Jack on the Portsmouth for people who gave up on bags that almost fit
Jack on the Portsmouth for people who gave up on bags that almost fit
You have quietly stopped expecting a bag to suit how your day actually goes. The Portsmouth is £198.95, down from £796.95, for people who want a bag that finally fits how they live.
This is part of my farewell sale. After 29 years of ready-made bags, I am going custom-only and clearing my final ready-made stock. The Portsmouth is £198.95, against its usual £796.95. I did not choose it for the shelf. I chose it for the days between leaving home and coming back.
The people who write to me keep telling me that they have stopped looking for a bag that suits how they actually live. I understand. I wanted one too, with enough room and enough places for the little things.
I have spent 29 years learning what people carry from one part of the day to another. The Portsmouth has a spacious main compartment, a padded laptop compartment and pockets for the things that usually disappear.
1997
Today
Leather with the grain showing
I asked for full-grain cow leather, not a surface chosen only for a photograph. It gives the Portsmouth a solid, simple shape for a weekday morning at the front door.
"I was looking for a timeless, handcrafted bag and Jack Reid exceeded my expectations. Its durability, design and craftsmanship make it my go-to bag for both work and travel."
A padded place for a laptop
I wanted a padded laptop compartment, because a laptop should have a proper place while the rest of the day happens around it. On an airport queue, it stays part of the bag rather than the thing I keep moving.
"The quality of my Jack Reid bag is unparalleled. The leather is incredibly soft and the attention to detail is impressive."
Room for the whole day
I kept the main compartment spacious so the ordinary things can share it. On a wet Monday commute, my coat and notebook have room without turning the bag into a sorting exercise.
"Ordered on a Monday and it was on my doorstep in Ennis by Thursday, beautifully wrapped with a handwritten note from Jack. You can tell this was made with care."
Pockets for the little things
I asked for an interior zipper pocket, slot pockets and a cell phone pocket. At the front door, the small things have somewhere to go before I start the day.
"Jack Reid bags perfectly combine style and functionality. The design is sleek and the compartments are well thought out; my laptop and notebooks fit with room to spare."
Easy reach outside
I chose zippered exterior pockets for the things I need without opening everything. In an airport queue, I can reach for the pocket instead of unpacking the whole rucksack.
"What sets my Jack Reid bag apart is its versatility. Whether it's a business meeting in London or a weekend away, it adapts to any occasion effortlessly."
One adjustable strap
I kept a single adjustable strap rather than adding more to the design. On a weekend away, I can set it to the way I carry the rucksack.
"I bought this for my husband's birthday and it arrived in Cork beautifully wrapped, with a handwritten note from Jack. The leather is gorgeous and the stitching is perfect."
The Portsmouth, against the leather backpacks you have been buying
One main cavity for everything
Small things loose in the bottom
A laptop sharing the main space
Straps left at one setting
Spacious main compartment
Interior zipper, slot and phone pockets
Padded laptop compartment
Single adjustable strap
The leather ages beautifully, making it an investment I'll cherish for years.
The final ready-made run
These are the final ready-made Portsmouth bags. I am saying farewell to ready-made work after 29 years and moving Jack Reid to custom-only. They will not be made again.
The Portsmouth is £198.95, down from £796.95. I have set the price plainly, and the stock is honest: when the last one goes, it goes. There is no pretend countdown here.
Jack Reid bags perfectly combine style and functionality. The design is sleek and the compartments are well thought out; my laptop and notebooks fit with room to spare. A luxury item, but also practical for everyday use.
The Portsmouth, made for the everyday.
The people who write to me often tell me that they have stopped looking for a bag that suits how they actually live. I understand. A useful detail is not a clever trick. It is the bag quietly doing its job.
If the Portsmouth is not right for you, you can send it back within 30 days. I have made these bags by hand, and I would rather you had time to decide whether this one belongs in your day.
Check the last Portsmouth
- Final ready-made stock
- £198.95, down from £796.95
- 30-day returns
You have probably overspent on the high-street bag that lasts two winters. This Portsmouth is £198.95.
Check availabilityAbout the writer. Jack founded Jack Reid in the United Kingdom in 1997.