Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Where to get cheap messenger bags?

well im probably going to end my family's private weekday bike messenger(they all have far, late working jobs), and they work so much due to recent financial problems. I can't afford a flashy chrome or timbuk2, but i dont want to stuff everything into my school Jansport backpack and have it be really uncomfortable. Anybody know where to get decently priced messenger bags? preferable under $100

Buy Timbuk2 classic messenger bag from eBags... the large one on sale will cost you $80 plus shipping. eBags customer service helped with a failed first delivery from Fed-Ex and upgraded me to 2nd Day Air Delivery at no charge plus gave me the discount on the bag!

I'd shop with them again.

check a craigslist close to you, i usually see used chrome bags on there for less than $100

Blicks (http://www.blicksbags.com/) have good bags for a good price. You might even get a BF discount if she likes you.

check ebay
they have some good deals

+1 one ebags.

if youre lucky, they have 20% offs with free shipping often.

Watch bonktown. Timbuk2's come up for <$50 every once in a while.

if you are actually hauling anything, timbuk2 is hte worst idea ever. chrome is the cheapest with the best features that i found.

depending on what you'll be carrying, don't discount a good backpack as the correct solution, messenger bags shine if you need to access them quickly and often, but backpacks distribute weight more evenly on your back, and can be made very well for on bike duty. go take a look at your local outdoor goods store and see what you think.

I would advise against a Timbuk2...if you're really going to be hauling a lot around as a messenger you're going to have a hard time finding a bag big enough for under $100 unless it's used (and you might find one used). What kinds of stuff you need to deliver?

I find Timbuk2s to be very uncomfortable when carrying heavy loads. YMMV.

I would second Blicks, they have been nothing but great for me but I am interested in a extreme bag and they have been more than helpful.

Timbuk2 i think is alot cheaper then 50-100 dollars worth.

Honesly that bag can barely haul anything... Friend has it..

Timbuk2 sucks. Maybe check out one of their backpacks, but not a shoulder bag.

The seagull, reload, and blicksbags are all good and seemed to be based off the same idea. Splitstraps with nice padding on the chest/shoulder, quick to loosen and tighten. baileyworks, chicago wig, and pac designs too. Or chrome. No timbuk2.

I wouldn't limit yourself to $$$ when buying a bag you are going to be using all the time. Get something nice you will like.

Manhattan Portage.

I really like my medium Timbuk2, especially since I added a side-release buckle to the strap and no longer have to take it off over my head. I don't haul around a lot of stuff or constantly have to get in and out of it though so I can see why it wouldn't be one of the better choices.

I used a Chrome bag that belonged to a friend of mine for a while and absolutely hated it.

Blicks bags have been fantastic for me, I highly recommend saving a few more bucks and talking to Blicks.

Here is some photo's of my recent bag:

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/GlachDuwat/bagstuff2.jpg
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/GlachDuwat/BagStuff.jpg
http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/GlachDuwat/bagbike.jpg

On ebay the seller lwj-yoki has a bunch of different SAG and FTC bags real cheap. They might be fake but they look like good fakes.

Edit: Here's a link to teh sellers items. I couldn't post it earlier because I was posting from my phone :p

http://shop.ebay.com/lwj-yoki/m.html

blicksbags look good...but idk $150. ><

i love my timbuk2 :P never had a problem. just need to stuff it right

look at Banjo Brothers messenger bags. they only have two sizes. both for way under 100 bucks

i have a timbuk2 i picked up at a swap meet for i think 10 or 15 bucks. they're good for ~25 bags, but they're not worth much more. mine isn't very big but i was able to (very uncomfortably) carry 3 12-packs of soda.

the over the head only strap is kinda garbage and a big pain. the straps are also not angled so with big loads the cable kinda twists in a funny way and digs in. it's not good as a messenger bag for messenger loads, but it's okay for small backpack sized loads or as a "briefcase"

look at Banjo Brothers messenger bags. they only have two sizes. both for way under 100 bucks

I used a large one as a bag for school, which meant it was stuffed with 20 lbs of stuff every day for a year. It is sort of falling apart from that, but I would be surprised to see a bag that actually would hold up well to that. I still use mine, and I'd recommended it. I love the strap on it.

I tried out a Timbuk 2. A medium and a large. It didn't work out for me, the straps werent comfortable with heavy loads, the bag was nice quality, but not ergonomically made. I had a commuter 2.0 and I had quite a load of texts books + lunch + random stuff to haul to school and timbuk2 just didn't handle the job well.

