I got this Filson bag about 35 years ago…

[Packard]

I got this Filson bag about 35 years ago.  I carried it every day for about 30 years.  Filson bags had a good reputation, but $145.00 seemed like a lot of money.

I felt better a few months later when the price went to $160.00.  It seemed like I had gotten a bargain.

About 5 years ago, I bought a well-regarded mole strap equipped “sling bag”.  I needed a larger bag.  Recently it started to tear where the handle attached to the bag.  I also don’t need the larger bag anymore, so I am back to the Filson bag.

So far, it has received about 30 years worth of daily use and still counting.

Today I got a mailing from Filson.  It turns out that this bag is still in their catalog, however it is now $550.00 and is only available in green.  They dropped the brown, tan and black versions.
https://www.filson.com/bags-luggage/medium-rugged-twill-field-bag.html

I would like to say I recommend it, but the current price is standing in the way.

I suppose if you amortize it over 30 + years, it is a good value.  But can they be selling any at $550.00?

Note:  The quality is exceptional, and they will repair any burst seams for free (unless they changed their policy).  I have it here in Barnes & Noble while I am drinking my coffee.  It does not look or feel like $550.00.  (It barely looks and feels like the $145.00 I spent back then.)

I have a rarely used duffle bag from them.  I’m going to see what that sells for. 
https://www.filson.com/bags-luggage/medium-rugged-twill-field-bag.html

 

[rmwarren]

Holy petunias! Mine is a few years younger, having been a gift from my bride for our first Xmas, buts it's somewhat more abused.

[attachimg=1]

It's been rode hard & put away wet more than once, but it's still my go-to travel/hiking bag.

I hadn't realized their prices had increased so much. Somewhere around 10-15 years back the company was acquired by private equity and I expected the quality to suffer but to their credit the original items mostly remained the same. I couldn't stomach paying $550 however.

I still have 2 of their laptop bags, a fly fishing vest, & hat. Foolishly I sold off the large duffle bag a few years back when I got on a cleaning out jag, been mildly regretting it ever since.

RMW

 

[DavidCBaker]

I live on a farm and I have all sorts of Filson stuff (too much), but it's all amazing.

 

[Packard]

My rarely used duffle is now $600.00.  That sounds crazy to me.  But I will hold onto it.

 

[Sparktrician]

About 35 years ago, my friend (and former manager) let me try on his Filson Double Mac jacket.  That convinced me to buy one.  I still have it and love it.  Anyone that tries to assume ownership without my approval will find himself looking (very briefly) at the wrong end of a very large barrel.  [eek]

 

[Packard]

I bought the bag on the strength of a long article in Field & Stream back in the 1980s.

No regrets at all. 

According to the CPI calculator online, that $140.00 back in the late 1980s is the equivalent of $387.50 in 2023 dollars.  So $550.00 still represents quite a boost in price.

It is also out of stock and only available in one color. My guess is, that when the shop is slow, they make some of these for inventory.  Since it is a small bag, much of it can probably made from off-cuts from other bags.

They do make some of these items offshore, but the field bags were always made in the USA.  Their catalog always clearly stated the country of origin.

 

[Packard]

I also have a pair of non-prescription Wayfarers that I bought when I still lived on Long Island.  That would make them at least 30 years old.  Of that 30 years, I abandoned the non-prescription glasses for corrected lens glasses.

After cataract surgery, I am back to wearing the Wayfarers again.

Maybe a thread on really durable items would be interesting.  I know I have some tools for a long, long time. 

And perhaps another thread on companies that have exceptional customer service.  We hear a lot on bad customer service.  Less on exceptional service.

 

[six-point socket II]

Great examples of two well loved Filson bags!  [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

That's the look that the people buying them for 5XX USD these days dream of. But then will really never get there because they baby their bags too much.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[PaulMarcel]

Maybe a thread on really durable items would be interesting.  I know I have some tools for a long, long time. 

And perhaps another thread on companies that have exceptional customer service.  We hear a lot on bad customer service.  Less on exceptional service.

Yes! That would be an exceptional thread. I didn't know about Filson, but that bag is exactly what I was looking for a couple of years ago.

 

[rmwarren]

Great examples of two well loved Filson bags!  [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up]

That's the look that the people buying them for 5XX USD these days dream of. But then will really never get there because they baby their bags too much.

