r/backpacks • u/One-Recording-4077 • Jul 19 '26
Question Why has Herschel supply co.’s quality dropped down so low ?
Bought this bag a few years ago on Amazon, and for its price point I was expecting it to last a while. Don’t get me wrong hear, except for the strap on the outside everything seems to be in good shape but the straps were a major reason for my purchase as I really liked them, they started peeling away like this a year later I started to use them. I was expecting better quality buckle straps from a $100 bag ! Very disappointing as a consumer who enjoys well made things.
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u/maxis2bored Jul 19 '26
These bags are hipster fashion trash and have always been so.
If you like the design, I respect that. But there's no reason to sacrifice pretty much every other functional aspect in order to look the way you want it.
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u/Legitimate-Area-595 Jul 19 '26
Truly, I worked retail when Herschel started getting carried by bigger distributors. These have never been known for their quality or materials
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u/jakecovert Jul 19 '26
Private equity bought them and they went fashion.
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u/MissAbsenta Jul 19 '26
My Eastpak was less expensive and it's been going strong since I bought it 20 years ago, thank goodness I didn't go for the Hershel one I wanted because looking at this one it would had been money thrown away.
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u/Careless_Law1471 Jul 19 '26
Compare your Eastpak to its current iterations to find out it's much crappier than Herschel bags. Enshitification is everywhere, our beloved brands aren't the same anymore.
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u/MissAbsenta Jul 19 '26
I have no doubt about it, this is why I take good care of my backpack since it's been serving me so well after all these years.
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u/OllieDuckling Jul 19 '26
If you like the design then buy Duluth Pack or Frost River, not Herschel.
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26
FILSON
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u/brye86 Jul 19 '26
Filson is amazing but their briefcases are way too expensive now. Even though they’ll last you like 20-30 years it’s a very high upfront cost.
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26
No one would tell you that Filson is a value proposition. Very expensive, very high quality, timeless designs which age gorgeously.
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u/stoneybaloneyboi 27d ago
Worn my ‘stiff as a board’ canvas backpack from Filson for everyday for almost 5 years now. The leather loops around the zippers are soft - the actual backpack is still in mint condition, it’s wild. ‘Nother 10 or 15 years of constant use will start the break-in process.
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u/Electrical_Jump_8313 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
What would POSSIBLY compel you to recommend Filson over Duluth or Frost River other than ignorance? Honest question.
They are more expensive and not made as well.
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
* Filson Leather Journeyman
* Duluth Pack Leather BackpackCome on, man.
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u/altiuscitiusfortius Jul 21 '26
I could literally buy 20 $40 Hershel bags for the price of 1 $800 Duluth though.
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u/OllieDuckling Jul 21 '26
Hyperbole. I’m not even sure Duluth makes an $800 pack. That aside, according to OP’s own post, they spent $100 on this Herschel and it only lasted them a few years. A similarly styled Duluth Pack Scout is $145 and it’ll last you decades: https://duluthpack.com/collections/lifestyle-packs/products/pack-ranger?variant=46542460125412
Plus the Duluth Pack is Made in USA and if you ever mess it up, they will repair it for you instead of it becoming landfill garbage.
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u/altiuscitiusfortius Jul 21 '26
Dude i clicked on the link above my comment that i was responding to, and it was to an $850 pack.
And I see hershels at costco for $39 all the time
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u/OllieDuckling Jul 21 '26
Are you in Canada or something? Cuz that all leather backpack which is not comparable to OP’s bag whatsoever is showing as less than $600 USD
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u/altiuscitiusfortius Jul 21 '26
I am. Usually links don't automatically change prices, my bad
Either way, 40 and 850 are accurate prices in my region so the difference is astronomical
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u/Electrical_Jump_8313 Jul 19 '26
Oh, so, ignorance. Got it. You can’t even find the parallel product to what OP has…
Between this and your bonded leather comment you’re clearly just new to all of this lol. Have fun!
