I want to buy an everyday bag that'll last a couple of years without getting worn and frayed, and won't look beat up. I'm constantly carrying a laptop, wallet, and headphones. I'm looking at leather, nylon, or some kind of modern synthetic material. What did you go with?
Leather is a classic for a reason. Natural leather just gets better-looking over time if you don't mistreat it. Scuffs on it become noble patina instead of signs of wear. It'll easily last five to seven years minimum if you don't beat it up. The downsides are weight and price, plus you need to maintain it occasionally. But if it's an everyday bag for a couple years, it'll pay for itself.
If leather seems too expensive or pretentious, then modern polyester or nylon is also an option, though there are nuances. Synthetics are lighter, cheaper, and dry quickly, which is convenient. But after a couple of years, nylon can start delaminating at the fold points, the material gets duller and starts to look tired. Quality ripstop or ballistic nylon holds its shape better than regular nylon, but it's still not the same as natural material.
I carry a leather bag myself because I need reliability - there are things inside that can't get wet. But if you get rained on a lot or live somewhere damp, leather will need more attention. Look at your lifestyle: if you want to buy once and not think about it - go leather. If you prefer lightness and don't mind replacing it in a couple of years - quality polyester.
I used to carry a leather bag about five years ago, but then I switched to quality nylon - basically because leather needs constant conditioning and protection from moisture, and dealing with that in city grime became a pain. Nylon is more convenient: spill some coffee on it, wipe it with a napkin and forget about it. Plus it weighs less when you've already got a laptop and a bunch of other stuff in the bag. Sure, nylon loses its looks faster, though not because it tears but because it fades and gets fuzzy, but that's not really a problem for a couple years of use. If you want something that'll actually last forever without any hassle - check out modern synthetic materials like recycled polyester, they hold their shape better than cheap nylon and look more presentable.
Log into answer.
