Conrad began as a simple answer to a simple question:
How can I go out on my bike without needing something to carry my lock? The solution came in the form of a leather good. Mancuso chose leather because it has the ability to take on a distinctive patina with use, and will become richer looking as it ages. The other feature that sets it apart is its D-ring for your keys. Given the way that Conrad is slid onto a belt, the dominant hip's beltloop is obscured. For many, this is the most common place to clip their carabiner full of keys. The D-ring was an obvious yet amazingly strong solution to this problem.
The benefit of Conrad over other options is that it allows the user to have something for a long time, and that object will age beatifully, instead of just getting weaker. It will take on characteristics individual to its user. Its rich color is literally created by your hands and the sun. It is also secure, and keeps your frame from being damage by a jingling U-lock. While many like to tuck the lock into their back pocket, the pressure of leaning forward on the bike saddle coupled with and object snugly tucked into the back packet will destroy your pants very quickly by pulling out the seams along the bottom of the pocket.