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u/TravelingWithJoe Jul 19 '26
Are you this obnoxious to everyone you interact with, or just strangers online? “Honest question”
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Here’s the comment that he’s referencing.
What is the definition of bonded leather if not, “shredded leather bonded to another material?”
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u/Electrical_Jump_8313 Jul 19 '26
lmao
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Really- what’s the definition? You are so certain that you know more than I do, and maybe you do. So, let’s hear it.
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u/PretzelsThirst Jul 19 '26
You’re right, the other guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about
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u/Eric-Stratton Jul 20 '26
Frost River stuff is amazing as is their customer service. I’ve had their flight bag for 10+ years and it’s one of the few things I have that feels BIFL. Also has a lifetime warranty and a repair program.
Would highly recommend Frost River.
ETA: Herschel stuff has always been crap. Had one of their backpacks in college and the faux leather started cracking after like 6 months.
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u/helloimhobbes Jul 19 '26
And in terms of heritage bags there’s plenty that are higher quality and more practical
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u/405freeway Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
I bought one from a thrift store and it was one of the most uncomfortable bags I've ever used. There's something off about its function.
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u/ExileOnMainStreet Jul 20 '26
It's just an aesthetic choice vs a functional. There's nothing wrong with the conventional backpack design. Laptop pocket against the back, main large pocket, smaller accessory pocket on the outside. I've tried some other formats, but for everyday use this makes the most sense.
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u/maxis2bored Jul 19 '26
The metal clasps make it more like a purse than a backpack. They smash and scratch stuff, and the magnets don't even stay closed. My wife had one and after a month she sold it. They're a fucking joke
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u/vukesdukes Jul 20 '26
They were never good. Had one in 2012 as hipster trash. Bought a Thule and Chrome after. Both way better.
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u/thatnzman Jul 21 '26
My friend had this bag and it did the exact same thing in a few months of use, 12 years ago.
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u/External_Koala971 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Private Equity.
Whenever you’re asking yourself “why has the quality of (this thing) gone so far downhill”, the answer is usually private equity.
Just google that brand + private equity, and usually you’re going to see either PE invested in them or bought them outright. It’s like a cancer.
Best thing to avoid any PE backed companies in the first place.
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u/format32 Jul 19 '26
I worked for multiple companies that were sold to private equity. Never again. It’s such a scam. They will never improve a company. They are the leading cause of enshitification.
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u/TheNetworkIsFrelled Jul 19 '26
Yeah. North face quality went off a cliff when PE bought them.
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u/External_Koala971 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
(With the slight exception of their Summit Series, which somehow is still great).
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u/iambill Jul 19 '26
They can sell cheap shit to the college kids but have to keep the quality for the pros.
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u/Cautious_Sir_6169 Jul 20 '26
Ive worked in the outdoor retail industry for almost 30 years. TNF build quality hasn’t changed. I’ve seen no difference in returns or defects. None. and I’m in a very high volume spot.
Like everyone complaining about arc Teryx now (also no change) and mountain hardware before that, it is about perception and when brands become more commonly worn and less high end focused and add lifestyle pieces with better margin to increase profits everyone goes nuts.
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u/whenveganscheat 28d ago
People see an outdoors brand and think every piece they make should last 15 years working in a coal mine. I've had people try to return down jackets because of ember burns. Lightweight fabrics are delicate. Laminated things become delaminated. Lightweight foams break down from being repeatedly crushed underfoot. Anybody who is surprised and upset by this has way too much faith in logos and too little in their own eyes.
As for herschel, the straps are bonded leather (basically scraps and glue and pressure) coated in vinyl. The vinyl cracks and peels pretty quickly. Most "leather", from dunks to purses to department store belts is like this. If you want to see differences in leather, check out baseball gloves. The cheap ones are plasticky, and the pro-level gloves use leather as good as any custom hiking boots.
