McKlein USA W Series Winnetka Leather Women's Briefcase Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have started traveling for business and needed to replace my existing computer bag. My old one was a soft cloth Jantzen bag in which I could stuff everything - laptop, files, extra cable, purse contents, etc. Of course it weighed a ton afterward! :-) It also did not look like a computer bag (which I loved).
The features that sold me on this bag were:
1.) Looks - it may be hard to tell in photos, but there is stitching detail around the bag that helps to set off the bag design. My husband likes that more than I do, but I have to admit it is a nice detail. I, too, chose the red - a very nice, dark red color.
2.) The extra pocket in front - great to grab pens, glasses, keys, airline boarding passes, small (and I mean small) notebook, etc.
3.) I thought I would enjoy having the laptop sleeve - I've been looking for a laptop bag that had almost a 'bag within a bag' so that I could carry the larger bag while traveling and when at a customer site, carry a small, sleek bag with just the laptop and charger. However, this is not the bag for that. Due to the width limitations (discussed below), I have not used the sleeve at all.
4.) Length / width: length would accommodate my laptop and width was somewhere 'in the middle' of laptops being offered on the market.
What I do like about the bag is:
1.) Its looks - as I said, very professional
2.) Leather quality and color - it adds some weight to have a leather bag over a nylon or cloth one, but there is nothing better for longetivity. I expect the leather to age nicely. The red color should complement anything I choose to wear.
3.) There is a pocket on the front (described above) and two additional zippered compartments inside.
4.) The handles are a good length to put over the shoulder without having to have another shoulder strap. (I'm 5'5") I can easily carry the bag over my shoulder or with my hand.
5.) It does allow me to carry the minimal amount of things I need to bring with me on a business trip.
What I don't like about this bag:
1.) The bag looks so nice, I wanted to use it both as a purse and a laptop bag so I could conveniently travel with just 2 items - it and my roll-on suitcase. The laptop bag needs to be a bit wider to achieve that. I could not add my wallet (the bag would not zip) until I took out photos and some extraneous frequent purchase cards. Also, all pockets are very deep so it is hard to keep your lipstick, for example, easily accessible without having to dig through everything else at the bottom of a pocket. (I'm thinking of finding (making) some zippered bags to keep similar items together - easier to find and store in the pocket.)
2.) As mentioned by another reviewer, the middle zippered pocket, where you would expect to be able to put a notebook portfolio, will not accommodate it. So that means that it must be put in the same compartment where you put your peripherals - charger, mouse, cable, wallet, etc. Not a big problem, but you have to ensure you've shoved the peripherals aside so the portfolio can slide to the bottom. If you only travel with a few loose papers or a paper pad without the portfolio cover, this would not be a problem.
3.) A small item, there is a nice key holder hook in the front pocket, but it needs to have a longer length. It is so short, you can't raise it up to hook your keys onto it. You must put your hand with your keys inside the not-very-wide pocket and manage to slide your keys onto the hook. However, handy to find your keys, once done. (I'm getting better at it)


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