Nowadays, when things get popular, one of two things generally happens: the quality goes down or the price goes up. Sometimes both happen simultaneously – I like to call that ‘getting shafted’. Needless to say, the tote bag has evolved massively from when it was first popularized in the ‘40s by outdoor brand LL Bean and its Boat and Tote™ bags, the purpose of which, by the way, was to transport ice from the car to the freezer. Nowadays, about 90% of tote bags are just flimsy cotton sacks.
A brand that goes against this trend is Bradley Mountain, a California-based group of craftsmen that like to make everything by hand, in the U.S.A., Bradley Mountain’s Coal Tote is the epitome of affordable luxury. Crafted from a sturdy 18 oz. waxed duck canvas, the tote features 9 oz. USA harness leather handles, an exterior pocket, a leather branded tag on the front, and a cotton webbing shoulder strap im case you want to wear this across the body.
This tote isn’t designed to be babied; it’s designed to be used and used hard. Finding a piece of practical luggage this well made is near impossible for under $100, so if you’re in the market for a daily shopper, this piece by Bradley Mountain is worth considering.
Available for $99 at Bradley Mountain.
