Bennett Winch Bags Are Built for a Lifetime

I discovered Bennett Winch a couple of years ago when I was searching for the best quality tote bag. Out of all the premium canvas options, the rugged aesthetic of their bags stood out to me, and after I learned everything about the brand, I was really impressed with their approach and dedication to their made-in-England ideology. That’s also why my expectations were high from the start and I’m happy to say the bag lived up to them. I was genuinely impressed with the quality when I saw it in person for the first time.

Olive Canvas Tote

Their canvas bags are made from 24oz British dyed and bonded waterproof cotton canvas with premium full-grain leather trim and handles, plus solid brass hardware (welded in London). In fact, almost all the materials used for a bag are sourced from Britain (with the vegetable-tanned leather coming from Italy), and every Bennett Winch product is handmade in England. Inside the tote, there is a fully protected laptop compartment and three separate internal slip pockets for a phone, sunglasses, wallet, etc. It also has protective leather scuff pads. The leather trim handles on the canvas tote may feel a bit rough at first, but after a couple of uses they mould nicely to your hand.

Handle on the olive canvas tote

The tote was my first bag from them, and the reason I found the brand in the first place. I wanted a tote that wasn’t too elegant, so it would work well with very casual looks, mostly denim and military jackets, and their canvas tote couldn’t be a better match. I have to say this again: when I got the bag, I was really impressed with the craftsmanship and attention to detail. I usually talk about best value products, and at their current prices, maybe their bags are not the best value on the market. They’re luxury products, even though some are made from canvas, which is more rugged and something that many people would never consider a luxury fabric. But when you hold it in your hands, you can understand what I’m talking about. The quality and the weight of the canvas already speak for themselves. If you inspect the bag, it’s clear this is a very well-made product, but when you start checking the details, you realize the craftsmanship is at the highest level, especially when you peek inside and see how well the lining is done, how firm the computer sleeve and small pockets are, and how well and detailed everything is stitched, especially all the fine leather details on the inside. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is really impressive. If you really want to understand why I believe this is a luxury product, you will have to put it next to a couple of other premium bags in the €300–1000 range, and then you’ll probably see that almost no other brand matches this level of detail.

Fine leather details on the inside of the tote

The size of the bag is basically perfect for all your daily essentials. I usually have my computer (15”), computer charger, battery pack, notebook, case for my headphones, case with an extra pair of sunglasses, 1L water bottle, and a couple of other things - and there is still plenty of space. I can also fit my Fuji X-T30II and an extra lens without a problem. I actually recently got a second tote from them, this time in brown leather. And if you are wondering, I don’t really feel the difference in weight (1kg vs 1.3kg). The only thing I notice is the difference in handles: on the leather and suede versions, they are folded and stitched together, creating a tube shape that is extremely comfortable to hold from day one.

Olive Canvas Suit Carrier Holdall

But the product I’m still most impressed by is their Suit Carrier Holdall. It was designed together with Simon Crompton from Permanent Style, but he says he only provided the idea, and they came up with the design during a process that took 18 months to finalize. The design of this bag is really smart, the suit carrier rolls around the bag, which is basically a simplified, softer version of their Commuter, and attaches to it with magnets and leather straps. It’s basically two products in one and you can of course use both separately as well. I really love the idea of being able to carry around a jacket or a suit without worrying that it might wrinkle. And the bag is, as you would expect, very well made. There are not many items I would say this about, but every time I use this bag, I’m still impressed with the quality. They claim you can fit one suit (a jacket and a pair of trousers) in the suit carrier, I was able to fit in three half-lined sport coats with unpadded shoulders.

This bag can be enough if you travel for a week during warmer months and take only one extra pair of shoes (maybe two if you are good at packing). The only thing that is not that practical is its weight (2.2 kg for the canvas version and 2.4 kg for the leather and suede versions). It doesn’t seem like much, and I want to believe that I’m a strong guy, but when the bag is fully packed, you will definitely feel the weight if you have to carry it around the city or airport. So it’s not an ideal bag for trips like that, and in these situations I would always rather choose a suitcase that you can comfortably roll. But if you travel by car, or your trip doesn’t include much walking, then I have no complaints at all! Carrying it around the city made me realize my bag collection is still not perfect, and the piece that would complete it is The Trifold, which I would use to carry my jackets and suit when I travel with a carry-on suitcase.

Black Leather Trifold

Bennett Winch was founded in London in 2014 by Robin Bennett and Robin Winch, two friends who couldn’t find well-made, timeless bags that worked for both travel and everyday life, so they decided to design their own, with a focus on quality, practicality, and simple, classic design. From the start, they insisted on using British manufacturing, sourcing materials like waterproof cotton canvas from Lancashire mills and vegetable-tanned leather from Italian tanneries, with every bag made by skilled craftspeople in England. The brand’s philosophy has always been about creating items that not only look good but also age beautifully and perform reliably over decades of use. That’s why everything they make comes with a lifetime promise, because they have absolute confidence in their products and believe in repairing things rather than throwing them away. They also say that the lifetime promise is their commitment to customers: they will take care of any repair work a Bennett Winch bag might need for as long as the owner has it (provided it was purchased new and directly through their website, or one of their official retail partners with proof of purchase. The lifetime promise does not cover second-hand bags or products purchased through a third-party reseller).

Leather Watch Rolls

Today their full range of products comes in canvas, leather, and suede versions, and what these materials have in common is how durable they are and how beautifully and uniquely each of them ages. Their current catalog consists of Holdalls, Daily Carry, and Accessories. Under Holdalls are bags you would use for travel - the Weekender, Commuter, Suit Carrier Holdall, The Trifold Suit Carrier, and the Cargo Range. In Daily Carry you will find a backpack, briefcase, folio, and tote bag. Under Accessories are Watch Rolls, Wash Bags, Small Leather Goods, and Desk Mats.

Well worn sand canvas Weekender bag

The cost might be hard to justify for some people, which I can totally understand, they’re not inexpensive by any means. Prices start at 695€ for a tote and go up to over €2,000 for a leather and suede weekender. But if you consider that they are handcrafted in England, made from the finest materials, and come with lifetime repairs, the price might be a bit easier to justify. At the end of the day, these are still luxury items, but luxury items that you can actually wear without being overly careful, and they will only look better with time.

Are you already carrying one of their bags? What’s your experience been like?

---

related articles