My leather case withstood the trials of time sitting on a shelve in a closet collecting dust. I had thought of making it into a piggy bank of sorts and collecting quarters until it filled thus allowing me to buy that next camera. I never used the bag. It sat there collecting dust. Lonely in the dark all by itself. I'd look at it every once in a while whenever I open the door. I'd move it around from one side to another on the same shelve. I never thought of using it to house the cube the entire time I had it; instead I removed the cube and very promptly put the bag in exile. Forever sitting in the dark collecting dust. After several years of non use I found I didn't need it to make the cube work any better than it already did. I think Arca Swiss realized the same thing and stopped shipping the cube in them and offering a couple hundred bucks off the price. The cube never changed (until recently) the only thing to change was removing the nice coach leather bag and replacing the shipping container for cardboard. I no longer have that dusty, dirty never used bag and until just a few minutes ago hadn't thought about it for many years. Yes, while it was indeed a good looking bag it was useless. Kind of reminds me of an old girlfriend but that story is better left for another time and several beers.B&H used to offer the bag as a separate item however I'm not sure they still do. I happen to love the smell of rich leather goods and if you are set on getting one the all the best to you either way take it from me, it won't make the cube feel any differently. Don