Carryology » messenger

Carry Retailers | Roztayger

ando — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:51:40 +0000

A new carry retailer comes online

One of the issues with all the rad bags we find, is that many of them are hard to buy outside of Japan/Europe/Tuana Tuva. So when a new carry retailer comes online with a sweeet selection of step-up brands, we get a little bit excited…

Say hello to Roztayger, a US based online retailer selling a bunch of sexy and sophisticated carry. There’s Porter and Property Of…, there’s Bill Amberg and there’s even Ro (probably a first for the US).

This isn’t techie or outdoor carry, it’s not EDC or streetwear. This is classic girls and guys product that ain’t cheap, but nor is it the silly excess of luxury brands.

Elizabeth Jeffer is the brains trust behind the site, where she is trying to curate a beautiful selection for work, travel and life.

Go check it out at http://roztayger.com/

Late Addition: In an awesome move, Roztayger have said that Carryology readers can have a 15% discount storewide (just for being as rad as you all are). To knock a bit off these bags, enter ROZ15 at checkout.

Road Test | Porter Protect Messenger

Hadrien — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:36:08 +0000

Getting jiggy with a cracker of a messenger

Any frequent reader knows that we froth for Porter. The god-fathers of good urban carry, this Japanese brand have been producing carry classics for years, with very little exposure to the west. On a recent Tokyo jaunt, we found a little brown messenger that has mostly won Hadrien’s heart. Read on…

Initial impressions:

During the last few months I’ve been using the Porter Protect messenger for my day to day life, and I love it. It is not a revolution in the messenger bag world, but some of the annoyance of that class of product has been addressed, resulting in something very enjoyable.

Highlights:

Look:

The bag itself is by no means fancy, but if you look closely you’ll see the work they have put into it. There is nothing not to like – enough texture to be interesting without looking over designed, and a feel for folds that is much more elegant than the ‘flap wrap’ we have in most messenger bags. The Porter gives you the look of a messenger but the details link directly to garment folds. So it can better integrate with whatever you are wearing.

Durability:

The material is a twill nylon made by Gore Tex. Showing just enough personality, but without over-powering what you can wear with it. It feels very durable and after many months of abuse I can’t see any mark of wear and tear.-

Construction:

The main insight for this bag is in the opening design. The whole shape of the opening/flap is designed to seal the bag when closed. They moved the opening above the fold-line to not only close the bag, but also seal the edges of the opening. It’s not a new trick, but it is still surprisingly rare.

To ensure that the fold will happen every time you open and close the bag, they have added a PE board strip in one side of the opening panel reinforcing the lip of this one. Very clever!

The attachment of the strap to the bag has been thought through very nicely so it cannot twist on itself. They placed the two buckles at points that don’t open the bag every time you lift it by either the handle or the strap! Those designers at Porter have spend the time to think about it and gave their product the attention and love it deserve.

“The details are not the details. They make the design.”

– Charles Eames

Pocketing:

The other key insight with this bag is about pocketing. Messengers are known to be great for light loads and few items, but when it comes to organization it can throw them out. Not this one. They have thought about quick small stuff access versus main storage.

This results in the design of the wide pocket on the flap, so you can access all your small stuff like iPod, camera, pens and other stuff without having to open the bag. Sounds pretty simple but most messengers fail in this area. Generally, pockets on the flap are flat so they make their contents push inwards, or it makes the flap way too heavy. This pocket is designed so it is not in your face, very practical and feels part of the whole bag even though is it a gusseted pocket. Absolutely love this feature!

Buckles and compression straps:

The webbing lengths for the front buckles are just enough, resulting in no annoying tangling webbing. They also wrap under the base so you could roll a rain jacket and slide it under the webbing.

Lowlights:

Look:

Maybe we could have a hint of a pop colour somewhere to lift the sober look. Having a mono color bag is fine, but I would have loved a little surprise detail somewhere.

Construction:

To be honest there isn’t much I don’t like about this bag. While I love it 90% of the time (carrying my note book, laptop, camera and other small stuff), as soon as I include a bit more like bottle of water, food or even a jumper, it all mixes with charger cables and the bag starts to hit Struggle Street. You can do but it, but it looses its elegance.