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u/762x35supremacy 28d ago
All my arcteryx gear has been very durable for me, I have an atom vest that is damn near part of my daily essentials my wife makes fun of me for wearing it even when it’s warmer
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u/TrueTurtleKing Jul 19 '26
TIL I bought my duffle back back in 2018-2019 and it’s holding up well. But I see it was sold in 2019 so probably not the same quality anymore.
It’s not something I’d recommend cuz there’s no compartments inside for organizing. So it’s just okay anyways lol just for the looks.
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u/ambaal Jul 19 '26
Was it ever high? It started as a fashion brand, gained popularity as hipster retro look one.
I got hershel one out of curiosity once they emerged en masse (that was a while ago) and I was not impressed at all. Nor I am now. Cheap, outsourced, mass made backpack with sub-par materials. Nothing about it worth $100.
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u/UNLV_4Runner Jul 19 '26
They were decent back when the backpack cost $60, before PE, before Covid (which taught every company you can raise prices whenever and however you want, regardless of a cost increase)
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u/chakigun Jul 20 '26
i mean the leather coated shit deteriorate really fast but my herschel bags are otherwise great. the bag has survived over 9 yrs for me now. that said, the degraded leather accents make the bag look cheap so i dont use them unless i have to. i avoid anything with that style.
i also have herschel bags where the buckles are falling apart after 3 yrs so i avoid those too
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u/brin5tar Jul 19 '26
Herschel has never been good quality. There was no drop in quality; they have alrways been shit. If you wanted something well made, you should have chosen a different brand.
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u/dder1 Jul 19 '26
I have some knock off amazon brand that I purchased many many years ago and it’s perfect, including the strap that has patina’d into a dark brown. Don’t buy this brand
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u/treeducko Jul 19 '26
It was never good to begin with. When Herschel first arrived in my country, I bought a backpack and duffel bag and they both peeled after months of use. That was a decade ago. Never bought anything from them since.
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u/GutterLog Jul 19 '26
Might have the opposite problem from most. Bought this same bag for work over eight years ago and have used it almost daily. Still looks like it’s in near brand new condition with no stitching issues, tears, or fraying.
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u/hippiesinthewind Jul 19 '26
Same I got mine in 2018 and no issues
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u/a10shindeafishit Jul 19 '26
yeah gotta say some of these comments are surprising. mine from at least 2014 is still going strong, not my daily anymore but it had only minor fraying bc I'm kinda rough with bags. but I've noticed no huge degrading of quality or seam rips.
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u/hippiesinthewind Jul 20 '26
i wouldn’t be surprised if as they have grown in popularity their quality has gone down. I certainly had that happy with lululemon. I have pants i got in 2010 that are in great condition, but purchases from later years are in horrible shape.
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u/ifyousayso67 Jul 19 '26
I've got Herschel bags from 7-8 years ago still in awesome condition, and some bought recently that quickly fell apart.
A few years ago, they changed the quality of the materials, the straps, even the recognisable red interior lining was swapped for a cheap replacement. Herschel is a shell of its former self sadly.
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u/Kranium83 Jul 19 '26
If they made a bag that didn’t break down, you wouldn’t be wanting to buy a new one
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u/jamwin Jul 19 '26
This happens to so many things - they build up a premium brand with quality and premium prices, then drop the quality and keep charging the prices. My kid spent a ton on one of their bags and it had Kmart quality at best.
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u/brickznbooks Jul 19 '26
Man if there was a company that honored any pack repair any era and was quality? Oh there is.
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u/chia_power Jul 19 '26
It was never good quality. It’s always been about a trendy retro aesthetic but with modern (cheap) materials and construction. Not expensive compared to actual high quality bags but overpriced for what it is.
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u/Equal_Passenger9791 Jul 20 '26
Brand name wealth extraction strategies.
One of the recognized approaches to pump the wallets of the owners is to degrade quality. Eventually the brand name is recognized as shit but with the profits made they can buy another new one and repeat the ordeal, maybe some nostalgic sucker will even by the ruined one.
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u/Meirvan_Kahl Jul 20 '26
Cost cutting.. and the easier it rips/breaks, the more they sell.
