The World Cup may have been decided, but we’re still thinking about bags. Blame Erling Haaland. The Norwegian goal machine’s rotation of oversized Hermès Haut à Courroies bags—the Birkin’s taller relative—gave us plenty to appreciate between matches. The man knows his way around a good carry. Respect.
I’ve been doing some bag scouting myself. My current favorites run from small makers turning out excellent leather goods to fashion houses capable of doing real damage to one's financial standing. Here are nineteen worth carrying.
1. Homer Maker Striped Carry-all “Kristin”
I'm acquaintances with the gents behind Homer, whose Montecito operation is close to my old stomping grounds, and this bag feels like a modern classic, as luxurious-yet-laid-back as it's hometown by the sea. There’s a little Birkin energy in the shape and presence, with hand-striped canvas and Italian vegetable-tanned leather giving it its own identity.
Something about those stripes makes me want to clear my afternoon and find a very nice place to sit, pulling out a baguette, an artisinal sparkling water, and my favorite sci-fi book. In MY book, this bag is a grailworthy pursuit, made to order right here in the USA. Also comes in a scintillating black with a green stripe.
2. Balenciaga Le City Bag Large
My current dream bag. The black Arena lambskin, matte black hardware, braided handles, and dangling leather zipper pulls have me fully compromised. I love the generous shape and the slightly disheveled attitude. This is the one I keep coming back to, mentally assembling outfits and performing increasingly creative budget calculations.
3. Prada Route Leather Tote
Functional, and Prada. You can see how I arrived here. The Route’s six exterior flap pockets give the soft leather tote a pleasingly excessive amount of storage, with buckled straps adding to the appeal. I could spend a happy ten minutes deciding what goes where, then promptly forget which pocket has my keys.
4. Camiel Fortgens Belt Bag M
I love everything Camiel. That’s my disclosure. This black leather shoulder bag has the straightforward shape I’m drawn to, with exposed raw edges and loose threads giving it that wonderfully peculiar Fortgens touch. The polished cow leather and tan pigskin lining make a particularly good pairing. An easy yes from someone whose Camiel resistance is already nonexistent.
5. Saddleback Taylor Duffle
I have Saddleback’s Doctor Bag and love it, so the Taylor immediately got my attention. It feels like a minimalist update of that idea: a cleaner travel shape with Italian vegetable-tanned leather, goatskin lining, and substantial stainless steel hardware. My affection for the Doctor Bag has earned this one a very favorable hearing.
6. Bleu de Chauffe Bowling Travel Bag
Bleu de Chauffe offers exquisite value for the money, and the Bowling is a fine example. The rounded shape has a little vintage sporting elegance, while the Peat leather makes it especially tempting. Handmade in France, with an interior pocket signed by its maker, it’s the sort of bag that encourages you to become a person who takes more weekends away.
7. Coronado Leather Bison Duffel No.007
The leather brought me here. That pronounced American bison grain gives the black No.007 a ton of character, and the Horween latigo straps and trim keep the leather situation extremely convincing. Add brass hardware and American manufacturing, and you’ve got a compact duffel I would happily find excuses to pack.
8. Double RL Hand Tooled Large Leather Bag
RRL already has my attention. Put hand-finished leather panels on a large bag and you have my undivided attention. The soft drape of the full-grain cowhide, side buckles, and antique brass details are all operating in that deeply appealing Ralph universe. I’m particularly into the amount of surface area devoted to letting the leather do its thing.
9. Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Leather Weekend Bag
The woven construction and the shape are what get me here. Bottega’s intrecciato makes a large expanse of leather feel alive, and on a weekend bag there’s plenty of room to appreciate it. I’d keep the outfit simple and give this thing some space. It has enough going on to carry the whole operation.
10. Cravar C.O. Travel
Cravar earns its place through value. Full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, solid brass hardware, and support straps that wrap around the body make a persuasive case, with a separate laptop compartment adding everyday usefulness. The black C.O. Travel has the kind of straightforward design I appreciate more the longer I look at it. A lot of bag for the money.
11. Bradley Mountain Leather Ranger Duffle
American-made and built with durability in mind: two very good reasons to get interested. The Ranger uses American harness leather, waxed canvas lining, and brass and copper hardware, with expandable sides for your optimistic packing decisions. The trolley sleeve is a welcome touch for those occasions when the romantic leather-bag travel fantasy encounters an actual airport.
12. WP Standard 1968 Gym Bag
A great value and a fun carry. The big “1968” graphic gives this full-grain leather gym bag a welcome dose of retro sporting charm, and the simple shape keeps the whole thing easy. At its listed $325 price, it’s one of the more approachable leather options here. I’m very receptive to gear that makes a routine trip feel a little more enjoyable.
13. Billykirk No. 635 Leather Tote Briefcase
Very chill. Very stylish. Billykirk’s black leather tote briefcase has an easy shape that I could see carrying pretty much anywhere, with adjustable handles and enough room for a 16-inch laptop. Made in New Jersey from vegetable-tanned leather, it also has a Riri zipper—a small detail I’m always happy to find. An excellent candidate for daily duty.
14. côte&ciel Obed Smooth Black
A nylon intermission for this leather-heavy gathering. The Obed’s rounded, organic shape brings something different to the lineup, and its lightweight construction makes practical sense for travel. You get 34 liters of space and a separate zipped compartment at the base for shoes or whatever else needs its own quarters. I like a bag with a slightly strange silhouette. Shop côte&ciel →
15. Bleu de Chauffe Méline Tote
One more from Bleu de Chauffe, because the Méline deserves a spot. Dark brown vegetable-tanned leather, two generous front pockets, and separate hand and shoulder handles make for a handsome everyday setup. It shares the French workshop pedigree that makes the brand so appealing, in a clean tote shape with plenty of room for the daily accumulation. A strong finish to a dangerously tempting list.
16. Porter-Yoshida & Co. Leather Balloon Bag
A little blue to break up my very obvious black-and-brown leather habit. Porter’s Japanese-made Balloon Bag has a soft, naturally grained leather body and a drawstring opening that lets you play with the shape. Carry it by hand or attach the shoulder strap and get on with your day. There’s something wonderfully easygoing about this little leather sack. I’d happily take it out for coffee and see where we end up.
17. Studio Nicholson Doublet Leather Bag
Studio Nicholson understands the appeal of a generous silhouette, and the Doublet brings that thinking to your shoulder. Made in Italy from grained calf leather, it uses just two corner seams and a single strap to create an oversized tote that slouches nicely under the arm. I’m into how much personality comes from the shape alone. Wide trousers, a good knit, this bag, and very little urgency.
18. Loewe Large Featherlight Puzzle Bag
The Puzzle’s geometric panels have always given the eye something good to do, and this Featherlight version adds a particularly appealing slouch. The black nappa lambskin softens that boxy shape, letting the folds and angles settle into something wonderfully relaxed. I’m very susceptible to this combination of clever construction and beautiful leather. The large size only makes the temptation worse.
19. Lemaire Belted Hobo Bag
Dark chocolate leather and a big belt-style strap are a very effective way to get my attention. Lemaire’s Spanish-made hobo has a soft, generous shape, with glazed “Paper Lux” leather giving the surface a little gloss and double-prong buckles adding some heft. You can carry it by hand, over the shoulder, or crossbody. I’m picturing faded denim and a loose shirt, letting that rich brown do most of the work.