If it was 5% larger in volume, I could travel with it as well. I guess that is often the issue with messengers, they often bulge out when filled as all content are fighting for the same middle space.

The shoulder strap came with a small pad, that feels pretty cheap and useless. I removed it, and just let the webbing sit on my shoulder (surprisingly comfortable in a small bag like this). The bag is not heavy enough to feel any discomfort from the nylon webbing strap. This is a case when brands include parts to fill the general idea of product requirements, without thinking about reality (on’t get me started on the headphones cord rubber badges in backpacks).

Laptop:

The Messenger comes with an internal document sleeve in which you can slide a 15” laptop without cover. For most people this can be an issue. I didn’t use a cover and find 2 things. First I was more careful with the bag, secondly every time I placed the laptop in the bag I made sure the screen part of the laptop was facing the inside of the bag over being against my body. It was a good trick to avoid pressure on the screen. Of course for most people the idea of having a cover around the Laptop would be a lot better.

Unresolved Pocketing:

One of the things missing, and I should say that it is missing in all messenger bags, are side pockets. If you ‘fill’ your messenger you can practically always find more room in the sides. It would have been great to have some simple pockets there. The center hanging pocket wasn’t much use for me as the outside one took the role and when I had the bag full whatever I put in the internal pocket was starting to fight with the bag content and opening the whole bag to get a pen felt a little too much.

Best suited to:

If you’re looking for a bag that works at work, as well as everyday life, this will suit. Just keep in mind you need to have a minimal approach that requires moving around with just what you need, not the just in case clutter.

Not suited to:

Those who carry a weeks worth of paperwork or a 17” laptop. You guys will need a much larger bag. Also, the price of this stylish bag can sting a little. Porter is known to be on the expensive side, which is why I guess you get so much love into a clever bag.

Conclusion:

I’ve always struggled to find good bag that works in different places and times. Work and play are merging and finding products that fit in this new middle ground is far from easy. Ask for a functional stylish timeless touch and you might as well start believing in Santa again. However this Porter messenger is getting pretty close to it – clever, functional, nicely finished it just need a little more elegance to be just prefect for those who carry only a few important things everyday.

The hitch? Try finding one outside of a Porter flagship store in Japan!

The Porter Protect large messenger retails for 30,975 JPY (almost US$400).

Road Test | MW Rummy Messenger Bag

Leather — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:19:27 +0000

Road Test | MW Rummy Messenger Bag

In my last review I commented that I liked having a larger bag so I can fit in the extra bits and pieces that might be collected during the day. Since then I have realized that excessive amounts of load over a single shoulder isn’t the best way to go about carrying my life [Ed note: yup].

So thoughts lead to searches, which hopefully lead to actions, and in this case, to Mission Workshop’s medium sized roll-up messenger bag - The Rummy. It seemed to fit my criterion of a smaller bag, single strapped, light weight, and with the ability to absorb my lifestyle. So here’s what I found…

First impressions have been great. Continuing on from it’s backpack brethren, The Rummy is constructed from similar hard wearing nylon on the exterior and a soft, light coloured waterproof liner on key internal areas.

I was pleased to find the zipped compartment opens up with a section as wide as the opening and as deep as the bag that has two more zips inside the length of the compartment. This area is also big enough to use as a dedicated laptop sleeve for laptops up to a 15” Macbook Pro (or PC equivalent), but you might want to get a neoprene slipcase if you wish to do this. The zip is urethane coated to improve water resistance.

The first zip on the back of the compartment opens to a slimmer compartment than the original but with the same width and depth. The second zip opens to a compartment that has been sewn into thirds to help with organising. A great note about these compartments is that due to the bag not being particularly deep, it is difficult to lose items in there (even with the black liner).

The front pockets work great for my daily work routine – being able to put a small notebook pen, headphones and reading glasses in one, and depending on the situation, a back-up tape for work or spare t-shirt to change into after I ride in to school. The gusseted cut of the pockets keeps out the rain, and also allows for expansion when loaded. The flap has female buckles on the underside to attach the straps if you have the main compartment rolled up.

