King Kong Heritage Leather [Review]

Let's start by saying that a 'Buy It For Life' gym bag seems like a contradiction. Unraveling seams, fraying fabrics, and brittle plastic clasps that snap are the sorry fate of a well-loved yet heavily-abused gym bag. You tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it was a bag made out of polyester and plastic.

King Kong strives to offer something better with their Heritage Leather Backpack. In fact, we believe this falls squarely in the BFIL gym bag category. In this King Kong Heritage Leather Backpack review we give you the details so you can decide if this is the gym backpack for you.

Video Review

The Rundown

What we like

• Gorgeous full grain leather construction that looks amazing in person

• External shoe compartment

• 26L main compartment that’s roomy enough for most gym sessions

• Comfortable padded shoulder straps

What we don’t like

• Every piece of hardware is made out of metal except for the shoe compartment buckle which is unfortunately made of plastic.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 20” x 12” x 7” inches

• Capacity: 26L

• Weight: 5.9 lbs

• Materials: Full Grain American Leather, 100% Cotton Twill lining, metal zippers

• Laptop Sleeve: Up to 16”

• Tablet Sleeve: None

Where to buy

Similar Backpacks

Materials and Construction

Let’s start with the construction. The Heritage Leather Backpack is made with full-grain leather, a material that only improves in appearance as it ages. Over time, full-grain leather develops a rich patina, giving the Heritage Leather Backpack a unique look.

The interior of the backpack is lined with 100% cotton twill and features leather trim throughout. The zippers and hardware are made of metal, so there is no worry of cheap plastic snapping or cracking. The one exception is the buckle found in the exterior shoe compartment, which unfortunately is made out of plastic.

There is an elephant in the room when we talk about construction - and that's the bag's weight. The King Kong Heritage Leather Backpack is heavy, weighing in at a whopping 5.9lbs empty because of all the leather used in its construction. We're not putting a judgement on this weight, as it's the price to pay for an all-leather bag. Only you can decide if this is in the range of acceptability for how you plan on using it.

Pockets and Compartments

The compartments on the King Kong Heritage Leather Backpack are pretty straightforward, keeping in tune with King Kong's mission of designing a gym bag that rivals those made before the time of mass-produced, cheap bags that we see in most gyms today.

The King Kong Heritage Leather Backpack offers 26 liters of packing space, plus an external shoe compartment. We tested the shoe compartment and can confirm that it can fit a size 12 men's running shoes with room to spare for larger sizes.

Overall, the Heritage Leather Backpack offers a pretty 'back to basics' design. You won't find pockets for specific items like a phone, sunglasses, or pens. But it does offer a zippered pocket on the inside of the main compartment and a front pocket on the outside that can fit multiple items like a phone and wallet or smaller workout items like lifting gloves and a jump rope.

The 'back to basics' design also applies to the 16-inch laptop sleeve inside the main compartment, a lightly padded sleeve with no false bottom. If you are expecting a fancy laptop sleeve like you would find in many urban laptop backpacks - don't. Will this laptop sleeve get the job done? Yes. Is it the best we've ever seen? No.

Finally, we have the two side water bottle pockets. These pockets are deep and we can confirm that a 32oz Nalgene bottle fits comfortably inside. The water bottle pockets also zip shut for a cleaner look when not in use.

What Fits Inside?

We managed to fit a change of clothing (pants, t-shirt and sweatshirt), 12 oz boxing gloves and a toiletries bag inside the 26 litter main compartment. The exterior gives us some more storage thanks to the exterior shoe compartment and dual water bottle pockets. The front pocket is surprisingly roomy and we could easily fit a phone, wallet and a pair of weight lifting gloves.

Need more packing room? Check out the King Kong Heritage Leather Duffel that gives you 46 liters with an additional 5 pockets for organization.

Final Thoughts

This backpack rocks. There is no other way to say it. The supple leather and straightforward design makes it feel like an heirloom item. Can a gym backpack be an heirloom item? Well, we think so, thanks to King Kong. We can’t express enough how nice this backpack feels.