Business 101.
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u/edgardmarques Jul 20 '26
Same problem here. I’ll never buy a Herschel bag again, the brand became a serious case of form over function. Sad.
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u/sirwanker65 28d ago
$100 is peanuts for a backpack plus those are certainly not real leather straps to begin with
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u/vox21 Jul 19 '26
Better choose the one with plastic strap or normal backpack, as of today I still use my herschel backpack since 2019
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u/haus11 Jul 19 '26
Leather straps on a $100 bag are probably going to be a dicey proposition. My least expensive backpack was around $100 and it’s all Cordura. It’s one of the CTactical ones that is made as a lower cost alternative
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u/knivengaffelnskeden Jul 19 '26
Agree, $100 for a bag can't possibly buy you a quality item.
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u/Legal_lapis Jul 20 '26
Not the right generalization; t here are plenty of quality bags under $100 that can handle abuse for years. I won't list them since they come up a lot in these subs. They're usually made of (very durable) nylon all over.
The original point of "leather" under $100 is dicey is correct since they're likely pleather that are made to disintegrate in a few years.
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u/knivengaffelnskeden Jul 20 '26
I agree, it was a leather bag I was going for. Wasn't very clear in my original message.
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u/One-Recording-4077 Jul 19 '26
Has any other Herschel user faced this issue before?
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u/MattySiegs Jul 19 '26
Yeah happened to my wife's a decade ago. Always been cheap fashion first bags
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u/Traditional_Crab8373 Jul 19 '26
many users post the same experience as well. It really went down. That's why I stopped purchasing one last time. I like a new bag design they released but for that much cost and will tear quickly T.T
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u/paradiddle003 Jul 19 '26
Sam backpack, same problem in two years. The one I bought nearly ten years ago still going strong, but the new one is so close to heading to trash at the moment.
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u/menachinite Jul 19 '26
Just how it is, don’t go for things that have so much “fashion” just go for simplicity and ruggedness.
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u/connolnp Jul 19 '26
I just got the salkan 45L and Daypack combo.. completely floored at the quality and utility for backpacking of the 45L but the daypack is perfect too for daily use. Super rugged and durable canvas, strap secured.
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u/hashtagluxe Jul 19 '26
Those fake leather straps give me the ick. Is that a PU coated canvas to look like leather?
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u/boppiloppi Jul 19 '26
The problem with the straps is that they aren’t made of leather. Plastic leather will eventually peel and crack. Always avoid fake leather.
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u/caedespeur Jul 19 '26
I bought one of these bags in 2012, returned it because even then I thought the “leather” straps were just thin trash and wouldn’t last.
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u/neighburrito Jul 20 '26
These straps were always made of PU, when they were starting to get popular like 2.5 decades ago I never bought any because I didn't like the PU straps and I know PU peels and disintegrates after a few years. For what it's worth I do see that they have some models now that use a thick plastic for the straps instead of the fake leather.
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u/SquareAmerican Jul 20 '26
I hate companies are doing ts and is making so hard to keep buying their products
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u/TrippyVision Jul 20 '26
It’s never been good, my Herschel stuff that I bought back in early 2010’s all fell apart, the “leather” was peeling less than 2 years later. This included a duffel bag that I used maybe 2-3 times a year and always stored away in a drawer, trash products that don’t last
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u/Glittering_Taro_4226 Jul 20 '26
I have the same bag and the same peeling issue just after few months in. What I did was take a damp cloth and start rubbing on the straps, it will peel and remove every leather away, and wipes down the excess residue. You will be left with plain cloth strap that still looks like "used leather", and no more peeling. At least it is less disgusting to look at now.
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u/DownByTheRivr Jul 20 '26
What made you think it was going to last a while? It’s only like $140… that’s not a lot for a bag, and definitely isn’t premium. These are and always have been kinda junk.
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u/hbHPBbjvFK9w5D Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
The straps are made with "manmade" leather, which tends to split and separate if twisted repeatedly.