Whether you want to fold or roll the main compartment closed, it can still swallow a surprising amount of stuff. The interior of the main compartment opens up quite nicely once you get past the narrower cut mouth. I’ve been able to fit my laptop, A4 organiser, toolkit and rain jacket in the compartment and not worry about trying to close it. The compartment is lined with a light grey colour which is a blessing coming from a bag with a black liner. It is not something you really think would be an issue, but the lighter liner makes it easier to finder those objects that get pushed into the corners and somewhere turn invisible in darker bags.

I really only go the roll-up option when the rains are a falling, but it works a treat for this. The downside is if you want to access the compartment whilst still wearing the bag, it is not as convenient as a standard messenger bag with a flap and tub construction. For these reason I don’t see this as a good choice for a working messenger, but as an urban commuter this bag is great. I described it to a friend as “the briefcase of the messenger bags” with its easy to manipulate storage and organization areas and size.

Moving on to the strap, the first thing I went looking for was the way it attached to the bag (it’s advertised as reversible). The idea behind this is fool-proof; one piece of webbing with velcro either side with the hardware being locked in place that way. Flipping the strap direction can be done in a matter of seconds and will hold. The padding has two setbacks, the first being the underside is airmesh which makes me feel that this is the weakest point on the bag. And the end of the flap that sits over your shoulder can get folded backwards and double up when you put the bag on. Maybe some small velcro patches on the back of the padding and back of the bag could work to fix this.

The guys at Mission Workshop have also started offering anodized hardware as an additional option to the messenger bag range. This is the Orange option. They also have Gold, Blue, Red and Pink on offer along with the standard silver.

Also in the Roll Top Messenger Range from Mission Workshop are the large sized Shed and the small size Monty.

Suited for: Commuters, students. Maybe even Techies given the zipped compartment can be used to hold upto a 15” laptop and there is options for organization.
Not Suited for: Due to the construction the of the main compartment, I am still saying that working couriers would have better options available to them.
Desire for Similar bag: Not really. At this time for the size and functionality of the Rummy, it’ll be hard to find a similar bag.

In summary, The Rummy is fantastic for the daily trudge of the urban commuter and students. The bag can carry the essentials plus some extras when required with ease and not feel like a task. The construction and materials used will last you a lifetime, which should help you get the most out of this great looking bag.

– Post by Johnson

Make Your Own Messenger

Leather — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 11:20:40 +0000

Make Your Own Messenger

Ever wanted to make your own Messenger Bag? We have thought about it quite a few times, but failed to actually continue on with the idea. So we got pretty excited when @artlee sent us across this link via Twitter on how to actaully create one, from scratch. Gotta love the hacking nature of it, have you ever made anything carry related yourself?

The actual tutorial was put together by ‘dishwasher182′ on the site Craftster - you can read the entire tutorial HERE. As you can see from the images, the messenger that Dishy has put together is pretty impressive. Check the specs on how to cut the materials and the measurements, even how-to images have been provided! Tip of the hat to Dishy for piecing together such an informative tutorial on how to make your own Messenger.

If you go ahead and do create your own Messenger (or any carry related item) we would love to see it, feel free to email us at info@carryology.com

Dear Carryology

Leather — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:20:00 +0000

“Dear Carryology / wondrous source of zen luggage solutions

I have simple needs (or so I thought). All I want is to carry a 17″ MBP and a SLR in the same messenger, without resorting to a bag so gigantic that my grandmother could fit inside. I’m sure I’m not alone, there must be others out there who thought that adding that extra 2″ to their mac wouldn’t hamper things. Oh how wrong we were.

Help us carryology!

Will

(and the silent masses)”

The above was an email that came into our inboxes last week. Something we’re really enjoying here at Carryology is the amount of feedback and contributions that you, the readers, keep putting forward. Whether it’s via the comments or actual emails, it’s been great getting an actual conversation going with fellow carry nuts! As Will was looking for a bag that could cater to his 17inch laptop and a DSLR, some of our contributors got involved and threw round some ideas. So if you’re in the market for a new bag that has to cater to those devices read on…

One solution Johnson had was to “disregard a messenger and instead aim for a backpack, as your options will be broader and you will feel more comfortable with the weight” Some of the backpacks that would work well in a situation are the Quiksilver Grenade (a well priced and feature loaded pack), the Timbuk2 Maverick or if coin is not as constrained, the radical Kata Source-261 PL.

