For those of you who know me, you know I have a bag obsession. I finally got my hands on a Belstaff Large Colonial Bag. It is GORGEOUS. Expensive… yes… but I think definitely worth it. Since there is so little information about this bag, I’ll post some of my thoughts and a detailed description.
The bag is gorgeous. I just can’t say that enough. It is well crafted and definitely designer. It is made of a heavyweight waxed canvas that is water resistant. Is it as durable as some of the modern nylons and weaves… probably not. But this bag has the same effect as that well worn leather jacket or the perfect broken in jeans. The bag is really collapsible… there is little form to it. This can be good or bad. It’s great because the bag is bigger than it actually looks. The bag forms to your body. It’s bad sometimes when you take certain things out of it (SLR camera). You have to adjust it to get pointy items like that in and out.
The leather details are really nice. Some people complain about the straps and how they attach… I usually carry it around without the straps buckled. This allows easy access. When I want to secure the bag, I buckle the straps… which does a good job of holding the flap down. When you REALLY want to secure the bag, you can buckle the strap and loop it into the leather loops.
The only complaint is that the side pockets are a little hard to access. I end up keeping things I don’t need every day but would like to have with me just in case in there.
I typically use it as my work bag… big enough to hold a Macbook Pro 15″ with a sleeve. I can also swap it out and put Domke inserts inside to hold camera equipment. I am about to sell all my other bags on eBay… THIS IS THE ONE!
The dimensions measured at the seams* are: 12 in tall x 15 in wide x 3.5 in deep at the top and 4.5 in deep at the bottom.
Front pockets are 8 in tall x 5 in wide x 1 in deep.
Side pockets are 6 in tall by 4 in wide… tight rounded depth.
Inside zippered pocket is 7in long.
* inside might be a bit smaller.
Of course, pictures are worth a thousand words: More Pictures of Belstaff Colonial 554.
Awesome isn’t it. Had mine since May 08 from Gotlands and still can’t get enough of it. Such a nightmare to find but so very worth it. I think a Belstaff 554 online club needs to be created!
http://www.pbase.com/gary2880/image/98316465
Ha. A Belstaff Colonial Bag Club is a great idea. Finding it was a nightmare but I guess that is part of the fun and exclusivity of the bag.
Do you carry you camera equipment in it? I am trying with a big Domke insert for the my body and 2 Lowepro lens cases.
Great pictures too! I love your B&W landscapes.
Best regards,
aaron
Belstaff! Hell yeah! I just got the 556 and I love this bag. The craftsmanship is superb and the looks are even better. Great bag! I would join Belstaff club too.
Hi Aaron, Thanks for your kind comments about my photos.
I havn’t carried my camera equipment in it yet but would be useful to.
I was thinking about getting a small compact to keep in the side pocket and noticed you had a G7 in one of your side ones. I was just wondering how tight the squeeze is as i was tossing up between the G9 and panasonic lumix TZ5. I think it has to be the G9 due to the manual controlls but conserned about the fit. It seems that the side pocket is tighter at the top but once down inside theres move room? too tight to have the camera in a case i guess.
Thanks for any help you can offer. Feel free to drop me an e-mail.
All the best
Gary.
The “Belstaff 554 Colonial Club” for owners only. It sounds OK!
I bought the bag for my ex. He is out and the bag is definately in… I made a perfect choise here. The more the 554 accompanies me, the better it gets. How many things I put in it, the 554 somehow never gets heavy on the shoulder. Let me know when you start the website. Kind greetz,
Pandora
I’ve been writing about the Belstaff Colonial Canvas line since early 2007, and can’t say enough good things about the product. Too bad Belstaff seems to be backing off its support for the line, with fewer and fewer options available this year than ever.
I’ve got the standard shoulder bag in Mountain Brown and Kaki, and would love to find a large man bag in Mountain Brown.
My latest review is at http://acknak.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-belstaff-colonial-canvas.html
Cheers,
bob
Nice writeup. This article is what finally pushed me over the edge and convinced me to buy a 554 from Gotlands. Now I’m just waiting for it to arrive. Thanks for the great review.
