I got myself a tough backpack that is durable, sustainably produced and water resistant. If you are interested, please have a look at this link for Bleu de Chauffe.
I currently live in London, and like the stereotype, it does rain often. It’s not super annoying but it does get my backpack wet if I am not prepared. Also, maybe I put too many items in my day to day backpack, but my backpack gets destroyed quite easily. It’ll get loose and tear within a few months of wear. I got sick of low quality backpacks and finally decided to switch to something that is more rain resistant and durable.
So today, I am going to introduce you to a brand called, Bleu de Chauffe.
Now excuse my French, but I think it means. Heated blue? Or blue heat? But I can tell you they are one of the HOTTEST bags right now.
Just like the name suggests, Bleu de Chauffe is a French brand and based in Averyron in Southern France.
Bleu de Chauffe is a brand that you must know if you are someone who is interested in bags that are economically and sustainably made but also does not sacrifice sturdiness of the bag while at it. Also, the brand supports the local artisans who craft these beautiful bags. You can tell that they actually do by identifying their name and the date inside. I think it’s rare for brands these days to do this and support small skillful artisans. So it’s very special.
I wanted a backpack that would last me a long time and also I needed something that would hold a lot. When I go to work, I have a lot of stuff that I carry. Such as my laptop, lunch, and gym kits. Therefore, I got a Woody Backpack that is 30L for enough space.
They have two different types of woody backpack online. One is 25L and the other is 30L. If you are a person who does not carry a lot of stuff like me, please buy the 25L and you might find a 30L backpack too big.
Woody is a quintessential Bleu de Chauffe canvas bag, with an outdoor military disposition that makes this range unique. They have made this with canvas British Millerain (Which is new to the range) and also backpacks that are made of French Canvas.
British Millerain supplies canvas to Barbour and Filson for their Jacket and bags, so it could be something that you are used to. But French canvas does not have the origin of the factory, so I want to tell you guys a bit more about it. The French canvas that Bleu de Chauffe uses feels very sturdy and it’s water resistant. The weaving method looks different from British Millerain, so it gives a bit more rugged look. The only thing I am worried about is that it may look very worn once I use it for a while. But let’s see how it’ll turn out.
The Woody backpack has a feature that is necessary for me, it’s a two-way carrying system. There are shoulder straps with felt pads and also two extra straps on the top that will allow me to carry like a tote bag. I really enjoy this flexibility and thought it was perfect for me because there are times where I need to wear it as a backpack, but sometimes I need to carry it in my hand for a quick carrying method.
The straps are all made of veg-tanned leather. Have a look at the photos I took for the straps, they have used thick leather that will be very sturdy for a very long time. The felt pads on the straps make it exceptionally comfortable to wear the backpack, but I fear it’ll be flat as I use them more, I will keep you updated. The metal that holds the leather straps together has bronze finish
The Bleu de Chauffe Woody backpack has 3 pockets with a top magnetic closure or zipper for small things you want to put in there. The pockets are pretty spacious and I will be able to put various stuff inside. There is another zipped pocket hiding inside the backpack, which also has the signature of the artisan.
The closing system is the roll up method, you can simply roll the top of the bag and snap the buttons around the straps and on the sides if you wish to be extra secure. This method is unique to me, as I haven’t tried many backpacks with this feature. But so far I do not have any complaints
The entrance of the backpack has a leather patch with a golden Bleu de Chauffe logo. I thought this was a nice touch.
If you are from the UK, you can buy these at certain retail shops such as Mr Porters, Toast or Directly from their shop. If you are from the USA, you can also order from Mr Porters and directly from their shops. As they offer WHOOPING Free shipping for the rest of the world.
They also have other types of leather bags, canvas bags such as messenger bags, weekend bags and also wallets, jackets and a lot of stuff so please check them out from this link!
