The Discontinued Bag That Insiders Love

The Filson 258

Simon Crompton with his FRD Filson 258. Photo by Jamie Ferguson.

The Filson 258 padded computer bag (pictured above) is one of the best items the brand has ever made. However, it’s no longer in production, so if you want one, you have to take your talents to eBay. In the past year, I have managed to acquire two versions — the tan (from my father-in-law) and the olive, which I obtained through a barter deal with a reader (thank you, David). I’ve been known to get obsessive about certain things. A chance exposure to something like a bag or a specific jacket, and I will hunt eBay until I find the best possible example of that item. If it’s discontinued, that’s even more fun because of the challenge. These bags aren’t on my radar just because they are discontinued; they have caught my attention because they are the perfect travel bag.

Filson’s Original Briefcase is much more famous than this padded briefcase, but if you have a computer, chargers, and other items, the Original Briefcase is just too small to be anything more than a daily city bag. I frequently carry a computer, headphones, and a camera, so I need the extra space the 258 allows. It fits perfectly under the seat of a plane, on top of your suitcase, and upright in the seat next to you in the car.

I have known about this bag for a long time, but it never seemed to click for me until last year. When I noticed that it was discontinued, I took it as a personal challenge to build out my Filson bag holdings further. The New York Times Styles Section published a story this past weekend about people who seek out and hoard beloved discontinued items. I was included in this story with my favorite Filson bag, though the model number was not named in the Times specifically — so if you want one, there’s still hope.