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If you’ve been eyeing the Strathberry Kite Hobo Bag but can’t decide whether it’s worth the investment – or whether to choose the regular or Maxi size – hopefully this review helps. I’ve been using the bags regularly over the past few months: the Kite Hobo in Tan Suede for weekends and events, and the Kite Hobo Maxi in Black Leather as my everyday work bag.
In this review I’ll cover:
- My honest thoughts after months of use
- Kite Hobo vs Kite Hobo Maxi
- What fits inside each bag
- Quality and craftsmanship
- Wear & tear
It’s been a while since I’ve prepared one of these reviews – these are some of my favourite posts to write (and consume). I’ve always loved a deep dive and understanding why people enjoy using things I’ve got my eye on. I’ve been wanting to put this review together for a while, and with Strathberry bags seemingly everywhere on my feed lately, it seemed fitting.
Before we get into it, I want to disclose that I was very fortunate to be gifted both of these bags by Strathberry. The gifting wasn’t tied to any obligation to post content or write this review, but I think it’s important to be upfront about these things. As with any gifted item I feature, you’ll only ever see it here if I’ve enjoyed using it. There have been occasions where I’ve returned gifted products because they simply didn’t meet my expectations, so I don’t treat gifting as an automatic endorsement.
That said, if a brand is generous enough to send me something this lovely, I do like to repay the favour by putting it through its paces and sharing a proper review. So rather than a fleeting appearance in an Instagram carousel, you get this unnecessarily detailed deep dive instead. Huzzah!
L: Strathberry bag*, Anna Quan top (sz 8), Scanlan Theodore jeans (sz 8), Bared heels*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses R: Strathberry bag*, Sezane suede jacket (sz US 6 / AU 10), Henne jeans (sz 27), Bared boots* (sz 37), Oliver Peoples sunglasses
Strathberry has been on my radar for a while. The brand featured heavily among a lot of the UK bloggers I used to follow quite closely, and I’d always associated it with its beautifully structured handbags featuring the signature horizontal metal bar closure. While that hardware remains a defining part of the brand’s identity, the range has expanded considerably over the years and you’ll still find variations of it across many of their current designs.
The Kite Hobo is one of Strathberry’s newer silhouettes and, to me, it feels like it arrived at exactly the right time. Softer, more relaxed handbags have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and the Kite feels like Strathberry’s interpretation of that shift. Whether or not that was the intention, it’s certainly what drew me to it. I’ve always gravitated towards slouchier bags that feel effortless to wear every day, so this design immediately felt much more like my style than the brand’s more structured offerings.
When I had the opportunity to choose my first Strathberry bag earlier this year, I picked the Kite Hobo in Tan Suede. A few months later, Strathberry reached out again and offered me another bag, and this time I chose the Kite Hobo Maxi in Black Calf Leather.
Despite only owning the Maxi for a couple of months, I’ve probably worn it more than the original Kite Hobo – not because I prefer one over the other, but because they’ve naturally settled into completely different roles in my wardrobe. The Maxi is part of my work bag rotation, while the original Kite Hobo is what I reach for on dressier occasions.
In this review I’ll walk through how each bag has fitted into my wardrobe, how they’ve held up over the past few months, and everything I think is worth knowing if you’re considering adding one to your wardrobe.
L: Strathberry bag*, Anna Quan top* (sz 8), Vintage Burberry coat (some options here and here), Uniqlo pants (sz S – inseam length altered to 64cm); R: Strathberry suede bag*, Alemais knit (sold out), Sezane skirt (sz 8 – current season version linked), Bared flats*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses
About Strathberry
Founded in Edinburgh in 2013, Strathberry has established itself as a luxury accessories brand. Their bags are handcrafted in Spain, earning you bragging rights about your designed-and-made-in-Europe handbag (I appreciate some consider this a bit of a flex).
The signature hardware with the metal bar has become a recognisable design feature of their pieces helped along by some high-profile royal appearances over the years (from both the working and non-working variety… ahem) and the brand has built a reputation for producing beautifully made leather handbags that sit somewhere between contemporary label and traditional luxury.
The price tags make these an investment purchase, but compared with brands like Celine or Loewe, the pricing feels a lot friendlier while still delivering premium leather and thoughtful craftsmanship.
