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Details
- Price $325 at thebrownbuffalo.com
- Material 210D recycled nylon with Ultra™ ripstop grid
- Capacity 20 L / 1220 cubic inches
- Dimensions 15.0" (w) x 12.5" (h) x 6.5" (d) / 381 (w) x 318 (h) x 165 (d) mm
- Made in California
Overview
Recently, I've been preferring totes over backpacks. They look much more casual and are easier to carry from the office to the izakaya without looking like a corporate slave. The Conceal Tote is a daily hauler that does this effortlessly.
The Brown Buffalo is the brainchild of Douglas Davidson, who honed his craft at Burton and Nike before launching his gear line in Costa Mesa. Since its inception, the brand has quietly built a cult following—not through loud marketing, but through solid performance. Every bar-tack and buckle serves a purpose in these rugged, modular, in-house manufactured pieces.
This is my first experience with their products, and I'll evaluate how they stack up in the crowded technical bag market.
Style
Available in Black Grid and Black Camo, the bag maintains an understated, utility-focused aesthetic.
The branding is minimal, featuring a laser-engraved Hypalon logo patch so subtle that I initially overlooked it.
While the lines are clean, external pockets and a boxy silhouette create an intentionally edgy look. The stitching is robust with reinforced bar tacks at stress points, and the zippers operate smoothly without the cheap rattle of inferior hardware.
The black grid pattern elevates the bag's appearance, striking a balance between technical capability and premium design. The combination of straps, Fidlock clasp, and external pockets immediately sets it apart from ordinary bags. It earned a compliment on its very first outing.
In terms of fit, it's compact without appearing delicate. The stowable backpack straps tuck away cleanly, maintaining the tote's sleek lines when not in use. Rather than attempting to be overtly sleek, it embraces its functional nature in its design.
At first, I had felt it was too big for a tote, but then I realized that the size had been balanced out to be appropriately sized as a backpack. It works well as a tote, crossbody sling, backpack, or shoulder sling.
Material
The outer shell uses Challenge UltraGrid™, a 210D recycled nylon ripstop with UHMWPE reinforcement. That grid you see isn't just for show—it's 15x stronger than steel by weight. This sounds like marketing fluff until you drag it across airport tile and nothing scuffs. The PFC-free DWR coating and polyurethane backing provides water resistance without compromising flexibility.
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The interior and accents use EPX400 sailcloth, designed to stay structurally rigid under heavy load. The Blue CrossPly reinforcement crisscrosses the fabric like a spiderweb, giving it dimensional stability so the bag doesn't slump when half full.
On the body-facing side, APEX® 3D Spacer Mesh is layered in. It wicks moisture with Sorbtek® yarn, kills odor with antimicrobial A.M.Y.® tech, and breathes.
YKK RCPU2 zippers complete the package. Unlike standard coiled zips, these are abrasion-resistant and operate smoothly under pressure, maintaining their integrity even after heavy use.
Usage
Despite its tote classification, it performs like a tactical bag adapted for urban use. I've used it as a mobile office bag—MacBook Pro 14″ in the fleece-lined sleeve, cables in the quick-access pocket, notepad, and pens in the organizer.
The bag can stand upright depending on how you pack it—a small but significant advantage when searching for items. Most of the time, careful balancing is needed; you can't just set it down and expect it to stay upright.
The backpack configuration proves invaluable during longer walks or when carrying multiple items, with straps that remain comfortable even when loaded with a laptop and two water bottles. The only drawback is the padded straps' bulk—since they're non-detachable, you'll always carry that extra weight even if you never use it as a backpack.
Organization
In the front, there's a large full-width open pocket, and within that hidden pocket in the middle, I usually have my Sony WF-1000XM4. It helps keep small items that you want to access quickly in place, so you won't have to fumble around the pocket for it.
There's a Fidlock clasp that lets you secure something like a jacket in that large pocket. I rarely find a use for it but suspect I'll appreciate it when it comes up.
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Below that large pocket are two equally wide zippered pockets. If you dislike having bulky items in pockets like me, these are great for things like your phone or wallet. One pocket fits my iPhone Pro 14 Max perfectly.
On both sides of the tote, there is a water bottle compartment with a strap to tighten it. The strap felt a little like an overkill and I didn't see a need for it as I use a relatively small bottle. I am a fan of two side slots like this as I always use one for a water bottle and one for a wet umbrella.
In the main compartment, there's a padded slot for your laptop or tablet. It's suspended so your device won't get direct impact from dropping the tote on any hard surfaces. It fits my 2019 Intel 16-inch MacBook Pro vertically and seems unlikely to support anything larger than that.
Attached to the laptop slot is a flat slot that works well for electronic accessories like mice or earphones. Attach to that slot are two mesh slots half the size of it.
Across those slots is a see-through zippered slot that takes up the entire inner face. Brown Buffalo shows it holding an iPad in the product photos. This slot isn't suspended.
When the bag is naturally resting on the floor, the bottom part of the slot opens up and bends, meaning that it may not even be crumple-proof for documents.
The worst thing is that the plastic material catches the Magic Keyboard surface, so you can't just slide it in, especially when the tote is full. You'll have to make a space with your arm to get it in at all.
One nice detail about the main compartment is that you can close it all the way whereas some tote have openings towards the sizes of the zipper.
Straps and handles
The backpack straps can be hidden tastefully. Even the part to connect to at the bottom can be hidden.
The strap is padded and comfortable. It comes with four rows of molle on each side, with a D-ring at the top.
I didn't find it necessary as the tote doesn't look large enough for heavy loads that might need a sternum strap but have no complaints since it can be detached.
While the handle length is adjustable, the slide adjuster can end up in the middle, creating an uncomfortable grip point. This issue extends to the shoulder sling—despite decent padding, the slide adjuster makes contact with your body regardless of shoulder placement.
The detachable shoulder pad is soft but on the thinner side. It wraps around the strap and fastens with a fold-over closure. When worn with the closure side facing down (against your shoulder), you can feel the seam or overlap pressing in slightly.
If you flip the pad so the closure faces outward, it feels more comfortable on your shoulder—but visually, it looks a bit messier, since the closure seam is exposed. It's a minor tradeoff: comfort vs. aesthetics. That said, the shoulder strap uses swivel clips, so you can easily rotate the strap to face whichever side you prefer each time you wear it.
Capacity
It's 20L and it's the right amount of capacity for daily use and at most a one-night trip. It feels a little bulky for the capacity, because of the stowable backpack straps and generous padding, but is still discreet enough for my needs.
Conclusion
The Conceal Tote from The Brown Buffalo stands as a well-crafted, versatile carrier that successfully merges technical materials with urban functionality. While its ultra-durable fabric and modular design offer excellent street-to-travel versatility, it does have its quirks—particularly the bulky hidden straps and some over-engineered features that mainly benefit heavy-load users.
For those who appreciate rugged, meticulously crafted gear and are willing to invest in thoughtful construction, this tote delivers on its promises. I've found it well-suited to my lifestyle and expect it will become my go-to everyday carry.
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