Messenger Bags / Courier Bags

I have a Baily Works Super Pro. It's a great bag. Very comfortable and well built. Bailey Works is a really small operation located in N.H., and the two emails I sent were answered promptly and courteously. It took a little over two weeks to get the bag. Awesome.

You can also check out Seagull, R.E.Load, and PAC Designs.

I have a ridiculously huge Chrome bag that I got on ebay for cheap. It basically serves as my gym bag and works pretty well for such a purpose. Totally waterproof, the strap system is pretty great for easy tightening and loosening and when I've actually biked with it it's been pretty nice. But it's kind of a hassle to get in and out of on a frequent basis due to velcro closure + buckles.

man bags

The What's In Your Bag flickr group is good for ideas: http://www.flickr.com/groups/whats_in_your_bag/pool/

My contribution:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quartzcity/411771479/

Bailey Works all the way. I have a large SuperPro, three years old, used every single day, including a winter of Chicago bike messengering. I still use it every day as a "working cyclist" and am only considering a replacement because I think I want to use a backpack. Ergonomics.

Search: Seagull, Zugster, Freight, Chrome (ubiquitous, and I personally would never get one, but they're quality and relatively inexpensive), SAG (good luck finding one), PAC ($$$$$$$$$, too much bag for the casual user)

Destroy: Timbuk2, RELoad (most people love them, but I find the strap design infuriating)

So yeah, Bailey Works.

I find it pretty amusing and endering that everyone on ILX hates Timbk2.

One thing to keep in mind is that a true messenger bag probably won't be very comfortable to wear walking around. The bag is designed to be worn with the weight on the upper half of the back. That makes sense when you're spending most of your time on a bike, and they are really designed to be worn while cycling. If I were looking for a bag to carry a laptop and other stuff on the subway everyday, I would probably look for a different design. Some of the messenger bag makers have more typical bag designs that have a similar look and ruggedness as a mess bag. They're often cheaper too.

Bailey Works all the way. I have a large SuperPro

^^ me too, silver with a yellow interior. actually i forget if mine is a L or an XL.

One thing to keep in mind is that a true messenger bag probably won't be very comfortable to wear walking around.

^^ this is very, very true.

the one thing that i can add is that the bailey works doesn't have a zippered or segmented compartment. so if you put a laptop and some books and a notebook in there, they're going to slide around all over the place. so you have to figure out some way of keeping your stuff together. i usually load my stuff into a backpack and then throw the backpack into the messenger bag.

i use to shlep these things around ALL the time.

right now i have a ben sherman one, and a really nice tweed one from scotland.

i dont use these for laptops anymore though, fucks with my back.

My Bailey Works is a size medium - orange on the outside with yellow lining. The medium is actually pretty damn big. I LOVE my bag.

I'm definitely looking for a proper messenger bag for cycling, rather than a shoulder bag or man bag. I cycle 100-200 miles a week and don't really walk much, spending near enough 100% of my travelling time on the bike, so comfort while walking isn't a big deal, while stability on the bike is, hence my wanting a proper courier-type bag.

get a bailey works then

and resist the urge to get a bigger one. they're really ridiculously big. i bought mine probably a size too big, and as i said, w/o any internal structure it's a bit of a hassle w/r/t balance.

i've been considering putting in some sort of netting system to hold the stuff in place but i can't figure out how to do it w/o punching holes in the bag.

recs for a good Rudyard Kipling/Indiana Jones/etc. leather bag?

I was in a class with a guy who had a nice one a couple of years ago but I kept forgetting to ask him where it was from.

I'm not sure that they're obtainable here in the UK (at least not without significant trouble and expense).

Bailey Works I mean.

oh, ok.

here's a nice leather bag: http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jhtml?id=prod95683181&catId=cat301110

any tips from gbx or super cub on organizing stuff in the bailey works? i don't feel like i've really figured it out yet ... sorta keeps me from using the bag as often as i could / should ...

Yeah, it's a bitch that a lot of these potentially great messenger bags are for all intents and purposes not available outside the states (unless you really know very specifically that you want such-and-such a bag and so are willing to fork out to get one shipped specially).

Timbuk2's are about the most easily available here in the UK and Chrome's are available at a couple of UK online places, while Bagaboo now has one UK online distributor. I believe PAC are available at Brick Lane Bikes in London, but they cost ~£300 or some such crazy money so they're pretty much out of the picture. Moan, moan, moan... ;-)

I really like the look of both the Chrome and the Bagaboo, and am very taken by how customisable the Bagaboo's are, but am not sure it's wise to go all out on something custom first time round. It's especially difficult to judge what size of bag would be best, without being able to see any of them in the flesh.

I'll check out some of the other bags mentioned thus far.

I mostly do walking and use my bag for books, so YMMV, but I got my bag here http://www.manhattanportage.com/ and it was affordable and comfortable and I've used the same one for the last 3-4 years.

moonship, this may not be much help now, but there is something called "rear interior divider" that is an add-on when you order the bag. Seeing as it's a small operation, I bet if you sent them your bag, they'd sew it in for the standard price (assuming they can put it into an already constructed bag). If sharp corners are bothersome, you can also stick some padding into the back of the bag, . DIY mess bag padding

krakow, you probably can't go wrong with either chrome or bagaboo. chrome has become associated with hipsterdom to a large extent, so if you don't want to have a readily recognized bag with hipster connotations, bagaboo might be a better choice. Chrome has a definite look to it and is instantly recognizable. Chrome seems like it might be a little cheaper.

I'd get the bagaboo, but I have no firsthand experience with either of these bags. Basically all of these companies that make real messenger bags have a good product. You probably can't go wrong as long as you get a bag from one of the ten or so companies that make the real deal.

I'm sure Manhattan Portage makes a nice bag, but they don't have "real" mess bags. A real mess bag needs to have a cross-stabilizing strap that keeps the bag centered on the back when riding a bike. The main strap has ample padding and a mechanism for quick adjustment. It needs to be designed to be worn high on the back, not on the lower back like most shoulder bags. They also tend to be ultra waterproof and very well constructed.

hmmm that's interesting. sharp corners aren't so much the problem as everything in the bag sliding down to rest at my right hip. i probably need to look at that rear interior divider. it would be cool if they had some latches or rings on the *inside*, so that you could secure or clip stuff to the upper left.

w/r/t organization

-- when i was messing, the main compartment was left empty (+ pump) to accommodate the demands of various cargo (legal boxes to architectural drawings and so on). now work demands that i bring pretty much the same stuff around with me all the time, so the packing is specific to those needs. but basically, i haven't ever used any internal organizational scheme. flat things in the back, so the lay flat when i'm riding, lumpy things in the front.
-- front left pocket has pens, sundry personal effects (snack, pocket-mask/latex gloves, etc). front right pocket carries all my tools: multi tool, pedal wrench, 15mm wrench for removing wheels, tire levers, tubes

I guess the biggest organizational tip is making sure the bag presents a uniform surface to your back. if you're riding any considerable distance, any little lump is gonna be a pea in the mattress, you know?

The way I pack mine (which is usually 2/3 empty - mess bags are really freaking big) is to put heavier stuff in the bottom right and stack up toward the top left. Maybe that doesn't make sense in terms of weight distribution, but it's comfortable for me. I keep the whole bag up pretty high though. Maybe you're not packing right. Try packing bottom right upward, but keep the bag high up your back. Also, you can through in a sweatshirt or something to fill out the compartment and keep loose stuff from floating around too much.

