ZeroTroubles

Hi, I was looking for a messenger bag, to put my stuff and laptop in for college.

I like the over-the-shoulder design, but I was wondering what you guys recommend for bags to use?
I found this one, but I'm not sure about whether to get it, my brother already owns one and I do not want to get it mixed up all the time. Plus I don't want to be that guy

europa

People think messenger bags are a really good idea. I bought one (a good one) for my son when he was in high school and he hated it because it just wouldn't stay in place. He did the right thing by his mad old dad and suffered it for a year, then converted to back packs and hasn't looked back. I personally prefer a carrier and pannier bag.

bmwjoe

I am in the backpack camp. I found this Kelty bag that fit the bill for me.
Kelty Redwing 44 | Panel Loading Trail Backpack 44 Liter
I haul a lot. Typically just my lunch and dress clothes to work. However I often shop after work. This pack swallows a lot.
It has an internal frame, which consists af an aluminum rail that runs from top to bottom. This hit my helmet until I removed it and bent the top 2" about 75 degrees to the back. Now it fits well. The thing I really like about this pack are the curved/padded straps and the sternum strap. It works a treat.

JeremyLC

I have a Citizen, a Metropolis, and an Ivan rolltop. I strongly recommend the backpack if you're carrying the bulk (and weight) of the computer and schoolbooks. I love my Citizen, but it kills my shoulder when it's too full and heavy.

brianmcg123

Backpack.

TenSpeedV2

Citizen and Metropolis owner here and I love both of them. I prefer the Metropolis since it is bigger, but they both work well. I haven't found anything that works better when riding than the Metropolis though.

And what do you mean by that guy? That guy is smart and bought an outstanding messenger bag with a lifetime warranty, outstanding quality and it is waterproof. That guy is pretty smart.

Mumonkan

i have a citizen and its great for a messenger bag, but if youre carrying weight its not gonna be particularly comfortable carrying 30 lbs for more than 10 mins, ive been doing that for a couple years now and im over it

good things about it are theyre waterproof, and come in 3049582 colors, so you dont have to mix it up with your brothers. chrome also makes backpacks, the ivan is also a good bag

Euthyphro

I commute with a backpack. My back sweats pretty bad, but I think that's only partially the result of the backpack. I just carry a slightly large backpack so that I have enough room for a change of clothes in addition to my books, laptop, and bike stuff (spare tube, wrench, multitool, tire levers, lock, headlight, tail light, co2 cartridges or pump). I keep deodorant in my office.

I really like this bag: Cusco - 26L Backpack | Cotopaxi - Gear For Good

The way it's designed turns out to be great for biking. Since the additional pockets do not go all the way to the bottom of the bag, the weight is distributed evenly on my back, unlike with more traditional style bags where everything slides to the very bottom of the bag. There's a waist and chest strap if you're into that kind of thing. They make a larger model too. Plus, they donate some of the proceeds to various causes.

bikemig 

I use a messenger bag but I keep it pretty light. It excels if the weight is right. For carrying weight (books and laptops), it's hard to beat a pannier or even baskets of some type in which you can dump your bag. The coolness factor will suffer though,

frankenmike 

Got a Timbuktu in 1999 I still use for my daily commute. Hoping it wears out one day so I can justify one of the cool newer brands available.

jlafitte 

1. Locate D-ring on side of bag.
2. Attach stabilizer strap and loop around main strap.
3. Profit.

Justsomedude

Only use a messenger bag if you want to be able to access contents without taking it off.
thats why I don't like backpacks.
i got a bag for $5 at the Gap 20 years ago.
still solid

Justsomedude

And hit a local Army Surplus store.
mine has a bunch of old British motorcycle messenger bags for $30 right now.

T13

Baileyworks bags. Made in the USA.

Messenger bags work great IF you wear them right. If you wear them "slung low" while yer riding, with them full, you are an idiot. If you pull them tight, and get the weight closer to yer shoulders they work great. But I think it depends on what you are using it for. It's great if yer a messenger, because you can loosen it and sling it around in one motion and pull whatever yer delivering out, instead of having to take off a "backpack" style bag every time. I've had my Baileyworks bag for 14 years and it's still great. Went through 9 cleveland winters, and it's still my "carry on" when flying. I always thought those "roll down" type bags looked a bit silly, and usually only "New guys" rocked them.