Alright Lads,
Thanks for all the info, i’ve been toying with the idea of getting the 554 for a while and your reviews convinced me. The bag arrived from Gotlands last month and it’s amazing. Not sure i like the magnetic buckles (which the older models dont seem to have, why would Belstaff mess with perfection?), but overall, its amazing. Sign me up for the owners club!
Congrats on getting your new bag. I’ve had mine since the end of February and I carry it daily. I didn’t like the magnetic buckles either and had a buddy of mine that does leatherwork remove them and stitch them to the bag permanently.
Thanks Richard, I was considering that, but I’m not certain that i trust any NYC merchant enough to have them try it. I read somewhere that superglue works, at least as a temporary solution. I may try that, or just stop complaining and love the bag as is!
On a side note, can anyone recommend a good laptop case (15 inch Macbook pro), perhaps one that looks as good as the bag?
A good shoe repair shop should be able to handle it, but I would have been hesitant to have mine modified too if I hadn’t seen how good my friend is at leathercraft. I just use a neoprene sleeve for my Macbook Pro when I carry it in my bag. I’m thinking about getting a leather sleeve for it but haven’t found one I like in my price range. Col. Littleton makes a nice document holder that would work but I’d prefer something padded and not as expensive.
I use an Incase case. It’s nice b/c it has some inserts and dividers inside. Also a pocket for the charger. So on the weekend, I can just pull the whole thing out and use the bag without my laptop.
I think they stopped making the version I have but there is an updated version.
/misc/belstaff/belstaff554/belstaff11.jpg
Thanks again guys, Richard i love the Document holder, a bit pricy but could be worth it. Aaron, i’ve read that the new Incase cases (apparently) scratch the computer, have you ever had this problem? I’m more inclined to trust your judgement than some anonymous reviewer.
On the Belstaff front, the superglue seems to have worked well. I can actually pick up the entire (stuffed full – including laptop) bag on one of the buckles.
I’ll keep you updated.
Hmm. I have an older InCase sleeve. There are nylon pockets inside of it and soft lining. I have had no problems with mine and hasn’t scratched my Macbook Pro with lots of use.
nice bag, but too small.
Aaron,
Hey, Just a quick post to say thanks for all the detail on this bag, I’d been looking at getting a 554 for a fair while, all the info you’ve posted helped greatly. Bit the bullet today, now the proud owner of a Khaki 554, can’t stop smiling.
If anyone in the U.K is looking to buy one, the Belstaff store in Mayfair has a full range of colours in stock at the moment (554 & 556). 554’s are £218.00.
Anyway, thanks again for such a useful article.
@Dave
Glad you are enjoying the bag! Me too!!!
Hi! Had great use of this review too!, proud owner of my own 554 bag from Gotlands now!
I love it!
Take care//From Sweden!
@Toob
Great! It’s a awesome bag! Enjoy it!
aaron
Beautiful bag (in/out) just got mine about a month ago and can get enough of it.
A bit expensive but its a life time bag.
I just spoke with customer reps from both http://www.my-wardrobe.com and http://www.lineafashion.com…I can confirm that both retailers carry the Belstaff 554 with the traditional stitched buckles (NO MAGNETS). Enjoy.
I just wanna verify this. The ones you have (554 & 556) are stitched on buckles instead of the snap closures right?
@Vu
That is correct. Both my 554 and 556 have stitched on buckles and not the magnetic snaps. From what I can gather, Belstaff made the magnets for a few runs and switched back to the stitched buckles.
Hi Aaron,
Glad to know I’m not the only one crazy for bags…not just any bags though! I have a couple of questions. I’m in the process of buying the 556 but understand there is a 554 as well. Is the 554 smaller by much? I would mainly be using the bag as my carry-on. Last year I bought the Belstaff Man Bag in Mt. Brown and found it to be a bit small for travel. It’s a bottomless pit..very deep and narrow and found it very awkward to retrieve passport at a moments notice. When travelling I like to carry-on the essentials: documents, phone, iPad, a very small amount of toiletries for touch ups when arriving to destination and a cardigan or shawl for those chilly cabins and bottle of water. Do you recommend the 556?