Also, make sure you've got the straps properly adjusted. I like to have the main strap tight, but not so tight that it pulls the bag to one side. Same with the cross-strap. Both straps need to be at the right tightness so the bag sits high and centered and feels snug.

I guess I'm saying that you should spend 30 minutes trying different packing approaches and strap configurations. You may find the right set-up.

Also, you can through in a sweatshirt or something to fill out the compartment and keep loose stuff from floating around too much

i've heard this tip a lot! i dunno, maybe i just have unrealistic expectations for how the things is supposed to work. seems like some discomfort comes w/ the territory.

I cycle 100-200 miles a week and don't really walk much, spending near enough 100% of my travelling time on the bike,

voice in wilderness says that if you dont need to access gear on route try a pannier. excruciatingly uncool, looks weird on shoulder, plus requires rack.

On the pannier side, I have Ortlieb Classics. They absolutely rule and can carry vast acres of stuff in iron-clad roll-top waterproof security. However, they're no good whatsoever off the bike, so I sometimes need a bag that I can take with me more easily after parking the bike up (mainly when going to a gig, or non-supermarket shopping etc.). I'm also going to acquiring a bike shortly that I won't fit a rack to, for lighter summer use, but I'll still need to carry stuff about with me. Overall, it would be good to have something that was a bit more versatile while still being good for cycling. The Ortliebs and racked-up bike will be my supermarket shopping and bad weather beast of burden.

In terms of style, I couldn't be cool however hard I tried, so looks only matter in terms of whether I like the bag or not. I'm not really bothered by what other people think I look like (cycling nerd with panniers, wanna-be messenger hipster with chrome bag etc.), which is handy.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a Chrome at first, because they're cheaper and easier. Then later if I like it, I can get a fully-customised Bagaboo most likely, once I know a bit more about the specifics of what I want from such a bag.

For the big grocery runs I use a giant Lands' End backpack from college, because it's easier to load it with REALLY heavy stuff like glass bottles and cans of tomatoes, etc, plus you don't have to lift it over your head afterward. But my messenger bag is a fakey one without the underarm cross-strap so that's probably the real problem.

I think the adjustable tension buckle thingy would be the best part of a real mess bag, so you could put it on loose and then snug it up.

ha krakow i have ortlieb classics too. concur, they suck off the bike. i keep thinking that, yknow, they shouldn't have to. while i think it is a great pannier for its absolute waterproofing, i wonder what the best pannier is for shouldering?

fwiw for msgr bags i have a timbuk2 that i won, a mtnsmith that i got on clearance, and a chrome. chrome is best of 3. gotta say i just dont like msgr bags much.

Ortlieb do what they call a messenger bag, but is actually a back pack. It looks very much like the classic panniers - i.e. big, kind of boxy and with a roll top closure. It's probably just as awesome as the panniers, but I sadly think it's ugly as sin for wearing on the back, so I'm not sure I could bring myself to get one, despite how much I love my panniers.

http://www.ortlieb.co.uk/images/images_big/messenger.jpg

My mum and dad came to campus last Thursday to give me my birthday presents. I think it was the first time they'd been here during termtime (I've worked here nearly six years). My mum's main observation was that "all the boys are carrying handbags".

friend of mine uses an ortlieb backpack and loves it, fwiw

I think the real question is: can you fit a case of beer in any/all of these?

two cases in my BW

I can just get a case of 18 bottles into my grocery pack but not with extra room for chips and avocados. ;_;

This thread needs more pictures. Lots of the websites don't have particularly good pictures of their bags. It's good to see what colour choices look like and how big the bags are in real life and it helps understanding the pockets and strap systems.

OK, colour choice:

Olive/Black: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-3.jpg

Black/Black: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-5.jpg

Khaki/Black: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-7.jpg

Black/Red:

are what's available in the Citizen.

If I went with a Metropolis (£20 more), then some of the above aren't available but it opens up the possibility of

Grey/Black:

Navy/Black:

and Royal/Black, which there isn't a picture of.

Black/Red: http://84.19.224.75/products/full/00001421/00009380.jpg

Grey/Black: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-6.jpg

Navy/Black: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-4.jpg

recs for a good Rudyard Kipling/Indiana Jones/etc. leather bag?

Trainspotter-level detail on the Indy bag: http://www.indygear.com/igbag.html

chrome has become associated with hipsterdom to a large extent, so if you don't want to have a readily recognized bag with hipster connotations, bagaboo might be a better choice.

well, i dunno about these bags having "hipster connotations" whatever that means. i think they're about as far from "hip" as one can get and are actually kinda hideous.. i mean, useful though if you're biking around with a lot of shit, but i have no health insurance so im taking the bus...

but then again, im the one carrying around a bag with pink octopuses all over it, so.... its best not to take any style opinions from me at all seriously

I have an older/smaller version of the Jansport "Elefunk" which has lasted really well and was like $24 from ebags.com if not cheaper than that

ebags.com is the shit, tbh

especially if you want good pictures of what you're buying, open, closed, on a mannequin, back, front, etc

dude, chrome bags are so hip it is making my pants hurt just thinking about it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, really -- they're still nice bags and all.

dude, chrome bags are so hip it is making my pants hurt just thinking about it.
are you joking?

http://www.ebags.com/messenger_bags/sale/category_search/index.cfm?Ne=100&N=4001+20041944

I have to agree that the chrome bag looks like it's trying way too hard.
Plus for real why so wide vs. tall? anything without a side banana/umbrella pocket = impractical

Since reading this thread, I've thought maybe I need one of these messenger bags as my old backpack is falling apart. But it's also opened my eyes and they are indeed everywhere. I agree with phil-two upthread though, they're a pretty long way from hip, unless you're a cycling nerd. And cycling nerds aren't really that cool with their straggly hair, smooth legs and habit of nonchalantly chatting with each other riding two-abreast down a busy street whilst van drivers scream abuse out the window.

Is there any particular advantage of these kind of bags over a backpack/rucksack (when riding a bike)?

Is there any particular advantage of these kind of bags over a backpack/rucksack (when riding a bike)?

See my response upthread:

A real mess bag needs to have a cross-stabilizing strap that keeps the bag centered on the back when riding a bike. The main strap has ample padding and a mechanism for quick adjustment. It needs to be designed to be worn high on the back, not on the lower back like most shoulder bags. They also tend to be ultra waterproof and very well constructed.

There may not be much of a difference between a well designed and high-quality backpack, but most backpack and ruchsacks will provide nowhere near as much stability and ruggedness as a messenger bag. Real messenger bags are specifically designed to be worn while riding a bike. They are designed to be worn by bike messengers. So yeah, they have particular advantages.

It seems like there are two kinds of people posting to this thread: those who want a bag for riding their bike (mostly for commuting and shopping excursions) and those who want a bag for walking down the street and riding the subway. Different uses for different kinds of bags.

Chrome definitely has hipster connotations. Whether it is hip or not is a judgment call. Personally, I think they look cool, and they are universally considered very good messenger bags.

Krakow I like the grey/black or the olive/black best. The website has more color possibilities - are they not available?

Not here in the UK.

Chain Reaction Cycles is my source. They have a few other colours that are currently out of stock, but they're all X/Black variations.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=550

Postage from Chrome direct makes them totally unaffordable.