Just my opinions tho.

Leukybear 

The chrome citizen is tried, proven, and iconic; you can't go wrong with it.

If you want something that nobody else has, this is not the bag you're looking for. Many non-cyclist plebs use them now, even your local socks with birkenstocks neckbeard.

I too have gotten over my chrome bag and I use a combination of:

A boreas bolinas for daily stuff


And Mission Workshop's Rambler and Vandal for heftier loads or in bad weather

They are identical aside from proportions with the vandal being a tad bit under 3/5ths the size of the rambler.

MattoftheRocks

Nuther backpack vote from someone who had a single strap chrome and a stabilizer strap bag.

SLY300

School textbooks generally are not light, so I would have to add another backpack vote, mainly for balance. I have a Nightshift model from Seagull bags that works pretty well, and is fairly roomie. If you absolutely have to have a messenger bag, I guess a Courier model from REload bags would be big enough to carry books and a laptop safely. Just gotta distribute the weight comfortably.

T13

No offense man, but this makes no sense. Yes, textbooks are heavy. But in a back, the books would be sitting in the bottom of the bag, right about where yer tramp stamp is. If you are riding in a forward leaning position, those books are gonna be pulling you back, whereas a messenger bag, worn correctly,puts the load, when riding in a forward leaning position, on yer shoulders.

Hehe, I said "load".

hairnet

I went through school commuting with a Metropolis. It was not as bad as some people make it out to be. Several years later it is still in great shape and serves my go-to bag for traveling light.

SLY300

I suppose that the size of the messenger style bag comes into play. My bag is large, and if not loaded properly, can get pretty squirrely when I'm out riding. Again, its all in how one loads their stuff, and making sure the bag is strapped nice and snug.

interungulate

I'm short and small so I ride with a Mini Buran, also Chrome. I've had it for two or three years and use it for school, long bike trips, transporting my laptop/etc. on 8-hour Amtrak rides, blah blah blah. Can't say enough good things about it. I like the adjustable strap and the buckle and the customer service (they replaced the bag 1/2 a year in because a seam became undone and they couldn't get to it with a machine).

For college, it's worked since September to take anything and everything I need for the entire day without feeling like it on my back. I really like how they have different sizes so I don't have to carry a huge Metropolis on my back. Next messenger bag I get will be a Chrome bag for sure, but I don't anticipate needing one for a while, this one shows no signs of giving out. Expensive, but so worth it.

Mumonkan

ill add that ive eaten **** and landed / slid on my citizen at least 10 times and its still waterproof and not falling apart, just a minor scrape on the outside of the flap

Philasteve

I use a RE Load I love it, great bag. I've had it for about 4 years now and it's still going super strong, I don't see it breaking anytime soon. Velcro is still in good shape, no fraying or anything, just a little dirt on the outside that I wash off once in a while with a tooth brush and a little soapy water. Should have gotten a color darker than tan but whatever lol. Super comfortable, 215 adjustment strap to loosen or tighten really quick, and a sternum strap clip to hold it in place when I have a light or heavy load. It's the courier size, 2nd largest, perfect size in my opinion. I haven't had anything that I really couldn't fit inside it, I even had my 50 pound bulldog in there at one point just for kicks. I would definitely opt for the added waist/sternum strap for stability, you don't have to always use it. It un clips on both ends so it can be taken off and stored away when you don't need it for whatever your carrying. Or you can just keep it rolled up in one of the pockets. Lot's of bag companies offer custom options to get whatever you need added on. You can even call re load and get something tailored up to your needs. A lot of people love Mission Bag Works, Chrome, Seagull and Ynot messenger bags.

TenSpeedV2

Slightly off topic, but if any of you Chrome bag users get a chance to visit one of their hubs, I suggest it at least once. I hit the Chicago hub, and it was a great experience. Chrome makes really good stuff, expensive, but long lasting. One thing that I love about them is that if you live in a hub city, and order gear, they will deliver it to you via a local bike messenger company. This shows that they are truly dedicated to the people that they serve.

Messenger Delivery | Chrome Industries

ZeroTroubles

Hmm, thanks guys. I'll reconsider the citizen. Does anyone else know of a bag that has the same model?