pigmode

I'm looking at the Bailey Super Pro and their 253, and had a couple of questions.

- Which would be more comfortable for riding in the drops?
- Would the older strap system of the 253 allow the bag to shift around more in use, thereby possibly leading to bad posture in compensation? By bad posture I mean sub-consciously cocking/twisting the shoulder or back one way or another to keep the bag in place.

FlippingHades

As long as they both have a stabilizer strap, and you keep the stabilizer and main strap appropriately tight, neither will shift.

The biggest ergonomic problem I see on the street with just about any messenger bag is leaving the main strap too loose, so the bag sits down on your lower back, or worse, on your butt. It should be on your mid-to-upper back, and without slack (but not so tight you can't breathe).

I Like Peeing

Somewhat on topic, I have a Reload and I hate it. The main strap sucks and the shoulder strap pad that comes standard totally sucks. I use it on my top tube. The upgrade pad that should come with every bag they make is nice, however. The best ergonomic aspects of any bag includes trying it on in person...I wish I would have tried my bag on while on the bike and gotten to ride around for a bit with stuff in it, but obviously that doesn't happen. If the bag doesn't choke you when you have it nice and high on your back and it has a stabilizer strap and a friendly main strap, get it. It looks to me like the Super Pro does the trick if you have the extra cash. Your questions persuade me that you should get the higher end bag for sure. The 253's a little simple, although I've tried one on and liked it too.

alaska

i've got a superpro and have found the strap to be excellent. most of the time i don't even use the stabilizer strap and the bag sits fine. everynow and then i might have to hit it back into place but if you used the cross strap all the time this would never be a problem. i have found that it tends to shift more is it is drastically underloaded and something heavy is in the bag (my ulock). so be conscious of the amount of space you plan on needing and don't go too big. really sweet bag in all aspects though.

Jaminsky

Yeah, I've tried the super pro and it treated me pretty right. Dont own one, but borrowed my friends for a while and it was nice without the stabilizer strap. 2¢

slvoid

Have you looked at the chrome bag strap? Its pretty complicated but comfortable.

BuddyMike

I have a super pro and a chrome metropolis. I never used the stabilizer strap on either of them. If you tighten it tight enough you will be fine. If you get the other model, use the strap.

soze

I like my Reload. It has a thicker strap than my venerable Timbuk2 (I bought it when they had dinosaurs waxing their canvas for them), so I've had to adjust where I put the strap because, well, I've got bewbs. I now have the strap going very high across the top of my chest above my boobs, and I have the stabilizer strap up high, nearly in my armpit. Very comfortable, though you'll still need a good bra.

pigmode

Lots of good advice here--thanks. The Chrome Citizen would fit my needs, it looks functional with good sizing, and I just noticed that there's a black buckle option. Still, I think I'm leaning towards the Super Pro.

hunterrb

I've been using a PAC for the past week, and I have to say, with a similar sized load, but chrome is way more comfortable. Sure I can fit a crapload of stuff in it, but the chrome seemed perfect ergonomically....

I'm using a right swing bag when i'm used to a left swing. Not sure if that could account for my shoulder being reall effing sore or not. The bag i'm using is like 4 years old, so perhaps its just worn out.


But i'm not trying to state that the PAC sucks, but that the chrome is (to me) a much more comfortable bag than the supossed top-end messenger bag...

-R

FlippingHades

I've switched shoulders before (with the same bag, reversible strap), and it feels TOTALLY different. I'd recommend trying bags on the same shoulder to compare them.