The most perfect leather saddle bag you could find. I have fallen absolutely head over heels for this leather bag from Joules.
The new leather saddle bag from Joules is the perfect mix of town and country style. It has just the right amount of room to fit all your necessities without being big and bulky.
When I unwrapped the bag, I really couldn't have faulted Joules for their great packaging. It came in their standard floral posting bags and the saddle bag was so well protected with cardboard and tissue paper. I was really amazed and pleased at how well packed the bag was with tissue paper for the bag to hold its shape in transit.
The bag smelt incredible once I unwrapped it and the leather was so soft. As soon as I laid my eyes on the bag I fell in love. The stitching is absolutely immaculate and the leather feels really great quality and well treated.
On the website, the colour is called 'Chestnut' but I would say it's tan rather than chestnut. I know that when I bought it online I was a little bit worried that when I would receive it it would be a more orange tone brown (Chestnut) but it was a lovely, deep, rich tan colour and I was over the moon. Fortunately, my camera picks colours up really well so you can see the true colour in the photo below.
"This is true tradition with a twist. The saddle bag has been used for years by hunters and fishermen, but we decided it was time to bring it into the 21st century with a few little tweaks and the addition of a hand-drawn floral print lining. Spacious, stylish, practical and crafted from the finest leather, this bag will become a round-the-clock companion that is truly built to last."
Features
L22cm x W26cm x D6.5cm
Concealed magnetic fastening
Exterior slip-in pocket
Interior zip pocket
Adjustable shoulder strap
Hand-drawn printed lining
This bag really is incredible with the compartments it has to offer. I haven't quite stuff it to the brim but I'd say it's relatively full and its capacity has not failed to impress. If you're one who likes to separate your things in a bag, this one is for you.
The large main compartment has two decent size slip pockets, a pocket for your pen and a zipped compartment along the back. I did think that with this bag being slightly rounded along the bottom I might not be able to fit and organise my things but I was wrong. Everything fits perfectly and I don't have any trouble with it not having a flat base.
In front of the main compartment, there is a smaller section which is perfect for putting my matching Wyton Leather Purse in. I'm sure Joules designed this pocket for this purse! You can get the purse HERE.
To top off all the compartments, there is even an external slip pocket on the back of the bag which is perfect to pop my iPhone 6S in. I was concerned that this might bulge and leave an imprint in the leather but so far so good as my phone it relatively slim and the leather is so thick.
The closure is a magnetic stud fastening which is hidden underneath the flap when the bag is closed. Another feature I also really love about this bag is the nubuck interior of the flap and the hand drawn printed floral lining that just really add something special to this bag.
There are also some very sweet Joules accents dotted around the bag. On the front, underneath the closure, there is a brass hare On the back exterior slip pocket, stamped into the leather is the Joules logo. Internally, above the zipper to the pocket in the main compartment, in gold embossing it reads "Established in the fields of Great Britain", also with the little hare. Lastly, along the back where the flap is stitched onto the bag there is two little 'buttons' that have the hares printed in them as you can see in the photos below. These little accents make Joules bags feel so much more personal as you can really see and feel that a lot of thought has gone into the design and manufacturing of these bags.
Also, a winner for me was the shoulder strap. This sealed the deal because 1) it's slim enough to fit onto my shoulder comfortably without slipping off and 2) it's adjustable. There is a buckle with 5 holes to adjust the length of the strap. I have mine on the very top hole and it is the perfect length. I'm quite short at 5ft 2 and most bag straps I have to punch an additional hole in to get the desired length but Joules have really thought of everyone with this adjustment.
If you haven't gathered already from the review I can't sing it's praises enough and I highly recommend the purchase if you are on the hunt for a new leather bag. If you have been indecisive about the purchase I suggest you bite the bullet and go for it 100 percent. I hummed and harred about making the leap and buying it but it was so worth it! At £99.95 it is relatively expensive but honestly it's so worth the investment as you really pay for the quality.
And to top it all off, it comes with a really pretty dust bag to store it in when it's not in use. Umm...hello! We are never storing this bag!
Here are some up close shots of the bag and it's finer details.
I hope that this review has been of help if you have been looking to buy either this bag or something similar and also I hope you enjoyed reading my first review! I tried to go as deep into the details and cover every aspect as much as I could so fingers crossed I haven't missed anything obvious! If you have any questions about this bag please don't hesitate to ask, I'd love to have some feedback.
I've recently been on a bit of a Joules spending spree so I will let you know about the other things I bought in another post.
Much Love,
Jazmine x
All opinions are my own and I will always give an honest review. I was not asked by Joules to review this product. Photography, wording and opinions of my own are in black and any quotes from brands are in red. If a product has been given to me to review it will be stated.