Tagged: Filson Briefcase
FilsonFan is Back with Tons of New Content in 2015!!!
Filson 220 vs Filson 70314
- 72-Hour Briefcase (Tin Cloth) – – The Perfect Briefcase?
- Briefcase Showdown II (256 Original vs 72-Hour Tin)
- The Journeyman Backpack Review
- Cloth Showdown – – Twill vs. Tin vs. Lightweight Nylon
- Reinventing an Icon Lightweight Nylon (Duffles)
- Strap Showdown – – Bridle Leather vs New Nylon
- How to Properly Break In a Leather Strap and Shoulder Pad
- The Magnum Photography Collaboration (Harvey Line)
Vintage Filson 257 Part I
I get a lot of questions from readers about waxing Filson bags to protect them or to hasten the process of developing a patina. I have never personally waxed any of the bags in my collection (because I work in an urban environment); however, for those who use their bags in the field or want to give their bags a vintage look, waxing may be a good idea.
A friend of the blog recently sent me some great pictures of his bags that he has applied this process to and they look absolutely amazing. I will be featuring one of his bags per week on the site. First up, is his incredible looking Filson 257 Computer Briefcase. I will allow the pictures and his comments to tell the story. Enjoy and thanks Mark!
“This is my pride and joy. I hate to admit it, but I can just sit and stare at this bag. I looked for about 5 years for a bag in this condition and had all but given up hope. It’s been waxed several times and has a perfect patina.
I work in San Francisco and used to get a lot of odd looks with this armored bag, but now that all the high tech hipsters have latched on to the brand, I get jaw dropping stares of envy. I’m so cool. But not their kind of cool, Filson cool.”
Filson Introduces Navy Rugged Twill
Filson has recently announced that some of their most classic (and iconic) styles will begin shipping in a fourth color…Rugged Navy Twill. The underlying fabric is the same 22oz 100% cotton oil-finish twill that we all love and the bags will be trimmed in dark brown bridle leather.
The following styles are currently listed on the Filson site:
(NOTE: some are backordered through mid-May)
- 222 Duffle Bag (Medium)
- 256 Original Briefcase
- 258 Padded Computer Bag
- 246 Travel Bag (Medium)
The obvious omission from this list is the 257 Briefcase Computer Bag. I am curious why all of the other briefcases (256 and 258) will be offered in Navy, but the 257 will not. Perhaps, this is a subtle clue regarding the relative demand for the 257. If the new color is a success, I am confident that Filson will roll it out to other styles as production increases.
In the past, if you wanted any Filson bag in navy blue, you had to pay a premium and settle for a slightly thinner (and less durable) fabric by ordering a special edition. The demand for this color appears to have been so great that Filson has decided to add it to their standard lineup…and I am very excited about it.
Stay tuned for a review and more pictures when my Navy Rugged Twill test piece arrives next month…
Filson 257: An Alternate Use
Happy New Year to all my faithful readers! It has been a busy holiday season, but now it is time to get back to business. For the first post of 2013, I thought I would share an alternate use that I recently discovered for my Filson 257 Briefcase Computer Bag.
As I stated in my earlier review, for many people the Filson 257 is a little too large to carry everyday (unless you have a unique situation that requires the extra room). However, in addition to a briefcase, I think it makes a great carry-on bag too.
I am known by friends and family to be a very light packer (and a borderline minimalist), but my travel philosophy is always focused on packing only the essentials and trimming clutter when at all possible. As you can see from the picture (taken after unpacking from a recent trip), I was able to fit the following items into my Filson 257…
- Packing Cube*
- MacBook Air
- Kindle Touch
- Nalgene 16 oz water bottles (x2)
- Beats Audio Headphones
- A hardback book, a legal pad and some pens
*I am easily able to fit two casual outfits, two pairs of underwear and socks, as well as a few toiletry items into the Eagle Creek packing cube by rolling my clothes.
Granted, not everyone can get away with packing this light, but this system works remarkably well for me on short getaways. The Filson 257 has just enough internal organization, coupled with a spacious main compartment to fill this role quite well.
This bag now serves a dual role in my Filson collection (as both a daily-use bag and as a carry-on bag), which makes the cost ($275 USD) much easier to justify for those on a budget.
Bottom Line: don’t think of the Filson 257 as merely a briefcase. It is a versatile chameleon in the Filson lineup.
December 2012 Update
Hello everyone! I apologize for not posting as often as usual in the past week. I have been doing some traveling and enjoying time with family during the holiday season. I just wanted to let you know what to expect in the coming weeks.
1. Review: Filson Sportsman’s Bag 266
The Filson Sportsman’s bag 266 is a very unique bag and I have never seen so many zippers (or pockets) in one place. Where does this bag excel? Where does it fall short? Is it the right bag for you? Stay tuned…
2. Filson 257 an Alternate Use?
We all know that the Filson 257 is a great briefcase option for students or for those days when the 256 Original Briefcase just doesn’t cut it. But I have been using it in a different way and I think you may be surprised how versatile this bag truly is.
3. First Look: Filson Small Duffle Bag 220
I will also be posting a First Look mini-review for the Filson Small Duffle Bag 220. This bag seems like it would make the perfect weekender. Find out what I think after putting it through its paces and find out which models may be better for your particular needs.
So that is where we are headed by the end of the year. I will also continue posting more iconic Filson images and offering my advice. Which reminds me, answering your questions (and responding to comments) is one of my favorite parts of FilsonFan, so please keep them coming.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy new year!
Charles
The Filson Report 