That said, if you are a sold on the idea of a messenger bag for a 17″ laptop and SLR, you could look at the North Face Backpedal (first image below) or Basecamp (second image below). Another option, as pointed out by David, is The Crumpler Brazillion Dollar Home (third photo below). One point Johnson brought up was “if you are not to concerned about the SLR being visible, look for a bag that has daisy chains on the exterior and use a small SLR pouch attached to the bag.”

This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have a bag that works well with a large laptop and SLR please share it with us in the comments below or email us…

PS Top image from Flickr member Manganite

Road Test | Chrome Metropolis

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:21:04 +0000

This is one of those bags that you see pop up everywhere, reaching icon status with that broad silhouette and bling seat belt buckle. And as with any iconic bag, there are also reviews everywhere. The internet has filled it’s silicon warehouse with dissections and discussions about the Metropolis, looking for insights into a seriously long lasting (sales and production wise) bag.

After owning one for almost 2 years now, I thought it was my turn to try and go a little deeper than those other reviews, in the way that Carryology encourages…

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Highlights:

Design: Firstly, the design and construction is simple (in a good way). When closed, the bag’s flap fully covers the side gussets in a way that few do, making sure there is not any gaps for the elements to sneak into your bag. You may think that statement is pretty pointless, but when you take a good look at some messenger/single strap bags, the flap leaves huge Prince Charles ear gaps hanging out the sides. Oh, and just another note on the appearance – the strip of liner material on the bottom of the front flap is a tasty touch, matching the inside liner colour.

Size: Being the current largest bag in the Buckle Bag Series range (not counting the GIGANTICALLY HUMUNGOUS Berlin in the Pro-Series range) the sides on the bag sit more at right angles to the base than Citizen or Mini-Metro, endowing you with more usable space from top to bottom. I also find squared off bag designs a little more appealing than bags with a large difference in top and base width.

The main compartment itself is big, but not so big that it becomes overbearing. I have travelled lots with this bag, often going away for 3-4 days at a time, and its gallantly carted changes of clothes, book, MP3 player, drawing materials, toiletries, jacket and some food. The compartment can easily hold an A3 size folio, but I’ll get into this a little later.

Compression is limited to the two front straps and clips, nothing running underneath the bag. With the base size of this bag I feel that it is just small enough not to be concerned with base compression. If you choose not to use the clips to close the flap and just rely on the velcro, there are two female clip ends just above the base to clip them into to stop them from dangling and can be used to carry poster tubes effectively.

Basic Organizing: Lift up the flap and there’s an external pocket area for some pens, phone, small notebook, zipped section for smaller loose items and larger pocket for items like a u-lock. I typically run these sections with a couple of pens, small notebook, USB drive, keys, MP3 player and headphones. It works well for that, but that’s about all that fits.

On the main compartment, just along the inside towards the corners of the flap, are two slim, deep pockets. I have use these for a water bottle, tools, and my wallet. Even though I have to open the bag fully to get to my wallet, I feel its the most secure place for it (even over the zipped pocket on the front which does not have much expanding capability).

Barrier-ability: That’s my new word to describe the benefits of a ‘floating’ main section. Along the top seam between the two pockets, there’s some velcro holding the main compartment to the outside wall of the bag. Get that open, and you’ll see that the main compartment interior is separated from the Cordura outside of the bag. This creates a reasonably waterproof interior to the bag.

I’ve had cans of soft drink explode inside the bag without any of that evil sticky ligfluid escape the main compartment. Quite the opposite of what the designer probably had in mind but if liquid can not get out, it is most certainly getting in. This area has worked great for stashing dirty clothes to keep them separate from the rest of your cargo.

Strap: It’s wide and nicely padded. But be warned young grasshopper, they are shoulder specific. The padding is fixed and designed to be worn over a particular shoulder only (your choice which).

On top of the padding is a velcro accessory attachment area which I quite like. It’s simple and easily attaches your accessories. I purchased one of Accessory Pouches for a place to keep my phone while riding (which works a treat). There’s also a stabiliser strap to brace the messenger across your body, which works well.