I'm thinking Olive/Black or Khaki/Black might be good, both of which would be a bit of a departure given my usual ultra-conservative tastes, so am wavering as to whether black/black might be safer. I'm such an indecisive kind of guy. Maybe.

I think a Citizen is the way to go; I imagine the Metropolis is actually pretty big.

If you're having trouble deciding between colors, you might want to think about visibility. Khaki/Black might be marginally more visible than Black/Black.

I got my bag in orange partly for higher visibility.

gbx why do you want to switch to backpack? i have this volcom backpack that i bought a while ago b/c of wanting something to carry my laptop in - it has a padded section - and also b/c it is just plain black and has no obvious branding or hideousness on it. but omg it isn't even summer yet and the backpack is all abt causing back sweatiness... and also creates over-the-shoulder minor blind spot, which isn't great. the ortlieb bags look neat though. but yeah, backpacks too hot for back :/
gotta break down and get a messenger bag yeah

hunching on bike + HEAVY bag (I carry a ton of shit for work) + poor posture anyway + 8 hours a day of that shit = tenseness in the left shoulder. a backpack would distribute the load a bit more evenly. also, messenger bags are in no way less back-sweaty than packs; you've still got a swatch of cordura across your back

anyways, backpacks are back in this year!! the raf simons x eastpak bags are pretty cool... if you can find one, and also if you can afford one.

http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/client_images/kanyewest/3106_d07cc87c0d752f6e33926b5abfb14903.jpg

yeah, duh, raf simons is awesome but isn't that going to cost like $1000?

http://www.sneakers.fr/public/EASTPACKRAF.jpg

zowie, thats big

err, well yeah theyre like $600....

http://hypebeast.com/image/2007/10/raf-simons-eastpak-7.jpg

my favorite is the first one though. the white with the colored straps

I feel like there are two threads happening simultaneously.

Awesome looking and functional, a one-two knockout

which thread is the awesome looking and functional one

The one with garbage bags with straps on them

New thread title:

bike dorks & fashionistas: Can we agree on a bag?

I like what that kid above is weairng, because he looks like my twin.

Anyway, can't go wrong wit hthe Eddie Bauer laptop bag. Mine's lasted a good 8 years and itaint no fruity indie sack

http://www.supremepalace.com/Supreme2007AW/backpack1.jpg

^^ i got the black one

those shiny ones are victim-ish

what the fucking eff @ giant designer backpacks lol

yeah xposts i have pretty much always used backpacks when riding a bike when commuting, which is to say, for like, over a decade. and for like evrything else save for when purses are called for. so i guess backpacks are doing something right for me regardless. was thinking messenger bags would sit lower on my back but really they do go right across back anyway, so hey. watch me get a rack and paniers. no, not quite yet. will just get out the wicking tank tops for when the summer hits. also my current backpack was only $50 and seems to be holding up really really well. i still have two backpacks from highschool/early university days that i use all the time too.

anyway what, i just biked home from karaoke across town but just with regular old twee-ass bag so wahteve.r

I have this: http://www.epacks.co.uk/usrimage/fire%20red.jpg

It's at least five years old now and has served me well.

what the fucking eff @ giant designer backpacks lol

i think they look great!! maybe a bit unpractical though, and maybe a bit expensive....

Well, I just ordered a Khaki/Black Chrome Citizen. Hopefully it should arrive early next week. I'll be back with my opinions once it arrives.

I am so pleased, phil, that fashion now decrees that it is cool to look like a 12 year old italian school child, circa 1994.

better that than a 34 year old brooklyn bike messenger circa 2008, i say

haha phil that was a 'holy fuck fashion is awesome i can't believe the things it makes' reaction really, also lol b/c of image of wearing one of those backpacks while going fast on a bike in city traffic

i bought a chrome ranchero backpack (stability, achy shoulder) because of this thread
thank you ilx

i was going to buy a bailey works bag but i thought it would for sure hurt my shoulder and if there's something i don't need, it's a $150 bag that makes my body hurt.

I want that kelly green pack.

i ordered the kelly green and they were OUT OF STOCK! so i got the orange.

better that than a 34 year old brooklyn bike messenger circa 2008, i say

-- phil-two, Friday, 23 May 2008 13:36 (2 hours ago) Bookmark Link

i have a beard now so, leather and canvas saddle bag circa 1953 is more my style.

There are versions of "hip" that vary from crowd to crowd, and some don't involve wearing a fashion bag. Yeah, Chrome are "hip" for the messenger bag/courier bag set, timbuk2 has some cache and a lot of brand recognition and I like the laptop bag I have from them, but I don't ride my bike all that much, so results may vary.

I'm kind of looking for a backpackish thing lately due to the low bike usage, heard some good things about Incase.

I think I meant to say cachet, and possibly add an accent mark somewhere along the way

my orange chrome backpack (ranchero) has arrived! it is ENORMOUS. if anyone has thought that maybe they need the largest size, think again. maybe it looks gigantic because i am a relatively small person, but it looks like i could climb in there and make a home for myself. this is good, because i am a teacher and have lots of books/papers/folders to cart around, but wow am i glad i didn't buy the largest one.

will try to post a photo once i can get someone to take one of me with the backpack on and full of stuff.

testing today for comfort, but it seems pretty well-constructed. it is also very pretty. i'm happy so far!

I have a couple of bags from http://www.airbagcraftworks.com/.

Handmade in Berlin from bits of recycled dingy and stuff. They are awesome, and most are ridiculously tough because of the materials used.

wise up messenger bags are the cargo pants of portage - sexy sexy tote bags 4 life fools!

http://www.braintreehistorical.org/images/Braintree%20tote%20bag.jpg

oh man i cant believe i can get the braintree mass tote fr only $13 delivered - this may prove irresistible

but then again, im the one carrying around a bag with pink octopuses all over it, so.... its best not to take any style opinions from me at all seriously

-- phil-two, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:31 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

ok pics

2008- plether takes over

how do the straps go thru the coat? are they a set or something?

but then again, im the one carrying around a bag with pink octopuses all over it, so.... its best not to take any style opinions from me at all seriously

-- phil-two, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:31 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

ok pics

-- sleep, Thursday, 29 May 2008 14:43 (3 hours ago) Link

ok.. heres my gay octopus bag

http://web.mac.com/philtwo/iWeb/Site/Library%203_files/IMG_9544.jpg

up close:

http://web.mac.com/philtwo/iWeb/Site/Library%203_files/IMG_9546.jpg

those lookin for superb backpacks could do a lot worse than spireusa.com which i have repped for before and will likely do again:

http://www.spireusa.com/products/VX6.htm

XD

I have one of those awful yellow CafePress bags with a Buddha sillhouette on it.