@Marissa Kirkwwood
The 554 is actually LARGER than the 556. I have both. You can see the 556 here: http://www.aaronlam.com/blog/2009/07/18/belstaff-556-colonial-shoulder-bag/
And there is a comparison shot at the bottom.
I usually only recommend the 554 if you want to use it as a 15″ laptop bag… or even a weekender bag as I’ve been using it lately. The 556, for me, is the perfect size as a travel companion bag that holds as you say, passports, important documents, snacks, a water bottle and an iPad… even a light jacket (although both the 554 and 556 will fit fine underneath an airplane seat).
The traditional messenger bag like the 554 (vs the Man Bag) is much better at getting quick access… it’s wider than deep. Plus the small pockets up front are great for little documents. I have a little organizer that keeps loose items organized in one of the front pockets. Pair it with a good backpack (I use the GoRuck GR1: http://www.aaronlam.com/blog/2010/12/10/goruck-gr1/) and you are set for an all carry-on trip.
I believe the Man Bag is 9.8in x 10.6in 3.1in. That’s slightly smaller than the 556 but MUCH smaller than the 554. So think of the 556 as your Man Bag but turned sideways 🙂
Good luck.
Does anybody have any idea why they would change the colour of the signature embroidered Belstaff patch under the main large flap from black to brown?
@Vu
Ha. They must have thought it looked good 🙂 Just like when they put the color stitching in and magnetic clasps. From what I understand, they make a limited amount of bags per season and can change the design season to season… hence the variations.
But like most things… the original was the best and they should have stuck with that. If it ain’t broke… don’t fix it!
hey aaron so i love this bag the 554 large colonial bag but cant find it anywhere my mom actually wanted to surprise me and bought me the bag but when she told me the price i couldnt believe it and i just got it and inspected the hell out of it and turns out it was a fake luckily she was able to get her money back whats a good legit site where i can get a real one
@Erick Castillo
They are hard to find… seem to come in waves. Typically, Belstaff releases a limited number per season. So if it’s the right time of the year, you’ll see a bunch of places with them. If it’s the tail of that cycle, they are almost impossible to find.
I can only tell you where I got mine which is: http://www.belstaff.de. Their site looks down right now though.
I hope the price your mom paid was cheap. Usually, you get what you pay for.
Good luck.
I finally have my 554 – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! It’s perfect for carry-on.
And my bag does not have the magnetic buckles/straps…yaaay! But as you said Aaron, side pockets are a bit difficult to access. The leather is so stiff at the moment that trying to put anything in those pockets is a struggle. Anyone out there have tips on how to soften leather?
@Marissa
USE IT!!! haha. Glad you like it. They will soften up but those side pockets seem tapered. I just put things in there I don’t need often.
Any thoughts on using the 554 as a diaper bag/general carry bag. What I would like to put in there is: Nikon D5100, book, magazine, pens, flip camera (for dad); sack full of matchbox cars, coloring books, diapers and wipes, change of clothes, snacks (for kids). My only concern based on the comments and pictures is that 1) this guy gets heavy when loaded up to the gills, 2) there is only one large compartment, so things can be a hassle to move around and sort, 3) I will have a nearly impossibly task in convincing my wife that a $400 “upgrade” diaper bag is necessary.
Thanks, and look forward to the advice.
@Justin
It will be the coolest diaper bag for sure!
1 – I think everything you said minus the Nikon wouldn’t be too heavy. When I said heavy… I walking full size SLR, and a couple big lenses… guess 20lbs. It’s no fun to carry that much weight as a shoulder bag… but the Belstaff strap definitely isn’t as padded or comfortable as a Timbuk2. It’s also more like a shoulder rucksack and everything kind of just falls into the bottom.
2 – I combat this with a set of… we’ll call… diddy bags. You can get any style you want from Eagle Creek or other travel brand. But I find really cheap options at Army Surplus. So basically, turn the Belstaff 554 into a modular system. Small bag for the cars. Lots of tablet options now for the coloring books. I like the Eagle Creek cubes for clothes.
3 – I’ve seen some PRETTY pricey diaper bags and this one does double duty as a regular bag… something you’ll keep AND USE after your kid grows up!