I have a custom bag now and I imagine any of the custom bag makers will probably do you right. I'm lookin at a MW Backpack, probably grab it in a large if it doesn't take up my entire back + some.

Anyway to stay on topic.
Save up and buy a good bag, I'd suggest a Blick, or one of those Sag bags, Dr. Banzai had picked one up and said it was of good quality and seemed authentic.
I'd recommend saving up and buying something of good quality. I couldn't imagine hauling things around with me all day if I didn't have the bag I do.

I have a medium Timbuk2 and I like it. But that's me. It does what I need it to do and I haven't had any probs with it. Depending on what you need it to do should help you determine what kind you should get. But I agree with avner to save up and get a good bag, whatever it may be. A cheap bag won't last long and you'll end up having to get another sooner than later.

Hey avner I saw you're in Echo Park. Are you a MoM?

Chrome's backdoor sale has nice stuff usually. I got mine for about $100
http://www.chromebagsstore.com/backdoor-sale.html

Don't know if I can post this, mods please delete if it's a no-no.

http://www.csnstores.com/asp/superbrowse.asp?clid=710&caid=&sku=TIM1478&PiID=3943225&refid=FR49-TIM1478_3943225

Timbuk2 classic messenger for 51.99 with free shipping. Don't know anything about the vendor so I can't comment there.

C'mon now, Timbuk 2 Bags dont suck. Ive been beta testing mine for more than ten years.
You just dont like them for some deeply personal reason that bears no interest.

loook for sales, I got my two crumpler bags for 12 and 17 dollars. I flipped them though, I cannot stand messenger bags.

timbuk2 bags don't suck, but they need to be packed in a very particular way to be stable.

they will last for a long time, and their newer designs have some very effective feature enhancements. the clip/cam buckle and side zipper pockets make the bag far more quick and useful than the older bags. however, because of their design and cut they have to be used in a particular way(heavy stuff on the bottom side of the bag, flat soft stuff on the back) to be comfortable and stable on a bike.

they will fit tons of stuff while keeping the pack's weight comparatively low.

however, if you want a bag that's going to be comfortable and stable no mater what is in it or how it's packed, you'll likely need an asymmetric strap design.

i had a 'large' classic timbuk2 but sold it after a year or so of using my kemmer chrome copy.
now, because i'm no longer in college and don't usually haul so much around, i hate the weight and size of the kemmer and the velcro has begun to deteriorate. did i get my 40 bucks out of it? HELL ****ING YES i did. but now, i'm more likely to go with a small mission workshop bag next, or get one made by the local bag builder here in seattle(dank).

in terms of quality vs cost, timbuk2 is likely the best option- however, don't expect any cheap timbuk2 to have the stabilization or comfort features of a higher priced bag.

if i could get a seam-welded MW monty made from timbuk2's 'mavericks' material i would probably pay ****loads for it.

the most important thing i think you should ask yourself when looking for a new bag is 'what size is best for my needs?'

a bag that is too large or too small will always be a hefty compromise to what you really want. it won't be comfortable and it won't be stable.

Rickshaw's large messenger is $80, handmade in SF, and fully customizable(colors) at no extra charge.

http://www.rickshawbags.com/customize/custom-bag#!thl=rickshaw/zero_messenger_large()

http://eeio.blogspot.com/2004/12/recycled-banner-golden-mean-messenger.html

I disagree with you cc, I got a step larger wig bag then I wanted simply at his recommendation. It was a wise choice(wig is known for massove bags) but I think get the biggest you think you'll possibly need...it sucks running out of space.

perhaps you're right.

solution: have a day bag that is seriously no bigger than you need on an average day, and then have a freaking massive cargo bag.

doesn't quite work that way for me...its leave with as little as possible..come home with a lot :p

Just got my Metropolis off ebay. $129.95 shipped w/ no taxes. Local fixie store sells them, along w/ all other places...$160 plus sales tax.

Seagull black bags are a good value. Medium is $105, large is $125.
http://www.seagullbags.com/bags/blackbags/medium/

Seagull black bags are a good value. Medium is $105, large is $125.
http://www.seagullbags.com/bags/blackbags/medium/

+1 love my large black bag. Takes hell. simple bag with bare essentials.