Kenneth Cole REACTION Show Business 16" Colombian Leather Business Laptop Portfolio Messenger Bag

DK YuUnited States

Versatile bag that can be used for business or casually

I own the Kenneth Cole Risky Business bag Kenneth Cole Risky Business Messenger Bag in brown as well and had that for a good while before switching to this bag. I also own a Kenneth Cole Rest My Case bag Kenneth Cole Reaction Luggage I Rest My Case in black that I was using for work. This bag has replaced both as my go to bag. There are a few reasons for that, which I will go into. I'm not going to go too in depth about the features of the bag, since plenty of other reviews have done that, but want to focus on comparing these three for someone who is considering the other bags. The Risky Business bag is a really clean looking bag, but has no support in the interior. That meant most of the items inside moved around a lot and it wasn't a very good laptop bag due to the lack of padding on the inside. The structure of the bag was fairly flimsy, so the file folders I used for work got bent up sometimes. The handle on top of that bag wasn't especially usable since there was no structural support for that bag, so grabbing the handle on the run with a full bag sometimes meant things spilling all over the place. The Show Business bag solves the issues of that bag, although looks a little less casual. There are big padded and gusseted compartments on the inside that protect your laptop and papers much better than the Risky Business bag. The clips on the straps also keep the flap secure, which is something the magnets on the Risky Business bag didn't do well. This bag is bigger though, but I think the size increase isn't too big of a jump. The Rest My Case bag was very professional looking, but I preferred the flap messenger style. The interior of this bag is laid out very similarly, but the flap is nice to have in order to quickly store items without messing with a zipper. There is also a velcro patch that secures the open pocket in the rear, which is nice. Although it would seem like having zippered compartments would be more secure compared to the Show Business bag, I haven't had anything fall out. The flap is also nice for when I don't want to zip close the pockets but still want some type of protection from rain. I will admit that the Rest My Case bag looked more like a laptop bag and much more formal, especially in black, but the Show Business bag bridges the gap between the casual of the Risky Business bag while adding all the strengths of the Rest My Case bag. It looks casual enough in brown leather that I can bring it to the office, but not to the point where it looks like it is just for work, like the Rest My Case bag. For those considering one of the other bags I mentioned, give this bag some consideration before making your purchase. This bag is more versatile than the other two and combines the best features of both. If I only had to buy one, I would have bought this bag first. Granted, I'm a guy who loves having different accessories (men in a professional environment can only get away with different briefcases/bags, watches, and colored ties to show our individuality most of the time) so I sometimes break out the other two, but if you want a bag that can go from the office to the coffee shop to your weekend out of town without looking out of place in any environment, this is the one.

Adam S.United States

Very good bag - Looks awesome - one small design flaw

This is my first leather laptop bag, I have only used canvas-type backpacks in the past. I wanted something more professional that I could have during customer visits, and visits with senior management. I initially received the Kenneth Cole messenger bag as a present from my wife, but it did not fit my 15" laptop, so I replaced it with the 'Show Business' model. I have used this on about 10 business trips over the last 4 months, and take it to and from work on a daily basis. It has held up very well thus far. Pros: - Very nice construction, shows no signs of detrimental wear after several months of use - Zippers and clasps are heavy-duty, do not expect them to break down - Leather quality is very good, wearing nicely, looks very professional - Fits my laptop, iPad, all cables and chargers, some pens/business cards, and a few file folders - Has a separate zippered pocket for important documents or files. Cons: - Unless the clasps are closed fully, they click very loudly when walking (minor annoyance) - The bag is difficult to open when on my shoulder due to the curvature of the zippered section. I'm concerned that over several years the curvature of the pocket will cause the fabric near the zipper to fail. This has NOT happened yet, but seems like it could over time. - There is considerably less space in this bag than my last backpack-type bag. When transitioning, I had to leave a lot of non-essential items out (however, that bag also tipped the scales at 25+ lbs in airports, so it certainly had more than it needed). Overall, I was considering a 4, but my cons are pretty minor, or are expected, not actual. I have been very happy with the bag, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a decent, relatively inexpensive leather laptop bag. It is formal enough for meetings, but casual enough for every day use.

L. YoungUnited States

Great Bag, You Won't be Disappointed!

Looked at a lot of bags on Amazon and settled on this one. Price, compartments and 100% leather was my criteria for buying it. Man it sure is a nice bag and I'm not the least bit disappointed. I wasn't sure it was going to hold all my gear but it does in spades. I carry my work flat notebook 9 x 11 ½, MacBook Air 13" in back compartment and it well protected. Next Compartment is my iPad Pro with Otterbox Defender case, that's a padded compartment. There also another compartment alongside the padded compartment but I don't need it. Under the front flap is a zipper compartment with a pouch I keep 2 checkbooks, spot for 3 pens and a business card holder for cards. On the back is another compartment for slim papers. All the compartments have a zipper over them. The bag is a really soft leather and smooth. In my picture it looks like it's faded but that's the light when I took the picture. I don't drag it around too much, it goes from my house to my truck where it stays most of the day unless I need it in my office. It got rained on the the other day and looks like new. I was in Office Depot the other day and looking at their bags and they had nothing as nice and were a lot more expensive. I had my last bag for 10 years and didn't think I would find something to replace it but this fills the bill. Not in the least disappointed and recommend it a lot.

Brian GAUnited States

Exceptional executive leather laptop bag

This is the best and nicest leather laptop bag I've ever owned. The quality and texture of the leather is exceptional, all the materials are of higher quality and feel very durable, and the layout of the storage areas and pickets is very functional. It looks fantastic and much more expensive than it is. I like the messenger bag style, but this one has an executive/dressy look to it and is very professional. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better made and more stylish bag anywhere near this price and possibly even a lot more costly than this one.