Okay, so I recently got one of these (Chrome Metropolis):

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/3247-3.jpg

Based on 20 some-odd miles on SF city streets, it appears to contain large amounts of win if you are actually carrying stuff on a bike. To wit:

+ Integrated strap pad (super comfy and beats the hell out of e.g. the Timbuk2 optional pad)
+ Stabilizer strap (the security of a backpack with a messenger's low center of gravity, attaches under arm or at hip)
+ Brilliant fit (I'm around 6'1", so take that with a grain of salt, but it feels more like an article of clothing than a bag)
+ Swallows stuff (laptop, office shoes/jeans/shirt, U-lock, water bottle, assorted devices and chargers and notebooks and stuff - no problemo)

If I weren't actually riding with it, I might actually prefer the Timbuk2 Laptop Messenger, which also holds a good amount of stuff, has an integrated laptop sleeve, offers better internal organization, and adds a topside grab-handle (urgent and key!) - also a little cheaper ($110 vs $135, but available for more like $80 on eBay)

whoa, i got a photo of a guy with the white garbage bag Raf Simons backpack upthread... was at an event and saw him go by and i knocked over some hos chasing him down to get a photo. anyways, here:

http://web.mac.com/philtwo/iWeb/Site/Library%208_files/IMG_0320.jpg

totally love it

I need one of these that is invincible, plain, good quality and doesn't have brand-related fixed-gear douchebag tax. Any makers I should particularly be looking at?

I need one of these that is invincible, plain, good quality and doesn't have brand-related fixed-gear douchebag tax. Any makers I should particularly be looking at?

― caek, Thursday, November 27, 2008 2:40 PM (52 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i picked up a san francisco freight baggage size medium backpack a few months ago, and i'm really pleased with it. super tough, comfortable, plain black with a very discreet patch (can easily be removed) as the only distinguising mark. cost me about $200. he doesn't seem to have a website, but does have a myspace.

I've never been disappointed by Eastpak. Current bag has padded pocket for netbook, roomy main chamber, three zippered sections and front stowage for phone, pens etc. In flat black with a small tag (which could be picked off) and cost £40GBP. Eastpak also has a lifetime guarantee for everything including the zips.

baileyworks baileyworks baileyworks

http://www.tenba.com/e-entity.rootlevel.xml.config.aspx?entity=Category

most of the bags that are *actually* invincible are going to be bags preferred by working messengers. lots of extraneous pouches and zippers and the like are points of failure under heavy usage. BW bags (i've had mine for nearly 4 years, with v heavy use) are as plain as they come, and extremely durable. pricey, but not flashy and douchey. see also: http://seagullbags.com/black/

call me indie but

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41alQ-9r67L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

mine does not have those annoying swirly bits on the front.

nice purse, nancy

still rock a cheapie canvas with a buddha silhouette

MANBAGS

baileyworks baileyworks baileyworks

yes yes yes

I love my baileyworks. Superpro medium in orange.

Still loving my Chrome big time.

nice purse, nancy

I keep a notebook of my enemies inside.

and doesn't have brand-related fixed-gear douchebag tax.

Oh, yeah, forget quality and all that garbage. you really don't want something that, you know, other people like.

Did you only read 40% of my post or something? As I said, I'm looking for something that is well-made (I left clues for you by using the words "good quality" and "invincible"). So, with this in mind, I would like something that other people like.

I'd like to avoid a brand which hispter bandwagon-jumping fixie riders like, because they have more money than sense and their favorites are likely to be more expensive than the materials and workmanship warrant. This is the "douchebag tax". Do you see?

Thanks very much, everyone else!

http://www.spireusa.com

^

Plz ignore hipster douchebag on their homepage

: )

i have a manbag (actually i have a lot of manbags) and a purse

2 diff things. the latter is like the 'ultralight' manbag.

Will a laptop be OK in a baileyworks?

Also, how is the center of gravity on a proper bike messenger bag like that for when on foot? Seems like it might be a little high?

the pedestrian center of gravity on my old baileyworks messenger bag (pre-gym locker theft) felt fine. they sometimes feel a little overbuilt for most walking purposes, that's all; but for riding they're fabulous.

these days i've settled for plain canvas army bag (cost: 20 bucks or so). if i tighten up the strap enough it doesn't swing around my body. i spray the outside for waterproofing. sort of like this:

http://www.mandiberg.com/shop/images/0908.jpg

and i've been using a saddlebag for when i have bulkier luggage:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/609carradice_l.jpg

disadvantage obv is that these aren't quick release exactly.

Tenbas are designed for professional photo and other people, with protective storage designed specifically for laptops (to be carried at the same time as heavy cameras or other objects), while remaining very lightweight and form-fittingly comfortable, plus they keep their logos unflashy (or you can supply your own logo on some models). i used an earlier model for about 8 years, wearing either over the shoulder or bandeliered (a padded strap - or a backpack strap - is available separately in the accessories section) with bag between small of back and butt, including 2-3 years of near-daily commuting to school with both a Mac G3 (in its own removable padded case, now replaced in the messenger bag by a sealable padded sleeve) and sometimes several heavy textbooks in addition (ok, not always completely comfortable), and 5+ years of general use as a briefcase/manbag/travel bag, including at least some heavyweight/laptop use. the thing did start to break down eventually (1.3 buckles are gone, strap padding started to shed on me a little), and i got myself a proper briefcase (which broke down a lot faster), but the thing is still useable and comfortable and protective.

click on laptop gear on my link above and watch the video for the standard messenger bag, then go from there if you want more.

Also, how is the center of gravity on a proper bike messenger bag like that for when on foot? Seems like it might be a little high low?

― caek, Friday, November 28, 2008 11:59 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

Thanks again everyone. The Tenbas look cool, but the pockets and padding look like they might be overkill for my purposes.

I would have a good look at Tenba's if I ever become a frequent business traveller again. SLR+Laptop is quite difficult.

As I'm sure has been mentioned before. a lot of these bags aren't really what I'd consider messenger/courier bags, as they don't seem properly geared towards cycling.

The Tenba Messenger bag, for example, doesn't look any good for cycling to me.

the flip to that is most messenger bags aren't really great for off-cycle. the best of both world would be an Ortlieb or Chrome (I know...hipster) backpack. Super-durable and easy to carry when you're not cycling

If you're going to be doing a lot of walking with the bag, then a mess bag may not be the best option. I've walked with my baileyworks, and the center of gravity is high (high, right?). It's fine for light loads, but I wouldn't want to walk a mile carrying any kind of real weight. gbx's suggestion is a good one - look at the backpacks made by mess bag companies or companies that cater to bikers. A lot of people prefer a good backpack to a mess bag.

A laptop in the baileyworks would probably work fine (I've done it a couple of times without incident). Like all true mess bags, the bw has no real structure or padding other than on the strap, so carrying a laptop alone might be uncomfortable. You could get one of those shock absorbing padded sheaths for the laptop for added peace of mind and comfort.

Here's a new Ortlieb backpack that's a little less odd looking than the "classic" model. BTW, Ortlieb's bike friendly backpacks are called "messenger bags" on the website for some reason.

http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/image_options.asp?iid=100

http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/image_options.asp?iid=100

I can't post the image for some reason. Here's the link

http://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-22.htm

A friend of mine has an Ortlieb backpack in bright yellow. It looks strange at first, but increasingly great. Given how amazing their panniers are, I'd guess that the backpacks (which they indeed confusingly call messenger bags) are similarly awesome. No need to worry about rain ever again.

friend visited recently sporting an ortlieb messenger pack (he's a former messenger) and i have to say that i was jealous. given that my hauling now is limited to books and the like, something spread over both shoulders seems preferable to the strain of a mess bag.

the new BW backpacks look....dope? http://baileyworks.com/Backpacks/Two-Strap+Work+Pack/options/#

chrome has become associated with hipsterdom to a large extent, so if you don't want to have a readily recognized bag with hipster connotations, bagaboo might be a better choice.

well, i dunno about these bags having "hipster connotations" whatever that means. i think they're about as far from "hip" as one can get and are actually kinda hideous.. i mean, useful though if you're biking around with a lot of shit, but i have no health insurance so im taking the bus...