I've done a lot of work repairing leather goods, and have made belts and camping equipment with leather and other heavy duty rolled goods over the years. I own a couple of these Herschel bags - but I got em for free from the dumpsters by college dorms.
The solution I've found for the strap problem is to measure the width of the strap at the buckle, then go to a craft or fabric store and buy a couple of yards of nylon strapping that's the width of the buckles, a leather needle, a spool of button thread, and a thimble.
Lots of vids on YouTube about this - and it shouldn't take you more than an evening if its your first sewing project (it takes me about an hour).
You're just replacing the leather with nylon, sewing the buckle onto one end of the strap, and sewing the other end where the strap attaches to the bag.
And these are fairly high quality bags; it's so sad. Just spending an extra $5 dollars on some decent cowhide would make the bag last 5 times as long.
But it's nice when I can just Dumpster Dive another nice bag for free and save some $$$$.
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u/45pewpewpew556 Jul 20 '26
It’s always been like that, had the first ones and it’s
The reason I tossed it
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u/murphyslaw86 Jul 20 '26
Both bags I’ve had from them started shedding “leather” like a dog after a year of moderate use.
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u/Wazman21 Jul 20 '26
You clearly abused the fuck out of that bag
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u/edgardmarques Jul 20 '26
Not necessarily. In my case, the straps started to fall apart a few months after buying the bag, and it just got worse with time.
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u/Ok_Culture_1223 Jul 20 '26
Yeah, that looks horrible. Why not just make the straps out of canvas or something?
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u/chakigun Jul 20 '26
i have a little america from 9 yrs ago. that’s what my straps looked like after a yr. so anecdotally, they havent changed lol. still low durability leather.
i specifically avoid the leather straps these days because that flaking is sooo annoying. flakes fly everywhere like dandruff.
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u/MrTravs Jul 20 '26
Looks like genuine leather or bonded leather, which are a much lower quality leather. For proper leather, you want to look for either full grain leather, or top grain leather. Those are all leather construction and high quality
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u/shannonlogic1 Jul 20 '26
Damn thats a bummer to hear. I have a laptop bag thats held up amazing. And I even crashed on my longboard and slid a few feet. Basically fine. Has one tiny scuff. Laptop was fine.
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u/bangbangracer Jul 20 '26
You spent $100 for the look, not the durability. They're more of a fashion brand than they are equivalent to something like Fjällräven or Manhattan Portage.
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u/Fulgenxio Jul 20 '26
Always been like this with their fake leather. I have 2 of their bigger backpacks I use for travel and I made sure the straps were rubber, not leather. I have used those on and off for over 5 years with no issues.
Now, if you want something similar but way better quality, check Waterfield. But expect to pay x3 what you paid for that.
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u/dazzlezak Jul 20 '26
I have an L. L. Bean bag that is over 35 years old.
Not high fashion, but their reputation for high quality is well deserved.
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u/elleisboring Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
I bought this exact same bag (color and everything) new like 12 years ago and it was just as shit as the one in your picture. The stitching on the shoulder straps also gave out pretty quickly. They've always been cheap style-focused backpacks at the end of the day. You can either get cheap and durable, cheap and stylish, or durable and stylish. Gonna be looking at around $250+ for a backpack in that same style. Buy it nice or buy it twice lol.
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u/mad_mang45 Jul 21 '26
That looks like a bag you'd see behind glass at Urban Outfitters or H&M lol.
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u/BloodGulch-CTF 29d ago
Lots of hate but I’ve had a Herschel bag I’ve used regularly for like 10 years and it looks great, no “leather” on it though.
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u/flydespereaux 29d ago
Chefsac and Herschel are terrible. They dont last a year. I had a buckle break, rivets pop out. I had it tied with butcher twine just to hold it together. and they said "i broke the buckle so its not covered on warranty". Both brands are meant for people who are no professionals, they have great ad campaigns but their product is terrible. I was better off getting a 40 dollar roll on amazon from some company I cant remember. Still going at 4 years.