Any chance of getting some “in use” shots of both packs strapped on to really get a feel for size difference? Thanks!!!
Hi,
I need some help. Can somebody provide me with some legit websites that still carry these bags? I’m looking for either the 554, 555 or 556. Thanks!
Does this help you at all?
http://www.aaronlam.com/blog/2009/07/18/belstaff-556-colonial-shoulder-bag/comment-page-2/#comment-2824
They seem to be getting harder and harder to find. Keep an eye on eBay as well as eBay.it and ebay.co.uk. But beware fakes. Otherwise, most reputable shops look to be out. Not sure if there will be a new batch or if the Belstaff buyout has put an end to these Colonial Bags… such a shame.
I’m kind of glad that they are now hard to find, makes the one I own that much more special.
@Gabriel
The 554 was still available in mountain brown last week at British Motorcycle Gear in San Diego.
Fred Segal Trend in Santa Monica has 7 554’s in various colors. Just there today.
Ordered my 554 in Mountain Brown last month from BMG. They snipped the “Made In —–” tag for some reason so I have no idea if it was made in Italy or Bulgaria. The only difference is that it has the brown authentic Belstaff patch on the inside of the bag instead of the black one.
BMG said it’s the last batches that Belstaff is making. Everything checks out ok though just kind of bothered that they snipped off the “Made in —–” part. Also the Belstaff tag that is attached with a string has their new Black Belstaff logo and not the classic stripped yellow and black logo. Came with the regular dust bag though.
BTW I was wondering if anyone tried water proofing their bag by spraying water repellent on the leather and canvas? Would this be a good idea if I wanted to water and stain proof my bag as I plan to take it everywhere with me.
I have tried saerching everywhere online but there doens’t seem to be any guide on how to clean the canvas part of the bag so I thought I try here. Thanks!
@Paul Lin
After 4 years of owning and using my bag, it’s held up very well to rain and dirt. I’ve heard of people washing their bags in Nikwax and then HANG DRYING with good results. Unless you are planning on trudging through the rain with it on a regular basis, I don’t feel it’s needed. I have walked through the rain with it and it’s been fine. I wouldn’t stand in the rain for hours with. I wouldn’t ever set my bag down in a puddle of water either… I wouldn’t set my backpack down in a puddle of water either! Why would you do that? So it depends a little on how you plan on using the bag.
So my 2 cents is just use the bag for a little bit and decide if you want to risk doing a treatment. Personally, I haven’t felt it needed. The only real wear I see on the bag is that the flap is starting to fade… but it looks broken in more than anything.
Good luck!
Thanks for the quick response Aaron. May I ask what type of leather treatment you use on your 554’s? They look fabulous!
I have tried Neatsfoot Oil but cannot really stand the strong leathery smell afterwards. There is no shine either and it has been a month and the smell is still quite strong.
Was thinking of cleaning off the leather and then applying it with leather honey.
@Paul Lin
I had rubbed some Coach leather conditioner on it when I first got it but haven’t done anything since.
Little help. One of the readers here just got a 554 from British Motorcycle Club in San Diego and it looks genunine but completely not distressed. Anyone else get something like this? Is this the latest batch from Belstaff?
@aaronlam
Im wondering the same thing. I just ordered that bag from BMG. Im hoping they are legit bags and not a knock off. Anyone else have an idea?
@arronlam
That is how mine looks when I ordered it from British Motorcycle Gear and I recieved mine in late october. I’m guessing ours is the newer batches as BMG claims that it’s the last batch that Belstaff is willing to make before finally discontinuing them…
So I’m not sure what to think of this.
Can you ask the user to check inside to see if his bag has the “Made In _____” tag cut off as well?
Mine came with the tag removed.
I ordered the 554 from BMG in October. The bag is distressed – which is really only obvious on the leather. The canvas doesn’t have that “fresh from the cleaners” look, but is more rumpled with no differential fading to speak of. There is no “made in” tag, but there is one that says:
BELSTAFF SRL
VIA E. STENDHAL, 35
20144 MILANO
C.C.I.A.A.
etc. …
The bag is very well made, and I really don’t believe it’s a knockoff. hope this was helpful.