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Reviewer: Andy Mason, aka Warthog 

Product: Solo Vintage Leather Backpack

Manufacturer: Solocases

Price: MSRP $84.96 (significant savings available online)

A year ago I purchased a laptop on eBay and the seller included a backpack with the transaction.  I carried my old laptop around in a briefcase and had never really considered a backpack until the “freebie” arrived with my new ThinkPad.  The backpack was spacious and very functional, but I was never a fan of the white cloth material and the black flap that overlapped the front of the bag.  It occurred to me one day that detachable pouch I was using for power cord/cable storage looked suspiciously like one of those travel make-up purses my wife uses.  My suspicions were confirmed through an online search that revealed I had, indeed, been carrying a woman’s backpack.  Ugh!  

I immediately began a search for a laptop backpack that could accommodate all my gear while, at the same time, restore my manly-man persona!  The kind folks at Solocases.com asked if I would like to review a backpack from their Vintage leather collection. The backpack is constructed in dark leather which, at first glance, reminded me of a WWII aviator’s jacket . . . you can’t get much more masculine than that!  Could the SOLO Vintage leather backpack handle my gear and reinforce my masculinity?  Take the jump and let’s find out . . .

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Solo says the bag is made of Columbian leather.  I love the look and smell of leather. I’m not sure what’s different about Columbian cows or how Solo cases processes their leather, but that rich bovine bouquet was noticeably absent from this bag.  It looks and feels like other leather products I own, but that new-leather smell is very, very subdued.

While the Solo Vintage backpack failed my first-whiff test, it easily passed my first impressions test.  Fashioned in dark espresso brown leather and tastefully adorned with antique brass finish nail heads and zippers, this is the kind of backpack that would look equally good being carried on a college campus or in a professional environment.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VINTAGE BACKPACK

Functionality and durability are two words that come to mind when describing this backpack.  It offers plenty of storage space and the solid construction makes me believe this bag could endure years of usage before needing to be replaced.  

The front face of the backpack features six brass finish nail heads that outline two storage pockets. A tastefully embossed SOLO logo is visible on the front of the upper storage pocket.

The upper storage pocket is the smaller of the two and features a horizontal zipper. The pocket is approximately 7 inches wide by 4 inches deep (about the same size as a standard checkbook).  It’s perfect for pens/pencils, USB flash drives, loose change, BT Headsets, etc.

The lower storage pocket on the front of the backpack is approximately 9 inches wide by 7 inches deep and features a brass zipper with leather pulls.  It zips open from the side, along the top and down the opposite side, leaving a flap at the bottom that is secured by the brass nail heads.  Inside this pouch are two 4 1/2 inch pockets that are perfect for storing things like my mouse, my external HD, a pocket-sized digital camera, cell phone, Zune, etc.  Two expansion flaps on either side of this pocket provides space for additional items like boarding passes, snacks, power cords, earphones, etc.  I question Solo’s choice of kingfisher blue for the interior color.  My personal preferences would be to replace the kingfisher blue with a nice light tan/cream color for the interior.  

The first main compartment contains two antique brass finished zippers with leather pulls that open to reveal a versatile storage area measuring approximately 9 inches wide by 14 inches high.  It also has expandable flaps sewn into the sides to allow for expandability.  A large, zippered storage pocket is stitched into the front interior wall.  There are two 4×6 inch pockets stitched into the flap that separates the main compartment.  The two pockets are separated by a place to hold two pens.  One of the pockets has an additional two small storage pouches stitched on the outside as well.  Another suggestion for improvement would have been to include a mesh pocket or two since these are deep enough for smaller items to otherwise disappear from sight. There is a third pocket against the back interior wall that is perfect for magazines, newspapers or file folders.

Continuing from front to back along the top of the bag we come to the padded leather handle that is secured by a brass ring and attached to a leather base with three brass nail heads on either side.   The leather is soft, the stitching is flawless and the hardware reinforces the rugged look of this bag.

The next main compartment is the largest of all.  It also is secured by two zippers that open from the top to the bottom of the bag.  This cavernous compartment is hinged with large flaps and is separated by a single divider allowing for a variety of uses.  

The compartment where the laptop is stored is located furthest back and is secured by two more zippers.  These zippers do not open to the bottom of the backpack, but rest on the 8 o’clock and 1 o’clock position when fully unzipped. This allows for more of a side compartment than a top-to-bottom opening.  Solo advertises this bag will accommodate a 15.4” laptop.  I tested it with my 14.1” ThinkPad and there was room to spare.  The laptop compartment is lined with a layer of protective foam, but one of the issues I have with the bag is that the padding in this compartment could be a little more robust.  

The back of the bag is made of a nylon material that is more breathable than leather and, thus, wears more comfortably.  Adjustable straps – again with antique brass nail heads – are padded and fit well enough that, even fully loaded, this backpack did not create a lot of stress on my lower back.  

Final Thoughts

The Solo Vintage Backpack is well constructed.  The leather and antique brass accents give it a rugged, yet professional look.  This pack has accompanied me on short trips and carried my toiletries and clothes along with my laptop and other electronic devices.  I took it on a 3400-mile road trip with my two boys as we traversed the entire East Coast from Florida to Maine.  I recently carried on a flight to Florida to OH and it performed like a champ.  I had plenty of room to pack a lot of gear, or a mixture of tech gear and other necessities.  Beyond my preferences for a different color interior (did I mention it was blue?), and a tad more padding in the laptop compartment this backpack met my expectations for a masculine-looking backpack that I feel comfortable carrying with me whether I am in a casual or corporate setting.  I really like the look, feel and functionality of this backpack.  It rates a solid 4 out of 5 stars in my book!  Now, if I could just find someone in the market for a slightly used woman’s backpack . . .

Pros:

• Quality workmanship/construction; rugged enough to last 
• Espresso leather and antique brass accents provide a dignified look
• Large and roomy enough to carry multiple devices and accessories
• Well-padded shoulder straps and breathable material on the back

Cons:

• Kingfisher blue interior?  I’d prefer a little cream with my espresso, please.
• A little more padding in the laptop compartment would be nice.
• I’d like to see an interior mesh-lined pocket (or two!)

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