been carrying around one of these for a while now.
totally love it.
more comfy than a messenger bag (i had a very serious shoulder/collarbone injury a year and a half ago) on my shoulder and back.
holds everything.....
if you carry a laptop, a messenger bag might not be the best idea.
it just turns a mess bag into a hard rectangle on your back that just sits there and doesnt conform to the curve of your back and shoulder....a backpack is much better.
i carried a classsic messenger from timbuk2 for several years, but once i started carrying around my macbook and camera full time, i knew it was time for a backpack.