L: Strathberry suede bag*; R: Strathberry black leather bag*
Design
This is where I think the Kite collection really shines. Staying true to the design ethos of the brand, there are no loud logos or hardware and the design feels very understated. The soft crescent silhouette naturally hugs your side, making it feel much more relaxed than many shoulder bags on the market. That said, for a hobo-style bag, which can be really soft, this one does offer some structure. As you can see in the photos I’ve taken, the bags are sitting up on their own.
Design wise, the bag features one thick shoulder strap that’s adjustable. While it can’t be fully closed (as there is no zipper that goes across the top), you can still ‘close’ the bag by using the small metal stud closure inside the bag in addition to the iconic music bar closure on the outside of the bag (the exterior closure mainly serves an aesthetic purpose imho but take a look at the photo below on the left, it probably communicates the closure scenario a lot clearer than the many words I’ve used trying to describe it!).
The bag also comes with a detachable pochette which is large enough to house a cardholder, keys and a small lipstick (I’ve never detached this btw, but knowing I can is always nice).
The pochettes are made from the same fabric as their respective bags
Aside from the pochette, there’s not really much to say on the internal configuration – it’s just one big main compartment. I feel like this is worthwhile pointing out, particularly if you treat your bag like a dumping ground – it’ll get chaotic very quickly. As someone who likes order, particularly in my bags, whenever I’m using a bag that doesn’t have internal compartments, I like to organise the bits and bobs I cart with me in little pouches (these are my go-to pouches as they’re lightweight) which means everything still stays organised. Luxury bags continue to be scant on internal configuration, it’s only really something I’ve enjoyed with labels like Bellroy for example. Meanwhile, I go into what fits inside each of these bags later on in this post.
Top left: Strathberry suede bag*, Wynn Hamlyn dress (old season), Arket blazer (sz AU 6 – similar ones here, here, here and here), Bared boots*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses; Top right: Strathberry black leather bag*, Sportscraft jacket* (sz 8), Henne jeans, Bared loafers*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses; Bottom left: Strathberry black leather bag*, Henne jeans, Bared loafers* (current season version linked), Oliver Peoples sunglasses; Bottom right: Strathberry suede bag*, Anna Quan dress* (sz AU 8), Bared sandals*, Vintage Burberry coat (some options here and here), Status Anxiety sunglasses*, Arms of Eve earrings*
Styling notes
I’ve styled the Kite Hobo Bag (in the regular size) in dressier looks (including taking it with me to the F1 when I was my husband’s plus one for a work do). It’s not really a bag I take out with me when running errands or when I’m out and about with the kids, I treat it as one of my special bags. And despite spraying this with suede protector, I’ll avoid using it in wet weather (I have confidence, but not that much lol).
For the larger Kite Hobo Maxi Bag, I’ve predominantly used it as a work bag. It fits heaps. as you’ll see in the ‘what fits inside’ section below, looks great when it’s full and is the perfect way to complete a work look. As someone who’s 158 cm (5’2″), I was a bit apprehensive the Maxi would overwhelm my frame, but I don’t think it does at all. The slouchy silhouette keeps it feeling relaxed rather than oversized. I’ve littered this post with a heap of outfits I’ve styled with the bag, so you can get a feel for how versatile it is. The styling options are endless.
When not in use, I store the bags stuffed and inside the canvas bag that it came with. The bags are a bit big to be stored on the allocated bag shelves in my wardrobe (as the shoulder straps can’t be folded down without misshaping them), so I’ll hang the bags on hooks in my wardrobe using the canvas bag straps to preserve the straps on the bags themselves. This is probably more detail than you need to know, but the bags are pricey, and it’s worthwhile taking a considered approach with storage.
The canvas bags I store each of the bags in (and I’ll hang them up in my wardrobe using the canvas bag straps
Top left: Strathberry suede bag*, Uniqlo windbreaker (sz L), Sezane skirt (sz 8 – current season version linked), Bared boots*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses; Top right: Strathberry bag*, DISSH jacket* (sz 8), Nobody Denim jeans (these are a few years old, I’ve linked a similar version here), Bared combat style boots*, Status Anxiety sunglasses; Bottom left: Strathberry bag*, Anna Quan top (sz 8), Perri Cutten skirt* (sz 8), Bared flats* (current style linked); Bottom right: Strathberry bag*, Nobody Denim jacket* (sz S – also here), Bared boots*, Oliver Peoples sunglasses
Wear & Tear
I haven’t had the bags long enough to properly report on long-term wear and tear (I’ll continue to update this review as I spend more time with them), but so far both have held up exceptionally well. As you’ll see from the photos throughout this post, they’ve both had a decent run already.
