Aston Leather Executive Double Compartment Briefcase

After agonizing over which briefcase to purchase, I chose the Aston and overlooked the price tag. This bag retails for 450 on Aston's website and is significantly marked down here. Comparatively, it sits between cheaper (yet still expensive) Chinese products like Kenneth Cole and much more expensive custom bags made in America (mitchell leather). The briefcase was actually shipped directly from Aston's NY factory in a wimpy box for such an expensive product. When I received it I was very happy with the quality and immediately smelled the real leather. The quality of the leather is great and stitching seems to be of similar quality. The stitching surprised me in that it was not as visually pronounced as I thought it would be but it looks sufficiently durable. One nice feature mentioned in one other review, was the metal support bar that runs along the top of the bag under the handle. This feature is added to $1k mitchell leather bags. As far as size, this bag is plenty large but not too big as one other review mentioned. This bag has 3 compartments, one with a cushioned laptop section with very little extra space, one large enough for 2-4 inches of files and one with spaces for cell phones, pens, a small notebook etc. The laptop section has a hold down tab and fits my 15" macbook perfectly but I doubt you could fit a 17". When reading about this briefcase I found that all of the components are made in the USA which was a huge factor in my purchase. The only component made somewhere else was the pressure clasp that holds the flap down, which is made in Switzerland. All of the metal seems to be sturdy and durable but I don't know how long the spring mechanism in the clasp will last and the plating quality seemed questionable given a few years and exposure to moisture etc. That said, Aston offers a lifetime service at nominal cost in case anything wears out. One of my last concerns is the shoulder strap which seems fine but would have been nicer if it was a bit thicker and cushier than it is, but its definitely acceptable. I personally see myself carrying it by the handle more than by the strap. Lastly the patina and color are great and the bag looks amazing, very professional, and high quality - it will definitely catch peoples' eyes(potentially a consideration for someone concerned about people thinking they spent a lot of money on the briefcase - maybe trying too hard or exceeding their position). Overall, Im very happy with the purchase and this briefcase should last long enough to justify the cost.

• How accurate was the sizing? Correct
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Great quality
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? Yes

This case has plenty of room for a business-sized laptop plus an evening's worth of paperwork AND your cell, iPod, iPad, and various tech accessories. But it's not overly heavy. And the fine leather workmanship looks more expensive than it is here on Overstock. I hope to carry this one for many many years to come.