Product Review: Campo Bag

Campo Bag
Click here for product page
Item 16996
Regular: $298.00

This bag looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g! A big "thanks!" goes to jessie b. & audball (both from this post) who shared with us their take on this lovely bag.

The following is jessie b.'s take on this bag:
Oooh - just received my Campo bag. This was major lust at first sight on the web and is now love at first sight in person. The leather is that wonderful stuff that gets better with age, like your father's briefcase or classic Coach bags. I can't wait for this bag to get a few scratches and worn parts so it looks "lived in". I bought the burnt sienna color and could not be more pleased.

The shape is very balanced. Best of all, because of the conservative strap length, I can wear this on my shoulder, as a tote (will not hang down too far) or over my elbow. Size-wise, this bag is the right size for me. I know there has been some discussion on that matter, but personally do not find it huge. However, because of the shape and the stiffer leather, it might be overwhelming to others. It is almost exactly the same size as my Uptown tote, but with the stiffer leather, has more presence.

J.Crew went compartment crazy on this bag! There is a big pocket on the front with a pleat and another without the pleat on the back. Both have magnetic closures. There are smaller pockets on the outside ends of the bag too. All of these are visible on the web picture. Inside, there are two large pockets on either side of the bag. Built into those are places for your cell phone and PDA. The other side has a small zipper pouch. There are four little metal feet on the bottom.

The only thing I do not like about this bag is that leather smell. You know, the one that hits you over the head when you walk past Wilson's Leather in the mall. However, from past experiences, I know that will lessen with time. This bag is beautifully styled but not at all trendy. It is quite a classic shape and size actually and I can see myself using it for many years.

I do have one long-term concern. The possibility of the gold-tone from the hardware rubbing off does worry me somewhat. I think the metal from the Jamie or Owen Hobo might have been better. However, this bag was less expensive than either of those. Very pleased with this purchase. Not quite good as a summer bag though, so will be packed away until September. Hope this mini-review helps anyone who was on the fence.

...I did pull out my tape measure to get some real-life measurements. From the outside tip of one end pocket to the other is 15". From the top of the handle to the bottom of the bag is 17". Fully stuffed with tissue(from J. Crew), the bag is 7.5" deep. The only measurement that changed with unstuffing is the depth. When you take the stuffing out, the bag does not collapse much. Lastly, I find the end to end measurement somewhat misleading, because of how the end pockets are situated on the bag. Hope this helps.


The following is audball's take on this bag:
Incidentally, OT, I received my Campo Bag and mini-review: Got the bag today and it's going right bag to my local b&m...it's far larger than I imagined. Corry was right on the money. While the dimensions are 11"H x 11.4"W, they took the 11" width measurement right at the base of the bag. The side pockets and stiffer vachetta leather make the actual dimensions of the bag, when laying flat, more like 11"H x 17" wide. The bag is lined. The handle drop is nice (about 8") and while the bag stiffness isn't so great for the bag portion, it's great for the handles, as it makes the drop (length) very roomy and comfortable...

The leather came with quite a few marks on it already, just from banging around in the box. I'm sure that the intention is that the bag look well- worn and vintage-y over time, but I'm not sure I'm a vachetta leather gal. It's silky and smooth in that vachetta-leather way. It's stiffness makes the interior very spacious - there's tons of room for stuff and I picture this as the perfect "bucket"-type bag for summer (to take to the beach, vacations, etc.). However, I have small kids, so I can't have a bag that's too clunky on my shoulder, and unfortunately, with the boxy shape, this is what would happen. Nice pockets...ample room on the side pockets (though I would be afraid of a phone falling out), great exterior front and rear pockets and two interior pockets that run the length of the bag.

It's a shame that the bag is so large, because something even just a little smaller would be so ideal for summer for me.

"Thanks!" again to jessie b. & audball for their great reviews!

What are your thoughts on the Campo Bag? Are you considering or already have purchased this bag? Have you seen this bag in person? If so, please share with us your reviews too! :)