Clapham Tote
Bag

Our cotton canvas bags and backpacks are oft-employed by commuter cyclists. As well as their ample capacity and confident weatherproofing, they are undeniably stylish – and where do appearances matter more than in the modern metropolis? At Brooks we are firm advocates of both form and function, and the utility of the cotton canvas material we use is further enhanced by a polyurethane coating which makes it water-resistant.

In devising products for cyclists, it would be naive of us to expect a permanent state of box-fresh perfection. Our bags are made to be used, to experience the elements and to mature and change as time progresses. After all, what good is a bag for moving around if you can’t bring it with you outdoors? The natural cotton canvas material used to make this bag will develop a patina over time for a unique and personal look. Think of it as a story; a yarn that only your bag can spin. It has a polyurethane coating which makes it water-resistant. Similarly, the bag’s leather details are made from premium vegetable-tanned leather which – as our saddles have often proved – only improves with age.

Brooks England cycle bags are designed to protect their contents through thick and thin. Weather-proofing is a constant consideration, with every effort made to give each product a resolute resistance to the elements it will likely encounter. This is achieved in a variety of ways. Water-resistant treatments are added to our canvas items while the more technical pieces of kit made from synthetic materials feature bonded seams to create a fully waterproof ‘dry bag’ effect. Security, too, is of great importance. After all, there is no greater frustration than fumbling around inside a single voluminous compartment trying to dig out the sole item that is presently desired. Separate sections for things like laptops on our commuter bags, or an emergency credit card in our cycle-touring range speak to this small but important consideration: it’s nice to have different spaces for different kinds of stuff.

Our bags are made to last, built on a foundation of 160 years experience in manufacturing, and especially in leather-working. For as long as there have been bicycles, there have been those that sought to use them for hauling, touring, porting and otherwise moving things about. The Birmingham-based leather company of J.B. Brooks was only too happy to provide bags for cyclists, alongside its burgeoning line in bicycle saddles. Indeed, in the Price List of Cycle Saddles and Accoutrements for 1888, there are as many pages dedicated to the company’s bags as there are to seats. The materials and techniques have moved on a bit since Queen Victoria was on the throne and the result is a line of durable and reliable bags that can withstand a great deal.