Matt & Nat Kravitz Duffel

THE ASKMEN TAKE

A generously sized duffel bag, this Matt & Natt creation has you stylishly covered for overnight travel as well as busy days when you need to pack all your gym gear plus your office necessities into one bag. Made of brown faux leather and lined in a khaki-colored suede-like fabric, it has plenty of room with an external side zipper pocket, a side flap pocket, an interior zip pocket, and cell phone and PDA slots. Chunky silver and nickel hardware contribute to the vintage feel of this bag as does its rich brown color, which also fits in perfectly with fall’s emphasis on fabric, earthy hues.

UNIQUENESS

Several features about this bag make it stand out from other overnighters. For one, if you’ve never owned a Matt & Nat bag, you should be aware that they are built with style and function in mind. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this bag has an adjustable shoulder strap that makes it easy to tote it around in an airport like a messenger bag, but you can also remove the shoulder strap completely and carry the bag by its handles for more of an urban look. Inside, on top of all the useful pockets, you’ll find a detachable key chain that makes it easy to access your keys so you’ll never have to rummage around for them again. And for guys with a fashion conscience, Matt & Natt is cruelty-free, meaning the company never uses animal materials to produce their coveted, drool-worthy bags.

DURABILITY

In spite of not being made from leather, Matt & Nat bags are incredibly durable and will last you for years. Another bonus of these leather-free bags is that they’re easy to clean; simply wipe them with a damp cloth until they look shiny and new again. Style-wise, this bag will probably fall apart before it starts to look dated and, because it’s dark brown, it will continue to look classic rather than trendy as the years go. That said, this bag won’t last as long as a properly cared for leather piece, and it won’t improve with age the way that leather can. At $325, it’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s worth it if you’re searching for a luxe bag and feel strongly against using animal products. At this price, however, if you don’t have qualms with leather, you should probably go that route instead.