Originally Posted by
JeremyZ
Abneycat: Thanks for your insights, good stuff! Looking at the higher end bags, it seems like they are only designed to be worn high on the back. From a load-bearing perspective, this seems good. But it seems like it would yield just as much back sweat as a backpack then. Which ones of these can be worn low? any?
From what I can recall, the padding on the Chrome was fixed to the main body of the bag, and if you lowered it, the padding may not fully cover the shoulder, but you'd have to lower it quite a bit as there is a fair stretch of padding. I believe the Chrome is simply meant to rest in the one position. Now, I could be wrong on this, but it's my recollection.
The PAC padding is not fixed to the bag, it is adjustable and you should be able to lower the bag on your body and keep the padding in the correct spot. The cross strap is fixed in one position though. I have not personally found the cross strap being fixed in one position to be a detriment, but I do know of messenger bag users who prefer to be able to slide it about, some like their cross strap right up under their armpit. The way the padding is designed, it is free from both the cross and main strap at the very bottom, and when both straps are tightened, it covers them both instead of following one or the other, meaning that no buckles will dig into your body. I find that nice. I am able to lower the bag on my body and wear it loose with decent effectiveness on the cross strap, but I don't personally like it that way.
The Timbuk2 can sit wherever for the most part, since there's no padding to position (and the optional pad slides around). The cross strap on the Timbuk2 is also held to the main strap with a velcro attachment, and it can slide around the main strap as well.
I personally believe that they are meant to sit in a particular position. The top corner of the bag should rest approximately on your shoulder blade, and the bag rests at a fairly good diagonal. You are free to pick whatever size bag you wish, but I personally find that the bag ends up feeling too gainly and uncomfortable if the lower section drops below the middle of the hips. Lowering it too much can affect how it feels while riding, the straps may not sit tight enough against the body to hold the bag firmly in place, and if you are carrying fair weight, it may end up poking into your abdomen. These are simply my experiences, but I prefer a bag that wraps as tightly across the back as possible, and strapped firmly in place.
As for back sweat, yes, I do find that they can get a little hotter. I have personally not found it unbearable, but i'm not a big sweater.