How often do you see a gent running around town with a briefcase in hand? Not so frequently, I presume. It’s almost like seeing someone reading a physical newspaper. That being the case, there’s certainly a level of class about it. Style aside, a briefcase is never going to be as convenient as a messenger bag or a backpack. At least, that’s what I thought until I got the Harber London Everyday Leather Briefcase.
Images by Karlton Miko Tyack
For the past four years, it’s been my go-to work bag. Don’t get me wrong. It has its pros and cons. In my opinion though, the pros fully outweigh the cons—Harber London has succeeded in making a briefcase for the modern world. It’s more professional than a messenger bag, more grown-up and stylish than an athletic backpack, and more convenient and versatile than a traditional laptop sleeve.
Once I deep-dive into my experiences with this bag, you’ll know why it’s so great and whether or not it’s for you.
First Impressions (From Four Years Ago)
If you just received your Harbor London Briefcase, you might have the same thoughts and concerns I initially did.
The briefcase itself was pretty impressive right out of the box. The leather smelled fantastic, super oaky and definitely full-grain. I can spot cheap, bad, or fake leather from a mile away. I will say that I was a touch hesitant about how soft the leather and structure were. It felt and looked natural, but is it tough enough to last? (Spoiler alert: Yes. It’ll last).
Harber London sent the bag in a branded dust bag. For a briefcase priced way below the thousand-dollar mark, I appreciated the good and thoughtful packaging.
Generally, I’d call this a positive first impression.
Specs: Topnotch Leather with a Strong, Flexible Construction
I received the medium-sized briefcase, though there’s also a large that measures 15 inches by 16 inches. Here are some quick specs for the version I received:
- 14 by 10.2 by 2.3 inches
- 1.1 kg
- Eight pockets throughout the build
- 5.6-liter capacity
- Detachable carrying strap with buckles
The briefcase is hand-made in Spain using what’s clearly premium full-grain leather. It’s soft and buttery to the touch. When you squeeze or pull at the surface, the grains start to reveal themselves. Over time, these grains have started to stick, making the bag less visually smooth and giving it more character. It’s lush and strapping even though it isn’t heavily oiled. Meanwhile, that sweet, smoky aroma holds up, even now, years later.
One of my favorite parts about this briefcase, other than that terrific leather, is how lightweight it is. I commented on how the build isn’t hard-structured, but this actually makes it more flexible. The hide that Harbor London uses is still strong and substantial, but it doesn’t have the excess weight that a traditionally rigid briefcase might.
The eight pockets throughout are more than enough for a regular workday (and most off-site visits for me), making this bag an excellent and easy carry-on for traveling. I’ve put laptops, books, professional cameras, EDC, and heavy technology in here. Again, since it’s so light and durable, it’s an effective, professional-looking option for file-sized heavy carry.
In fact, when I initially received this bag, I tested out just how much it could take. I overstuffed it, bloating the silhouette, then kept it like that overnight. The next day, I pulled all of the items out, and the briefcase popped right back into shape. That’s good leather.
Style Meets Function: Classy Yet Unstuffy, Soft but Tailored
Again, the soft structure is more flexible, both physically and in how you can use this briefcase (as a light travel bag, as a work briefcase, for technology carry, and so on). However, this also gives it a far more modern, down-to-earth look. This is the briefcase for the guy who doesn’t do briefcases. And besides, good leather transcends personal style.
I received it in the tan variation, a warm hue with slight honey undertones. I like this because it adds a sort of Americana or English countryside aesthetic to the professional-looking silhouette. It also comes in black and a darker, deeper brown, both of which are markedly more formal.
This briefcase is functionally versatile because of its deceiving simplicity. The details, though few, are well thought out.
The Exterior and Interior
The bottom is the most structured part of the composition. This sturdiness continues halfway up the briefcase, which prevents bowing even when you use it for weighty items. I once had to carry a set of wrenches in there. The tools were perfectly protected, and the briefcase survived the ordeal. Despite the soft architecture, this bag maintains its shape thanks to good stitching, on top of the good leather I’ve already been raving about.
The interior features a natural, renewable cotton twill. It’s brawny enough to protect the items you put in there but soft enough not to be abrasive to them. The eight compartments help keep everything in place with clever uses of magnets throughout. For example, one side of the main chamber has a large pocket that I’ve used for notepads, tablets, and even books. The top hem has a magnet so you can keep it shut, perfect for loose documents or even keeping water bottles away from technology.
There are also three other compartments in front of that section that I’ve used for passports, thumb drives, and EDC. As a perfect example of Harber London’s knack for details, one of the pockets is equipped with a leather strip and hook. You can keep keys or even small EDC on that. It’s fastened with a magnet, meaning you can remove and attach it without any needed finessing.
Carrying Options
You can carry this bag by the handles like you would a traditional briefcase. The handles are made from the same soft leather as the rest of the bag but with a thick strip that’s been folded over. This adds firmness for easy grabbing while maintaining a comfortable hand feel.
There’s a trolley strap on the back so you can attach it to your rolling suitcase. And speaking of travel, I once stuffed this briefcase all the way in the back of an overhead compartment. At the end of the flight, despite the fact it was out of my sightline, I was easily able to feel for that strap, grab it, and retrieve the briefcase.
Finally, the detachable strap allows you to wear it like a messenger bag. When I received this briefcase years ago, the strap was made of woven cloth. It was comfortable but quite thin, and many people thought it took away from the look of the bag. However, it looks like Harber London has since changed the strap. It now has leather fortifications on the edges, which would certainly strengthen the construction. It also visually matches the briefcase better.
The hooks at each end of the strap clip onto the handles instead of fully attaching to them, which admittedly takes some finessing to get secure. What I do like about this is that you can attach each end to different sides of the bag for security, or you can clip each end to one side, granting you easy access to the briefcase’s main compartment.
My Go-To Briefcase
I’ll say it one more time. The Harber London Everyday Leather Briefcase is the briefcase for guys who don’t do briefcases. It’s sophisticated but not uppity and purpose-built. I’m not a particularly formal person, but I do wear a suit to work. This bag has served me well over the years.
In general, Harber London does a good job of offering simple, no-frills designs, long-lasting function, and good materials. The leather on my briefcase has patinated and shown its character the more I use it. Overall, this bag is a great option for practicalists, gents who like minimalist style, and guys who like classic fashion.
Price: $501+
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