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.
wow, that is small! crap. thanks for the pic though. so obviously it fits comfortably in the 554 with lots of room to spare. yikes, if thats too big and 556 is too small, maybe this isn’t my bag. thanks for the photo.
I thought you guys might be interested in the following site:
http://www.my-wardrobe.com/belstaff/mountain-brown-heavy-canvas-messenger-bag-416278
They are offering the 556 in mountain brown for $371.25 plus 30% off for first time customers
I just placed in order and with shipping and duty the total came out to ~$275.
Thanks for the great discussion. It made my purchase easier
-Rob
^wow!!! thanks man. i think that makes my choice A LOT easier!
@win win yen
Hi. I am sorry… I am not a dealer. Check Jcrew.com or this dealer: http://www.my-wardrobe.com/belstaff/mountain-brown-heavy-canvas-messenger-bag-416278
Good luck.
Okay… here is a 556 with two 1-inch 3-ring binders in it (you can squeeze in the moleskin and Kindle in there too… but it will be tight depending on how big your notebooks are). So based on your list above… yes absolutely can carry those items. A 554 would obviously give you more space. The biggest deciding factor for me is that the 554 can carry a 15in laptop, a 556 can not. That really is, in a work/school environment, the deciding factor.
@Rob
Just so you know Rob, the bag you linked above from my-wardrobe.com is the Belstaff 554 (the larger of the two). I emailed them and they sent me the Belstaff product code : 756150.
it is def the 554 but much to my surprise, it is absolutely the perfect size. i ordered this on sunday morning from my-wardrobe and it was at my doorstep today. pretty amazing considering it shipped from the uk. so all in all it came to $292 shipped from the UK in 2 days. i cant believe im actually the proud owner of a new mountain brown 554. couldn’t be happier. this blog was key in my research. thanks!!!
@jules is yours the version with the stitched on straps or the magnetic ones?
Regular buckles. The straps are Nice and curled too.
well, I just placed my order for the 554 from my-wardrobe. I was going to go with Gotlands but the price was a little friendlier.
I considered the 556 but I’ve had the 554 in mountain brown for a year and I’m glad I went with the bigger bag. My 17 inch powerbook in a booq sleeve fits perfectly while still leaving enough room for a folio and other odds and ends: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luminwerx/3454820140/
Not too small, not too big, just perfect. As with my Domke F2, the 554 conforms easily to whatever I decide to carry. The 554 never feels “too large” even when all I have in there is my wallet and a bottle of water. I do like to leave my semi-rigid booq sleeve in there as it gives the bag shape especially if I’m carrying just a few sheets of note paper.
I also use the Tenba insert already mentioned. I agree with Aaron that the Tenba insert beats the Domke inserts hands down. I ordered my Tenba insert from BHPhotovideo and it is not the white color that appears in so many of the product photos. Mine is a dark grey with multiple configurable hook and loop dividers. Can’t say enough good things about the Tenba – it’s a must have if you intend to use this bag as a camera bag.
FWIW I ordered my 554 through Nico Seifert at Gotlands and the bag was at my door in Hawaii in about 2 weeks.
Happy bag hunting folks. If you can afford one, you will not be disappointed with the Belstaff bag.
Alex,
Thanks for the heads up. The bag actually arrived yesterday (2-3 days after ordering it) even though I opted for the cheaper shipping (I think it was the 8-12 days option).
The bag is indeed the 554. I didn’t even notice until I came back and read your post. The size of the bag definitely meets my needs. I am very happy with the bag and yes the buckles are stitched on.
The price makes the deal all the sweeter, given the 554 is a little more expensive than the 556.
Thanks again,
Rob
You guys are lucky for snagging the my-wardrobe.com ones… looks like they are now out of stock!
@ northshore_boy… cool photos. What organizer are you using for flashlight, multitool etc?
when i ordered mine, it said one left. but then on monday, there were more. i bet if you check in a day or two, they have them again. but you dont need another one! lol. belstaff should send you something for being somewhat of a rep though. haha
I bought the last one yesterday, and got it (from England) less than 24 hours later. I may post a picture later.
@ jules… Don’t I wish!!!
Aaron,
I use a modified zippered semi-rigid case logic (in the picture) and a condor brand zippered organizer wallet to carry pens and a notebook. I am a big fan of semi rigid cases as I find them easier to handle especially when there is a heavy item like a multi tool or small loose items like safety pins or change.
Cheers,
Carlo
belstaff bag buying is addictive, I don’t know why, but I was seriously gonna buy another 554, but then My-wardrobe then sold out.
Anyway, I saw the rucksack version yesterday – (directly beneath the video)
http://www.milanstyle.co.uk/belstaff.htm
it’s another £250 but damn, it’s belstaff and it’s mountain brown and will complete my set.
I just need to get the AK47 and the Alsation, then I am set for the complete action here look
The 556 being sold by J Crew has sewn straps and not magents. Cheaper than Gotlands with free shipping too.
I’ve just discovered these bags and love them. Love. Just wondering if someone can tell me if the if the 556 can fit a 13 inch macbook pro?
thanks..
@Ali
I don’t have a 13″ Macbook Pro so I can’t say for certain but I am pretty sure it will fit. How snugly will depend on what type of sleeve you put the laptop in (if any). I can ALLLLLLMOST squeeze my 15″ in there… so the 13″ will surely fit. I am basing it on my 15″ minus the speakers on the side.
Good luck!
how do you actually wash a 556 cotton canvas?
any approved way of doing it?
thanks
I read somewhere that you can put them in the washing machine, cold water. DO NOT DRY. Hang dry and you might need to iron as needed. You can put leather protector on the straps. I have PERSONALLY not had to wash mine in over a year of ownership. I’ll try to find that article…