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Brand Scorecard:
★★★★☆
Leather: 4.5
Hardware: 4
Design: 4
Engineering: 4
Craftmanship: 4.5
TOTAL: 4.21
Brand Website: romfre.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIEF HISTORY
RŌMFRĒ was founded with the goal of offering ultra-durable travel bags and gear at competitive prices, designed to meet the needs of everyday customers. With over 13 years of experience in the leather industry, the brand is driven by a passion for creating high-quality leather products that enable customers to roam free with confidence. RŌMFRĒ emphasizes sustainability, ensuring that all its goods are handmade and sourced responsibly.
The design inspiration for RŌMFRĒ’s leather goods originates in Kapolei, Hawaii, but the brand partners with skilled artisans from around the world who share a commitment to quality and ethical production. These artisans adhere to the highest standards, ensuring that every RŌMFRĒ product is crafted with care and precision, reflecting the brand's dedication to excellence and durability.
FIVE PILLARS OF A GOOD LEATHERCRAFT
CRITERIA | 5 (Very Strong) | 4 (Strong) | 3 (Mixed) | 2 (Limited) | 1 (Not Present) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leather | A perfect balance of art and fashion of leather tanning. Rare and artisanal hides from exceptional tanneries | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries | Average corrected leathers that do NOT require high-quality raw hides. Less info on the source of the leather | Low-quality leather choice with significantly less information about the sourcing practice. | Inferior sketchy leather derivates or non-leather materials. |
Hardware | Top of the line Stainless Steel or Brass Hardware with Highest Caliber Coatings | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. | Alloy hardware with acceptable coating. Lifetime may be impacted due to the coating of the hardware. | Serious flaws in the making and coating of the low-grade alloy hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. | Non-metal, plastic, and non-durable hardware that is harmful to humans and the planet. |
Design | A professional design language that is unique and consistent with the brand | A creative take on a classical design concept | Minimal changes to common styles | Almost copy of common/famous designs. Dysfunctional elements. | Problematic design elements affect the functionality, durability, and aesthetics of the product. |
Engineering | Highly organized, sophisticated shape and form engineering with high-quality materials inside the craft. | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure | Acceptable cleanliness of inner work with medium-quality support materials | Messy inside with low-grade support elements | Complete lack of inner structure and craftsmanship. |
Craftsmanship | Expert craftsmanship with flawless, hand or machine stitching, demonstrating advanced skills. No visible errors; edge paint is avoided using superior techniques. | Perfect machine stitching with excellent edge finishing. Immaculate inside and out, with no visible flaws, showing a commitment to quality. | Good overall stitching and alignment with minor flaws. Acceptable edge finishing, with fairly clean interior and exterior. | Noticeable misalignment and sloppy workmanship. Multiple errors affect visual appeal, with untidy interior work. | Poor craftsmanship with missed stitches, visible errors, and uncleaned residues. Major issues that may affect durability. |
Overall Score | An incredible value for money that I have no problem recommending to anyone | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try | A considerable offer with a relatively high price. Make your choice at your own discretion | Consider it well within your own criterion as the quality/price is not a decision point I can recommend here | Stay away! |
READING MY ASSESSMENT SCORES
SCORE | NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
5 | Strong Yes | ⭐ This grade is given to brands that present great value for the price they charge you for their product. I have no problem confidently recommending you check their products. These are the brands I reach out to ask if they can give me an affiliate link so your purchases using my link can support my content efforts. |
4 | Yes | 👍 This indicates that the brand meets all my expectations from the perspective of price and information they have about their products. I would happily buy their products at this level of quality/value score. This is the only other category of brands I request an affiliate link to support this channel to improve my Leathertainment content. |
3 | Mixed | ➖ There are areas that I found less than desirable for the quality/price performance I appreciate personally. Some high-end luxury brands may fall under this category given I am looking for tangible value in the products, ignoring the intangible brand prestige they may offer as a value to their customers. I am not a customer of these brands and I wouldn’t recommend them to my audience if they do NOT value brand logos. |
2 | No | 👎 This indicates that the product and the brand failed my expectations in significant ways and I won’t recommend them to anyone. |
1 | Strong No | ❌ This is the lowest assessment and indicates fundamental issues in the product and/or the brand. I would say look somewhere else. |
LEATHERVERSE MATRIX
The Leatherverse Brand Matrix visually compares leather brands based on sophistication and pricing, helping consumers understand their market positioning.
Legend
Vertical Axis: Ranges from simple artisan crafts to exclusive, master-crafted items.
Horizontal Axis: Covers pricing from low (no brand premium) to high (perceived luxury), with 2x multipliers for basic products and up to 15x for heavily marketed luxury items.
Diagonal Line: Represents the balance between price and performance. Brands on the line offer good value, those below suggest poor value, and those above offer exceptional value.
AUDIENCE & CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE
Based on these criteria, how would you rate Rōmfrē Travel Co. as a brand?
How would you rate Rōmfrē Travel Co. as a brand?
