For a full size version of the poster click [HERE]
A good messenger bag will let you live at the intersection of worlds
A good messenger bag lets you hop between places, accessing on the go. While not great for extended periods of carrying, they make up for that in convenience. While the original messengers were not much more than simple sacks, the recent trend of adding a few more pockets helps you deal with your abundance of modern gadgets.
“People who live in the intersection of social worlds are at higher risk of having good ideas.”– Ronald S. Burt
We’ve pulled together a number of messengers that we think offer good performance in a variety of environments. These messenger bags should all:
- Work well both in the office (or university), as well as getting to and from it. If you work amongst pin-stripe suits, you may want to check some other more formal bags (Jack Spade & Mandarina Duck have nice options).
- Carry all your indispensable bits of technology, including a laptop (some of these need a sleeve, but we’ll let you know which ones).
- Let you jump on a plane, train or big boat, and explore the world. This requires an ability to expand for clothing, food, and really big headphones.
More discussion on the bags after the jump…
We’ve arranged the bags according to where you are most demanding; work/study or activities. We’ll start with the more work oriented bags:
Hard Graft 2 Unfold
Positives: A huge number of configurations, beautiful leather and details with old world craft, still pretty rare and unique.
Negatives: That deluxe Nappa leather doesn’t leave all that much space for your actual contents (better suits minimal packers), and they’re not great straps if you want to raise a sweat.
http://shop.hardgraft.com/bags/2unfold-laptop-bag-brown
Incase Nylon messenger
Positives: Covers all the basics at an affordable price (in most countries), various size options (we like the mid), a great silhouette, and minimal dangly bits.
Negatives: Having pockets only on the front of a satchel is inefficient (a power-pack can ‘fill’ the satchel), no compression options, and the componentry is only ‘good enough’. If you up-spec to their more premium bags, they start to get pretty fussy and lose the essence of a messenger.
Crumpler Cashmere Blazer
Positives: Really dialed and refined construction, durable, looks after all the basics, good padding.
Negatives: There’s no great innovations, the Crumpler brand is a little NQR these days (especially European Crumpler which is managed by different crew), and you might end up feeling like a cliche uni student.
Nike ACG messenger
Positives: There’s some really clever (yet subtle) innovations – the bag can extend to fit oversize items, there’s good yet discreet compression, there’s big pockets with internal splits, and there’s loads of versions available (including an XL).
Negatives: You need a laptop sleeve, the rubbery PU fabric used under the flap does not age well, and the hooks can be a little fiddly.
Chrome Citizen
Positives: A super comfy soft form, a cavernous main section, multiple size options, and some tasty shape details.
Negatives: It’s pretty basic on the pocket front, it needs a laptop sleeve (their Buran Messenger has a laptop pocket, but it’s not as sexy), and the seatbelt buckle used on their straps is love or hate.
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Any feedback? We’d love to hear if you’ve used better, if you’ve found the same, or if you think we’re tripping. Just fire us a comment and join the conversation.
PS: Crew in England, Australia, and many of the colonies might call these satchels. But that sounds a bit naff, so we reckon we should join the rest of the world in calling them messengers.
Hey, Im from Australia. We have this brand called Knog, they make all sorts of stuff for cycling. They do really nice messenger bags (yes, we call them messenger or courier bags down here too. ‘Satchels’ are only bought by eunuchs in tights). I have a ‘Pig Dog’ messenger bag from Knog. Its really big, has a nice padded laptop pocket and heaps of other pockets.
Really light and the strap is wide so it doesnt cut into your shoulder.
Love the blog, sweet graphics too!
Thanks Andy, we know Knog well. In fact, my Traitor fixie was made possible because of their generous contacts list…
Hope your Pig Dog is behaving well, and hope to catch you somewhere out and about,
Ando
Hey, just wondering if you’ve checked out Zwei bags at all [http://www.iam2.com/bags/index.php]. I picked mine up in Switzerland but I think you can get them online. Nice functionality and best of all they don’t have the standard ‘crumpler’ messenger bag look to them.
Thanks for the heads up Nick… we’ve never seen them before.
They’re kinda European querky urban, but with some neat features. They are one of the earlier crew to do the ‘expand into the messenger flap’ trick that we love so much.
And I quite like their take on a women’s tote bag (the Shopper).
Good find.
I’m enjoying my SOTech Mission Go Bag. Although not a “messenger bag” per se, it is a shoulder bag that was originally designed as a medical bag, but can be utilized to carry small laptops and such. It fits somewhere between a messenger bag and a satchel. It’s quite a versatile bag, with a carrying handle, huge zipper pulls, four interior, shock corded pockets, an exterior pocket, a rubberized surface on the back portion (to prevent slippage), and a Velcro concealment pocket with a foam pad (to protect your hip/thigh from the being banged up by the contents within), which can double as a hydration bladder holder (50-oz.). There’s PALS webbing along the exterior of the bag for additional pouches, if desired.
Designed for the military, it is capable of being worn as a messenger bag, a fanny pack, belt bag, on body armor with PALS attachments, and, with accessory straps, a small backpack!
If you can get past the military look, the Mission Go Bag is an excellent bag for school, commuting, and/or travelling.
Far out, SOTech don’t mess around… I guess when you’re dealing with shooting stuff, carryology really does become a science.
If anyone wants to see what Kev is describing, there’s images at:
http://www.skdtac.com/S_O_Tech_Mission_Go_Bag_p/sot.510.htm
And if you want to get even more rad, the standard Go bag from them is even more intimidating: http://www.skdtac.com/S_O_Tech_Go_Bag_p/sot.502.htm
It’s pretty full on (as he said), but impressive at the same time. I don’t think anyone will mess with Kev when he’s carrying that thing
The carryology twitter linked to a review of the InCase messenger over on Cult of Mac that I found interesting. Some good shots (and crap comments): http://www.cultofmac.com/incases-messenger-bag-a-great-bag-for-bikers-that-doesnt-scream-hipster-review/30593
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Crumpler? Seriously?
Haha, we did mention that they are a little Not Quite Right.
Sure, they are an overdone cliche that semi robs you of any cool you might once have had, but you must admit, they are a really well made bag.
If you get one in black, drag it behind your bike for a week, then patch it up with cyclocross event patches, you’ll have a messenger that both functions great, and won’t be toooo shameful.
PS: One of us used to work with Crumpler, but I’m hoping he’s not reading this comment stream