― phil-two, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:26 PM (8 months ago)

^^^so this is as close as ilx has ever gotten to a proper 'politics of messenger bags' discussion, huh? I was expecting a snarky comment or two about working-class accessories being sanitized and fetishized by silver-spoon-fed youths who couldn't deliver a day's worth of mail if their lives depended on it.

What a letdown, this thread

I own one. Only take it to work with "documents" or to interviews.

There it is.

^^^couldn't deliver a day's worth of--

oh nvm

yeah with respect to the dead the whole "politics of messenger bags" thing was pretty much all in chaki's head

iirc

but obv it was a stand in for needless dissection of dumb social trends

bitter truths are hard to swallow, HOOS

Ignoring all the politics nothingness, I can report that my Chrome bag, which was the resulting purchase after originally starting this thread, and so seems now to be about 8 months of every day riding old, is all kinds of awesome. Highest possible recommendation.

I recently got a second Chrome messenger bag, a Metropolis this time, the next size up from the Citizen. I was offered it at my local bike shop for too good a price to turn down. It's pretty massive. Still loving my original Chrome Citizen huge amounts, btw.

Never did buy one after my revive months back. Now seriously urgent and my financial situation has improved so about to drop some serious money on a courier-style backpack.

Options available to me in the EU appear to be Bailey Works Citizen L: http://baileyworks.com/Backpacks/Citizen+Pack/options/

http://www.urbanhunter.biz/shop/images/full/913.jpg

(hipster not included, next size up is hilariously lol hueg: http://www.urbanhunter.biz/shop/catalogue.php?item_id=912)

and the new Bagaboo backpack: http://bagaboo.hu/en/ransel-backpack/

http://bagaboo.hu/wp-content/uploads/DSC05258.JPG

They are pretty much the same price (~£200 ouch but this will last a lifetime amirite). Differences:

Bailey Works: gbx approved, side water bottle thing which I would actually use, looks slightly better than the Bagaboo imo, can only get in black from uk stockist (but this is what i would probably choose anyway), slightly better (or at least better known) reputation.

Bagaboo: you email a very nice guy and he will customize it pretty much however you want, including removing the lame logo; compression straps; optional laptop pouch and a little more organization, which i would probably find useful; slightly larger capacity, looks a bit cheap for a £200 rucksack?

Someone tell me what to do.

I'd get the Bailey Works. I have a mess bag from them and love it.

My favorite are GAUDI-SAG:

http://www.gaudi-sag.com/products/index.html

I had a Chrome, a Timbuk 2 and a Crumpler as comparisons over the past 10 years... the SAG are easily my favorite. I have 2 now.

If you've got the money to spend then that Bailey Works looks weird but damn sweet, I'd probably choose it over the Bagaboo, due to it being a more tried & tested brand. Also consider that you could be waiting quite a time for the Bagaboo, at least if you wanted any customisation, whereas I assume the Bailey from Urbanhunter would be ready to go straight away.

yah, bailey works is in stock and ready to roll. no stockists anywhere yet (Germany, UK, wherever) for the bagaboo backpack, as far as i can tell (although i have an email in to the guy checking this and some other stuff). i think i will wait to hear back from bagaboo but will get the bailey works in all likelihood.

do sag ship internationally? my japanese is rusty

The person who looked does not think, and honesty is not ordinary to the height of the bunny hop as a sigh is given....

who needs japanese with english like that?

If you look under the dealer tab on the sag website, they clearly list a bunch of international dealers.

xpost

lol of course shasta is repping for SAG

i want one of those AF1 bags, though i've heard quality control is iffy

and yeah, it's time for a backpack for me. thinking about the chrome soyuz, but it's maybe TOO specialized.

i just want something smaller and that won't kill my left shoulder

altho fuck it man those BW packs look perfect

soyuz looks to small for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HX8V5GDuHE

o

well i've still got my lol hueg BW mess bag for groceries and general big stuff, so i just want something smaller and more comfortable for my usual school hauling (which is generally just one, thin-ish three ring binder and maybe one or two slim textbooks. computer every now and then.

plus gym clothes, i guess. so for that the soyuz seems perfect, but i guess i'm fucked if i want to pick up anything on the way home (not uncommon)

soyuz is deceptive - that main storage area expands more than I woulda thought

I picked up a Timbuk2 medium-sized Laptop Bag for $50 used in great condition from CL earlier this summer. It pretty much fits all my needs, and has the nice-sized padded section for the 'puter.

http://media.rei.com/media/j/1110646.jpg

read tht clearly listed list of international dealers, none in uk fk u

Still representing for Chrome - they're where it's at.

sorry, didn't know you live in the UK (not sure how exactly I'm supposed to have known that). Was it the "clearly" that upset you so much?

xpost

no, the fact they don't have a uk dealer, fk u sag shda said

no offence

;_; hott
http://www.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/saglife_5-570x427.jpg

SAG doesn't have a distributor here (US) either??? just ppl w/hooks up with nihon

oh, okay. hand shakes all around.

You could try buying from a U.S. dealer. It might be relatively affordable and hassle free.

xpost to cozwn

Chari and Co NYC appears to have Sag products for sale on their website store (many products are sold out right now though).

Hmmm, maybe my Japanese fetish could eke its way into my courier bag love too. Two obsessions for the price of one.

next up NJS parts and keirin posters

Damn right. I'm going to need so much money if I ever find my way over there what with all the music and bikes, let alone the vending machine panties.

The shop around the corner from my flat in SF/CA/USA carries quite a bit of the SAG line. But the Oshman's in Jingumae, Tokyo has the almost the complete line including t-shirts and all sorts of one-offs.

Also my bro did an artist collab with them ^__~.

Because I didn't want to die on my motorcycle:

http://www.aerostich.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/9/0/905_2a.jpg

safety takes no holiday

Mr Veg has a Zo Bag, bought it 20 years ago and still looks exactly the same today. Good and sturdy. But I don't know where you buy them anymore except ebay. Apparently guy still sell them by mail order, wtf.

zo bags are like messenger talismans in my experience

from hipster fags to dorky dads, the messagener bank will always be a proud symbol of urbanish america

whois spectrum

just bought a bw packback

Fancy cooking! Like the one posted above? Pictures!

yeah, what size?

the large citizen pack. it still looks a little small (compared to a regular jansport backpack or whatever -- i will want this for hand luggage too), but urbanhunter are happy to swap it for the giant two-strap thing if it is indeed too small. it's shipping to germany so may take a few days, but pictures for def when it arrives.

lol this thing is huge. can't believe i was worried about size. i am sad that they seem to have changed to "PORTSMOUTH, NH" from comic sans to lame helvetica. otherwise totally a+. feels invincible, very comfortable. will be flying with it later in the month.

pixplz

will do

this bag is a+. compressible, but absolutely swallows stuff when necessary. took a couple of ring binders, laptop, clothes for a week and a spare small rucksack to malta last week and it was a champ. my laptop fits in the front pocket! it feels basically invincible.

do not buy if you are really into organizing. would not bother with waist strap if i got it again. i am getting used to them, but the straps are huge. i think i am about as puny as you can be without them digging into your neck or hanging off the edge of your shoulders (i am 5'10" but i have the shoulders of a dickens wastrel). one down side i hadn't quite realised is that you can't think "fuckit" and throw it in checked luggage, because the top is just a flap. it's fine on a bike or even being held upside down, and of course its totally waterproof, but i wouldn't trust my valuables being thrown around inside it while being loaded on to planes, etc. not to fall out.

