By Banoo Bags: A Scandinavian Design Win or Just Another Pricey Trend?
|
Time to read: 6 min
When it comes to leather bags, craftsmanship, material quality, and pricing play a crucial role in determining whether a product is worth your hard-earned cash. Today, we’re diving deep into By Banoo, a Swedish brand that challenged me to test their leather duffel bag. Let’s see if it lives up to expectations or falls short.
In this blog, we will answer the following questions:
- Does By Banoo’s 12 Hour Duffel Bag deliver true craftsmanship, or is it just another stylish trend?
- Is the €700 price tag justified given the bag’s leather quality, construction, and cost breakdown?
- How does By Banoo’s duffel balance Scandinavian design aesthetics with practical functionality?
Let's dive into the leatherverse again —one review, one dissection, and one video at a time.
DISCLAIMER: The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process.
What's Inside?
First Impressions: A Unique Duffel Bag Design Construction & Workmanship: Clever Yet Cost-Conscious Hardware: A Mid-Level Choice Leather Quality: What’s Beneath the Surface? Cost Breakdown: How Much Does It Really Cost to Make? Final Verdict: Is It Worth It? Want to read more? Frequently Asked Questions About Tanner
First Impressions: A Unique Duffel Bag Design
At first glance, the By Banoo duffel stands out with its sleek yet functional design. It boasts a well-thought-out compartment structure with multiple pockets for better organization. Unlike most duffels on the market, this one has a defined structure, giving it a polished and modern aesthetic. From a design standpoint, I’d rate it a solid 4 out of 5.
Construction & Workmanship: Clever Yet Cost-Conscious
Upon dissecting the bag, I noticed that the support materials were used wisely, although they leaned towards the budget-friendly side. The polyester lining is durable and easy to maintain—a practical choice, though not the most luxurious.
The inner craftsmanship is clean, with neatly placed elements throughout. However, some thread endings are exposed, and the edge paint on the handles is lightly applied. Notably, the bag avoids edge painting in favor of turned edges and piping. For these reasons, the workmanship scores a 3.5 out of 5.
Hardware: A Mid-Level Choice
The bag features protective feet at the bottom, which is always a plus, but the hardware isn’t customized with branding. The coating on the hardware is mid-tier, nothing extraordinary. While it gets the job done, it doesn’t scream premium. Hardware score: 3.5 out of 5.
@tanner.leatherstein €700 for a duffel? For that price, it better pack itself. Visit them at @bybanoo. DISCLAIMER: The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process. #bybanoo #bagtok #fashionfinds #luxury #rmbc #ripmybagchallenge #tannerleatherstein ♬ original sound - Tanner Leatherstein
Leather Quality: What’s Beneath the Surface?
The bag combines suede and pebbled cowhide leather, which offers an interesting contrast in texture. According to the website, the suede has a water-repellent application—a much-needed feature since suede can be difficult to maintain. A quick water test showed that the treatment does provide some protection against light rain and splashes.
However, when testing the pebbled leather with acetone, it revealed a significant pigmented finish. This means the leather surface has been heavily corrected, making it less breathable and more uniform in appearance. While the leather originates from Italy, it feels standard rather than premium. Overall, I’d rate the leather 3.5 out of 5.
Cost Breakdown: How Much Does It Really Cost to Make?
When breaking down the cost of this By Banoo duffel bag, the materials and labor give us a clear picture of its true value. The suede portions of the bag require approximately six square feet of leather, which I estimate to cost around $20, while the eight square feet of pebbled cowhide used for the rest of the bag adds another $28 to the total. This brings the raw leather material cost to approximately $48. Beyond the leather, assembling a bag of this size and complexity in Portugal—where the brand produces its goods—would likely require around $125 in labor, including the cost of hardware and additional materials. Altogether, I estimate the total production cost to be somewhere between $173 and $175. Given that I purchased this bag for €710 (around $740 USD), the price multiplier sits at around 4.2x, which falls within a reasonable range compared to similar brands in the market.
| Criteria | Score | Results |
| Leather | 3.5 | Average corrected leathers that do NOT require high-quality raw hides. Less info on the source of the leather. |
| Hardware | 3.5 | Alloy hardware with acceptable coating. Lifetime may be impacted due to the coating of the hardware. |
| Design | 4 | A creative take on a classical design concept. |
| Engineering | 4 | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure. |
| Craftsmanship | 3.5 | Good overall stitching and alignment with minor flaws. Acceptable edge finishing, with fairly clean interior and exterior. |
| OVERALL SCORE | 3.7 | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try |
|
PRICE/COST MULTIPLIER |
4.2x | Exceptional value for money. |
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
While By Banoo’s duffel bag isn’t an ultra-premium leather bag, it does offer a well-structured, stylish, and functional design at a fair price point. The use of suede and pebbled leather in high-contact areas is a smart choice, and the water-repellent feature adds practicality.
If you’re drawn to Scandinavian aesthetics with a balance of form and function, this could be a solid option in the leather market. I’ll be keeping an eye on By Banoo to see what else they bring to the leather game.
Would you pay €700 for this duffel? Let me know your thoughts!
Want to read more?
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I submit my product for the Leather Bureau of Investigation, and what happens after submission?
To submit your product, please complete this form. Once submitted, we'll review the details to determine if your product fits our project. If accepted, you'll receive an email within seven days. In return for your donation, we’ll send you a free product from our PEGAI catalog, and all information provided will be kept confidential. If not selected, you’re welcome to submit other products in the future.
This project is only for leather goods customers. If you're a brand, please refer to the Chopping Block / Rip My Bag Challenge FAQ.
How can I suggest a brand for review?
You can view all the brands currently on our list here: Brand List.
If the brand you want to see reviewed isn’t listed, simply leave your suggestion in the comments section! We’ll gather all suggestions and add them to the Suggestion Box in Tanner Leatherstein's website's Forum for voting, where the most requested brands have a chance to be featured next.
Does Tanner offer advisory services?
Unfortunately, not at this time.
Is Tanner available for media interviews?
Yes, Tanner is open for media interviews! If you'd like to collaborate on a feature or interview him, please email him directly at tanner@pegai.com.
Whether it's about leather crafting, brand reviews, or the business side of PEGAI, Tanner is happy to share his insights and expertise.
How can my brand participate in the "Rip My Bag" Challenge / Chopping Block?
Thank you for your interest in our "Rip My Bag/Chopping Block - Incognito" review program! This initiative offers leather brands a chance to be featured in front of a highly engaged audience.
- Limited Spots: We are only accepting 25 brands this year (2025), so space is limited.
- How to Apply: Submit your brand via the link below to join the waitlist. We will assess your products against our program’s standards. Submission does not guarantee acceptance.
- Notification: We’ll notify you of the results once the assessment is complete.
Program Fee: $1,250 USD
This fee covers production, due diligence, and content creation costs.
Please review the full terms and conditions available on the link for detailed information about the process.
We look forward to collaborating with you and showcasing quality craftsmanship to our audience!
About Tanner
Tanner Leatherstein
Known as the "butcher of leather bags," Tanner has amassed over 2 million followers and 301 million views, with features in outlets like The New York Times and Financial Times. PEGAI, Tanner's brand, embodies his passion for crafting premium leather goods with unmatched authenticity and precision.
