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This sense of rugged quality is consistent throughout. One look at the shoulder strap buckle tells you it's as solid as rock, providing a firm hold that will never fail - probably. Another interesting feature regarding the strap is what Crumpler calls the 'Third Leg', an extra strap that clips onto the bag to create a seatbelt style arrangement that fixes the bag firmly on your back and relieves the weight from your shoulder. It's perfect when travelling long distances and particularly useful when cycling.

It has its own sense of style too. Fine, it might not be as funky or fun as some of the company's other offerings, but the quality of the construction is clear to see and adds a certain level of gravitas. Some leather piping is also a nice touch, while the leather bound handle is very useful and also gives a hint as to the bag's more formal credentials.

Before taking a look inside it's worth noting that unlike a lot of messenger bags the Righthand employs a zip mechanism for opening and closing the flap. This provides great security since it's impossible for someone to slip their hand in there without you noticing, though it equally makes opening a lot more difficult. Indeed, this is definitely one of the more annoying points about the Righthand, because the zip can be tough to operate at times, especially when trying to close.

This is caused in part by how the flap segment folds over, creating an awkward angle that requires some teasing and occasionally brute force to get through. Over time this does become easier as the fabric becomes more flexible, but it does mean that the Righthand isn't great as an instant access bag, being rather more like a briefcase replacement. One thing you needn't worry about, though, is breaking the zip. No matter how much stress we put on it, it remained perfectly intact and it's another indicator of the build quality that comes with the Crumpler name and the fairly substantial price - more on which later.

Another small niggle is the shoulder pad. It's very large, spreading the weight well; however, there isn't as much soft padding as we'd like and it can start to feel uncomfortable after carrying the bag for prolonged periods of time. Naturally, to an extent this is where the 'Third Leg' comes in, but sometimes this isn't always convenient to use, especially if you'd rather not be 'strapped into' your bag.

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