Robb Recommends: The Thoroughly Modern Weekender with Old School Appeal
Welcome to Robb Recommends, a regular series in which our editors and contributors endorse something they’ve tried and loved—and think will change your life for the better.
I’ve long had a thing for Ghurka, the American luggage and leather accessories brand inspired by vintage British campaign gear. But unlike the Raj’s officer class, I do not have access to porters, and begrudgingly admit that bags and briefcases made from 100% vegetable-tanned leather also tend to be very heavy.
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It’s for that reason that the recently reinvigorated company has unveiled its new City Collection, arguably the most significant development since the nearly 50-year-old brand was acquired by its fourth (and most recent) owner in 2017. The five-piece collection, which includes a crossbody bag, a backpack, a duffel, and more is differentiated by its blending of the saddle-quality leather that the brand is known for with a much lighter—but aesthetically simpatico—Italian nylon.
I had the opportunity to road-test its Lenox No. 928 duffel on a recent trip from Boston to New York by train, and on a much longer trek back to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. My first, and yes, highly important, finding was that the bag is indeed beautiful (its appearance alone makes the Amtrak Northeast Regional feel a bit more Orient Express). It is built from substantial, buttery leather where it’s needed most, i.e. the handles and shoulder strap, side panels and a stand-up bottom supported by brass studs. But by constructing its middle (imagine the bag as a hot dog, with its leather as the bun) from a dense nylon that feels tough as Kevlar and seamlessly blends with the leather’s nut-brown appearance, Ghurka has managed to create a fine-looking duffel at only a fraction of what a 100% leather bag would weigh.
That’s a feature greatly appreciated by someone such as me, who aside from lacking staff, chooses to hoof it over Ubering at every opportunity. And while I have not had the chance to utilize it yet, I’m aware that the bag has also been designed with an exterior pass through-strap that allows it to be hitched atop a roller bag, a feature I will doubtlessly call upon when my family of three flies to the West Coast in two weeks’ time for the holidays (cleverly, the bottom of said pass-through strap can be zipped closed when not in use, turning it into one more outside pocket).
Elsewhere, the bag shines with smart storage features including an internal pouch that neatly holds a laptop and is secured via brass snap, and a trinity of smaller inside pockets sized to catch pens, notebooks, sunglasses, and other ephemera you’d otherwise not want jangling about. On the exterior are two horizontal zips that run across either end of the bag’s width, creating a safe, easy-access point for keys, EarPods and whatever else you’d want to access at a moment’s notice.
Ghurka’s current owners, thankfully, get what made the iconic luggage maker special to begin with, and continue to produce largely from its archived designs. But they’re unafraid to push the heritage label beyond its classic remit, and if the City Collection is any indication, those efforts should be welcomed.
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