belstaff 556 colonial shoulder bag.
I know when I posted the Belstaff 554 Large Colonial Shoulder Bag I said that was the last bag I would ever buy. Well, I lied.
The Belstaff 554 is a fantastic bag and I have no regrets. But I found myself often faced with the comment, “Wow. Nice bag… it’s big.” And people were right. It IS big. Big enough to carry my 15″ Macbook Pro. I was hoping the bag would be able to be an everyday carry as well as my work bag. But using it as an everyday carry was just a bit bigger than I’d like. Put it this way, fully loaded, it wouldn’t fit under some of the smaller seats on a plane. And fully loaded… it was HEAVY.
So I started looking and thinking about another bag. It was hard. I had been spoiled by the Belstaff bag. So when I came upon an ad for a Belstaff 556 Colonial Shoulder Bag (regular size)… I jumped on it. Mountain brown just like my larger bag.
I have had it for about a month now and through a trip to Orlando and a trip to New Zealand. It is GREAT! This is the perfect size for everyday carry and travel. Big enough to throw a good amount of stuff in, books magazines, a netbook etc. Not too heavy to carry around all day. Same great construction as the 554.
It also has one really nice feature. It fits a Tenba Messenger Photo Insert perfectly. I saw this insert on Flickr and it is actually better than all the Domke ones that I swore buy. It is PERFECT for a messenger shaped bag… none of the Domke’s really are. With it, I can actually fit a Canon 1DmkIII and 3 lenses. Or even the 70-200L f/2.8 IS and another lens mounted. In a bind, I can load the 1DmkIII holster style (lens pointed down). The top closes… barely and is not that comfortable to carry but it fits… in a bind.
So if I had a choice, I’d go with the 556 over the 554. It’s just more universally usable. But I like having two and don’t feel it is duplicating. In a time where Belstaff seems to be stopping the manufacturing of these bags (STUPID STUPID STUPID)… I am glad I have another in case something were to happen to the other. Both mine also don’t have the magnets and the seams match the color of the bag. The newer ones have magnets under the latches and a different color seam. Now why would they do that!
The dimensions measured at the seams* are: 10.25 in tall x 12 in wide x 3 in deep at the top and 4 in deep at the bottom.
Front pockets are 6.5 in tall x 4.5 in wide x 1 in deep.
Side pockets are 5 in tall by 4 in wide… tight rounded depth.
Inside zippered pocket is 7 in long.
* inside might be a bit smaller.
I was just at Fred Segal Trend in Santa Monica CA and they four 554 in Mountain Brown bags. Call them and they should be able to ship to you.
@aaronlam Greatly appreciate the info! Currently awaiting my bag from Fred Segal Trend!
@Win Thanks for the heads up… but I tend to carry a lot of stuff in addition so the extra space is necessary. Or I just might end up like aaron and buying another in the future!
Aaron,
Thank you for your site! I too have a bag obsession. I have been on an endless quest searching for the perfect work/travel bag. I have tried them all, backpacks, messenger bags, rolling bags, rolling bags that double as a backpack… My challenge was to find a bag that could hold the essential items that I needed for my travels, laptop, files, glasses, books etc. I also wanted a bag that had a little class attached to it.
I found that the bigger the bag the more stuff I tended to cram in it making it too heavy to carry. I wanted something that was not too big, but not too small either. Sound familiar. I was resolved that I was going to carry a backpack for the rest of my life!
I then happened on your site. Could it be that I am not the only person out there in this “Wide, Wide World of Sports” that was crazed with finding the perfect work bag! The answer…I Am Not Alone!
You introduced me to the Belstaff 544 Large Shoulder Bag. Hmm…it sounds like this could be the bag that I have been looking for. Great, how can I get one? I’m sure that I can do a search on the Internet and find it and order one. Easy. This is where I got a big lesson on big bad world of counterfeit merchandize. I found a site (I think it was called Belstaf jackets on-line) that sold the 544 bags for $158.00. Wow! What a great deal. I’ll take it! When it arrived it look somewhat like the photos of your bag that you had posted on your site, it was the right size and sort of the right color. But, something wasn’t right with it. Bottom line after doing more research not only with your site but also with other sites it was quite obvious that I had purchased a fake bag. What a bummer!!
Now the game was one, I had to have one!! I found my bag at the San Francisco JCrew on Market Street and it just might be the bag that I have been looking for, so far so good.
Please let your follows know that ‘George Greene’ in Chicago has the complete line of Belstaff bags in all colors also the JCrew stores in San Francisco and Chicago has 544 bag in the Panama color only and the 566 in Mountain Brown and Black.
Aaron, thank you again for your site.
Hi everyone,
Just to jim in onto the convo- im ordering my 556 from http://www.lineafashion.com (also sell 554′s) all up it was 247 pounds
Hello,
I know this is an older post, but I am debating between the 554 and 556 and stumbled across your blog while looking for reviews.I need to use the bag for work and for everyday use if possible. I would need to be able to fit an iPad, regular sized laptop, chargers, wallet, phone, sunglasses and probably some file folders or spiral note books (this would be the most I would fit at one time. For everyday use I would omit the laptop, chargers and folders). Do you think I could fit everything in the 554?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Alexis
@Alexis
Hi… yes a 554 will fit everything you listed no problem… up to a 15″ Macbook Pro in a sleeve. I BELIEVE it will fit a 17″ Macbook Pro but would be tight… I have never confirmed this. A 556 will not be big enough to fit a 15″ Macbook Pro comfortably.
