap also give you options for carrying. This particular model comes in black, brown, and coffee.
At first glance, you’ll have trouble believing that genuine leather composes the Samsonite bag. It’s ideal for formal and semi-formal settings and offers both a shoulder strap and handle. Two buckles and a clasp secure your belongings.
It’s large enough to hold up to a 15.6-inch laptop and comes in black and brown colors. Antique brass hardware offers a nice touch and makes this bag look more expensive than its relatively low price tag.
Businessmen looking for a high-quality leather messenger bag that they can pass down to their kids will love this Visconti bag. It has a sleek design and magnetic closures for ease of opening.
Visconti designed their bag with both durability and simplicity in mind; it has a single pocket on the back of the bag for you to store documents. A cloth interior lining means that if you plan on carrying a laptop or any other fragile electronic, it’s best to bring a protective case.
The “Risky” part of the name in this leather messenger bag might catch your attention, and its competitive price will likely keep you around. Kenneth Cole offers all the wonderful properties of full-grain bags for a lower price than most of its competitors.
It has a convertible strap, a few slim zippered interior pockets, and an open pocket on the backside. Snap closures make it easy to access anything you need in your bag with a single hand.
Perfect for vegetarians and vegans, the faux leather Berchirly bag is a highly affordable option. Despite its low price point, it has a sleek design with two buckles that ingeniously have two magnetic buttons for easy opening.
There’s a zipper pouch on the backside of the bag that’s perfect for storing your phone. The interior has a 4-inch-deep space for storing your larger belongings—it’s a great fit for people who don’t want all the bells and whistles of larger bags.
If you’re looking for ultimate security for your belongings, the S-ZONE bag is an excellent choice. It has an impressive double clasp closure plus a zipper to access the main compartment. A rustic look makes this a great leather messenger bag for casual and semi-formal use.
The shoulder strap is detachable, and you can use the leather-reinforced handle if you pack your bag full of heavy items. With three external compartments and a back zipper, there’s lots of storage space.
The massive Komal’s bag is long enough to hold a 17-inch laptop. Handmade in India, every stitch matters in this full-grain leather bag. One glance at Komal’s vintage bag, and you can see how you’ll make a statement in the messenger bag realm; it has a classic, bulkier design suitable for carrying nearly everything but your kitchen sink.
Organizing is a breeze thanks to various internal components. A leather handle offers comfort when toting around heavy belongings.
In contrast to Komal’s bag, this Kattee bag has slim features with the ability to hold a 14-inch laptop. Its simplistic vintage design is similar to some high-priced bags, but it’s a more affordable option since it’s composed of genuine leather.
A two-buckle clasp ensures your belongings remain in your bag while in transit, and you have the option to switch between a shoulder strap and handle. A zipper pouch running through the center of the main compartment offers optimal organization.
The high-quality Frye Logan bag can last you a lifetime thanks to its sturdy Italian leather. Discrete stitching offers an attractive appearance and added strength for carrying around heavier items. It contains a minimal number of organizational pockets and no external pockets.
However, accessing your items is easy since it has a magnetically-sealed flap. It has a zippered interior pocket to secure any expensive items and comes in four rich colors so you can further set your style.
Choosing the right leather messenger bag means the difference between losing important documents and showing up at your meeting looking organized and confident. There are various options and styles to suit different needs and budgets, but our favorite is the Banuce Full Grain Italian Leather Briefcase. It’s stylish, comfortable, and will last you a long time.
When choosing your messenger bag, we recommend assessing characteristics like the closure type, comfortable strap, type of leather, and the number of organizational compartments. What are you waiting for? Ramp up your professional life with a new leather messenger bag.