Bags Built For The Long Road
A good travel bag should carry its load without complaint. Ours are cut and stitched by hand in our Bree Street workshop, using full-grain leather and waxed canvas that only improve with mileage. The Karoo Travel Duffel swallows a week of clothes. The Kalk Bay Weekender Duffel suits a short run to Stellenbosch or Paarl. Both ride on solid brass hardware and waxed thread, so the seams hold when the road turns rough.
What To Pack For A Weekend Away
Two shirts, one jersey, a pair of shoes and a wash bag. That is most weekends. The Kalk Bay Weekender Duffel at R2,890 takes all of it with room to spare, and the recycled cotton lining keeps damp swimming kit well away from the leather. Pack the heavy items low and flat against the base of the bag. It sits better on your shoulder that way, and the brass buckles stay clear of your ribs.
Rucksacks For Longer Days Outdoors
The Newlands Trail Rucksack was made for early starts and steep paths. Waxed canvas body, vegetable-tanned leather straps, a flap that closes fast when the weather turns on the mountain. It holds a jacket, water, lunch and a camera. Nothing rattles. The stitching runs double along the strap anchors, which is where most packs give up first.
A Personalized Experience
If you prefer a closed top, the Table Bay Rolltop Backpack rolls down over wet gear and clips shut with brass. Commuters in Cape Town use it right through the winter. Hikers take it out on the Karoo dust roads. Same bag, two different lives. Roll the top twice for daily carry and four times when heavy rain is coming, and the contents underneath stay properly dry.
Choosing Between Leather And Waxed Canvas
Leather is heavier and takes knocks with grace. It darkens, softens and picks up a patina that tells you exactly where it has been. Waxed canvas is lighter, sheds rain and can be re-waxed at home once a year or so. For flights and long trips, many of our customers take the canvas. For a bag they want to keep for life, they take tan or cognac leather.
Getting Your Bag Delivered Before Departure
Everything is made to order by our five craftspeople, so allow 7 to 14 working days before you travel. Courier delivery runs nationwide, R100 standard and free on orders over R750. We send bags out to Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Durban and Johannesburg every single week of the year. If your trip is close, send us a short note with your travel dates when you place the order and we will tell you honestly whether the timing works before we cut any leather.
Care On The Road And After
Empty the bag when you get home and let it breathe somewhere out of the direct sun. Wipe the dust off leather with a dry cloth, then use a little conditioner twice a year. Waxed canvas needs nothing more than a damp cloth. Seams and hardware carry a 3-year guarantee, and returns stay open for 30 days.
