Hi @guilloche

Maintaining my leather handbag takes no trouble. I use a water-based leather cream, same actually for my GoreTex-lined boots because silicone-based cream can crack the waterproof membrane. I give the cream about ten minutes to soak in at room temperature, and then buff the leather to a shine.

Tough bags such as those made by Maxpedition are deep sprayed with Teflon™ to ensure high resistance against dirt and water need little maintenance, too. Just a wipe with a cloth over dad's old gear is perfect. These bags today are expensive, but will last well into the next generation I'm sure. My daughter has her beady eye on one of the bags, the Remora Gearslinger, but she ain't having it. (Yet). But her birthday next month will see it wrapped up, along with some other brand new gear.

I remember dad saying "Quality may be expensive, but in the long run of many years is good value."