(sorry about pics btw. ironically the problem is i've been living out of backpacks for the past couple of weeks and don't have my camera with me. will get them done soon.)

got my eye on a nice superdry one

links or it's not true

http://www.superdrystore.com/view/20285/Mini-Kitbag/

:)

need those pics! you got the large, right? (too lazy to click view previous page)

http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/urban/urban-backpack/product

can get a deal on one of these, i think

yeah, size large but not the citizen pack thing.

i do like that this isn't a roll top.

like roll-tops in theory, but have never used one. mostly because i think having one might come in handy on some hypothetical canoe/rafting trip i will probably ~not~ take in the next two years

My Ortleib panniers have roll-top closure and while it works wonderfully on them, I don't think I'd want it on a bag that I was going to be throwing round a lot more.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/caek/bag.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f325/caek/bags.jpg

i'm not an unusually light packer (take 2/3 as much clothes and 50% more underwear than you think you need is my motto), but the baileyworks will be enough for me to go home for christmas and then to socal for two weeks, i.e. 1 month on the road. great, great purchase.

the woolworths synthetic tote is the best 0.99 AUD i ever spent.

dude finally

haha, sorry! i found the camera two weeks after buying the bag, took those, then realised i didn't have the wire to get the photos off it with me.

i still want one---i've been using my old ski backpack in lieu of my mess bag for the last couple of weeks, and it's just so much more comfortable for me. ESP when hauling: laptop, large comprehensive textbook, binder/notebook, tools, etc. the main problem with it is it's super slender and pretty much maxes out with just a few things. also it sits funny when yr actually on the bike, it's weird

it will swallow all that no bother.

it's definitely a drag that you can't 100% trust putting this thing in checked luggage. i might try it on a domestic short haul with a bin bag or towel over the top.

if you get one do not bother with the waist belt imo.

after 2 years i can confirm this bag rules and is, afaict, invincible. i take a bag liner with me when flying and sometimes i check it. no problems whatsoever. since i only take a macbook air to work i don't actually use it day to day that much. it's big.

I got a Timbuk2 bag as a high school graduation present; that was 4.5 years ago now. The problem with nice messenger bags is that they last so long you hardly ever get to go shopping for a new messenger bag.

Amen to that silby. I love my Chrome bag so much & it seems like it could well outlive me.

bumping the bag thread due to discussion over in Apple Lust Objects

what are everybody's Bag Lust Objects these days

Mission workshop bags

Been grooving on http://trashmessengerbags.com/messenger-bags/

I would like to buy this but have no money atm:

http://www.coggles.com/product-media/3VYF/350/478/Veja-Mens-Acacia-Red-Bag-1.jpg

it's pricey but comes with lots of free whitespace

got

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/4201672307_f2ff4a046a.jpg

need

http://onebagger.squarespace.com/storage/meirevbig.jpg

need

http://www.packbarefoot.com/_mgxroot/img_1162272417_15128_1186020613_mod_155_212.jpghttp://www.packbarefoot.com/_mgxroot/img_1162272417_15081_1172119356_mod_560_351.jpg

I'm a fan of the japanese brand WISE-WALKER

this is what I have

http://image.rakuten.co.jp/nomadic/cabinet/daypack/wl25-top.jpg

if I still wore messenger bags I wouldn't mind rocking this

http://static1.jetpens.com/images/a/000/023/23269.jpg

in a pinch, my camera bag has acted as a great laptop bag

http://i46.tinypic.com/28bquti.jpg

I still have the same laptop bag I had six years ago (Jack Spade's laptop field bag in olive/bright orange). Full retail on it is crazy expensive, but I found it for half-off. I've had this longer than any other bag I've owned.

http://9.images.singer22.com/static/insets/images/NYRU0369-TANK_INSET5_1321546099.jpg

imagine the possibilities

http://www.jetpens.com/images/nomadic_ecb_01_navy_9.jpg

Jack Spades always on my almost buy list

I still have the same laptop bag I had six years ago (Jack Spade's laptop field bag in olive/bright orange). Full retail on it is crazy expensive, but I found it for half-off. I've had this longer than any other bag I've owned.

I've had that one (I think) in black for ages but it recently got semi-destroyed and I need to replace it. Sob.

Happy enough with this:

http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?ProductID=30828

Not for my laptop though! Bought a Tom Bihn Braincell for that.

Question for the messenger bag sartorialists: is there a specific name for messenger bags that have backpack straps, too? Wanted to search for those but didn't know if there were anything better that "messenger bag backpack combo" to search for online.

elvis telecom i have that exact bag!! i've used basically every day for, jesus, 7-8 years now? and it's held up fine. the stitching on one side of the flap is starting to give but it hasn't gotten any worse in that time.

current lust objects:

Killspencer Business Messenger

https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.svpply.com/large/317736.jpg?1329227654

Defy Bags Recon Messenger

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0116/6402/products/front-messenger-bag-for-men-for-guys_grande.jpg?3545

elvis telecom i have that exact bag!! i've used basically every day for, jesus, 7-8 years now? and it's held up fine. the stitching on one side of the flap is starting to give but it hasn't gotten any worse in that time.

The velcro on the outside flap isn't sticking nearly as well, but it's still going

I need a messenger bag w/ a strap that I can put my ipad+case in and walk around w/

ps as cheap as possible and I dgaf about what it looks like, just do a lotta ipad-walkin these days

@compupost

i have never seen a messenger bag with backpack straps. the design constraints of each (mess bag v backpack) would seem to discourage the idea; courier bags are wide and short, packs are tall and narrow. however, there is one company that makes a hybrid of sorts:

http://www.pacdesigns.com/firsts.htm (scroll down to the X-Strap)

still carries like a messenger bag, but you have the option of getting some additional load distribution if you want. PAC bags are kinda the gold standard of messenger bags for actual working messengers, though, and the price reflects that. they would probably attract the attention of any ~serious bikers~ if you were out toting one around; that is, snobbers gonna snob, so to some, wearing a PAC to carry around basic civilian stuff while not actually on a bike would be like using a carbon road bike as yr bar bike.

other than that, i dunno. a lot of mess bag companies are tiny operations that are fine with custom orders (Trash Bags, ReLoad, Seagull all do them, i think). if you ask them for removable backpack straps, they might be able to oblige. and i say removable only because wearing a backpack with a messenger strap digging in would be uncomfortable, and vice versa

i have never seen a messenger bag with backpack straps

These do:
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/ram-backpack
http://www.brooklynindustries.com/bags-messenger-bags/carrier-bullfrog-bag

right but those are shoulder bags

/snobbo mcsnobbington

Most of this thread is shoulder bags rather than messenger bags.

Very true

There were messengers before there were bicycles iirc.

using messengers as weekender/travel bags: c/d?

Oh come on, surely it's more like "using bags that you already own, that are the right size, and that can be carried comfortably, and one of the bags that meets all those criteria is a messenger bag."

