Jack on the waxed duffle for people tired of replacing bags
Jack on the waxed duffle for people tired of replacing bags
You keep replacing the same sort of bag and have stopped expecting one to suit how you live. The Pittsburgh is the bag that finally fits how you live.
After 29 years of ready-made bags, I am moving Jack Reid to custom-only. That is why this farewell sale is here. The final stock is £143.95, down from its usual £574.95, and these will not be made again.
The people who write to me keep telling me that a duffle should fit the day, not decorate it. I wanted this one to hold the right things, open properly and look at home in ordinary life.
Across 1,247 reviews, my shop holds a 4.9-star rating. I read those messages. They remind me that the best compliment is not loud. It is reaching for the same bag next week.
1997
Today
Waxed canvas and Crazy Horse leather
I asked for woven waxed cotton canvas with Crazy Horse leather because I wanted the bag built to last. On a wet Monday commute, it is simply the bag I reach for.
"I stopped replacing my weekend duffle every year even when I still liked it. This is the first one I have kept beyond the season."
Room for the actual weekend
I refused to make the main space so tight that a weekend bag became a puzzle. On a weekend away, the roomy organiser takes the essentials and the duffle still fits an overhead compartment.
"I stopped bringing a spare tote for things I knew would fit. That was my version of making do."
A choice of ways to carry
I asked for a reinforced top handle and an adjustable shoulder strap because I do not carry every bag the same way. At an airport queue, I can choose either without changing what is packed.
"I stopped arriving at the station wishing I had packed a hand tote too. The adjustable strap was there when I needed it."
An opening that stays useful
I wanted an expandable roll top, held with leather straps and buckles, because access should not mean undoing everything. On a business trip, I can reach what I need without taking out the rest.
"I stopped unpacking everything for one folded shirt. Reaching through the roll top was all it took."
Front pockets for daily life
I wanted front slot pockets for the small things that can disappear during a day. On a wet Monday morning at the front door, I can stop for what I need without unpacking the main space.
"I stopped checking every pocket before I left the house. The front slots gave the small things somewhere obvious to live."
No digging to the bottom
I asked for the main organiser to include a zippered pocket and slots for smaller things, because I did not want access to depend on turning everything out. At the school-run entrance, a ringing phone no longer means emptying the whole bag.
"I stopped digging to the bottom for my phone while it was ringing. My partner noticed and asked what had changed."
The Pittsburgh, against the waxed canvas duffle bags you have been buying
Small things vanish under everything
One loose space makes packing a puzzle
The handle has to do every job
Reaching in means repacking the top
Zip pocket and slots keep small things separate
Roomy organiser gives essentials a place
Reinforced handle and adjustable shoulder strap
Expandable roll top keeps access straightforward
I stopped packing for the bag I might need and started packing for the weekend I had.
The final ready-made stock
After 29 years, I am closing my ready-made chapter and taking future work custom-only. Everything now in the final clearing is the old ready-made stock, which will not be made again.
The Pittsburgh is £143.95, against its usual £574.95. I am being plain about the money because I would rather you knew why the price is where it is.
Everything has a place inside, and the front pockets are actually useful. I stopped keeping a separate pouch for the things I use most.
My Pittsburgh duffle in waxed cotton canvas with Crazy Horse leather.
The people who write to me often notice the same thing: a bag earns its place when it suits an ordinary day. That is what I wanted the Pittsburgh to be.
Thank you for reading. If that sounds like your sort of duffle, check whether it is still available. I will leave the rest to you.
Ready-made since 1997. You can send a bag back within 30 days.
See whether the Pittsburgh is still here
- £143.95, against its usual £574.95
- Check the available colours
- You can send it back within 30 days
You know the high-street bag that lasts two winters. The Pittsburgh is £143.95 against its usual £574.95.
Check availabilityAbout the writer. Jack founded Jack Reid in the United Kingdom in 1997, where he has made ready-made bags for 29 years.