Cambridge Satchel

The Classic 14" Satchel in black with gold embossed letters.

I'll admit it: I'm smitten. I've been a fan of the Cambridge Satchel Company for quite some time now. It's lovely to finally own one of their bags.

The bag itself is beautifully made. I was originally a little nervous about damaging it or scratching the leather. The satchel is in fact remarkably hardy. It's emerged unscathed from journeys during London's rush hour and contact with numerous lecture theatre floors. Despite this, I'm secretly looking forward to when the bag gets a little scratched and battered. Aged and battered satchels have a unique charm about them.

I've been using the satchel for nearly three weeks now. When the bag first arrived it needed to be used and stretched a little before it expanded to it's optimum size. It's now the right size to hold the essentials and is light enough to carry around throughout the day. Although the colourful Cambridge Satchels are a lot of fun, I'm very glad that I chose to purchase mine in black. It's a practical colour which is less likely to show dirt while neatly harmonising with most outfits.

The back of the Satchel - Inside the bag.

One criticism of the bag is that it can take a while to open and close. The buckles are quite fiddly to work (especially if you're carrying a hot drink or an umbrella at the same time!) Hopefully with time and practice they'll be easier to do up. The satchel also smells very strongly of leather even after three weeks of use. This is unavoidable but is still important to note before purchasing a satchel if you don't like leathery scents.

The satchels can take up to thirty days to be delivered as they're handmade. While this is quite a long time to wait for a bag, it's well worth it. Alternatively, a number of brands including ASOS stock ready-made Cambridge Satchels which can be delivered within days. The Cambridge Satchel Company recommend using a leather protection spray on their bags to protect them from the rain. This is a worthy investment as the leather can be damaged by water. If the satchel does get wet, it's important to dry the bag straight away rather than letting moisture sink in.

Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. The satchel is very functional and I'm still a little in awe of it. Hopefully it'll age well and prove to be a worthy investment.