I have been on the search for a long time for a few perfect items to make my life a little easier. I can now say that the search for the perfect backpack for business travel is complete with the addition of the Saddleback Front Pocket Backpack to my gear collection. The motto of Saddleback Leather is, “They’ll fight over it when you’re dead.” My daughter didn’t even wait two hours before she asked if she could borrow the backpack. The answer was a pretty firm NO WAY.
I ordered this backpack two days before I left for Manitoba and was excited to arrive home to see the box from Saddleback sitting on my desk. I ripped into it and the next day poured through all of my gear learning how to pack a computer, SLR, gear, cords, cards and such into the pack before heading out on a 2000 mile journey south to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, back to Oklahoma, through Kansas and on to a hunt in western Nebraska before returning home after taking the largest whitetail deer of my life.
Walking into my first meeting on Thursday morning in Austin, Texas, I had folks commenting on what an amazing bag I had. I attended nine more meetings that day and at each of them I heard the same comments on the quality of the bag on my shoulder. I had a certain zip in my step that day and which has carried through ever since. It really is that great of a backpack. It has three pockets and one deep bucket. It is as simple as can be and fits perfectly in the passenger seat of my truck. I organized the pockets so I have my electronics in a side pocket; pens, cables, cards and SD card readers in the other side pocket; and food, wallet, phone and essentials in the front pocket. The computer, notebook, book and DSLR in the big top load bucket. Everything I need sits in the pack in the seat next to me the entire trip. When I need to jump out and run and gun through a meeting the Saddleback bag is right on my shoulder ready to go.
The Saddleback Front Pocket Backpack comes in two sizes: medium and large. I have the medium bag, though if you own a 17-inch laptop like I do, order the large. I generally don’t want folks even knowing I am carrying a laptop. With business trips starting soon, I am switching to a tablet so I can carry less gear and remain a little more organized on my trips.
If you do a little bit of looking into the Saddleback story, you yearn to meet Dave Munson, the founder of the company. His videos are intense and funny and his writing is filled with passion and humor. You also see a tremendous passion for charity and the people he works with as well as people around the world. Going through the bag, I pulled out items that came with my bag from the side pocket including a small little book filled with bible verses. That little book is just one more small commitment from Dave Munson and the team at Saddleback Leather to make a difference in this world. Mostly though, you see from Saddleback a true commitment to making a product that will withstand the hundred-year warranty offered on each bag they sell. I am very sure that my kids will get the chance to fight over this bag.
Quality does not come cheap and this bag is not cheap. That said, over my life I have spent far more in various bags than the cost of this one backpack. I am very sure this is the last backpack for travel I will own. It’s literally that good. I will be carrying it at all the tradeshows and meetings for years to come. Looking through the Saddleback Leather website, I found several items I hope to slowly add to my gear collection including a tablet case in the next month. The shotgun and rifle cases look positively sweet, too.
Take a serious look at the gear created by the craftsmen from Saddleback Leather. If you see me at the shows this upcoming year, don’t hesitate to stop me and ask to see my backpack. It will be with me and I look forward to showing it off.
