Satchel & Page Padfolio Review: Classic Minimalism With a Modern Twist

The New York-based brand Satchel & Page specializes in making high-quality leather goods for men with an emphasis on minimalism, timelessness, and durability — so they all have a lifetime warranty.

All of their leather bags, jackets, and accessories share that common thread: top-notch leather with a minimalist design. And when it comes to bags and accessories, the durability factor is underscored by the usage of pure vegetable tanned leather, a process known for making leather that lasts for ages and looks better every day.

Founder Daniel Ralsky came up with the idea for the brand after marveling at his grandfather’s World War II era map case, and the product we’re reviewing today is a descendant of that map case: a padfolio, or a different kind of sleeve for transporting and protecting your paper.

While the prices aren’t low, they’re much more affordable than brands using similar materials, and their lifetime warranty is the icing on the cake.

Here, we’ll review every detail of this classic leather notepad case, but we’ll focus on the unusual and exciting leather they’ve chosen for my Satchel & Page Padfolio review.

Satchel & Page Leather Padfolio Pros and Cons

Pros

• Great value for the quality
• World class leather deserves the spotlight it gets: strong, vegetable tanned, certified by the Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium, finished with oils and waxes for durability and ease of care.
• Fantastic light daily carry item, with tons of pockets
• Suede-lined tablet sleeves up the value.
• High build quality using premium materials like antique brass and light tan English calfskin lining.
• Classic and timeless style that still manages to look rugged.

Cons

• Only available in brown leather
• Price: it’s $200, but we strongly feel it’s worth it
• Full grain leather has plenty of character; that’s a “pro” for us, but maybe you’ll find it too “rugged” for your tastes
• Not everyone likes using calfskin, which comprises the lining

The Satchel & Page Padfolio

Satchel & Page modernized and ruggedized the old-school executive padfolio design into an absolutely gorgeous everyday carry item. The distinct leather grain is stunning, and the unique tannage is delightful. (We’ll get into the leather in more detail later).

The simple, clean design and lustrous, almost glossy finish on the leather is unlike the natural matte-like finish on my Counselor briefcase or their belts. Frankly, I was a little surprised at first, but it does prevent your hands from darkening the leather on the outside, especially when you’re holding it so often. (This was probably the point of the different finish.)

Otherwise, the overall style is very simple and minimalistic in design. A small S&P logo is embossed on the lower part of the back of the Padfolio.

I’ve carried this around to meetings and always received compliments.

The Padfolio’s Leather

• Vegetable tanned leather, a 5,000-year-old process for making leather
• Certified by the Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium
• Aniline dyed and hot stuffed with oils and waxes.

Satchel & Page sources its full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather from a small, family-run tannery in Ponte a Egola, Tuscany, where three generations have operated.

At Stridewise, we’ve reviewed countless leather bags, and time after time, veg-tanned leather beats out just about any other for durability for boots, bags, and anything else that takes a beating.

To understand the basics of leather, it’s important to note that nearly all leather is either vegetable-tanned or chrome-tanned, with the latter being developed in the mid-19th century.

Historically, all leather was vegetable-tanned, but today, about 99% of leather is chrome-tanned because it’s quicker, less expensive, softer, and allows for a broader range of colors.

While there are benefits to chrome-tanned leather — especially for footwear, since it’s less stiff than veg — I prefer the traditional vegetable-tanned leather for things like bags, and everyday carry items that take a beating.

For the Padfolio, Satchel & Page uses a finishing process that involves aniline dyeing and hot stuffing the leather with oils and waxes, producing leather that creates a natural but glossy appearance. When leather has more oils and waxes in it, it doesn’t need too much conditioning.

S&P uses French cowhide shoulders and maintains the grain of the animal hide so you can see the individual features of the animal’s skin and noticeable wrinkles. This is what people mean when they call leather “full grain”: it has the outermost layer of the animal’s hide. This makes it tough and age well, though it’s possible you’ll find it less “professional” than super smooth leather.

This leather has a soft texture and refined tactile quality. They don’t smooth it or apply paints or chemicals to the surface, allowing the natural imperfections and variations in color to be visible.

This is all on brand for Satchel & Page, resulting in a classy but rugged look that also increases the item’s durability.

Build Quality

• Antique brass adds to the rugged look
• Tan British calfskin lining increases the durability and luxury
• Suede-lined pockets and tablet sleeve make it easy to slide items in and out

Satchel & Page manufactures products in Europe with leather from Italy (unless it’s a jacket, which uses some chrome tanning for comfort) and ships from their central warehouse in Dallas, Texas. This makes it easier and faster for shipping and returns.

The Padfolio has a tan calfskin lining from Britain. The sleeves for a small tablet and business cards are lined with suede.

Satchel & Page added a suede lining in the pockets and sleeves that significantly increases the value and usability, though it’s more challenging to clean.

Lastly, antique brass hardware contributes to an aesthetic that looks better with age, especially if you value a more rugged-looking bag.

Interior & Functionality

• Slot for A4 / letter pad (11.75” x 8.5”)
• 2 business card slots and 1 pen slot
• Open pocket for loose papers or medium-sized notebook
• Fits inside all of my S&P bags

Inside, you’ll find a main slot where you can secure a A4 letter-size notepad for taking handwritten notes. The notepad is secured by two leather straps with elastic bands incorporated into the band.

The left side of the Padfolio contains two business card slots, a main slot to put a few papers or a legal pad, and a small tablet or a laptop compartment. A dedicated pen slot is in the center inside the Padfolio.

The Padfolio closure is secured by a thick leather strap with the same durable antique finish brass button so nothing falls out, and it doesn’t accidentally open.

Price, Value, and Ordering

• $200
• In stock, no need to preorder (as of the time of writing)

Satchel & Page is direct-to-consumer, selling its products exclusively from its website. This means no markups from brick-and-mortar stores that need to pay their rent as well.

The padfolio, as far as I can tell, is always available as far as inventory is concerned, unlike some of their popular items (such as briefcases) that are back ordered or need to be preordered.

The fact that you can pick up Italian veg-tanned leather sourced from French-origin cowhide built with the highest quality craftsmanship available for $200 is beyond me. I would expect to pay much more for these products.

But the value is what sets them apart from other brands! For me, picking up one of these was a no-brainer.

Our Ultimate Satchel & Page Round Up YouTube Video

The Bottom Line

I’m enamored with Satchel & Page’s products.

To be honest, I wish I could own their entire collection. If you’re searching for leather goods boasting timeless, classic style, crafted with the utmost quality materials showcasing impeccable craftsmanship, all supported by a lifetime warranty at a great value, then look no further than Satchel & Page.