Back in 2016, I took a flight to California to visit some friends, do some sightseeing in San Francisco, have some wine in Sonoma, and hike in the Yosemite National Park. The hike was amazing, and the views high on the mountain were stunning. I was able to combine this vacation with a work trip that took me to Akron, Ohio, which meant that I needed to take vacation clothes, work clothes, and work laptop with other work items.
Once the vacation portion of my trip was over, it was time to fly to Ohio. After checking in my luggage, I proceeded to the gate for Akron. I took out my work laptop to check emails and get caught up for the week ahead. While seated, a man approached and settled into the aisle across from me, placing his laptop bag on the floor. I couldn’t help but notice its quality.
At the time, I was using a backpack style laptop bag which was given to me by a vendor. This bag was useful and practical for my needs, but I always felt like it was too bulky and I was starting to dislike it due to its size and overall appearance.The base of it made it hold its shape which created the bulkiness. The handle on the top was a nylon strap covered with rubber which gave it a more rugged look. I had been contemplating a replacement but hadn’t found one that suited my needs—until that moment in the airport terminal.
I kept glancing at the bag belonging to the man across from me. It looked very nice, and more professional than mine. It was a shoulder-strap style laptop bag made of leather, with shiny metal zipper pulls and hardware. When he opened it to retrieve his laptop, I caught sight of the golden yellow interior lining, which instantly drew me in.
While I didn’t own any clothing or home accents in golden or mustard yellow, it was the elegant pairing with the black leather and silver hardware that appealed to me. Although I noticed a silver square at the bottom right of the bag, indicating a brand plate, it was too distant for me to read. With boarding imminent, I made a mental note to research the bag later, rather than asking the man directly about its brand.
Once home from my work trip, I kept thinking about the leather laptop bag and finally took time to research the bag. I don’t recall the search phrase I used, but it only took me about 10 minutes until I found the black leather bag with the silver brand plate at the bottom right. It was the Knomo brand Amesbury black 15.6” laptop bag.
This is my trusty Knomo Amesbury laptop bag. After 8 years, it’s still my go-to choice, requiring only occasional leather conditioning cream to keep it in top shape.
One standout aspect of Knomo bags is their “KNOMO ID” feature. Since the company’s inception in 2004, Knomo has embedded a distinct tracking code within each bag. Upon receiving your bag, you have the option to register its unique ID with Knomo. In the unfortunate event that your bag goes missing, whoever finds it can contact Knomo, provide the KNOMO ID, and Knomo will arrange for the bag to be returned to you at no cost. It’s worth noting that this service is complimentary for the initial retrieval only.
Although the Knomo Amesbury bag is no longer in production, Knomo offers an upgraded version called the Newbury, featured in their Brompton collection. The Newbury boasts all the same attributes as its predecessor—Full Grain Leather, Golden Yellow lining (in the black leather version), Brushed nickel silver hardware, RFID Pocket, and Knomo ID—while introducing a modification to how the shoulder strap attaches to the bag. In this updated rendition, the clasps are positioned on the back rather than the side for enhanced functionality. Additionally, their Hanover Laptop Briefcase is made of Water-resistant nylon in a slightly slimmer format with red or tan lining.
All three bags are an update to the classic briefcase design, which is revamped with contemporary zip detailing and ingenious internal features, adding a modern twist to its traditional appeal.
Additional information about the Knomo Hanover bag is available here:
https://knomo.com/collections/briefcases-1/products/hanover-laptop-briefcase-black-119-101-bsn
Knomo also has a backpack style bag with similar features here:
https://knomo.com/collections/backpacks/products/beauchamp-laptop-backpack-grey-check-119-419-gck