On March 5th, Billingham sent the Phoblographer a press release detailing the new color combination: Navy FibreNyte / Chocolate Leather. Confused by this, I asked for more clarification. You see, the Phoblographer has been really picky about the camera bags we’ve reviewed over the years after a while of just reviewing everything offered. And for the life of me, I really always thought that everything Billingham made was cotton canvas. However, it was only more recently that I realized that that wasn’t the case. Instead, FibreNyte feels a lot like canvas. So this got me thinking.
Of the blue Billingham bags we’ve reviewed in the past, there is the Hadley One and the Eventer Mk II. I was curious, so I asked our rep more about it.
“We used to do Navy Canvas, but we discontinued it last year,” says Katie Floyd of the Sales and Marketing team at Billingham. “We have launched Navy FibreNyte as it is even more hard-wearing and colour fast.” She further clarified that FibreNyte is only slightly rougher to the touch than canvas is. This lead to me wonder about whether Canvas will be fully discontinued in the future, and Ms. Floyd responded with this answer.
“We aren’t stopping the production of Canvas, we do still offer it in some colours; for example, our Khaki Canvas/Tan Leather is a classic combination that we are continuing to offer, as well as Black Canvas/Tan Leather, Grey Canvas and Burgundy Canvas. We are keeping those Canvas options and currently don’t have any plans to stop those options, we offer a FibreNyte option too so that customers have the choice. Many of our customers like the way that our Canvas material ages, as it develops a vintage, patina look that can be popular. “
With that said, the canvas options are becoming more and more rare for sure — yet they’re still making them. And the prices are going up on the used market.
According to the website Watch Count, a search for Billingham brings up some really fascinating sales. A Billingham Eventer Mk II in Khaki sold for less used than it is available for when sold brand new. But some of the Hadley bags are selling for around 35% more than they are sold for brand-new right now.
Billingham bags are built exceedingly well, and the brand even goes into speaking about how to care for them on its website. They also really stand by their products. Anything bought within the past five years will be repaired free of charge, according to their repairs page. But if it’s older than that, they’re likely to charge a fee. It’s comparable to a brand like Filson here in America — except it’s all made in the UK still and they hold themselves accountable to their warranty. They’re a very rare example of a brand that arguably isn’t enshitifying their products for profit. FibreNyte feels a lot like canvas but only time will tell if it really holds up in the same ways.
Still, I wish that they’d make a rolltop backpack of some sort.