The 554 is a bit big for every day carry but it’s doable. It’s certainly the size of some totes I see women carry. There’s a comparative picture here on me (I’m 5’10″): http://www.aaronlam.com/misc/belstaff/BelstaffBagComparison.jpg
Good luck!
Thanks a lot man!!!! I read your blog while looking for a DSLR capable messenger bag and found myself at a J-Crew store today forking over $385 for said bag. I just order a tenba insert from B&H. I also found a “National Geographic Shoulder Pad for Earth Explorer Bag” which looks as though will do the trick. B&H stocked this as well so at least I saved the shipping……literally a token at this point) You’re right about the pad it comes with. A few extra pounds = not so comfortable.
Anyway, I’m usually the one getting other people to spend their money. Guess now I now how they feel!!
Thank you,
The 554 will probably be the best size for all my gear.
I appreciate the review.
Alexis
Hi,
Im interested in getting the 556 bag for my husband but he has a 15″ macbook Pro, by any chance can it fit inside, do you know?
Its the best looking bag I found, so I really want to make it work!
thanks.
@Luca
Hmm. Lucky husband! So I get this question a lot… a picture says a thousand words. Here’s my Belstaff 556 Colonial with a Macbook Pro Unibody 15″ inside it.
Technically, it will fit. You might be able to squeeze a thin neoprene case (recommended as the bag has no padding). If you are putting it in the bag without protection, there is an interior zipper… you should put some like gaffer tape over it to keep it scratching the Macbook Pro.
In my personal opinion though, it’s a bit tight. You won’t be able to fit much more in here. It also stretches the bag past what the dimensions should be… so it’s using it’s depth to compensate for lack of width. The little flaps fold in a bit awkwardly. And isn’t terribly natural to carry. But it does technically fit.
Good luck!
Thanks mate for excellent info on these bags and great photos.
You’re probably tired of 556 vs 554 questions by now, but just in case you or any other owners could help: I’d typically need to fit a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a book (sometimes a larger hardcover) and a compact camera – does anyone think this would fit in the 556 or am I better with the 554?? I’d prefer smaller if possible.
Cheerio from Auckland / Matt
@Matt
Pretty sure it would be all good with a 556. Especially if you prefer smaller… 554 is pretty big.
Thanks! I was thinking of picking up a 556 to use as a camera bag, and I think you sold me. I have a Saddleback large briefcase for my daily lugging hither and tither as a professor, so I think the 556 is perfect for travel/camera.
Why not just buy it directly on the Belstaff website?
http://www.shop.belstaff.com/index.php/eshop/product/Belstaff-Bags-SHOULDER-BAG-556.html/1/pid/40472/frmCatID/22636/
Cheaper than J.Crew, and authenticity assured
I just want to know when u wanted to sell it, Im ya Guy lol
Hey all,
Is the insert you have for the 556? I want to make sure I get the correct one. Thanks!
http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger–Removable-Photo-Insert.aspx#specifications
Hi folks. I have been trying to get my hands on one of these, the 554, but I have had no luck. I live in Portland, OR and havent found a reliable place online to buy this bag. Does anyone know a website to purchase this beauty?
Thanks in advance.
Hey people. Here is a riddle. Find 10 differences between our Belstaff 556 and this Timberland stuff
http://www.timberlandonline.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-TBLGB-Site/default/Search-Show?cgid=men_accessories&start=0&sz=20&pid=M2238&start=8&source=search&color=877 …
@Karol
WHAAA! They totally ripped off the Belstaff Colonial. Pretty good rip off though. I’d just bump on the way the straps attach. And at £125.00, that’s pretty steep. But 10 differences would probably be hard to find.
Where did you get yours? I want one so badly, but I hate the one with the magnets. I want the buckles stitch to it. If you could give me like a website or something, that would be great!
@Vu and is yours (the 554 and 556) with magnet buckles or stitched on buckles?
Hey Aron,
I just picked up a Belstaff 556 from J.Crew, but it’s made in Bulgaria (not Italy like other people mentioned), and the big logo patch on the back of the bag flip is brown, not black like yours.
I was wondering if Belstaff changed the manufacturing factory or i got a fake?
No magnetic buckles though.
Thanks.
@Stanley
That doesn’t sound right at all. But it seems unlikely that JCrew would be selling fakes. On their website, it does say Made in Italy and the picture has a black label.
I have a friend who works at JCrew… let me check with her and get back to you.
@Vu
I have both the 556 and the 554 (http://www.aaronlam.com/blog/2008/08/14/belstaff-554-large-colonial-shoulder-bag/)
I got my 556 from a private seller and the 554 here: http://www.belstaff-deutschland.de/ (It’s a German dealer).
For the 556…
Fred Segal Trend in Santa Monica CA has them if you want to call. I am going to hold off referring to JCrew until I resolve Stanley’s.
The new bags should all have the stitched buckles… I believe Belstaff has switched back to that design.
Well… It’s me again. I found next Belstaff killer
: http://www.ghurka.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=100137
Have just ordered a 556 from LineaFashion.com. Have found your feedback on the bag priceless. Will let you know how it all pans out when it arrives at the end of this week…hopefully
many thanks
Rakesh