Originally Posted by
yummygooey
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.
I actually get quite a few groceries with just my messenger. Never had anything remotely smashed (even bread). I just loosen the compression straps and lengthen the buckle straps as far as they need to go to just cover the food without letting anything fall out. It's worked perfectly with my Crumpler and my Timbuk2. Otherwise, the same rules apply as with a backpack. I can vouch that it works, and messenger bags, for me, are much more comfy. But, like I said, you should just use whichever suits you better. I understand most people are more comfortable with backpacks. I just think messengers are more versatile. When mine isn't getting groceries, it's carried things like cases of water, wheel sets, laptops, camera tripods, and lots of other things that are tough to fit in a backpack.