To tote your essentials in style, the best leather messenger bags combine form and functionality with enough room to hold a tablet or laptop, plus your other daily necessities. There’s a lot of variety when it comes to durability, so it’s worth taking a deeper dive into the different types of leather you’ll find below.
- Full-grain leather is made from the topmost layer of animal hide. It’s the most durable leather, and it offers excellent moisture resistance. It will also develop a patina, or natural shine, over time.
- Genuine leather comes from any layer of the hide. It’s less expensive than full-grain leather, but also less durable.
- Goat hide leather is soft, durable, and water-resistant, thanks to the lanolin found in goat skin.
- Buffalo leather is thicker than cowhide and very strong and durable. It also has a more pronounced natural grain and texture.
- Artificial leather is typically made from a base of polyester that’s often finished with polyurethane to make it look like the real thing. It's the least expensive option and also the least durable — but it has the added bonus of being water-resistant.
