Great for work and weekends

I use it during the week for work and have taken it away a couple of times on weekends. Good amount of room without feeling oversized.

Beautiful leather

Feels excellent in person.

Has become my regular travel bag

I originally bought the Sterling because I wanted something I could use for work trips without carrying a typical nylon backpack. It has ended up getting much more use than expected. The compartments make it easy to separate my smaller things, and there's enough depth for everything I normally carry during the day. After a year and a half the leather has softened quite a bit and picked up plenty of character. The zippers and straps are still holding up very well.

Lots of useful storage

The front sections are great for cables, keys and the smaller things that normally disappear into the bottom of my bag.

Took a little breaking in

The leather was fairly firm when I first got it, especially around the zippers and shoulder straps. After several months of use it feels much more natural and comfortable. I actually prefer how it looks now too.

Really solid

Feels like a proper leather bag.

More practical than I expected

I chose this mainly because I liked the leather and the rugged design, but the storage layout is probably what I appreciate most now. I can keep smaller items in the front rather than having everything mixed together in the main section. It makes a noticeable difference when I'm traveling.

Good everyday dimensions

The 28 cm width keeps it manageable while the 14 cm depth gives me enough room for more than just the basics. Nice balance for daily use.

Coffee looks fantastic

Really like the variation in the brown leather.

Still going after two years

I've carried this regularly for about two years now and haven't treated it particularly carefully. It's been on trains, flights, road trips and countless ordinary days at work. The leather has plenty of marks and creases now, but that's exactly how I hoped it would age. It looks much more interesting than when it was perfectly new. The important parts have stayed dependable as well. The zippers still run smoothly, the straps feel secure and the stitching hasn't given me any problems.

Great front storage

I keep my charger and all the little things I use during the day in front. Much easier than digging through the whole bag.

Comfortable for commuting

The straps sit well once adjusted and the bag doesn't feel awkward when I'm walking through the city. I've been using it several days a week.

More pockets than I normally use

There are quite a few separate storage areas, which is useful if you like everything organized. It took me a little while to decide where I wanted to keep things because my old bag was basically one big compartment. Now that I have a routine, I appreciate the layout much more.

Great finish

Dark Brown is exactly what I wanted.

Works well for short trips

This has been my go-to bag for several short trips. The main section gives me enough room for my essentials, while the different exterior pockets keep chargers, documents and smaller things from getting mixed together. I also like that once I arrive, it doesn't look like a technical travel backpack. The leather gives it a much more polished appearance.

Nice amount of space

It's not enormous, but the 14 cm depth makes the inside more useful than I expected from looking at the photos.

Excellent quality

Very pleased with it.

The leather is aging exactly how I hoped

Mine doesn't look anything like a brand-new bag anymore, and I mean that as a compliment. Regular use has created lighter areas, creases and small marks across the leather. The parts I handle most have also become smoother and slightly darker. It has developed a very natural worn-in appearance without feeling worn out. More than a year later, the construction still feels reassuringly solid.

Good for the office

Rugged enough that I don't worry about babying it, but still looks appropriate when I take it into work.

Love it

Looks better than the photos.

Everything has its own place

My previous backpack had one front pocket and I was constantly digging through it. The Sterling is much easier to organize. I have one place for charging cables, another for the smaller things I need quickly and the main section stays available for larger items. It has made traveling with the bag much less frustrating.

A bit heavier than my old bag

Coming from a lightweight synthetic backpack, I definitely noticed the weight of full leather. It isn't a problem for my normal commute, but it's something worth expecting. The sturdier construction and overall appearance make the tradeoff worthwhile for me.

Useful side access

I like having different ways to get to the things I carry rather than opening the entire main section every time. Makes the bag feel very practical.

Feels sturdy

Hardware and stitching both look excellent.

A lot of miles on this backpack

Mine has been through nearly two years of regular commuting and quite a few trips. It gets put under airplane seats, tossed into the car and set down wherever there's space. The leather naturally shows all of that history now, especially around the corners and pockets, but it has developed character rather than simply looking tired. I've been particularly impressed with the zippers because they still feel smooth despite how often I use them.

Good balance of size and capacity

At 40 cm tall it isn't an enormous backpack, but the deeper shape gives me enough usable room for a normal workday and occasional travel.

Comfortable straps

Easy to adjust and sit well on my shoulders.

Finally replaced my old work backpack

I'd been carrying the same fabric backpack for years because I couldn't find a leather one that looked good without sacrificing practical storage. The Sterling finally convinced me to switch. There are enough separate sections for the things I carry every day, and the overall size works well for commuting. After more than a year the leather has softened enough that the bag feels properly broken in.

Dark Brown is understated

I wanted something I could use for work without it looking too rustic. The darker finish was the right choice for me.

Very nice

Happy with the purchase.

Made for regular use

This isn't a bag that I've kept sitting on a shelf waiting for special occasions. I use it constantly, usually for work but also for weekends away. The leather has softened and the finish has become less uniform over time, particularly around the front pockets and edges. That's probably my favorite part about owning it. It looks considerably better now than when it was perfectly new, while the hardware and stitching still feel dependable.

Takes time to learn the layout

There are several zippers and compartments, and during the first week I kept forgetting which pocket I'd put things in. Once I settled on a system, the organization became one of my favorite things about the backpack.

Great commuter bag

Carries what I need without feeling awkward on the train. I also like that it looks much nicer than the technical backpack it replaced.

Nice hardware

Everything feels properly solid.

Good choice for frequent travel

I travel for work several times a month and wanted something that didn't look out of place once I reached the office. This has been a good middle ground. It has the practical pockets and storage I need while traveling, but the leather gives it a much more professional appearance than my old backpack. After fifteen months of airports and train stations, it has held up very well.

Roomier than expected

The 14 cm depth makes a difference. I can carry my normal work setup plus a few extras without having to force the zipper closed.

Coffee is a great color

Has a nice vintage look without being overdone.

Almost two years later

This is one of the few bags I've owned that I like more now than when it arrived. Nearly two years of use have softened the leather and created a lot of natural variation in the finish. The front gets scratched occasionally and the edges show signs of wear, but it all suits the design. More importantly, I've had no problems with the zippers, straps or stitching. It still gets used several times every week.

Practical without looking technical

That's what I like most. Plenty of useful storage and zippers, but the leather keeps the whole thing looking classic rather than like outdoor equipment.

Would buy again

Very happy with the quality.