New Hiking Sporran

[Tartan Hiker]

Tired of worrying about my good leather in the fickle summer weather, I decided that it was time to make a contempo-synthetic sporran for hiking duty. I looked at the Stillwater Nightstalker, but I like to do things myself as much as possible.

I found this item on the sale table at the local outfitter. An Eagle Creek "Guide Bag". Measurements about 8" wide by 10" high. Lots of zip pockets and a big flap over the front. Shoulder strap attached to the sides in the usual manner.



Here it is after I modified it. I removed the shoulder strap, added a buckle, and used the surplus material for the loops on the rear of the bag. Two homemade tassles on the front and a quick leather flap and I'm all set.

[Scott Gilmore]

Very ingenious, and it's all yours - not going see one on some other goon going the other way on the trail. Nice work.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore

[Steeplechase]

Excellent idea and looks good to boot. You did fine TH.

[Riverkilt]

Very nice work.

No clue how you sewed on the leather flap.

Are the long leather strands below the bottom zipper pulls?

Ron

[James]

A good idea.

But to deviate slightly-the occasional good polish with ordinary shoe polish keeps a leather sporran in good order and looking smart. Certainly no sporran of mine treated in such a way has suffered from weather/wear.

In fact shoe polish seems to work better on good leather than all the fancy creams and the like.

James

[bangkok kilt]

A good idea.

But to deviate slightly-the occasional good polish with ordinary shoe polish keeps a leather sporran in good order and looking smart. Certainly no sporran of mine treated in such a way has suffered from weather/wear.

In fact shoe polish seems to work better on good leather than all the fancy creams and the like.

James

Looks good.

Thanks for the tip too James.

[Tartan Hiker]

Very nice work.

No clue how you sewed on the leather flap.

Are the long leather strands below the bottom zipper pulls?

Ron

I do lots of leather work, so I have all the cool gizmos. I just ran along the edge with a star wheel to mark the locations for the awl holes, laid the flap on a piece of closed-cell foam, made holes with the awl, and then just stitched it on with a double-needle saddle stitch and black linen thread.

The leather strands are the laces that hang down below the tassles. I split each one, so two fat laces above the tassle become four thin strands below.

As for leather in foul weather, I oil and wax all my leather and it is indeed pretty impervious to water...up to a point. I just prefer to not expose my finely crafted leather pieces to soaking rains if I can help it (and we have mighty heavy downpours on a moment's notice here in the Blue Ridge).

By the way I used the new sporran all day today. It worked very well indeed, and I received lots of compliments from many folks who know enough to listen to.

[Alan H]

Nice.... Me likes this.