I'm just gonna throw my review in here. It's been a while since i've written a review on a bag, but I thought this one deserved some detailed discussion. I became interested in it because I love the silhouette of speedys and keepalls. They are so true to the spirit of Louis Vuitton's heritage, functional coolness, my interpretation anyway. I am excessively picky that I keep looking for bags that hit that sweet spot in terms of size, functionality and style, of which this bag ticks all the boxes. Here are my observations for anyone interested.
Pros:
1. This bag is a very specific mood, casual, less obvious than traditional monogram (which I love) yet still cool and classic. I love monogram, and have 25 and 20, but this black and gray colorway (I swear my eyes see lavender), so chic. I can see Wednesday Adams wearing this one, not the classic. (She's my hero.) On that same note, I think it would be a NO for so many because of the color. I'm relieved there is a limited market for this piece.
2. Size is perfect for people who need to carry more than a minimalist, more than the 20 will comfortably carry. But, it doesn't have the height of a 20, just a centimeter or two shorter. Love the difference. Because it's wider, it's easier to see access stuff than the 20. Less internal stacking.
3. The zipper, yeah this chunky black zipper. I don't know if this is true for all men's bags, but the zipper is significantly smoother and more sturdy than the zipper on both my 20s. I have mono and black. And it is much less scratchy. That is one of my biggest pet peeves about LV zippers, which goes all the way back 30-40 years. The way some bags are designed, your hand and potentially your jewelry get totally scratched up going in and out of bags. I canNOT. Love this smooth sturdy zipper. And also because it's not as deep as the 20 or 25, you don't need to reach as deep, thus not subjecting your beautiful bracelets to more scratches than necessary.
4. Love the leather straps around the bag and the handles, true to the keepall
5. No vachetta. I love vachetta and use my vachetta bags regularly. But I am still careful and aware. It is nice not to have to be so vigilant sometimes.
6. Crossbody, but that's hardly special since so many bags now have that option. But it is a requirement for me.
Cons:
1. The nylon strap is too heavy and the metal buckle digs into my back, but I am extremely sensitive to this due to injuries. Most people probably would not care as much.
Yeah, only one con so far. I will probably find more as I use it.