Yeah, was checking on that messenger/backpack combo for biking specifically: I hate biking w/ my messenger bag since it's usually carrying a lot of weight all on one shoulder. But, when I'm off my bike, rollin around with a backpack is nagl imo. Figured our market economy had realized there was a small niche for people like me. Thanks for those recs, Elvis.

right but those are shoulder bags

I wouldn't know the difference; guess I should open my searches to "shoulder bags" instead of "messenger" since the differences probably mean zilch to me. I'm learnding!

i like shoulder bags, but I don't mess with them for riding.

a good bike messenger bag is noticeably more comfortable for riding than a backpack (ime/ymmv). look at the offerings from Chrome, Mission Workshop, Bailey Works et al to get a sense of what makes the bike messenger different. one big distinguishing feature is the stabilizer strap that lets you keep the weight centered and prevents bag from shifting as you ride.

I come from an almost entirely cycling-centric standpoint, so that should be borne in mind with regards to anything I say on this subject, sorry!

Anyone have a pannier bag recommendation? Saw a timbuk2 one that seemed half decent

ortlieb has a good rep

I am in the market for a new one of these. Think Mission Workshop or Chrome will do the job.

but! i also want to say that i will stan for Timbuk2 bags. i have had mine since July of 2002, and only now has it started falling apart. i know they were a smaller company back then, so the bags might have been made differently, but i seriously love my old Timbuk2. it's been a long, strange trip, and i'm glad it's been there for most of it.

I still have the same laptop bag I had six years ago (Jack Spade's laptop field bag in olive/bright orange). Full retail on it is crazy expensive, but I found it for half-off. I've had this longer than any other bag I've owned.

have a blue canvas jack spade bag w orange nylon interior that was given to me as a gift abt five years ago. use it nearly every day, and it's held up better than any other bag i've owned. only problem is that it's not at all deep, and therefore isn't much good for holding things other than books, laptops, papers, LPs, etc. big advantage is that it's perfectly sized for vinyl, and will comfortably hold about 15 12" records. it looks just like this, except that i removed (and saved) the "jack spade" brand tag:

http://s8.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/1C17F2EF.jpg

for uk people: 3 day flash sale at

http://www.urbanhunter.biz/acatalog/Bike_Messenger_Bags_Backpacks_Totes.html

e.g. this one chrome backpack is half price

http://www.urbanhunter.biz/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eurbanhunter%2ebiz%2facatalog%2findex%2ehtml&WD=chrome&PN=Chrome_Ranchero%2ehtml%23aBP_206#aBP_206

Revive... The Jack Spade bag I've had forever has seen better days and I'm not really dragging around as much I used to in the past. Seriously considering a backpack-style bag too.

someday i will have a new messenger bag. i am not crazy about either of the ones i have now - a worn out leather one and a maroon timbuk2 one.

literally every person in Seattle has an Ortlieb messenger or Ortlieb bike panniers or both

In the market for one of these. What's new on the man bag scene?

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/05/article-2518642-19DC9EF900000578-759_634x429.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/05/article-2518642-19DC9F0300000578-821_634x427.jpg

i'm thinking of getting one of these: http://www.blckchrm.com

the citizen, specifically.

if not, perhaps one of the other citizens

refined stealth!

If you ride they're great.

i don't

but i read a bunch of stuff online including ilx threads and that's what i came up with (two models of the citizen)

it's a lot of cash for me

Support

? meaning it's a good idea or?

Meaning I support this decision

ah thank you

i could see from gr8080's backpack thread that you have opinions on this stuff. i don't know much about it. i used random shit throughout college, except i think i had a timbuk2 at one point and a nice black backpack at another point. since then not much of anything. i did a lot of reading and poking around on sunday(?), and that's what i came up with. either that one or another citizen that's a little cheaper. but i wanted one that looked good and was high quality.

I think this looks good too. I have a Chrome (post-buyout) bag that isn't from that line that is rather nice.

I probably posted it upthread, but the guys who started Chrome (and later sold it) ended up starting Mission Workshop as soon as their noncompete ran out. I think the BLKCHRM line is kind of a reaction to Mission's build quality?

http://missionworkshop.com/products/bags/messenger/

neither here nor there, but I like chrome's socks

thanks!

and i had no idea they were sold. what the?

xpost

i don't even think i looked at the mission's site until now

I was just gonna suggest MW

what do you think of the one i linked to?

I just opened this thread at lunch and the burrito place is playing your favorite song, markers! I think this is a good sign for yr purchase

don't know what it is about chrome's logo but i kind of hate it, seems vaguely fascist to me. they seem like good quality bags though. they are not my style but i don't think you would go wrong in buying one.

timbuk2 gets ripped on nowadays for being the poseur mainstream bag (it wasn't always) but i have one and i think its a good bag. wish i did a size up though, sometimes it feels a little small. i think i order the small size but a medium (the standard size) would've been better i think.

these days I'm totally in the tank for Jack Spade

looks nice and well-built, markers, but dang that is expensive

also i am now a backpack convert -- mess bags are great if you're in and out of yr bag on a regular basis, and they carry nicely on the bike, but backpacks are more comfortable imo

if i were gonna go back to a shoulder bag i would get another baileyworks

I used to have a chrome bag, which was nice, but that damn buckle added more weight that I would have liked.

thanks for all the feedback, everyone. i looked through a lot of your older posts all throughout ilx on these subjects as part of my research, and they were helpful too. so many options. i'm going to stick with one of my two picks upthread, i think -- probably the blckchrm one or however the fuck that's spelt. i hope it ends up working out. (i don't have a laptop right now, but this will eventually be the thing i use to carry that around too, so the waterproofing will be a huge, huge plus.)

markers what kind of stuffs will you most often be carrying?

the mess-style One Big Pocket approach is great for rearranging loads but if you're not riding and if you're toting a laptop there may other good choices

i'm locked into one of those two at this point, but my plan is to use cases and bags and stuff inside the messenger bag as needed

the whole thing's gonna kinda be a mobile office for me so i can do stuff from anywhere

i bought the blckchrm bag, and it should be getting here soon. thanks again for all the input!

Markers - please post a review a some point. I'm in the market for a mobile office type of bag and am intrigued by the blckchrm.

ok cool. i'll try to remember. i won't be actively using it very much in the immediate future, b/c lol ocd & shit, but i am going to start putting stuff in it soon and it should be arriving sometime this coming week or the week after that i guess. hopefully this week, if i'm lucky

that mission workshop stuff is priced crazy high, especially the clothing line. $400 for a windbreaker

btw i have this (http://hazard4.com/products/bags/messenger-bags/mod) absent the top flap, and it is pretty great.

the citizen came in yesterday, followed by a tom bihn order today. i haven't opened the latter

a veritable deluge of carryables

i haven't ordered a bag in years i think

help please
looking for a man bag
preferably messenger style with cross body strap
for public transit commute not biking
must be durable, preferably not with a huge logo on it
chrome bags are ok but i am wondering what the main competitors are
??

mission workshop!

bless you
will report back

depending on size requirements i like a couple of the frank & oak bags (idk if they're in the USA too? or jsut canada?) check em out!

ok -- will check it out!

when i watched the video for the mission workshop bag, the music made me lol a little and it was weird that there were almost no shots of the inside of the bag, just the guy scooting around town wearing it
and there was only one reasonably priced one on there -- are there any companies that make a variety of bags in that 150-160 price range (or less, but not more)?

frank & oak bags
that site required me to register in order to browse
not gonna happen :(

ugh i hate shopping

Does anyone want to team up to Kickstarter a bag that's 100% to our specifications? I'm "ha, ha only serious" about this.

