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 by. 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.
Of course, pictures are worth a thousand words: More Pictures of Belstaff Colonial 556.
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
So is the belstaff 556/554 from LineaFashion.com magnet buckles or stitched on buckles?
Just bought 556 from LineaFashion.com. No magnetic buckles, logo patch on the back of the bag flip is brown, not black like yours.
Is it fake?
@Wayne
Do you have a picture of it? I’ve seen several people say the patch on the back of the flap is now brown… maybe this is a change. The bag looks good on the website.
Hey Aaron, thanks a lot for all the great info you’ve provided on this bag. It is the best site to go to if anyone wants to buy this bag and needs to do some research.
Hey Wayne,
All the new bags now have brown patches on the flap, I’ve held the new bags in my hands from Belstaff and the patch is brown, so no need to worry. I’ve looked long and hard at the bags being sold on Mr. Porter, which is a huge men’s fashion website and the patch on that bag is brown as well. I’ve also done extensive research on this bag and it seems as if the bag is real the one you bought from Linea, also Linea is a huge store in London, I don’t think they would sell fake merchandise there.
Here is the sure fire test.
Is the leather on the bag, notably the straps thick and strong? Is the colour on one side of the leather straps different from the other side? Did it come with tags, model number, the dust cover? Is the British union jack on the left side corner of the bag when you are looking at it straight on? Another note is that on a fake bag, the interior is not grey like the other mountain brown bags. it is a similar brownish, colour.
The easiest way to figure out if your bag is fake or not is the leather. The leather on a fake bag is flimsy and thin and weak. THe magnetic clasps are also a surefire sign that the bag could be fake, but also as it has been stated before, real bags did have the magnet clasps. But the fake belstaff bag will have both the cheap leather and the magnetic clasps. But in case you aren’t convinced check out the bag being shown here on the Mr. Porter website.
http://www.mrporter.com/product/168651
Here are some other pictures of what the bag looks like now that I found.
http://deluxemall.com/rest-designer-brands-here/64997-belstaff-554-bag-mint-condition.html
I think the note on the infringing copyright picture was probably a picture from “I Am Legend”.
I hope this answers your questions Wayne and Aaron, thanks again for the awesome site!
I do have a question for you, I contacted Linea myself, I saw that they use Transworld Courier, did they give you tracking numbers, was it a guy from that company that came and delivered the bag, what happens if you aren’t there to pick up the bag, do they drop it off with the nearby post office?
Billy
Hey Aaron and Wayne,
I’ve been checking out the facebook owners group for the Belstaff 554 and people keep defending how Lineafashion is “legit” and its great. It’s making me nervous as well now. I just bought a 554 from there. Anyone buy from Lineafashion.com before? Can anyone confirm that these bags and the store are legit? I know they do have a store in London, but I don’t know, I guess I always feel nervous about buying stuff online…
Thanks guys.
Billy
Hi All,
I can confirm that the bags and clothes from LineaFashion.com are 100% legit. I actually live about a mile from the shop in Camden Town and have purchased many Belstaff products from there, including this Belstaff 554 Colonial Bag:
http://www.lineafashion.com/store/mens-belstaff-bags/belstaff-large-colonial-shoulder-bag-554-mountain-brown-11380.html
And this beautiful Belstaff Trialmaster Legend Jacket (the same one from the I am Legend movie).
http://www.lineafashion.com/store/mens-belstaff-jackets/belstaff-trialmaster-legend-mens-jacket-black-10007.html
I’ve actually shopped with them for over 15 years and can confirm the owner, Moreno is a lovely guy.
The thing you need to realise is they are based in Hampstead, which is a very prestigious area of London, and in those kinds of areas it would be impossible to sell fake goods in a high street shop for any prolonged period of time because you would get raided and shut down in no time – it’s simply not tolerated.
Although you can actually buy fake stuff from some open air markets in less prestigious areas of London.
The sites to watch out for are basically any sites that have belstaff in the name (apart from the official Belstaff site of course). Some examples of fake sites are these:
belstaff uk sale com
www 2011 belstaff jacket com
www belstaff jackets-uk co uk
www belstaff-jackets me uk
www belstaff jackets 4 sale co uk
www official belstaff jackets com <– note this one even tricks you into thinking it may be official!
There are literally hundreds of them! I've mistyped the names purposely because I don't want to promote them – just delete the spaces and add the dots if you want to see them. Also if you copy paste them to google, I'm pretty sure they will come up.
