I wouldn't say it's overly heavy, but it is a large tote so certainly not the lightest bag in my collection. The leather is thick and supple, not like the thinner leathers on something like a Balenciaga bag. If I just have my daily things inside, it's very comfy to carry but I used it as a carry-on for a recent flight and really loaded it up. I found it easier to carry it by hand rather than on the crook of my arm when it was full. In my experience it isn't the weight of a bag than makes it a pain to carry but rather the design of the handles/straps. The handles on this bag are perfectly made for comfort