Gfeller Casemakers

[dapv]

Re: Gfeller Casemakers' Idaho Professional Field Folio. Anyone have one?

They can be seen at http://www.gfellercasemakers.com/non-traditional.html .

As a Gfeller customer, I'm familiar with Gfeller's quality. I would like to know your thoughts regarding the Idaho Professional Field Folio.

Thanks.

 

[AlecG]

I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that.

But you could help me!!!

I haven't got any of their stuff, but I ordered a utility tote bag. What do you have from Gfeller?

How is it, does it work well?

[dapv]

I'm a repeat customer of Gfeller's notebook covers. The materials and craftsmanship are simply excellent and elegant. I would have no hesitation purchasing a bag and indeed look forward to it enthusiastically. Lastly, with a little bit of digging here on FPN, and on the greater Web you will find many pleased and detailed reviews of Gfeller Casemakers.

[AlecG]

ow I searched and I searched a lot, but most of the reviews are about the notebook covers.

I will post a good review once I have the bag and hopefully and update when it is in use for some time.

[dapv]

I've been eying their Diamond Creek Satchel (http://www.gfellercasemakers.com/non-traditional.html).

[AlecG]

That's nice as well.

But a bit too big for my needs. I needed it a tiny bit bigger than the tote bag, so they replied with the question if I wanted a second gusset like the diamond creek messenger. But that would make it twice as roomy.

So I went for a regular utility bag with a handle like the diamond creek and with an extra pocket on the back but still inside the bag. Should do the trick and keep my bag & load as light as possible.

Edited January 28, 2011 by alecgold

[Wolverine1]

A friend has one of their pad folios, and I think it is a better quality product than the Levengers pad folios.

I'd get one too, but, cant afford one now. Unfortunately :(

[dapv]

I'd be lying if I said the price wasn't holding me back at this point. I guess I'm looking for user experiences to push me over the edge.

[AlecG]

Dont worry, I've been eyeballing the utility bag for at least a year.

But I Prefer to buy a good bag and if that takes some time befor I get it, well so be it.

[GutSchrift]

These look tremendous! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to get a notebook cover for my Rhodias!

[AlecG]

The Gfeller Utility tote bag is on it's way. Will take until after the weekend to arrive, but WOOOOHOOOO, new bag incoming!

I'll post some pictures and first impressions here!

[Heirphoto]

The Gfeller Utility tote bag is on it's way. Will take until after the weekend to arrive, but WOOOOHOOOO, new bag incoming!

I'll post some pictures and first impressions here!

 

 

I have both the Utility Bag and the smaller Field Case. Both are of exceptional quality and will last a lifetime. I got the smaller case first and while I love it I quickly decided the slightly larger Utility Bag was better for my needs. I guess at some point I should sell the smaller one as it is a shame to go unused. It will easily hold a few 5 x 8 notebooks.

 

Tony

[AlecG]

Well, I've got my Gfeller case and I'm not using it. It's to small!!! :bonk: :bonk: :bonk: . Steve from Gfeller told me I could better take a bigger one or a second gusset, but I was stubborn and thought the bag would come with magical properties that would make any item almost disappear into the bag. But guess what? it doesn't!

Now my wife is having a field day with my bag. Oooh well, there are worse valentine's day gifts I guess

 

 

The leather is stiff, as is to be expected with vegetable tanned leather. It is quite light, not as light as in the picture above. On my monitor the second picture here is more acurate. It has a bit of honey, hazel brown with a golden glow in it. But it will age and darken with use and in the sun. Also it will get more supple.

The bag expands really well, it does get to a 3,5" wide.

I like the handle on top a lot, it makes the bag look a bit different, that's true, but getting in/out of a car when it is heavy is easier, and I like to be able to grab my bag and not drag it around the floor.

The shoulder strap is a bit different from what I've seen on other bags. The strap is normal, but the shoulder pad is almost round because it has been filled with wool. Inside leather is nice, a bit softer but looks very sturdy and even more important, it's reaaaaaly comfy for my shoulder! I weighted the bag with some 0,5l bottles of water. No problem with 3kg. Then I filled a sturdy shopping bag with fruit juice cans weighting in at a good 6 kilo's. I suspended it from the D-rings on the side with some carabiners and stood around, walked a bit, but even though you can feel it's heavy, it doesn't "bite" into your shoulder.

I got another bag, bridle leather from Swaine Adeney and Briggs and it looks perfect, but the shoulder pad really eats your shoulder for breakfast! This one doesn't. Also it's very long which makes it easier to shift the bag a bit around if you're bending over, walking through narrow passages etc. I liked that a lot as well.

I also had a back panel made on the inside, on the back. Between the extra panel and the regular back I can fit my iPad with a Zaggmate keyboard case. That's easy, it stays close to your body, is well protected and separated from other (sharp/hard) things in your pack. So you can have "almost a laptop" with you, 10 hours of battery life, around 800gr. weight and less then 1" thick!

 

 

Even though this bag is to small for my needs, I'm so impressed with the quality, color and design/make of the bag I'm ordering the larger Diamond Creek Satchel.

And some other small nicknacks to go with it.

If you want/need a bag to last a lifetime, to become a valued companion that nicely ages and develops the noble patina like the well made bags did in the past, don't hesitate and ask Steve from Gfeller!

And a big bonus; I'm 7000+ miles away from Steve, but at no time I had any doubt it wasn't going allright. They are very kind, communicating very well, fast replies on my email, even though we are 8 or 9 timezones away. And you can ask them anything you want to have changed on the bag, custom work is no problem at all and they already have an array of small pouches, pockets and things to store your gadgets, so I'm sure there is little they can't make for you.

 

Edited February 10, 2011 by alecgold

[Chiro75]

Nice purse.

[AlecG]

Hey, it would be a murse.

But I've seen the mistake I made and I'm going to get the diamond creek.

Dapv, do you still want the utility bag

[razr]

Gfeller is excellent! My favorite knife maker (Chris Reeve) contracts w/Gfeller for his knife sheathes.

[AlecG]

ow they certainly are excellent, no doubt about!

Superb materials, perfect craftsmanship and they are in for any modification I requested.

 

But I didn't know they made knife sheaths as well. Good to know, I still have a Mayo Medium Covert on my wish list. Well, it's there for well over two or three years. But they are so hard to find.

[Chrontius]

I've been trying to scrape together money for one of their cases, but the price goes up as fast as I can justify the old price.

[AlecG]

I've been trying to scrape together money for one of their cases, but the price goes up as fast as I can justify the old price.

What kind of case would you go for and what kind of use?

[Professor Plume]

Their notebook covers are outstanding! I have both the A4 and A5 Rhodia covers and they pack and travel beautifully and are great for every day carrying too. These notebooks exude character and have that "not made in China" quality. ( said with full respect for my friends in China)