WaterField Designs Launches Leather AirTag Keychain and Luggage Tag

[MacRumors]

WaterField Designs has launched a new Leather AirTag Keychain and an AirTag Luggage Tag for Apple's popular item tracker.

The AirTag Luggage Tag consists of two layers of bonded rugged leather that form a pocket in which the AirTag is secured. The Tag attaches with a strong 1.5 mm stainless steel wire that threads through a metal grommet, while perforated holes in a diamond pattern allow sound to travel from the AirTag's built-in speakers.

An included address card or a business card can be slid behind a clear window that's covered by a secure leather flap.

Meanwhile, offering something different to the typical polycarbonate AirTag holders, WaterField Design's more traditional-looking Keychain accessories house the AirTag within a layer of full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, which protects the tracker while also concealing it from view.

The AirTag Keychain has nine small perforations in the raindrop-shaped leather pouch that allow AirTag sound alerts to pass through, and a heavy-duty matte black ring that can hold multiple keys. The accessory can be attached to items with a metal screw fastener.

A Matte black metal screw stud closes the pouch but allows access for battery replacement, and WaterField Design offers the Keychain with a choice of carabiner or 1.5mm stainless-steel cable, with a barrel closure, that threads through a metal grommet to attach to bags, belt hooks, and so on.

• AirTag Accessories: Keyrings and Holders for Apple's AirTags

The Leather AirTag Keychain is available from May 28 for $25 in Acorn, Black, Blue, and Red, while the Leather AirTag Luggage Tag is available from June 9 for $49 in a Black exterior/Black interior, Blue/Black, Crimson/Black, and Grizzly Brown/Black.

Article Link: WaterField Designs Launches Leather AirTag Keychain and Luggage Tag

 

[chucker23n1]

The luggage tag looks good, but whether it's worth $49 depends a lot on quality…

 

[leeuk321]

That moment when you see it flying in the opposite direction...

 

[Nozuka]

Some misalignment issues on those keychains. Especially when looking at that hole in the bottom and the seam.

 

[cupcakes2000]

What on earth is vegetable-tanned leather?

 

[chucker23n1]

What on earth is vegetable-tanned leather?

You basically seep the leather in some vegetable (tree bark, lime, whatever).

 

[skyscraper101]

The amount of luggage tags that I've had go 'missing' - I'll keep the AirTag safely in the bag and save the $49 thanks.

 

[J.Dillinger]

The luggage tag looks good, but whether it's worth $49 depends a lot on quality…

Waterfield is nothing but quality. I’ve owned their Muzetto bag for years and recently picked up a few of their gear pouches.

EDIT: looking at those four tags though, I’m surprised to see such a lack of attention to detail.

 

[SigEp265]

That stitching looks off.

 

[Surferoo]

Question, why hang an AirTag on the outside of your bag?
Use-case one, you lose your bag, the luggage tag might get snagged/ripped off.
Use-case two, your bag gets stolen, ‘oh there’s an AirTag, what should I do with it? 🤔’

Putting an AirTag in an inside pocket likely solves both issues, decreases the chances of a thief finding it/tossing it, and the tag getting snagged/pulled off. Unless your bag happens to be a faraday cage.
Just makes more sense to me.
Thoughts?

 

[swisscanadian]

Question, why hang an AirTag on the outside of your bag?
Use-case one, you lose your bag, the luggage tag might get snagged/ripped off.
Use-case two, your bag gets stolen, ‘oh there’s an AirTag, what should I do with it? 🤔’

Putting an AirTag in an inside pocket likely solves both issues, decreases the chances of a thief finding it/tossing it, and the tag getting snagged/pulled off. Unless your bag happens to be a faraday cage.
Just makes more sense to me.
Thoughts?

I have heard people argue that you should have it on the outside so people see it right away and can tap it to their phone and find you. Otherwise they might not know for a while that there is a AirTag somewhere.
I still think I'll keep mine inside my bags but I understand both arguments.

 

[OliOliOliOli]

Or free one by just put it in one pocket inside the bag!
They totally take us as ...

 

[apparatchik]

The amount of luggage tags that I've had go 'missing' - I'll keep the AirTag safely in the bag and save the $49 thanks.

Yeah, why would one have it scream AirTag or tracker on the outside, when just sliding it on an inside pocket in the luggage, perhaps on a $4 keychain, will give a more discreet & safer tracking.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Looks nice but, more than I want to pay.

 

[Surferoo]

Question, why hang an AirTag on the outside of your bag?
Use-case one, you lose your bag, the luggage tag might get snagged/ripped off.
Use-case two, your bag gets stolen, ‘oh there’s an AirTag, what should I do with it? 🤔’

Putting an AirTag in an inside pocket likely solves both issues, decreases the chances of a thief finding it/tossing it, and the tag getting snagged/pulled off. Unless your bag happens to be a faraday cage.
Just makes more sense to me.
Thoughts?

I wasn't aware that one could 'scan' an AirTag to finds its owner when in lost mode.
I see both sides - https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/found-lost-airtag/
But I think I'd still have it inside.
Apparently "if it's been separated for a period of time from its owner then it will make a sound to alert anyone nearby." - https://www.macrumors.com/2021/04/21/airtags-play-sound-after-three-days/

Anyway, these Waterfield things look so overpriced. The stitching and perforations are all over the place, and is the black version meant to be longer?

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Veg tanned - not chromed tanned, laserable (that’s all I know because I know what I can laser)

These aren’t screw closed, it’s a ball you push the hole in the leather on. I would have considered the key one if it really was screwed closed. Any open and close action and the hole will stretch and there goes the tag.

 

[Mrjetsondc]

The luggage tag looks good, but whether it's worth $49 depends a lot on quality…

Typically the most commonly used leather for items like these is called “Genuine Leather.” That’s an actual designation but don’t get excited- on the spectrum of leather, it’s the cheap stuff.

But still leather. Also there is a glut of leather on the market so sourcing is pretty cheap. It’s everyone else after that’s adds markups.

 

[tayalva]

I don't understand all these expensive tag carriers. just put it...wait for it....IN THE BAG?

 

[alexandr]

i'm amazed that this garbage was 'designed'... looks like something you'd find in big lots.

 

[DekuBleep]

Wow those look really nice. I want one.

 

[mansplains]

I think the reason you'd get some Hermes tag is because you got an overpriced luxury aluminum suitcase that blocks any signal an AirTag would send from inside

 

[CarlJ]

The luggage tag looks good, but whether it's worth $49 depends a lot on quality…

For what it's worth, WaterField makes some really top-notch gear, all hand-made in San Francisco. I've had a number of bags/cases from them, over the years, and they've all been uniformly great (them and Tom Bihn are my go-to for bags).

 

[alphaswift]

Some misalignment issues on those keychains. Especially when looking at that hole in the bottom and the seam.

My OCD caught that too

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

WaterField makes a darn good product. I've bought 3 video game cases from them and they are top notch. A little pricey...but I got what I paid for.

 

[coolfactor]

Waterfield is nothing but quality. I’ve owned their Muzetto bag for years and recently picked up a few of their gear pouches.

EDIT: looking at those four tags though, I’m surprised to see such a lack of attention to detail.

This definitely strikes me as a rush to capitalize on AirTags. Strike while the iron is hot, quality be damned. The prices reflect that.