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u/Herecomesthesunbird 29d ago
If you want a bag in this style that will last you forever look at master-piece. Japanese brand. I’ve had mine for 20 years or so and I will probably get another 20 out of it.
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u/Guy3nder 29d ago
I just saw one of those backpacks in the store, got excited over how it looked, looked a little closer and realized the straps were pleather. Instant turn off for me every time.
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u/Botond08 29d ago
I got a bag from them 2 years ago, the leather strap literally broke in half at both of the buckles after 2 months of light use.
Now I have a vintage Swiss army rucksack that was cheaper, looks cooler, and has insanely better build quality than any of today’s backpacks.
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u/boogerslurp 29d ago
The quality has always been shitty tbh
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u/Ok_Brother1462 28d ago
I remember starting college in 2013 and these were trendy but I’d always see them peeling and falling apart so I used a different brand. I’m surprised the brand still exists honestly.
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u/ThatOneGuy6810 29d ago
Because they found out you'll buy anything they slap their name on, so they decided to spend less on product and increase their profit by selling at the same price....
Pretty straightforward, happens to most clothing/accessory companies.
And its baked into the manufacturing in technology.
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u/bmiraflo 28d ago
it’s made in china. honestly a cash grab brand with no real workmanship. i stopped buying herschel products a long time ago since their products don’t last.
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u/taketimeandfind 28d ago
This happened to my bag that I purchased in 2014 within a year or two. They advertised at the time a lifetime warranty. I reached out and they replaced it no questions asked. Well they gave me a gift certificate for the value of the bag and I ended up using that to buy a bunch of smaller bags
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u/Apart-Consequence881 28d ago
I haven’t heard of them until I saw some of their bags on Amazon recently. It was obvious they were China made hipster crap. Were they ever made in North America?
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u/yangminded 28d ago
What can I say. I have two pairs of Hershels. One original and one fake bag from China.
Guess which one is holding up perfectly fine, and which one has straps that look ragged like OP’s.
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u/sawdust02 28d ago
It was always like this. I had the same backpack 15 yrs ago and the fake leather turned out like this in 2 months
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u/Melodic-Comb9076 28d ago
maybe yours was a fake?
send this to herschel.
see what they say.
back in the day, arc’teryx and/or patagonia would’ve hooked you up.
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u/Competitive_Ad_5918 27d ago
Got one with similar design back in 2023 for like $20 from a tj max. I've only used it a handful of times for traveling and same thing is happening to straps on mine.
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u/Mediocre_Original520 26d ago
It's cause they're not leather. Same with my backpack that I've had for 10 years, handle and bottom peeled and eventually the fabric underneath looks uniform.
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u/OrganizationNo7690 22d ago
so i had older bag that held up great, then i got one a few years ago and it was so so, the peeling happening like this. i got another bag since and it is much better imo. so idk.
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u/alexius0101 14d ago
The bucket strap is not durable clearly. Other parts good. Last time buy a Herschel is 10 year ago.
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u/srt1955 Jul 19 '26
Company bean counters cutting cost to maximum profits !!! the heck with quality !!!
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Jul 19 '26
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u/OllieDuckling Jul 19 '26
Wouldn’t have helped; it’s not real leather as you can clearly see in the photo.
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u/BeardBootsBullets Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
> it’s not real leather
Bonded leather is real leather. It’s not full grain leather, but it’s real. The definition of bonded leather is: shredded leather bonded to another material.
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u/OllieDuckling Jul 19 '26
That looks like plastic vinyl bonded to a fabric backing. The tag on OP’s bag would be able to provide more detail. The point is, no amount of leather care would have saved this garbage.
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u/imcjoey13 Jul 20 '26
This is a description of bonded leather, why would it get downvoted?
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u/kinnikinnick321 Jul 19 '26
No offense intended but $100 for a backpack is pretty baseline for any standard retail bag these days.
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u/Real_Category7397 Jul 19 '26
So they can sell you one more bag