I want a R.E.Load, but I'd love to see some revealing and sexy action shots first. If anyone has any pictures of their civilian or small civilian, I'd love to see them. Also, for people with the small civilian, how much can you fit in it, and does it work well on your back when you ride? Probably, to the second one. Thanks, all

Their website has tons of pictures, doesn't it?

yeah, some, but the shots of the small civilian don't really show me enough. The custom bags are hottt. I want to know what the NoNOS bag looks like.

Tons of pics on the website. Call them up, they are real nice and should be able to answer your questions.

My roommate has a civilian. He routinely fills it close to capacity with a basketball and a pair of high-tops, but he doesn't have to jam stuff in.

And while we're at it, any good action shots of a Courier? I'm thinking about ordering a semi-custom one, and would like to see jsut how big it is. Thanks.

wasn't there one with a cat in it posted yesterday?

is your avatar a dude from six feet under?

It's one of the Orphans from The Warriors. Come out to play with the Warriors!

ill fitting

That would be the leader of the Orphans gang. They didn't get invited

he looks like claire's skeezy boyfriend from like the 3rd season of six feet under (an addiction of mine). maybe it's the same guy.

Can you elaborate? All R.E.Load bags or just the ones I mentioned?

Yeah, it's the Orphan leader. I think Adam Goldstein will be cast in this role in the new version.

the small civilian proportionally doesn't look right on a 'grown up's' back. my friend got it thinking that it was going to be bigger and it looks more like a pocket book than a full fledged messenger back. i have a civilian and it's a really nice size, but i'm actually going to upgrade to a courier in a bit.

I had the courier model about 3 years back and never really got into it. Maybe they've made some design changes, but my Chrome is a much better fit for my body.

I think bags should be treated like helmets. Find a friend who owns one or a shop that sells them and go try them on. Depending on your body the bag may or may not be right for you. You should try on Nat's roommate's bag before ordering one for sure.

I also didn't like their strap, but again..maybe things have changed.

good advice, nothing per gallon.

Would it also have room for an uzi and a couple of clips so he can safely ball in wicker park?

it has a u-lock/gat holster...

A few tips for buying a reload (and any messenger bag).

1) Ask them to send you the printed catalog thing that shows all the bags. There is a page that shows all the bags on backs next to each other. It really gives you a good idea as to what this thing is going to look like. I believe it also gives you an idea of what the colors look like. Just call either coast and ask for it, I am sure they will know what you are talking about. I got it in the box after I ordered my bag, would have been nice to see it before.

2) Get as many external pockets as you can, I went for the standard custom 2. I have wanted more several times.

3) Use a back pad to prevent weird loads from poking you. I use a rain coat. Double effective.

4) Try to try it on. For me this wasn't an option, so it isn't crucial. But you should ask someone if you could borrow (or trade) their bag for a day. Fill it with some standard load sizes and ride/walk around with it. This should tell you more than just putting it on with their load.

I love what RELoad's about, and as far as custom goes, I think they do great stuff., I have one. But I'm with Zero...the strap is really no good. Cardstock will beg to differ, but I've found it to be a huge pain and really impractical for actually adjusting on the fly (for which Bailey can't be touched). You're welcome to come over and **** with both models.

Monkey, damn, way to pay attention!

I agree with your other advice, but with a Reload, you're talking $90 for the "courier" model vs. $165 for the "deluxe" (which has several other upgrades) or $30 for just adding the pockets to the base model courier. I think the extra cost is totally justified in terms of the extra work and materials involved, and there's no denying the usefulness for a lot of people. I just didn't need those pockets and I didn't feel like paying for them. I have no regrets.

That's the great thing about going with a custom maker though. If you DO need special features you can get them.

Their new strap is an improvement over their older one (a lot less ludicrously stiff), but neither hold a candle to either Chrome or PAC's adjustment mechanisms...

That whole adjustment system is what sold me on the split strap thing. It looks to me like everyone who's done a split strap has the same adjustment system, with a D-ring in loop of webbing in the ladderlock section of the male side of the buckle.

I copied it on the two bags I've made for myself -- I'm actually pretty ambivalent about the whole split strap thing (I hardly ever use the buckle, and it gets in the way of mounting stuff on the strap), but the adjustment system is the best.

While I agree with you that a Bailey Works bag is pretty fly, ReLoad does custom work if you pay for it.. Here's some pictures of my ReLoad with a front adjusting strap (like the Bailey Works) and the x-strap (like the Pac Design)