Billingham wear info

[noah b]

Just recently picked up a Billingham L2, and I usually sling the bag over my left shoulder and it drapes across my right chest. I've noticed that the shoulder strap is wearing on the trim leather near the top. Is this normal? I have kept this bag in great shape other than this. Is there anyway to prevent?

https://ibb.co/enTf0a

 

[Godfrey]

Looks like it's wearing against something abrasive. My L2 is 12 years old, I wear it the same way your do, and there's none of that.

Look at what that section of the edging is bearing against and alter the strap length, or change what you're wearing there, to prevent damage.

G

 

[Mute-on]

Hmmm. My L2 doesn't have this wear either.
I wear it cross body but tucked into the small of my back. If you have it bouncing off your hip or swinging to and fro as you walk, the strap could abrade the leather in this way, but only if it is compressing that edge and sliding across it constantly.
Try repositioning the bag to avoid this movement.
Treat the leather, too.
Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[noah b]

Thanks for the replies gents, I think what was happening was the position of the bag on my back was rocking back and forth having the strap rub on the leather trim. Shortened the strap just a tad and it doesn't touch it anymore.

 

[Bisakok]

Isn't it usually considered more 'hip' to have the oldest, scruffiest looking bag?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Isn't it usually considered more 'hip' to have the oldest, scruffiest looking bag?

Well, quite. A few decades ago I inadvertently dragged one of my Billinghams for 10-20 yards/metres behind a motorcycle in India. Gave it character! Still using it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JHutchins]

Isn't it usually considered more 'hip' to have the oldest, scruffiest looking bag?

I will confess to being affected enough that I'd rather my bag not look like I bought it yesterday. And it doesn't. It looks like I've used it for a year or so. The problem is, I've used the same damn bag for over twenty five years. Whatever the canvas Billingham used on the bag back then was woven from is a frustratingly durable fiber. It looks like it's spent its life as a city bag but it lives in Alaska and has been banged and scraped against rocks or tumbled down them for years. been tugged at by brambles and dragged through devil's club, doused in salt water as it's strapped to a packraft or a small sailboat, even sat in pools of salt water in the bottom of the cockpit for prolonged periods. If you look at it closely, the leather tells its story but the canvas looks basically new.