5
4
3
2
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
A Hawaiian Dream or a Rough Reality? Unpacking the RŌMFRĒ EDC Backpack
Rōmfrē Travel Co.'s EDC Backpack
Watch the videos here:
When RŌMFRĒ, a brand based in Hawaii—my absolute favorite place in the world—challenged me to rip their EDC backpack, I was intrigued. For $250, I got my hands on this bag, ready to dissect its materials, craftsmanship, and overall value.
DISCLAIMER : The “Rip My Bag Challenge” is a review series that tests leather products’ quality, price, and craftsmanship. While the brand supports the challenge financially, my opinions stay fair, unbiased, and truthful. Products featured are purchased anonymously without brand involvement. Brands have no control over content, publishing dates, or the review process. You may read the full disclaimer here.
First Impressions: Packaging and Leather Quality
The backpack arrived in a simple cardboard box with a plastic bag inside. It was a bit squished, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. As I pulled the bag out, the leather caught my eye—described as full-grain on the website, it looked distressed, which can be confusing to some. Full-grain leather typically refers to leather that has not been sanded or buffed, retaining its natural texture and markings. However, this leather had a distressed finish, likely achieved through a process involving infused waxes and some sanding. It's a nice, above-average crazy horse leather that gives the bag a rugged, worn-in look.
Craftsmanship: The Good, the Bad, and the Sloppy
Now, let's talk about craftsmanship. To be blunt, it's rough at best, reminiscent of the work I've seen from Mexican manufacturers. The stitching lines aren't clean, the inner lining is poorly cut, and the edge paint work is downright sloppy. In some places, they used edge paint to hide layers, but the execution was so poor that the paint went over the surface and wasn't cleaned up. This level of workmanship leaves much to be desired, especially when considering the price point.
One area where the bag shines, however, is in its fabric choices. The inner linings, padded inner surfaces of the straps, and overall fabric selections are top-notch. They feel durable and well-suited to the bag’s design. Unfortunately, the hardware doesn't live up to the same standard. The zippers, in particular, are problematic. The design forces the zippers to pop outwards at the corners, making them difficult to operate. This is a structural flaw that could have been avoided with better design and construction.
The Inside Story: Materials and Durability
Opening the bag, I found an interesting mix of materials. The hidden spongy materials in the support pieces felt budget-friendly and cheap, but the lining fabrics were excellent—durable polyester that complements the design. However, the glue applications and stitching are clearly rushed, echoing the sloppy craftsmanship seen throughout the bag.
Color Transfer Concerns: Rub Test on Distressed Leather
As this backpack is made with distressed leather, the color transfer might be a concern for some users. Picture this: you're wearing a white fabric, and the leather rubs against your back repeatedly. This friction could lead to color transfer. In a dry rub test, there was a slight transfer of color, which isn't surprising given the nature of distressed leather.
To further assess its durability, I tested the leather with a bit of water, simulating a scenario where you're sweating while carrying the bag. This time, there was some color bleeding, but it wasn't excessive. In extreme cases, distressed leather can transfer a significant amount of color onto clothing, but in this instance, the transfer was within acceptable limits. This level of color transfer is typical for distressed leather without any protective finish, making it an expected but manageable issue for users.
A Deeper Look: Leather Analysis
Applying acetone to the leather revealed no dyes, confirming this as a typical crazy horse finish—infused oils and waxes on top of nubuck leather. Nubuck is slightly buffed grain, and while some might debate calling it full-grain, I don’t have an issue with it. The cross-section shows that the majority of the grain is still intact, and the leather feels substantial and well-tanned. It's a good leather choice for this style of bag, with an American feel that's nicely done.
Cost Breakdown: Is It Worth It?
Estimating the cost to make a bag like this in Mexico, including the leather, linings, and hardware, I arrived at around $122. Given the $250 price tag, that's a 2x multiplier—not a huge margin for a sustainable business but a good value for consumers.
Despite the imperfections, this bag offers above-average distressed leather and high-quality internal linings. The craftsmanship is average, with some rough edges, but for the price, it’s a great value. What stands out to me is the story behind the brand—a family living in the paradise that is Hawaii, managing an online brand and offering good value to the Leatherverse.
Final Thoughts: Inspiration from Hawaii
Hawaii has always been a source of inspiration for me, and this project is no exception. The idea of living in such a magical place while managing a brand was something I considered, but ultimately, I decided it wasn't for me—too far from everything. Yet, this family proved me wrong. They’re living in heaven and successfully offering a product that’s both affordable and well-made.
In the end, I’m happy with what I found in this RŌMFRĒ EDC backpack. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid deal for the price, and I wish the brand continued success.
Scorecard
TANNER APPROVED!
★★★★☆ - 4.21
Criteria | Score | Results |
|---|---|---|
Leather | 4.5 | Good leathers for the application in hand. Coming from environmentally conscious tanneries |
Hardware | 4 | Common alloy or brass hardware with high-quality plating and thin protection that will last a good while. |
Design | 4 | A creative take on a classical design concept |
Engineering | 4 | Clean and quality inner support materials and structure |
Craftsmanship | 4.5 | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium: 5 to 6 x multiplier pricing. |
OVERALL SCORE | 4.21 | Very good example of great quality for a great price without any risk to try |
PRICE / COST MULTIPLIER | 5x | Fair Value for quality with a brand premium. |
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