Are you on the search for a new leather overnight bag? Here’s how the Harber Leather Overnight bag stacks up and if you should consider it for your weekend getaways.
For many, a leather bag is utilitarian– function over form. Hides or canvas woven into a three-dimensional tapestry to, well, hold stuff.
More often than not, a bag is stuffed into an overhead bin, trunk, or hotel closet, seen on arrival and departure from some far-flung destination. Can a bag be art? Harber London’s leather bags seek to be both.
Not just function but form. Each element was thoughtfully deliberated and considered, before making its way into the final product. I’ve had an opportunity to test drive their Overnight bag in Caoba and include my thoughts on both of those.
About Harber London
The profession of leatherworking is largely an insider’s club. Particularly in England, artisan goods rely on heritage and tradition.
This, of course, is true of tailoring. Men get their suits at Anderson & Sheppard because their father and grandfather went there. Patterns and measurements are kept in folios, dating not only decades but centuries.
This might not be a bad thing. These heritage brands withstood World Wars, global recessions, pandemics, and social upheavals. They’ve survived dramatic shifts in dress standards. They don’t let just anyone into their club.
In 2012, friends and young professionals Armando Issac and Guillermo Mosquera noticed a gap in the quality of laptop sleeves.
The technology and design of their devices had improved so much, but the quality of things designed to protect them hadn’t. Leather in laptop sleeves could be both functional and beautiful.
Neither man knew much about leatherworking, much less product design. But, through trial and error and meeting some interesting folks, they found a manufacturer and created something beautiful. Their products are handmade in Spain.
While Harber London started with laptop sleeves, today, they also sell small leather goods—billfolds, wallets, tech Dopp kits, etc. As the company has matured, it’s scaled accordingly.
Not only are there messenger bags and briefcases (quite handsome, I might add), but they are functional goods for work and travel. Among newer releases are tote bags and a leather overnight bag.
What I Tried: The Harbor London Overnight Leather Bag
Harbor London graciously sent me their overnight bag in supple Caoba-colored leather for this review. Let’s get into the specifics of the bag and my thoughts. I’ll cover everything from the exterior to the interior and what I think about the handle options.
The Exterior
Harber London constructs the bag’s exterior from full-grain cow leather from certified Leather Working Group tanneries. Full-grain leather, as opposed to top-grain leather or ‘genuine’ leather, hasn’t been treated, sanded, corrected, or bonded.
This caliber is what you should look for in all leather bags and certainly demand at this price point.
The bag has been subjected to a pebbling process. This pebble, or Scotchgraining, effect is created utilizing an industrial press to imprint leather after it’s tanned and dyed. Some like this look. Others don’t, perhaps believing it allows a manufacturer to cut corners with lesser-quality hides.
Me? I think it gives a rather handsome bit of character. It’s harder to see, though, in the Caoba colorway. The embossed black might actually be better for a visual. Or, a lighter caramel/cognac would be best.
Speaking of color, it’s a disservice to describe this as a ‘brown leather bag.’ It’s far more than that. Caoba is Spanish for mahogany, and I think it’s a decent adjective. Put it in good light, and you’ll see undertones of purple and red, which make for attractive depth and character.
The exterior is minimal. Some don’t give you anything; others have more zippers and pockets than a pair of 90s skate pants. There’s a single ‘quick access’ pocket, which, initially, I wasn’t thrilled with because it felt too small.
But I warmed up to it. The magnet holds it securely enough. And yes, it does blend into the exterior nicely. It can hold a wallet, your phone, a small notebook or perhaps a paperback, and that’s about it.
It might be useful for carrying from a car into a hotel. And, as it’s small enough as an airplane carry-on, it might work there, too. It’s everything you need. And nothing you don’t.
General specs:
- 19.7” L
- 11.8” H
- 11.0” W
The Interior and Lining
I commented to my wife that I wasn’t sure how well a suede interior would hold up over a year or so of use. Nope, it’s actually a faux microsuede. This is probably the best dupe I’ve felt. It’s wonderfully nappy and pleasantly soft.
Given how little I tend to think about linings, the color is a surprisingly interesting one I’ll call dark toffee. It still feels a little delicate compared to my cotton-lined Domingo Duffel Bag from Beckett Simonon. But it’s oh-so-luxe.
There are two internal pockets. One is rectangular with a full zipper, and the other is smaller and squarish. I suppose you could fit socks and underwear in the long one if you need it.
The Handles, Straps, and Hardware
Handles, straps and hardware, quite literally, make or break a bag. It’s also where brands tend to cut some corners. Straps from cheaper brands tend to be canvas or some seatbelt-like materials.
Others attempt to disguise this by sewing strips of scrap leather onto the strap to make you think it’s better than it is. While resource conservation is certainly commendable, it’s not fooling anyone.
