Travel with leather

A leather weekender is heavier than nylon and will never be the lightest thing you carry. What it gives you back is simple: it looks better after a year of trips than it did on the day you bought it.

Pack it to keep its shape

When you're not travelling, store your bag lightly stuffed with paper so the sides don't fold and crease. On the road, keep heavy items at the base so the straps don't stretch unevenly.

Handle rain the right way

A little rain is fine. Blot the bag dry when you get inside and let it dry slowly away from heat. Condition it once a season if it's been out in the weather a lot.

• —Store lightly stuffed when not in use.
• —Blot rain off; never heat-dry.
• —Condition once a season.
• —Let the scuffs come — they're the point.