Originally Posted by
jakevance
Wait, what? Aside from a hardshell backpack, how does any backpack provide better protection for food. If anything, most messenger bags are more cavernous and open than backpacks. I don't see any significant difference between the ability of the two to carry food. Just wear whichever style suits you better.
Have you tried carrying a lot of food in a messenger bag? Every backpack I have ever owned has been more "cavernous" than the Chrome I use now and the Timbuk2 (which sucked, btw, YMMV) I used to use. Closing a messenger bag to keep its contents from spilling out without compressing what is inside is difficult.
For a backpack, put the heavy stuff and boxes on the bottom, and your delicates (bread, eggs, etc) on top. If you don't jam pack your pack full, you won't squish the bread or whatever unless you fall over on it.
Also, that 20 mile Cranksgiving I did would have been significantly easier on my back/shoulder if I had a two straps instead of one.