One thing they all seem to have in common is no mailing address and no phone number (check the contact links on the sites). I hope this helps. I had a friend who was ripped off by one of these sites – he thought he as getting a really good deal, until i broke it down for him.
Good luck to all and love the site.
Best wishes,
James
Apart from the brown patch, everything else is fine.
I was home when the courier came, so no idea if they drop it at the post office.
@Billy – Trans World Couriers will contact you by phone to arrange redelivery a second time if you miss them the first time. If you miss the second delivery, they charge for the next redelivery – so try not to miss them twice! You can also instruct them to leave the package with a neighbour if you want to.
Hope this helps.
James
I would like to chime in on J.Crew. J Crew mgmt. just communicated to me that their Belstaff’s are different, they wanted them too be. If you want the old school original you will not find it @ J Crew. If you do, pls let us know.
THX
I had just purchased a Belstaff 556 Colonial bag from JCREW.com a week ago. It was made in italy, had grainy, thick leather and everything else checked out first class on the bag…except…The prongs on the buckles were crooked and THE LEATHER ON THE SHOULDER STRAP WAS CURVING THE WRONG WAY! Made in Italy and they screw up these important details??? So a few days ago I purchase another colonial from JCREW and it arrived. This time, the strap is proper and actually forms to my shoulder now…buckles and everything checks out fine, leather is thick and smooth (better in my opinion) except for a brown belstaff logo on the inside flap rather than a black one and this one is made in Bulgaria???
The bulgarian version is actually crafted properly and up to spec compared to the italian one! i guess now a days “made in italy” is nothing but a label rather than quality craftsmanship.
i will try one last time with jcrew and see if i can get a perfect colonial bag with a made in italy tag…it will actually make me feel like it was money well spent.
this happen to anybody else here?
The colouring on this bag (556) is so much darker then the ones Linea Fashion has (http://www.lineafashion.com/store/mens-belstaff-bags/belstaff-colonial-shoulder-bag-556-mountain-brown-11290.html). The Belstaff patch is brown instead of black and the leather is much brighter. I really love the one you have. More darker and has that old vintage look to it. Do you know why they would do that? I know the 554 on their website is practically the same as the one you have. I really want the exact same bag (556) you have. I LOVE the colouring and the way it looks. I know you told me Fred Segal Trends have it, but is it the exact same colouring you have or have they update it? I live in Toronto, Ontario and I definitely don’t know how I’ll order one. They don’t even have an email where I can ask them if they can send me pictures, just to make sure I’m buying the right one.
I think this website might have stolen your pictures.
@Vu
I believe it should be the same color (Mountain Brown). Sometimes the bag will look darker or lighter depending on lighting. There is another shade down though that is Khaki and looks more yellow.
I believe it has been confirmed their label has been changed to brown… not sure why…
The leather will also wear and change colors as you own it. The one on my 556 is kinda of curly now… I think it’s been to some very humid climates (2 weeks in China, lots of trips to Florida).
I guess there’s plus and minuses… when I bought mine several years ago… you couldn’t even find them any where. My 554 I ordered from Germany through a set of very difficult to understand emails.
@Vu
Oh yeah… I think my images have been stolen all over the web which if fine… I am not in this for a business. If it helps people accurately see the bag, then that makes me happy.
I am going to remove the link from your post though as that site looks shady to me. It’s obviously not the actual item and feels like there is a ton of false advertising. Even the customer review looks like it has lines lifted from my review. SO PEOPLE BEWARE OF SHADY RETAILERS!
Oh well.
does anyone have any experience washing their 554/56? my son’s milk spilled all over my entire bag. oy. i need help!
Sorry for dubbel sending you, but i don´t know where you will answer! i´ve seen your into this belstaff shoulder bag thing..
So now, in the movie “the vow” i saw channing tatum wearing this great looking bag and i wanted it so bad! i found a picture of it on this website http://www.premiereprops.com/popup_image.php?pID=10474&type=jpg
Is that the 556 or 554? there are other pictures you can compare on if you just google ” Channing tatum bag in the vow” or something like that.
And also, do you know ANY site that sells the 556? I´ve just found these fake sites. So if you pleas could answer to me as soon as you get this! because im going away on Sunday and i really need to get this cleard out by then! if you could list relaible sites that still sells the 556 i would be very pleased. Or if any body could pleas help!// Andreas From Sweden!
