Bag feet (also called purse feet or bottom studs) lift the base of a bag off the ground, protecting the leather from scuffs, moisture and dirt. Four small pieces of hardware add years to a bag's life — but only if they are mounted where the base can actually carry them. This guide covers both common mounting types. Bag feet in brass, nickel and gunmetal finishes are in our rivets, studs and metal fasteners collection; selection advice is in the rivets, studs and bag feet buying guide.
Screw-Back or Prong-Back — Which Do You Have?
Screw-back feet have a threaded post and a small screw (or a screw-in base plate). They suit thicker, firmer bases and can be removed later for repair. Prong-back feet have two or four thin prongs that fold over a backing washer inside the bag — the standard choice for most leather bags. Check your hardware before cutting: the hole you punch is different for each.
Step 1: Position the Feet on the Finished Base
Work on the assembled bag, or at least on the finished base panel with its final reinforcement in place. Set the feet 15–25 mm in from each corner — close enough to support the edge, far enough that the leather between foot and edge does not tear out. Mark all four positions, then flip the bag and check the marks are square by measuring diagonals. Feet set even 3–4 mm off-square make the bag rock on a flat table.
Step 2: Reinforce the Base
Feet concentrate the bag's whole resting load on four small circles of leather. If your base is a single layer of soft leather under about 1.6 mm, glue a reinforcement panel inside — firm leather, salpa, or board — sized to cover all four foot positions. Structured bags with an existing base board already have this; punch through it and the foot will clamp against it.
Step 3: Punch and Mount
Prong-back: punch a small slot or cross-cut at each mark — just wide enough for the prongs. Push the foot through from the outside, place the backing washer over the prongs inside, and fold the prongs outward along the washer, pressing flat with pliers. Screw-back: punch a hole matching the post diameter, insert the post from the outside, and drive the screw from inside until the foot seats firmly — snug, not crushing the leather.
Step 4: The Table Test
Set the bag on a flat, hard surface and press diagonally on opposite corners. Any rocking means one foot sits higher — usually a prong not fully folded or a screw not fully seated. Fix it now; a rocking bag wears one foot and one corner of the base instead of spreading the load.
Common Mistakes
- Feet too close to the corners — the leather strip between the foot and the edge tears under load; keep at least 15 mm
- No reinforcement on a soft base — feet punch through or sag within months; always back them with a firm panel
- Prongs folded straight down — they should fold outward along the washer so the load spreads, not point-loads
- Skipping the diagonal check — measure both diagonals before punching; four right feet in a wrong rectangle still rock
For the rest of the bag's hardware plan — closures, rings, straps and reinforcement rivets — see the bag hardware buying guide, and our tutorials on installing double cap rivets and installing a turn lock.