Harber straps and handles are all full-grain leather. They’re not pebbled, and in my limited testing so far, they don’t feel quite as nice as the body. But, hopefully, they’ll break in more over time.
The fasteners and zippers are, of course, metal. Hooks to secure the shoulder strap are a matte black, with silver steel adjusters. The zipper is metal, too, but appears to be unbranded.
Harber also includes an AirTag attachment feature with their luggage tag. It’s a useful feature, especially now.
Pros and Cons of the Harber London Leather Overnight Bag
As with all products, there are areas where the Harbor London Leather Overnight Bag excels and places where it falls short. Here are a few things to think about if you are considering this leather overnight bag.
Pro: Exterior Quality and Styling
Priced at 429 GBP (or about 560 USD at the time of writing), Harber’s Overnight bag is among the higher-priced tier leather bags I’ve spent time with. The leather is supple and satisfying to touch.
Tanning and dying are well done. As I alluded to earlier, there’s a certain richness and depth. It is reminiscent of polished mahogany, but there are subtle color changes upon a second look.
It’s a handsome bag to look at. Proportionally, it’s not oddly oblong or overly squat. It might be a piece, if you have space, to display as your partner might do with a handbag.
Of course, you’d have to keep it out of the handy cotton bag it comes in. The styling doesn’t make the bag a show-stopper, but, in my view, the color makes it look chic and sophisticated.
Pro: Thoughtful Design Features
As I mentioned at the outset, form and function go hand in hand. Harber does have a nice-looking piece here. Many of the design elements contribute to the overall pleasing aesthetic.
I was a little skeptical of the side handles at first. They stuck out a bit like a pair of outsized ears and made for kind of a squashed appearance.
But, with some use, I saw the purpose a little more. Even with the straps down, this is more than capable of holding what you’d need for a casual one or two-night (indeed, an overnight) getaway. If you use packing cubes like I do, it can hold even more.
With the straps undone, I found it added a little more room for additional storage. There’s nothing in the product literature on how much extra you get.
The bag holds its shape well. It’s easy to place things in and take them out without panels flopping about. It’s something I didn’t think much of until experiencing it. As someone who likes to see exactly what I have, it makes packing far easier.
Two additional notes. I particularly like the strap on one side of the bag designed to slip over a retractable suitcase handle. It’s one less thing to deal with at an airport or on a train. Related to this is the positioning of the shoulder strap.
How many times has your duffel bag’s strap gotten caught on a turnstile or door handle? Attaching the strap at the ends creates more slack. If the bag isn’t especially full, it hangs awkwardly, too. Harber secures theirs closer to the middle. This helps the bag sit closer to the body.
Con: Strap and Handle Padding
I don’t mind the contrasting texture in the handles and straps. It shows a little more care and creates additional visual interest. I also appreciate how they are all leather rather than canvas. However, I’d like to see a little more reinforcement in the top handles.
It can get a little annoying to carry after some time. While I can recognize it might disrupt the flow and design, function should come first in a bag.
If it would be too much to have in the handles, at least add some paddling in the shoulder strap. Some brands will even use a gel-like attachment.
While props should be given for finishing the edges on the pad, the pad itself is just a slightly wider piece of the same leather used for the strap. It’s comfortable enough, but it would be better if it were thicker.
Con: Some Hardware Could Be Better
The Harber hardware (excuse the alliteration) could probably improve in future iterations. I’m not a zipper snob (yes, those exist), but can generally tell the difference in how well something slides.
These are…okay, not great. I doubt they’ll break or snag, but it does take a little effort to open and close, even when the bag is full. Switching to YKK zippers might add a few beans to the overall MSRP, but it’s a price I’d be willing to pay.
The other hardware could also be improved a little, particularly the fasteners for the shoulder strap. They’re low profile and will sit flat, but they feel oddly plasticky. All in all, though, these are more nitpicky than anything.
Final Takeaway: Are Harber Leather Bags Worth It?
The market for leather and skin bags is extraordinarily broad. One can find bonded bags for around 100 bucks to, literally, the price of a sports car. The Harber Overnight bag, at between 500 and 600 USD, sits in a comfortable position.
At this price point, you’re getting good materials. The full-grain leather exterior feels of good quality, without excessive marks or blemishes. The hardware could be better, but it isn’t a dealbreaker for me. The stitching is tight and even, without loose threads. I’m pleasantly surprised by the interior.
What stands out most is the unique design. Each element has been placed for a reason. The shoulder strap positioning helps it sit smoothly against the body. The side seams tamp down excess when not completely full. And the AirTag is a nifty extra.
Good design, good materials, and a good price point make this a worthy buy for today, tomorrow, and the years to come.
Thanks for reading.
Do you have experience with Harber London products? We want to hear about it in the comments below!