However, the $499 price tag isn’t for everyone. This is why we believe if you like the look of the Heritage Leather Backpack but can't justify the commitment, you should go with King Kong PLUS26, which shares a lot of the same design but at a more affordable price. But for anyone ready to make the leap into a premium gym bag design constructed to last decades, then the King Kong Heritage Backpack is the bag to get.

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Nutsac Rucksac

The Nutsac Rucksac is an old-school inspired backpack that marries handmade quality with functional modern design. Each Rucksac is made in the USA using water resistant waxed canvas and full-grain leather that’s sourced from a small tannery in New England.

We found that at 20 liters the Rucksac makes a great daypack but might be a bit too small for multi-day travel. Yet those looking for a reliable EDC backpack will appreciate the padded 15-inch laptop sleeve and multiple internal pockets for easy organization of daily items.

A unique feature is the side zipper that gives you access to the main compartment. Note that this zipper doesn’t allow you to access to the laptop sleeve and you will still have to go through the main opening to access your laptop. This is our only small gripe with this backpack as quick access to your laptop or tablet would have been preferable.

Construction-wise this backpack is pretty heavy duty and its weight of 3.5 pounds plants it on the heavier side for a backpack of its size. But this is just something that comes with the territory of using robust materials. The leather detailing extends to the bottom making the Rucksac a great choice for anyone looking for a real leather bottom backpack and the waxed canvas is very heavy-weight to prevent tears and rips. The Nutsac Rucksac just feels like a quality backpack when handled and this is what really sets it apart from other mass produced bags.

We recommend the Nutsac Rucksac to anyone looking for an American made backpack that can take some abuse over time. The design is timeless, the construction quality is top-notch and you really can’t go wrong with Nutsac’s lifetime guarantee.

What we like

• Rugged construction made with full grain leather and waxed canvas - two materials that only look better with age

• Great variety of smaller pockets for organization

• Timeless rucksack design

• Nutsac offers a lifetime guarantee

What we don’t like

• Side zipper opening does not give you access to laptop sleeve - have to go through the main opening to access laptop.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 19″ (H) x 13″ (W) x 5″ (D)

• Capacity: Approx. 20L

• Materials: Water resistant waxed canvas, full grain leather

• Laptop Sleeve: Up to 15”

Where to buy

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Briggs & Riley Large Cargo Backpack

As one of the brand’s largest work backpacks, the Briggs & Riley Large Cargo Backpack is made for busy work commuters and business travelers who need to carry their business essentials while still looking clean and professional. The Large Cargo backpack functions as a portable office thanks to its dedicated file sleeves, laptop compartment and smart organizers for smaller items.

The Briggs & Riley @work Cargo backpacks come in two sizes, the 33 liter Large Cargo backpack and the smaller 27.3 liter Medium Cargo backpack.

What we like

• Backpack has enough room to pack for an overnight stay plus business essentials.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

What we don’t like

• No key lanyard to attach keys. Small complaint but worth noting.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 19” H x 15” W x 8” D

• Capacity: 33L

• Weight: 3.2 lbs

• Material: 1600D Ballistic Nylon with leather accents

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 17”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Tumi Sheppard Deluxe Brief Pack

The Tumi Sheppard Deluxe Brief Pack is a backpack made with business travelrs and commuters in mind. The bag has enough room to comfortably carry business files and binders with special compartments for a laptop, tablet and other tech. The roomy main compartment and pockets are great for daily essentials.

What we like the most about the Tumi Sheppard is that it looks and feels like a premium business bag that can rival most briefcases. It won’t look out of place at the office and you are sure to turn some heads at the airport.

What we like

• Great size for lugging around multiple devices (laptops, tablets) and business files.

• Plenty of useful pockets and compartments in the side, front and inside the main compartment.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

What we don’t like

• It’s expensive! If you don’t love it, it can be hard justifying the price tag.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 17” H x 14” W x 8” D

• Material: Ballistic Nylon

• Weight: 3.48lbs

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 15”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Tumi Hagen Backpack

From Tumi’s women’s Voyageur collection, the Hagen is work and travel backpack made for those who want a quality backpack for those busy days on the move. Although smaller in size, the Hagen share a lot of the same design elements as the popular Tumi Voyageur Carson.