Thanks for the useful tips that helped me to find the ultimate gift for my husband–a man-bag, a very manly man-bag–so that I never have to lug his camera, cell, devices, and spare change in my purse ever again. I’ve always loved this vintage/safari style of bag, but hadn’t seen it in several decades.
Anyways, the 556s are impossible to find now thanks to Will Smith, Brad Pitt, and oh, Aaron Lam. Lol. So I am contenting myself with a Ghurka messenger bag 718 which is now on summer sale for 50% off. Bringing it down to a reasonable $197.50.
I’d love to see a Ghurka 718 : Belstaff 556 comparison. Ghurkas are designer bags on par with Coach or Dooney &. Burke, so I was hoping to find more brag photos, but nothing but pinterest lust pins. Taking the leap of faith…
No worries. Go right ahead and remove. I thought there was like some copyright behind your photos so I just had to let you know.@aaronlam
Hey bro!
Look, Im another one of those who is looking for the Belstaff Colonial Bag (the 556 I think…the medium one..?) . I found them a good price on belstaffonlinestore.com (both…the 554 and the 556). But Im afraid they are not the originals….Do you know anything about that site?
Ah, Have you checked the GHURKA one? it looks good….but I haven’t found any comment about it.
Thanks!
Hello James,
I see you have checked many of those websites…. and that’s exactly what I don’t want….I don’t want to pay $200 for a fake Belstaff Colonial Bag. Have you heard of the belstaffonlinestore.com ?? Is this a good one or another fake site…? Because I don’t see it on the list your list.
Thanks!
P.S: this website has a phone number contact…
@James
Most commenters were wanting the Belstaff. Just received the Gurka 718. I don’t have a Bestaff so I am just comparing to Aaron’s glossies for future folks’ edification.
The two bags are virtually identical minus the brand tags. Don’t know which one came first, but the 718 bears familial resemblance to the rest of Ghurka’s catalog including the classic line originating in the 70s.
recap: Belstaff is a high end British outerwear (originally waxed cotton and specializing in motorcycle) company founded in 1924 now repositioning itself as designer leisure wear. Ghurka is an American luxury work & travel gear company inspired by British colonial leatherwork/handicraft founded in 1975; it’s hallmark is made in US handstitched leather. I don’t know if this is still the case for the 718. There were no product origin tags anywhere on the bag nor in the catalog description. It could be that the body of the bag was made elsewhere while the leather was done in the US. Not enough info.
Ghurka Weathered Messenger Bag 718
-18 oz canvas. Not waxed so it may not be waterproof. Washed and tumbled for a weathed look, but the leather is pristine. Belstaff has a more rugged, broken in look.
-dimensions 17 ” L x 13″ H x 4.5w so it seems to be slightly larger than the 556. I don’t know the measurements of the 554 so I cannot compare.
– understated brand tag on the main flap and stamp on the shoulder strap.
-branded snaps instead of of magnetic clasps or functional straps. This requires pressure on the contents of the bag to close so that can be a pain. It is more secure than magnetic but it seems like the consensus here has been for straps.
-has Zippered main compartment so when you set you bag down you dont have to worry about small things rolling out from the inside. Gives it points over 556 for that feature.
-leather piping on interior compartment edges and inner pockets. these areas get a lot of friction so it’s nice to have the reinforcement to protect those seams and stitches. 556 does not have this.
-has an additional two interior pockets for cell, keys, or change. 556 does not appear to have this. I would like to have a carbiner D-ring or O-ring for keys on the interior which womens designer handbags usually have but neither of these unisex bags have that.
-has a webbed cotton handstrap in addition to the shoulder strap.
-Shoulder strap is lined on one side in leather similar to the front straps. This makes the strap longer lasting than cotton webbing alone.
-lacks the bottom corner leather reinforcing of the 556, although the corners are reinforced with the same heavyweight canvas as the body of the bag. I would prefer that the entire bottom is reinforced by leather with brass button studs so when you set it down it doesn’t stain, but neither bag features that.
Anyways, i hesitated to get scammed with a knock off belstaff and I’m content with the price on this one (now no longer on sale). Hopefully the Tenba accessory will still work with this.
@Inaliel
Inaliel was kind enough to send some photos of the Ghurka. Thanks for taking the time!
photos courtesy of Inaliel.
I’ve never done this but read on another blog a long time ago… wash in the washing machine on cold and hang to dry. Please do at your own risk… but let us know how it goes!!! 🙂