Is the Tecovas Leather Weekender Worth the Investment?

Amid all the outlaw-inspired Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, and modern indie country on my playlist there’s plenty of neo-traditional '80s and '90s George Strait. Of course my four-year-old son has already memorized “All My Exes Live in Texas." But I lean towards the crooning road-dog love ballad, “I’m Carrying Your Love With Me,” where King George opens with, “Baby, all I’ve got is this beat up leather bag.” Every time he does, I think of my Tecovas Bartlett Weekender, a bag I’ve valiantly tried to wear into a lyrical match over the past eight years.

Tecovas Bartlett Large Weekender

Fine leather goods can be a wormhole, albeit a worthwhile one in the world of hard-sided suitcases. Weekenders are a good starting point, but they range widely in both price and quality. Quince’s $200 version is an entrée into the world of classic luggage at a sub-luxury price point that's a tad too low to inspire confidence. Ghurka’s beautiful, standard-setting weekender and this Bennett Winch option, a favorite at Esquire, represent big investments (that you should make if you can swing the extra spend). I'd use these as your guardrails. Less than $200, you’re not getting genuine leather, and you might as well go with a canvas bag. More than $2,000, and you might be paying for brand recognition more than craftsmanship. That said, certain high-luxury makers can command those price tags with nicer leathers and more handmade details. But in between $200 and $2,000 are a scatter plot of good options, ranging from sneaky marketing scams to buy-it-for-life deals. Where does the Bartlett fall? I'd say it's a buy-it-for-life deal. Easy answer.

You might know Tecovas for its impossible to miss cowboy boots, but the brand has a range of western wear options. Jeans, pearl snaps, and burly leather goods like the Bartlett. Like the brand's boots, Tecovas' bags are cheaper but not dirt-cheap. The Bartlett weekender is a sub-$700 bag that’s comparable in size to to $1,000-plus options. To be clear, I know a $650 weekender is not a cheap option, but leather is expensive. In the world of 100-percent natural grain cowhide, it's one of the best prices you'll find. And the bag and I have history. That’s the nice thing about leather. The patina and travel scars are souvenirs themselves, much like a good waxed jacket. And, real leather, properly cared for, lasts a lifetime. The term heirloom piece is thrown around with too much frequency, but a leather weekender is a proper heirloom. The trick is knowing which one is worth the investment.

After years of traveling together, the Bartlett and I have a rhythm. The external pocket stashes my wallet, phone, and paper ticket (yes, I’m a paper ticket man) during security, promptly to be returned to my pockets post-TSA. It’s also where I stash a book for easy access. Internally, the bag is simple but effective. An inside zipper pocket allows me to pack an extra watch and emergency cash. The simple two-way brass zipper is substantial, but reliably unzips, and the sturdy grab handles have molded to my hands after years of power walking through airport terminals.

The large weekender is perfect for an actual weekend of packing, allowing me a few sartorial options but limiting my chronic overpacking. For a road trip, I can toss in a bottle of my favorite bourbon and know that the 10-oz duck canvas internal liner will repel any accidental spillage. And even after years of use, it keeps that tack shop smell. Tecovas makes a candle, and it's good. But if it made a one (or even cologne) with this straight leather smell, I'd buy it a heartbeat.

So, is my Bartlett weekender worth it? Krista Jones, commerce director here at Esquire, talks about the Métier inflation between her London purchase of her husband’s favorite bag and the current cost. My Bartlett has also jumped in price since my bag acquisition in 2017, when I remember it being closer to $400. But I should also confess to something. I did not pay for this bag; I “liberated” it from a photoshoot set. Which, in fairness, was allowed. Or at least tacitly ignored. So was it worth the price I paid? Of course. Maybe the better question is, would it have been worth the price I should have paid for it? If I had a bit of skin in the game? Also, absolutely. It'll get a second life when I pass it down in a few decades; $650 is more than a fair price for that. $400 would have been as good as swiping it.

At this point, I don't even want to use anything else. Last month, I flew with a roller bag carry-on, and I hated it. It wasn’t the bag's fault. Despite its promise of convenience, it just couldn’t beat the all-star. Next time, and forever after, I’m packing the Bartlett and never looking back.

Tecovas Bartlett Large Weekender