What we like

• Professional design that won’t look out of place at the office.

• Small enough to bring as an airline personal item and fit under the seat.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

What we don’t like

• No side water bottle pockets. Water bottle pocket on the inside of the bag is annoying to use.

• Laptop pocket inside is very small - barely fits a 13-inch Macbook. Max recommended laptop size is 12 inches.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 14.25” H x 11.5” W x 5.5” D

• Material: Nylon with leather accents

• Weight: 1.3 lbs

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 12”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack

Made for busy professionals, the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack checks all the boxes as one of the best men’s work backpacks thanks to its stylish design and smart features. As part of Briggs & Riley @work collection, the Medium Cargo backpack functions as a portable office thanks to its dedicated file sleeves, laptop compartment and smart organizers for smaller items.

The Briggs & Riley @work Cargo backpacks come in two sizes, the 27.3 liter Medium Cargo backpack and the larger 33 liter Briggs & Riley Large Cargo Backpack.

What we like

• Great business carry options; compartments for laptop and tablet, pockets for files and organizers for smaller items like business cards and pens.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

• Roomy main compartment for personal extras like a change of shoes or light jacket.

What we don’t like

• Side pockets are too small for larger water bottles.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 18” H x 13.5” W x 8” D

• Capacity: 27.3L

• Weight: 2.6 lbs

• Material: 1600D Ballistic Nylon with leather accents

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 15.6”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Briggs & Riley Leather Medium Backpack

The Briggs & Riley Medium backpack in leather is a premium business and travel backpack for those who want something stylish yet understated. At 20.5 liter capacity, the backpack is just the right size for daily commuter carry or as a personal item on most airlines. The leather and YKK zippers add sophistication to an already sleek design.

The Briggs & Riley Medium backpack is also available in non-leather versions made of ballistic nylon.

What we like

• Great business carry options; compartments for laptop and tablet, pockets for files and organizers for smaller items like business cards and pens.

• High quality leather makes the bag look and feel like a high end backpack.

• Small enough to be used as a carry-on or airline personal item. Fits underneath airplane seats.

What we don’t like

• 20.5 liter capacity limits what you can hold in the main compartment. Can be tough fitting things like a light jacket or large water bottle when the pockets inside the main compartment are being used.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 17.5” H x 12” W x 7” D

• Capacity: 20.5L

• Weight: 2.9 lbs

• Material: Leather

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 15.6”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Tumi Ursula T-Pass Backpack

Tumi offers a true women’s business travel backpack with their Tumi Voyageur Ursula T-Pass backpack. This backpack is perfect for anyone who loves the look and functionality of the Tumi Voyageur Carson but want better travel features such as a TSA friendly laptop compartment, a roomier main compartment and larger pockets.

What we like

• Perfect size for frequent travels who want to bring 1-2 days of essentials.

• TSA checkpoint friendly T-Pass laptop compartment that lays flat.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

What we don’t like

• No side water bottle pockets. Zip side pockets aren’t stretchy and limit the size water bottles it can hold.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 16.5” H x 12.75” W x 7.25” D

• Material: Nylon with leather accents

• Weight: 2.65lbs

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 15”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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Tumi T-Pass Business Class Brief Pack

Tumi offers a true business travel backpack with their Tumi T-Pass Business Class Brief Pack. This backpack is perfect for frequent travelers looking for a backpack companion that can hold anything from important business files to a couple of days worth of clothing.

The “T-Pass” function of this backpack allows your laptop to be stored in a separate compartment that lies flat for an easier time at airport security checkpoints. The bag itself is professional and sleek allowing it to be carried to the office or to important business meetings without feeling out of place.

What we like

• Large cavernous main compartment can hold anything from business files and binders to clothing and shoes.

• TSA checkpoint friendly T-Pass laptop compartment that lays flat.

• Exceptional materials and construction. Looks and feels high quality.

What we don’t like

• It’s expensive! Can be hard justifying the price tag.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 16.5” H x 12” W x 8” D

• Material: Nylon with leather accents

• Weight: 3.95lbs

• Laptop Compartment: Up to 15”

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

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