the chrome backbone is way bigger in person. turns out that it's probably a little overkill for what i'll be using it for. maybe i need to downgrade to the medium size.

Never overestimate the usefullness of a gigantic bag. I have the citizen, at first I thought it was perfect, but now I regret not getting a step up.

picssssss?

I have the metropolis. I thought it was too big when i first started to wear it, but now that I'm used to it, i like the size. my only problem with it is the lack of a defined scene on the bottom of the back against my back. when I'm carrying textbooks, i find i have to frequently readjust the load so they don't poke me in the back.

maybe tonight after i finish doing this school stuff.

Yes, pics please. For certainly there is no place on the internet where one might go to see pictures of a consumer product.

Ahem: https://www.chromebags.com/backbone.php

How is a dedicated messenger backpack different from something I might get at EMS? I like shoulder bags because I can slide them to the front to get stuff.

mess bags are going to be set up to hold boxier stuff, at the expense of compact loading. Outdoors bags are made for clothing, ropes, etc... that can be compressed a little more, and often have compression straps and compartment shapes that help the bag carry well no matter how full or empty it is. Mess bags are probably a little more durable for urban use, but are going to be heavier because of it.

Others will disagree, but the only advantage of single strap bags is that you don't have to take it all the way off to get into it. Beyond that, a backpack will always carry the load better since it has 2 straps. And no, I don't care how comfortable your Kremlin is with 2 30's in it, or how much the stabilizer strap helps.

Oh yeah, and EMS is awful...

meeeoowww

why is ems awful? they seem to carry chrome among others
https://www.ems.com/catalog/subcatego...403&i=1&n=1000

ems is great if you want to buy camping gear and then return it after your trip for a full refund with no questions asked...

I strongly disagree. I have some top notch winter riding gear from them, and they offer a lifetime repair or replace warranty

well, the one good thing about EMS is that in a couple of weeks everything in the store will be 20% off, so maybe it's time to get a bag. Wish they had the bigger chrome stuff...

Generally, though, they suck because they are a yuppie fleece emporium that keeps a little bit of gear around for street cred. I camp and climb and backpack and all that, and they just piss me off because they have just enough stuff that they might have what you need, but when you get there they invariably don't have the right size, model, brand, or whatever. I know it's the reality of retail, but it's annoying as hell for an "outdoors" shop to have acres and acres of north face swag that will never get used anywhere more rigorous than the parking lot of whole foods, but when you try to buy actual gear they don't have it, might get it in next week, and you should talk to this guy Rick that works mondays and thursdays, he's the one that knows about that stuff. EMS and moosejaw are both totally annoying this way, REI is a little bit better. I support local shops when possible, but the outdoors gear market is so small that they're few and far between, and their margins are so small that sometimes they have to sell more fleece and keychain biners than the big guys to stay afloat.

Interesting that they have Chrome bags. Bailey doesn't surprise me, they're both NH companies.

I think they survive mainly by selling colored nalgenes to college girls. It annoys me that you cant seem to get the opaque ones anymore though.

The opaque ones cracked in the cold, stained if you used polar pure, and leeched cancerous chemicals into your water. Which is of course why I still use mine...

Everybody who sells any kind of gear has a lifetime repair or replace warranty. REI, performance/nashbar, you name it. I will say that some of EMS's store brand stuff is a bit better than other chains' house brand goods, but it also costs more.

Uh oh...

the opaque ones are for hot weather and the black tinted ones are for cold weather. opaque reflects sun and tinted keeps your water from freezing. and polar pure is nasty--I use a sweetwater pump.

One-shoulder strap bags obstruct your rearward vision less, as well.

Agreed. Polar pure is kinda nasty, but I used to use it for light solo stuff, and now I have some orangish bottles. But I'm pretty sure the offical reason they gave for going to all polycarbonate bottles was the other ones became brittle in the cold. Also, the plastic does leech, which is why all the trustafarians in the know are running sigg bottles now.

Oh, and here's a PSA: any time you order anything form moosejaw and it takes more than 2 days longer than they said it would, cancel the order. Half of the gear they claim to stock is actually on semi-permanent backorder, and who knows when they will actually get it in. Dealing with them can be a real monty pyton movie, too.

+1

yeah man i have a baileyworks large, which i thought was bigger than all **** when i got it... i pretty much use it for school and general commuting, and still have a few times thought to myself "i could use an xl right now." i don't think you'll ever be disappointed for going bigger.