Travel bags built to last

Whether you choose a classic duffle design or a deep holdall, you can be confident that your MAHI won’t let you down. MAHI bags don’t just look great; they are handmade to the highest standards, with robust stitching, sturdy brass fittings and dependable YKK zips. Our vegetable-dyed, full-grain leather is not only beautiful, but it’s also tough enough to last you a lifetime of trips, and the older it gets, the better it looks.

Common Questions About Leather Travel Bags

Is leather a good choice for a travel bag?

People have been using leather to carry their possessions for thousands of years and the reason for this is that it is such a strong and durable material. High-quality leather will not rip or tear and its appearance improves with age.  A quality leather bag can take a lot of punishment and still look great. Travelling can be exhausting and stressful and the last thing that you need is to see your poor-quality travel bag coming apart at the seams, ripping or tearing. 

So, are leather travel bags durable?

You need to be aware that not all leather is equally durable. Confusingly, ‘genuine leather is low-quality composite leather, created by glueing together leather offcuts and then painting them to give a uniform finish. A bag made from ‘genuine leather’ may look like a quality product but the surface will degrade and the leather will tear. Always choose a bag made from top-quality full-grain leather, the best quality leather available. Cared for properly, a quality leather bag will literally ‘last a lifetime’.

How practical are leather travel bags?

Choose a travel bag, which is strong but also supple. Rigid travel bags create points of wear and are impractical when you are trying to fit them in tight spaces such as an overhead compartment or the boot of a car. Choose travel bags, which feature comfortable, adjustable, shoulder straps as well as carrying handles, so that you can switch around for maximum comfort. It is also helpful if the bag has secure external pockets so that you can easily access your travel documents.

Are leather travel bags waterproof?

Leather is rich in natural oils and for everyday use, it is sufficiently waterproof to ensure that your belongings will remain entirely dry in the event that you are caught in a shower; however, leather is a natural, organic material; it is not impermeable to water like an oil-based product, such as P.V.C. If you intend to hike for days in torrential rain, a leather bag would not be an appropriate choice, but for the duration of rain that you are likely to encounter during conventional travel, you can be confident that the contents of your bag will remain dry.

How do I clean a leather travel bag?

One of the joys of owning a quality leather travel bag is the minimal amount of care required to keep your bag in great shape. Full-grain leather is much more resistant to dirt and staining than lower-quality leather. Surface marks can be easily removed using a damp cloth and then wiped over with a dry cloth. As your bag ages you can clean your bag using an appropriate, commercially available, leather cleaner, which will replenish the leather’s natural oils, however, if your bag is stored in dry, well-ventilated conditions, this will rarely be necessary. 

Choose your Overnight or Weekend companion

Are you a duffle person? With extendable, detachable straps, a range of zip pockets inside and out and a sturdy brass studded base, this unisex bag is fast to pack friend for all your travel adventures. Or maybe a holdall would suit your needs better. Featuring the same high-quality components but with a much deeper storage area, our holdalls are perfect for packing clothes. Whatever your choice, all our bags are available in either full-grain leather or a combination of leather and high-quality canvas. You can choose from a range of colours, we even have an animal print with a soft fur finish and don’t forget that you can customise your travel bag with up to three embroidered initials. All our bags come with a complimentary dust cover and a thirty-day money-back guarantee. $1.50 from the sale of each bag, is donated to Frank Water, a UK-based charity which has helped hundreds of thousands of people gain access to clean water since 2005.