The bottom half of the strap is set up so for quick adjustment on the fly, with a quick release attachment next to the buckle. At the end of the strap is a plastic buckle to shorten the excess strap length after tightening. This is great for people of a narrower build who don’t want to have a strap waving around waiting to get caught in something while they ride pass.

I’ve used a carabina on my bag to hold the excess to the main section and I am still able to pull the strap without tightening it with issue.

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Lowlights:

Lack of organizing: A common theme on Carryology with messengers. This is perhaps another messenger that is too core for the rest of us (especially for the tech savvy, this is not a great option). It will do the job from carting around a laptop, charger and hard drive, but you would want something suitable to put them in first.

That said, Chrome have recently updated their buckle bag range by adding velcro loops inside the front of the main compartment which holds their laptop sleeves that are sold separately. The good thing about this option is the laptop sits off your back, making it a lot more comfortable for you.

That buckle: As mentioned at the start, the seatbelt style buckle is probably the most iconic and recognizable addition to the bag. This however does not suit everyone’s taste due to its very solid and indiscreet appearance. Above the buckle is a female end of a clip for a stabilizer strap that is attached the top corner of the bag, depending on what orientation the bag is set up for. The red button is extremely touchy though and I do get a little nervous when people who like to play the game of “what happens when I push this?” are around.

Comfort issues: The main problems you face with this messenger are:

1) The strap only works on one shoulder (which means you can’t swap it around to keep your body better in balance), and:

2) When loaded, it has a tendency to really square up in shape.

Compounding this second point is that I carry a folio with me most days. As I said earlier the main compartment has no issue with swallowing an object this size, but it does effect the shape of the bag against your back. With the straps being placed on the top corners, once the folio is inside, there is a gap between the corner of the bag, the strap, and your shoulder. Aside from being uncomfortable, it increases to chance of movement of the bag while commuting. I guess it’s hard to judge a bag too harshly for this, and it can always be carried underneath the flap and secured with the closure straps (so long as you crank it all in tight).

Best suited to:

Predominately cyclists. This bag was designed as a working bag for couriers, so keep that in mind. However I work in an office and study part time, and this is great bag for my daily haul.

Not suited to:

People who use a bit of tech and need to keep it on them. Also, if you always seem to carry large loads and bigger objects, there’s probably better bags for you.

Any niggles?

It is a single strap bag, so it will suffer from the usual shoulder fatigue when carrying heavy loads constantly. And there’s the strap issue with overloading.

As a sidenote, my bag has a black liner. Keep in mind that darker liners can make it more difficult to find items some times. If I was to buy another one, it would have a light coloured liner.

And breakages/issues?

None. The bag is holding up quite well.

Any envy for a similar bag?

I wouldn’t know where to begin, as I am always wanting to play with more bags. Top 3 would be something of similar size from BO Gear, PAC Designs and Mission Workshop. And while it’s not a bag, if you like the Chrome seat belt clip, you’ll probably love this chair.

Conclusion

In summary, the Chrome Metro is a simply constructed messenger that gets on with the job of hauling your life. It’s a great bag for cyclists and daily commuters, but not as great if you are a delicate soul that needs pandering and balance (or loads of tech).

So there you have it, another review on the Chrome Metropolis. There is hopefully enough there to help anyone make an informed decision if you are looking at purchasing a messenger/single strap bag.

Kill Spencer | Liking

Leather — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:00:31 +0000

Kill Spencer

Who are they: Spencer Nikosey is the creative source behind this military inspired carry brand, making original bags for mostly urban pursuits.

Where they are: Kill Spencer is based in Los Angeles, designing and making all the bags in the US of A. The website is at http://www.killspencer.com/

Why we like it: Spencer’s bags run quite geometric silhouettes (that suits the office and urban environment), but with details and fabrics suited to outdoor pursuits. Repurposed military fabrics, great internals, and top notch components add to the appeal.

Who else might like it: If you’re drawn to Maharishi, Diesel, G-Star, or MHI, you’re probably going to love KillSpencer.

