Laptop Briefcase Backpack Swap 30 Day Challenge: Faire Leather Bond VT Travel Briefcase Reviewed Hands-on

There are some business meetings where turning up carrying a double-strap backpack just wouldn't cut it - yes, even if it is more comfortable to carry and have greater capacity - it still makes you look like an IT technician.

These situations call for something more classy, more timeless: like a briefcase that compliments your suit and radiates professionalism. That's why the Faire Leather Co. Briefcases are still relevant in 2020.

Faire promises more than style however, as its internals are made to accommodate the modern needs of a tech conscious entrepreneur. How does it play out in real-life? I swapped my backpack for Faire Leather Co's Bond VT Travel Briefcase for 30 days to find out.

Vegetable Tanned Leather with a Secret Flair

The minimalist design of the Bond VT Travel Briefcase is very pleasing to the eyes. You won't find Faire's logo flaunted across anywhere, instead they are mostly on the insides of the briefcase in a tasteful and professional manner. The lack of branding on its exterior put the focus on the briefcase's build quality and the vegetable tanned leather outer is exquisite to look at and feel.

Elegant as it is, I have to admit that at first glance, the Bond VT Briefcase runs the risk of seeming a little too minimalist - at the risk of lacking character. However when unzipped, the briefcase suddenly becomes a different animal as it exposes a rich burgundy innards. Both compartments of the briefcase: the leather organizer layer and the nylon laptop/document layer are in a dark, menacing red that exudes class and flair. The effect is akin to the highlight a different colored lining gives to suit jackets that look edgy, yet still tasteful.

When unboxing the Bond VT Briefcase, I found that it was packed heavily with foam that was holding its shape while shipping - which had me worried about whether the leather briefcase would hold its beautiful rectangular shape over time. And I can confirm that after a month of use, though not fully packing it, the briefcase is retaining its shape with no major wrinkles or deformation appearing, retaining the aesthetics it was made with.

Briefcase with Enough Room for Gadgets and Accessories?

Honestly speaking I have been a backpack guy for the last 15 years - clearly aware that I was giving up some style creds by doing so. But my usual tech entourage left me little choice as I needed to bring not only the devices themselves, but also their protective cases that were protecting each device from getting damaged from the carry. Clearly, the Bond VT Briefcase wasn't going to give me the capacity that I was used to from backpacks.

But the organization layer when put into full use, changed how I thought about carrying my tech around. Because of the way Faire designed the layer, where everything is held in place firmly, I didn't need the bulky cases to carry my gadgets around, while still offering adequate protection for each item.

The tab organizers were especially handy in terms of keeping cables organized and in place, not to mention having them accessible and looking tidy. The zipped compartments made me realize that the organizer layer was designed that if you choose to, you can even use it as your wallet, as these can be for coin/bill storage, and it also has a card storage with a pull-tab.

Overall I rarely lacked space for my day-to-day carry after switching from my usual backpack, which is impressive given how compact the briefcase is compared to my double-strapped pack.

Hardwearing Hardware

Needless to say, bags that we carry everyday need to be tough. And as beautiful as the leather exterior on the Bond VT Briefcase is, fragility was next on my list of concerns. But after carrying it for over a month, I can honestly say that there isn't any serious scuffs or any sort of visible wear on the briefcase. The leather - while being soft to touch is holding up just fine through my daily public transport commutes, even through a few rains.

Even though the Bond VT Briefcase is built for elegance, the hardware is made to withstand extensive travelling and Faire did not try to skimp out on the details. From the YKK branding on all the zip runners and the Fiocchi Italy marked snaps, the reputation of the quality of these hardware giants speaks for themselves.

One of my favorite features on this briefcase is in fact it's detachable straps. I've owned many briefcases that chose to use disappointing straps - I've even had a leather one from a respectable bag maker that snapped on me while chasing a bus - sending all my belongings to the pavement. Since then I take it personally to make sure the strap for the briefcase is as reliable as the rest of the briefcase. That's why I was impressed with Faire's design choices in its straps: from the seatbelt-like material for its strap, to the all-metal construction of the D-rings and matching detachable clips on the strap, I was able to sling it like a messenger bag confidently everyday.

Matching Wallet

The good thing about getting a briefcase from a leather goods company with a decent range like Faire is that you can get matching products that completes the look. With the Faire Leather Specter VT Bifold Wallet, I'm getting the exact same vegetable tanned ebony leather with burgundy innards as the Bond VT Briefcase, and they're quite literally made for each other.

The Specter Bifold itself is one of the most compact wallets that I've owned. The way how it's got the cards arranged vertically stacked makes the overall footprint roughly 1 1/4 the size of a standard credit card.

What's even more impressive however is the functional coin pouch in a simple, but effective leather flap implemented in the tiny profile. If you're someone who wants a place for your coins and find the typical card wallet/bill clips impractical - this could be the best compact wallet for you on the market right now.

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Final Remarks

Being quite an equipment guy, I like having my devices with me when I'm travelling for business or just for going to the office. For the longest time I was convinced that backpacks are the way to go because of their capacity, but Faire Leather Co's design in the Bond VT Travel Briefcase convinced me otherwise. In particular its well-designed organizer that proved sufficient to carry all my gear - all while making me look good. After a month of carrying a Faire Leather briefcase, I still feel like I'm winning.

David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travelers.