There is a lot to consider when searching for the perfect leather travel bag. You may ask yourself; how big of a bag do I need? What leather variation suits me? What kind of closure do I want? We created this guide for you to weigh all of your options in one space. Continue reading to compare our 5 luxurious travel bag options in descending order by weight and review their sizes, leather options, usability, and more!
Colonel Littleton Leather
Vintage Brown American Steerhide
I’ve always heard “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Likewise, you can’t make extraordinary leather products from less than extraordinary leather. It all begins with the leather. We use full-grain American Steerhide that is vegetable and hand-tanned especially for us at a small, local tannery here in Tennessee.
Tobacco Brown American Buffalo
The deep, rich, Tobacco Brown American Buffalo color retains all the natural character, wonderful texture, and uniqueness that make Buffalo leather so special.
Throughout this collection, there are notable design elements and upgrades, such as calfskin lining, leather pockets, and contrasting leathers, which elevate this collection to a higher status.
American Alligator
American Alligator bags have always been considered luxury items. Over the years, Colonel has haunted antique shops around the country in search of vintage alligator bags made by superior craftsmen in the late 1800s/early 1900s. He can tell you they are few and far between and costly when you’re lucky enough to stumble across a viable one.
Our alligator products are made from hand-selected and hand-matched wild American Alligator hides, intentionally chosen to show the natural markings that are common to an alligator raised in the wild. The Colonel personally selects the hides for specific products and determines how each hide is to be cut to achieve optimum beauty.
Travel Bags Preview
Your New Favorite Carry On Bag
Travel in style with the vintage-inspired No. 1 Grip Bag.
Featuring solid brass hardware, our unique lever-action buckling mechanism, and an unusual strap arrangement make the Colonel’s No. 1 Grip a travel bag with “instant” heritage – not to be checked, and not to be confused with all the other bags out there. Your bag is so unique that we’ve placed a serial-numbered brass plate on the inside front of the bag.
This bag opens wide and packs easily. There’s plenty of room to carry everything you need for an overnight stay, or as your personal carry-on bag for extended trips.
The Colonel packed his No. 1 Grip with a pair of khakis, two folded shirts, shoes, socks, two t-shirts, two boxer shorts, a bandana, a belt, and his No. 2 Shave Kit.
Dimensions: 11″ (H) x 19″ (W) x 10 1/2″ (D)
Weight: 4.3 lbs
No. 1 Grip Bag Leathers
Travel Duffel Bag
The No. 2 Duffel Bag is the ultimate weekender companion.
One of the No. 2 Duffel Bag’s most convenient features is that it opens all the way for easy packing because it is not restricted by a zipper closure. Outside pockets on each end of the bag, measuring 7 ½” (W) x 5” (T), with ball stud closures, offer you quick access to necessary items. Wrap-around straps culminate in buckle closures with solid brass hardware. Convenient carry handle and an adjustable shoulder strap with comfort pad finish the look. Each bag is serial-numbered on the front Pommel Shield.*
Going with Alligator? You don’t want to hang just any old luggage tag on a bag as fine as this one. When you buy the No. 2 Duffel in American Alligator, Colonel will include an American Alligator Luggage Tag ($210 value) free of charge, so your tag will match your bag in style and quality.
Dimensions: 9 1/2” (H) x 19 1/8” (W) x 10 1/2” (D)
Weight: 5.65lbs
No. 2 Duffel Bag Leathers
Colonel's Go-To Leather Travel Bag
Grab attention with the No. 1 Duffel Bag in full-grain, dry-milled American Buffalo duffel.
Don’t mind a little extra attention? This is your bag. This duffel makes a great carry on for travel. Weekend warriors, outdoors enthusiasts, and gym-frequenters will love this bag. It’s big and roomy and unlike most duffel bags, the top opens completely with no zipper to restrict access.
The No. 1 Duffel is handmade by skilled artisans in the Col. Littleton Workshop in Lynnville, TN USA with our full-grain, dry-milled, Tobacco Brown American Buffalo and trimmed in Vintage Brown Polished Steerhide. Our dry-milled buffalo is vegetable tanned, then tumbled in wooden barrels to achieve a soft, lived-in look.
Dimensions: 11” (H) x 21” (W) x 11” (D)
Weight: 5.7lbs
No. 1 Duffel Bag Leathers
Luggage You'll Carry for a Lifetime
The Hand-Crafted No. 3 Grip Bag will have heads turning wherever you go.
If you think the No. 3 Grip Bag is the perfect size for you, you have one more tough decision to make… Which leather suits you best? The No. 3 Grip Bag is available in American Steerhide, American Buffalo and American Alligator.
In each leather option, the beauty is undoubtedly in the details. Solid copper tubes and solid brass fixtures set the Steerhide and Buffalo bags apart from any piece of luggage you’ll ever see. On the American Alligator edition, you’ll find the same solid brass fixtures but with solid wooden rods in place of copper.
The No. 3 may be carried by either the leather handle or the adjustable shoulder strap. Personalize the brass oval plate with your initials. The front brass pommel shield is serial numbered, noting the exclusivity of the piece.
- Dimensions: 11” (H) x 21” (W) x 9” (D)
Weight: 6.2lbs
No. 3 Grip Bag Leathers
Designer Bag Meets American Influence
Pay homage to tradition with the No. 5 Grip Bag.
“While rummaging through my collection of vintage travel grip bags, I came upon an old Gladstone Bag which rekindled my long-standing desire to make one. Named after four-time Prime Minster of the UK, William Gladstone, the bag was prevalent in the late 1800s/early 1900s. I had always shied away from making it due to the complexity of the design; however, I loved the look so much I decided to muster up some turn-of-the-century British fortitude and go for it.”
– Colonel Littleton
Keeping with the Gladstone protocol, Colonel kept the hinged-frame design which allows it to open wide and pack easily, and added an adjustable shoulder strap with comfort pad for the convenience of today’s traveler.
Leather straps encircle the bag, culminating on top with buckle closures. The No. 5 Grip Bag features convenient carry handles, brass feet on the bottom which protect the bag from wear and solid brass hardware. You will find a hidden, removable 7.75”H x 9.63”W panel inside the bag at the bottom, providing space to record your name and the year you purchased or received the bag for future generations.
Dimensions: 12 1/2” (H) x 20 1/2” (W) x 9” (D)
Weight: 7.6lbs
No. 5 Grip Bag Leathers
Travel in Style with Col. Littleton
Get ready to embark on your next adventure in style with our luxurious leather travel bags. Whether you choose the vintage-inspired No. 1 Grip Bag, the ultimate weekender No. 2 Duffel Bag, or the head-turning No. 5 Gladstone-inspired bag, you’re sure to make a statement wherever you go. With options in American Steerhide, American Buffalo, and American Alligator, you can personalize your bag to suit your style. So pack your essentials, grab your bag, and get ready to travel like never before with Colonel Littleton!
