By Mike Floyd
Gray’s Best awards are anticipated by long-time readers of Gray’s Sporting Journal and coveted by hunting and angling manufacturers. The reason? Gray’s Best carries the weight of authenticity. Many sporting magazines publish an end-of-the-year roundup of new products. Gray’s publishes a distinguished selection.
Our editors cover areas of expertise and experience—Angling, Shooting, Apparel and Accessories—and select gear that not only makes good first impressions, but also satisfies during repeated use. We make choices of our own volition, absent encouragement and incentive from the manufacturers. Further, Gray’s Best winners deliver on the claims of their makers but also have an extra attribute, an extra something that triggers a tenor of feel, remembrance or aesthetic and can be defined only as…satisfying. Much like Gray’s itself.
Gray's Best: AccessoriesSometimes it’s easier to reverse engineer something by determining what it is that you don’t want as opposed to figuring out what it is that you like. In the case of luggage, I’ve never cared to travel with a showy bag that has too many pockets or flashy zippers. No bright colors, please. And I’ll always opt for buckles over snaps. For leather over synthetics. For a solid carry strap instead of wheels. I also appreciate a bag that’s slow to break in, but begins to adopt just the right hue and character at about the same time others are already beginning to break down. What I like, in a nutshell, is the Tom Beckbe Leather Weekender Duffie Bag ($699). Built with vegetable-tanned, full-grain American cowhide, the Weekender features solid brass hardware, buttery-smooth antique brass zippers and a roped carry handle that rides your shoulder like a dream. The clam shell opening is concealed beneath a top flap, and there’s plenty of room for a three-day escape within its 20- by 11- by 11.5-inch frame. Where to go is a discussion for another day. Mountain retreat? Caribbean getaway? No matter. Just know that with the Weekender in tow, you’re going to look good getting there.
Tom Beckbe Leather Weekender Duffel Bag