I've always ridden with backpacks and messenger in the past but if I decide to return to commuting I never will again. The last time I tried it with my messenger it was a real hassle. I have a couple of books and a workstation laptop and it was a real chore keeping it cinched. Not only did it cut off my circulation making it very uncomfortable, but it kept displacing my course due to the weight imbalance.

I literally had to twist my torso the entire ride to keep it from pulling me out of the path and into traffic. I will get a pannier next time, and hopefully something with a quick release (there are some great expandable ones with rain covers but they're expensive).

When I worked the night shift at the hotel, I had with my Topeak trunk. I could remove both the trunk and the arm with a simple quick-release. But I had a designated out of the way corner in the garage to keep my bike with no fear of theft.