After a month of train/bus commuting with the same messenger bag I've had for years, my shoulder was getting that familiar ache. I switched to my backpack (North Face Recon) which is easier on me, but the insides are overly fussy and over-compartmentalized. Anyway, for some reason I'm highly OCD-level critical of laptop bag design and I'm right at the "fuck, do I have to make one myself?" breaking point. I don't need a MILSPEC artisan bag statement, just something innocuously well thought-out.

i'm afraid that even non-milspec MIC is a significant undertaking and will come in at a higher cost to customer than we'd like, but i'd be in

this bag isn't even for me and i'm frustrated by my inability to find something suitable
so far the best thing is the one mh posted but the website made me feel kinda bad about myself after visiting it
and there was only bag there that was remotely suitable

fwiw other than the insanely stupid "ingenious" magnetic strap this should fit your criteria nicely - minimal branding, good balance of style and function, and $155 on the nose

http://www.booqbags.com/us/shoulder-bags/boa-nerve/BNL-GFT

chrome/mission workshop are still tops for riding, but if you're not on a bike and mostly carrying work/school stuff i endorse the shit out of this. other than the stupid strap.

l.l., i have had two jack spade bags, one of which i tended to over-load and which developed a strap-stitching malfunction, but the second one has been going strong for several years now thru daily use, bike or bus commute, lugging along on shoulder for walking, rain and mud and road grime, etc. - definitely the best snazzy man-styled stuff-holder i have ever owned

bought both on sale tho

thanks guys
i don't necessarily WANT to pay $150 for a bag, but it seems like that's what they cost +/-?
i do appreciate the help
will run these past the inspector to see if they are suitable

the last time i paid less than ZOMG the piece of shit fell apart (like seriously fell apart) within the year, learned my lesson

https://www.baileyworks.com/professional/super-pro/options/

I have this one, or one roughly the same. Between myself and the friend I bought it from, it's been in use for probably 8 years, still no signs of fall-apart.

i will always rep for BW bags they stand up to real messenger work v v well

also a friend of mine just got into the custom bag business and i could possibly hit him up if anyone is seriously considering a custom job

also a friend of mine just got into the custom bag business and i could possibly hit him up if anyone is seriously considering a custom job

I'm actually pretty serious. At the very least I believe I'm obsessive enough about the aesthetics and details to design the perfect bag that would make it all worthwhile.

https://punditfromanotherplanet.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/mad-science.jpg?w=590&h=449

e. telecom, materials testing sesh

Chrome competitors incl:

Reload
BaileyWorks
Crumpler
Vaya
Fabric Horse

BUT tbqf: I got my Chrome bag in 2008 and it's still working great. I just took it to the store in NYC to get re-velcroed the other day and now it is p much good as new except for some obvious wear (but it doesn't look nearly as beat to hell as it should after 6 years of p much daily use.

Also, Chrome iirc is the only bag w/ nice cushy padded shoulder straps and the buckle really is wonderful. I've tried others and I'm so stuck on Chrome

ALSO because the liner is separate from the shell, you can hide things btwn the layers.

what do you hide in yours?!?

$150 is kinda what yr gonna pay I think, but seriously these things last so fucking long. I've never had anything come close to withstanding as much use as my Chrome bag has. You could even get one used for cheaper and prob not have to worry about it being shitty!

xp w33d at shows, duh

most good bags have padded straps and spots for [redacted] what with messengers being hedonistic scumbags and all

Yeah I have a Chrome Kremlin bag that has like an iPhone / oz-in-a-Baggie size Velcro pocket hidden along a seam.

Speaking of which anyone want to buy it? It's ridiculously huge, discontinued, and I never use it as I'm definitely a backpack person.

put backpack in Kremlin problem solved

I'm a backpack guy too but I always wanna get a messenger bag and pretend I'm YT from snow crash

BP4LYFE

Wait, wasn't the Kremlin the one that was 1 size bigger than the Metropolis (also discontinued)? That thing was INSANELY huge

i'm a backpack person too (i actually really like the idea of carrying all my stuff on my back, makes me feel like a hardy lil mule)
but the person i am buying this bag for is not, so i have to keep trying
thanks for your help everyone

i'm sure eventually i/he will find something

xp indeed, it's like the size of a tent

it makes more sense if you think of it as a poncho with a pocket

i have never been able to carry a messenger bag without fucking up my shoulder/neck/upper back, is this an indictment of the poor condition in which i keep my shitty body, or am i cursed with cheap bags?

You're a backpack guy

So last year I bought that Chrome Citizen BLCKCHRM thing I talked about on ILX, and it came with this (forgive the shit picture):

http://i.imgur.com/D33UDq9.jpg

I don’t remember whether my messenger bag came in this stupid bag or what, but I just wanted to ask if any of you who are more into this stuff than I am know what the hell it’s for. Can I toss it? Do I need it? Thank you.

your bag came in it, it's supposed to be a cool reusable bag, if you have no further use, feel free to give it away or junk it

btw I bought a new bag for laptop and stuff and it might turn out to be the favorite I've had, even though it has bunch of aesthetic boondoggles that are not quite my thing. but the functional bits are exactly what I need!

OK, thanks. I will probably get rid of it.

What did you get?

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/52f30b8ce4b0adcf03f82584/540cf575e4b01f1007d2c606/540cfbcfe4b0b42412d6b93b/1410137045707/BP_ash_scale.jpg?format=750w

u pigs

Last year I got a new Mission Workshop messenger bag and then two weeks later ran over it with a car.

i got this on sale in black https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/121285?page=l-l-bean-x-flowfold-crossbody-tote&bc=50-516672&feat=516672-GN1&csp=a

My Chrome messenger bags from the beginnings of this thread ten plus years ago are still going strong and have daily hard use.

same.they're basically indestructible. still kicking myself i didn't get in on their waxed canvas run from like 2009.

I still have a Reload custom bag because of this thread. The velcro placement is super annoying though and always gets caught in my scarves and sweaters.

Yeah I'm still using the MW bag, little hole but it's fine

replaced a decade old timbuk2 bag w/ a new one, and the new one has nicer colors than my old one, but it's not the same bag they used to make, esp. the shoulder strap is now filmsy and tangles easily, the cam clip thing is a total joke, but they are still about half the price of most other messenger bags of similar durability

I've had one of these Overboard messenger bags for 5 years now:
https://www.over-board.co.uk/collections/waterproof-messenger-bags/products/waterproof-messenger-bag-black
It's extremely waterproof. Many times I've walked from work to the bus station (over a mile) in torrential rain, got completely soaked through, but whatever's been in the bag stayed absolutely dry. The padding may be a bit thin to use as a laptop bag though.

i do recommend vaude bags. i have had a series of very nice durable vaude pannier/msgr bag fusions things. very durable, look good shouldered. one style has a pretty rad quick-release pannier bar for more orderly shoulder periods.

Red Oxx finally came out with a messenger bag that might just cross off all my demands. (just wish it was less expensive)
https://www.redoxx.com/cc-rider/70004/product

the quest for the last bag is never complete