5 Reasons I can’t find a great messenger bag

Hadrien — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:08:48 +0000

5 Reasons I can’t find a great messenger bag

If you want to view the full sized poster, click [HERE]

I really want a great messenger bag. I love how fast they are to access stuff, and I think they suit a workplace way better than backpacks (which in my opinion often look too ‘young’ and geeky).

But while I have fallen in love with concept of a messenger, the reality generally bites. There’s a few key things that frustrate me about them. Not least the fact that my hairless mexican cat cannot get comfortable in one while we are traveling, and so I am yet to find any messengers that have really solved all these issues.

Here’s my list of things I want fixed. And to all those bag designers that read Carryology, we’d love you to agree, disagree, or just design a messenger that solves these issues!

Reason 1: Most brands are too similar

Remove the logos, and it’s pretty hard to tell which messengers are from which brands. A big flap, a couple of buckles, some velcro, a shoulder pad, and either black or some pop brights.

Compare this to the world of backpacks, where you have every configuration, size, look and shape. Messengers still have a long way to go in creating some unique looks that leave me feeling special.

Reason 2: Shoulder pain

We humans are symmetrical creatures, but unfortunately messengers are not. The single strap carrying doesn’t affect you too badly if you’re carrying light loads, but once you start to fill the bag, your body gets tweaked with all sorts of badness.

I’d love a way to balance the load when I’m carrying lots. Pull out, fold out; whatever will work without getting clumsy.

Reason 3: Shoulder straps are getting smaller

The early Crumpler bags padded the entire strap. It was deluxe. Grab it any which way, any way up, and it worked.

Now messenger brands give you either a tiny little sliding pad, or they make you commit to being a lefty or a righty, and never allow you to swap.

Reason 4: They are not so laptop friendly

Look at the curves on your hips and back. Now look at a laptop. Why would you try and put those 2 things next to each other? Almost all laptop messengers stick it against the back wall, which happens to also be against your body. Crap.

Reason 5: Internal pocketing generally sucks

This one is harder to explain, but really important. You know when your Tetris L block gets dropped the wrong way, and no other blocks can get down beside or under it?

That’s what happens with messenger front pockets if you have books or laptops in the bag. Any old camera or power-pack in the front pocket can ‘lock-out’ the rest of the space beside it. It sucks.

Did I miss something?

Can anyone explain that number 5 reason better?

Do you have a new messenger that will ease my frustration and help my cat?

Backpack or Messenger?

ando — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:26:44 +0000

How do you choose between a backpack and a Messenger?

If you want a larger version of the poster click [HERE]

We’ve been stalking a few conversations in tweet world, and realised that many crew are struggling to know even which format of bag will suit their carry needs.

So we had a quick jam, and have come up with a few core principles to shape your decision. Have a read, see if you agree, and maybe even bang us some of the factors that make a big difference to you.

We’ll then try and update and revise this puppy as we learn more about what you guys rate as important factors.

Happy viewing!

——————-

SUMMARIES:

CHOOSING A BACKPACK

Carry Optimised: Heavier loads, dynamic activities, longer trips

Message: Backpacks announce that your primary need is in carrying. That’s why they can feel funny in a workspace (”how I got here is more important to me than being here”).

Environs: Backpacks thrive in outdoors, diverse travel, & sports settings. Hmmm… and schools (which hasn’t really done much to help the image of backpacks).

Contents: They work really well with diverse contents (backpack formats allow for better pocketing efficiency). And there’s that heavy loads thing.

Shape: Go with a shape that resembles your primary contents (squarer for folders & laptops, rounder for clothes).

CHOOSING A MESSENGER

Access Optimised: Lighter Loads, hotter Climates, shorter trips

Message: Messengers say that you hop between places, accessing on the go. That’s why they look great on bike couriers & uni students.

Environs: Yep, these are urban tools that never get too remote (they’d hurt to carry them there). They thrive in hot climates (less body contact).

Contents: They’re reasonably accomodating, but you’re better with fewer items as organisation can throw them out (other than those hideous computer bags that sales guys carry around). If you have loads, go a backpack (like many couriers have begun to).

Shape: Go squarer & structured for just work, or softer & wider to look like you have a life.