Kind regards,
Oliver

Funny thing is, some years back they took some bags that had been traded in under warranty or returned for repairs and resold them after making major, obvious repair patches and sold them as vintage bags. Kinda like pre washed jeans taken to an extreme or vintage Levi Strauss.

They really are great bags and it's a shame a lot of folks will miss out due to cost or availability.

RMW

 

[Holzhacker]

If you are looking for a new bag, leather bag, whatever.
Might want to look into Korchmar bags. I've been carrying one around for years. Still great. Not cheap but very well made. I think they are still made in Florida but don't quote me on that.

 

[Packard]

Wallets typically last me about 4 to 5 years.  However I have a Mulholland Brothers wallet that is probably 25 years old.  All the seams are still intact.  No rips in the leather. But looking sad.  I will try some saddle soap on it.

The wallet was made in California.  Fairly expensive, but not prohibitively so.  I looked to replace it about 10 years ago, but it appears they were out of business.  I just looked again, and maybe they are still in business.  Lots of used pieces.  Some new ones for sale.  I can’t find an actual Mulholland home website though.

When I googled “mulhollandbrothers.com” I was offered the opportunity to buy that domain for $2,500.00.  I still think they are out of business.  Not sure though.

 

[Sparktrician]

There are still some Muholland Brothers products available.

 

[Packard]

There are still some Muholland Brothers products available.

I saw that, and there is even more used available.  But it seems like the company is out of business.

 

[Eorlingur]

I have two bags that are hand made in the US and while they are quite a bit more expensive they are of exceptional quality. One of the companies, PAC design, doesn’t seem to be operational anymore, but Mission workshop is and has been for 20 years. They make most of their products in California, but some in China and other parts of the world. If I ever need a new bag I will look to them first.

All you have to do is look at the prices of designer hand bags and you wont feel as bad paying the price for a quality bag that will last for several decades.

 

[rmwarren]

There are a number of makers on Etsy, quite a few from the UK, that offer similar bags. I bought a small duffle bag from one and it's quite nice albeit not as hefty as the old Filson.

Filson, pre-acquisition, was an anachronism. Roots going back to the gold rush they retained the old production facilities and had avoided becoming a commodity. Post-acquisition they seemed to retain that and expand their offerings with imported but still high quality stuff.

I've got a 20 year old oilskin coat that needs to be waxed but it's still going strong and one of thier canvas coats that's older and still being broken in. The new raincoat is imported but still beefy and quality.

My hunch is the lack of stock and price increases reflects an outsized impact on their supply chain & employees from the lockdowns and demographic shift underway.

Still, great stuff if you can get it.

RMW

 

[Brice Burrell]

I only have one Filson product, a leather belt. I was going through belts like crazy. Some of them were even supposed to be better brands. I decided to try a Filson, I believe on the recommendation from Bob Marino. I wore that belt everyday for work for probably 7-8 years and the belt held up great. The belt is still in good shape, although I don't wear it all that much anymore. I'm using the light weight nylon belts that come with my Duluth pants/shorts. 

 

[xedos]

It always perplexes me to read threads like this.

Quality products, made in USA, by an established co. ..............but it's too expensive.

Then they move offshore and the same crowd whines about sweatshop labor, dwindling quality and longevity, then eventually the poor value proposition.

Yup............they don;t make em like they used to   

 

[Brice Burrell]

It always perplexes me to read threads like this.

Quality products, made in USA, by an established co. ..............but it's too expensive.

Then they move offshore and the same crowd whines about sweatshop labor, dwindling quality and longevity, then eventually the poor value proposition.

Yup............they don;t make em like they used to   

I can understand your point. My issue with so many high prestige brands is that often they don't actually offer value. As was mentioned earlier the current cost of the bag doesn't line up well with CPI. The cost of these products has gone up considerably, while they have lowered their cost by making many products overseas. High quality doesn't always equal value. We all would love to have good quality produces available. I just can't stand that so many of the companies that go this route think that means gouging customers. Our consumer economy has gotten out of control. 

 

[greg mann]

Make it three happy owners of that same Filson bag. No need to post a picture since
mine looks just like the OP’s. Just bulletproof.