Review: Bleu de Chauffe’s Cabine Travel Bag Is Just Simple Enough

Bleu de Chauffe is just the right kind of different. They’re what you’d call a “heritage” bag brand in that they heavily emphasize aesthetics and materials that are old fashioned, casual, and durable — like twill, canvas, and vegetable tanned leather. (It has to be vegetable tanned, a process thousands of years older than the far more common chrome tanning invented in the 19th century.)

The vast majority of “heritage” brands are either American or inspired by American designs. Bleu de Chauffe, though, draws on the tradition of French workwear, a country that many associate with luxury brands but has its own rich history of apparel and gear that was tested and honed by centuries of agriculture.

After all, France is responsible for the word “denim” (from de Nîmes: “from the French town of Nîmes) and they even invented the chore coat. But today I’m giving my thoughts on their Cabine travel bag.

Bleu de Chauffe’s Cabine Bag: The Pros and Cons

Here’s a quick rundown of what I liked about carrying the Cabine bag all over a recent trip to England and Holland.

Pros

• Basically a duffle, but looks more mature and has more features
• 40-liter capacity is more than similar bags at this pricepoint
• High quality, longlasting materials
• Ethically made in a sustainable countryside workshop
• Each bag by a single artisan (not an assembly line)
• Expands to give more space, meets carry-on requirements if you don’t
• Has an internal zippered pocket and a small external slip pocket, elevating it above the usual “sack” form of a duffle
• Solid value for a bag like this that’s made in a developed country

Downsides, but not dealbreakers

• If you’ve expanded the bag and it’s full to the brim, it’s hard to carry by the handles (see above)
• Unpadded leather handles take some use to soften and get comfortable in the hand
• Not a technical bag for guys who want features or waterproofness
• If you’re happy to use a bag made of nylon or other synthetics, there are cheaper bags out there — but they won’t last as long or look better as they age

What Makes the Cabine More Functional Than a Standard Duffle?

Not a lot, it’s a pretty simple bag. But besides the classy design and high end materials, you also get:

• A zippered pouch on the inside to secure valuables — and you can detach the pouch from its snaps if you like
• A hidden slip pocket at the base of the handles on one side
• Stud closure cinches on either side that let you expand the size

Who Should Buy Bleu de Chauffe’s Cabine Bag?

This is a great bag for anyone who likes simple, timeless designs.

As a New York City resident, it’s ideal for people who don’t have a lot of space: you can roll this bag up into a roll and shove it under your bed with ease. You can’t do that with structured suitcases or even most of my other duffles.

It’s for anyone who likes hardy, natural materials like thick cotton twill and traditionally tanned leather — materials that last forever and improve with wear.

(Note that Bleu de Chauffe call this material canvas on their website but it’s actually twill. It’s an understandable mistake as the distinction isn’t as clear in French, and the difference between canvas and twill doesn’t really matter when you’re talking about bags.)

One word I keep coming back to when thinking of the Cabine is that even though it’s a cotton duffle it manages to look refined. If you’re someone who likes uncomplicated bags like this, you’ll know that most of them evoke either military fatigues or bearded frontiersmen.

This is a duffle that doesn’t look too knockaround if you carry it with a smart outfit, even though it will indeed last for decades: they aren’t super loud about a repair-wear-and-tear warranty, but they told me they’ll repair any old bags.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Bleu de Chauffe’s Cabine Bag?

People who prefer wheels on their travel bags to make them easier to get from, say, apartment-to-subway-to-another-subway-to-airport.

When it’s a bag you carry, I tend to prefer carry handles that have padding and that join underneath the bag to help cradle the load and protect the bag’s seams. Filson’s does that. They make good bags.

Still, this bag is made super tough and if it picks up any damage, it’ll be easy to repair. It’s made the way we used to make bags when we expected them to last.

Price: Is Bleu de Chauffe’s Cabine Worth It?

• $375 – $425 depending on the exchange rate

Let’s compare the Cabine bag with other 40-ish liter canvas travel bags. And keep in mind that it’s made with thick twill (17 ounces, some 50 percent thicker than jeans) and, very importantly, it’s made in a developed, “first world” country.

• Filson’s Medium Duffle: $600, 43 liters, no extra pockets, made in USA.
• Bradley Mountain’s Ranger: $499, 42 liters, lots of pockets, made in USA.
• Thursday Boot Co’s Weekender: $350, 44 liters, lots of pockets, made in Mexico or something.
• Rov’s Duke: $420, 38 liters, lots of pockets, made in USA.

I’ve used all these bags and listen, Bleu de Chauffe’s is probably the best value and the best looking.