As I’ve said earlier, the bag is made of premium leather and the quality of the materials is immediately obvious when you handle the bags. The Kite Hobo in Tan Suede is crafted from Italian cow suede and lined with smooth calf leather, while the Kite Hobo Maxi is made from calf leather with a calf suede lining. Both feel incredibly premium, with a finish that I’d expect from bags at a much higher price point. It’s all the little details – like the edging, corners, stitching – that have all been done with a lot of care.
One thing I’ve noticed with the black leather Maxi is that it’s softened beautifully with use. Rather than losing its shape, the leather has relaxed slightly, giving it an even nicer slouch while still feeling structured enough to hold its form. I actually think it looks better now than it did when it was brand new.
The hardware has also held up really well. It’s still scratch-free. Fingers crossed it stays that way!
I’ve owned and handled plenty of luxury handbags over the years – many costing three or four times as much – and I’m really impressed by the quality of Strathberry’s materials and craftsmanship.
Before using my suede Kite Hobo, I did gave it a light spray with a suede protector (the same one I use on my suede shoes). So far it’s held up really well, although as I mentioned earlier, I don’t use it if it’s bucketing down outside.
Kite Hobo vs Kite Hobo Maxi
Here’s how they measure up size wise:
If you’re tossing up between the two sizes, hopefully this table helps:
| Kite Hobo | Kite Hobo Maxi |
| 0.69kg (1.5lbs) | 0.975kg (2.11lbs) |
| Shoulder strap measures 37cm (14.6″) to 46cm (18.1″) | Shoulder strap measures 36cm (14.2″) to 48cm (18.9″) with a width of 4cm (1.6″) |
| Better for elevated and dressier events | Better for work |
And here’s what fits inside…
Kite Hobo Maxi
My work laptop is 15” and it fits inside lengthways perfectly, along with all the other gear I take with me to the office – like my coffee cup, tech pouch, make up pouch and other bits and bobs. When the bag is fully packed, it can be quite weighty (as you’d expect of a bag that’s housing your laptop and daily essentials).
Strathberry bag*, 15″ laptop, Saint Laurent cardholder, Freesko cup, Bellroy pouch*, Bellroy soft sunglasses case*, Ted Baker slim cosmetic case (this is 10+ years old)
Kite Hobo
And this is what fits inside my Kite Hobo bag. My iPad is 11″ and fits inside nicely along with my book, coffee cup and other pouches. When I took it with me to the F1 earlier this year, it held 2 drink bottles in there for me and my husband along with all the other bits I had.
Strathberry bag*, 11″ iPad, Bellroy sunglasses case*, Saint Laurent cardholder, Ted Baker slim case, Freesko cup
Does the Kite Hobo fit a laptop?
Only the Kite Hobo Maxi comfortably fits my work laptop. Here’s my 15″ work laptop inside the Kite Hobo:
I mean, I guess it technically fits? But it’s just not a very enjoyable way to wear the bag.
On the other hand, the Kite Hobo Maxi swallows my 15″ work laptop as well as my 16″ Macbook Pro. See below:
L: 15″ work laptop; R: 16″ MacBook Pro
Final thoughts
What surprised me most about these bags wasn’t just how beautiful they are, but how often I’ve reached for them. They’ve both settled into my wardrobe quickly, each filling a completely different role. The Maxi has become one of my favourite dressy work bags, while the smaller Kite Hobo is a bag I like to whip out when I’ve put together a more elevated ensemble.
I also think Strathberry offers excellent value at this price point. The quality of the materials and craftsmanship really impressed me, and I appreciate that the design is understated enough to feel timeless rather than trend-driven.
If you have any questions, feel free to pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I hope you found this Strathberry Kite Hobo bag review to be helpful!
As always, thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. If you liked this post, you might also like to read my other bag reviews here.
