I searched and came up empty.
Does anyone ride with Specialized bags? I think I'm going to commute by bike starting this spring, and want a mess bag, but don't feel like Paying $100+.
Any experience would be cool.
https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=25152

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqP...jsp?spid=25159

At that price point, go Timbuk2. Not my personal first choice for a bike commuter bag, but the best value IMO. Pay that little bit more for something that will likely outlive you.

OT: I got one of those cheapo Auclair bags for dirt cheap off Nashbar a week before they pulled them from the site. The day my Chrome Metro arrived at my doorstep, I sprinted out of the saddle and the bag's top strap clip literally exploded and my bag fell off. Thankfully I was on a side road and nobody saw it. I'm also glad I also only had my street shoes and my ulock in there.

Not to say that these bags will explode on you, it's probably better to......invest, rather than simply purchase.

I've had mine for four years, my only regret is that it doesn't have a lot of reflective material, but then again in other situations that's not a bad thing.

Why must bikers wear messenger bags? Why not a backpack...LIKE MEEE!!!!???

I would go with a handmade bag, and I'm not just saying that because I make them. I think it's good to support the small US businesses like Seagull, RE Load, Fabric Horse, Bailey Works, etc.

I'd not wear one of those.

Go to the thrift store.

Well if you like two straps you can wear a messenger pack.

"Messenger" just means it's weatherproof and made with cycling in mind (usually).

'cause you'll find LOTS of messenger bags in a thrift store.

In my experience, a typical backpack bounces around when you get up to speed, and most backpacks (even bike specific ones, but especially "normal" ones) interfere with your helmet.

A guy I know that's been making bags for the last few decades said if he had to get a bag for less than a hundred bucks, he'd get an aerostich.

edit : i mean, if he didn't just make it himself of course

the new banjo bros. bag looks nice, and i think it's around 60$.

Now that I'm looking into this more, I'm liking the Chromes. I get a discount on Specialized, and I just realized that I get Chromes on discount too. But I'm not sayign that the Specialized's are getting taken from the picture.

The chromes are kinda weird. They're too small front to back, so anytime you load them up they get pretty uncomfortable.

Your mileage may vary.

I got one of the large Banjo Brother bags for free, and it's pretty great. Totally waterproof. If I were looking for a commuter bag, I don't think you could do better than that small one for $60.

is kemmer gonna restock?

You might be surprised.

I'd be REALLY surprised here, or in Avon Lake, OH. As in almost "won the lottery" surprised.

a big bright chrome bag for only $80 ~
https://cgi.ebay.com/Kozmo-com-Courie...QQcmdZViewItem

This may seem silly but I didn't see a reference for the stabilizing waist strap for the briefcase model. That seems like the one feature of all messenger bags that makes them far more useful than any regular old shoulder bag.

FWIW, I have the Nashbar bag but I don't carry very much. Its 19" x 12" x 4.5" and it can fill up pretty fast. I'd say it could be filled by four one-pound bags of pretzel twists. I've only tried two myself but ymmv.

To be honest, the Specialized messenger bag, at twice the width, would be much more useful especially if you are going to commute with a change of clothes.

I came to the conclusion that for realistically huge loads, Chromes need much longer flaps and much longer compression straps. And perhaps a squarer shape. It was a pain to load that oscilloscope in, but we managed.

Don't ask why I had to transport an oscilloscope in my bag today.

I'm a big fan of the patagonia mess bags.

FWIW, general usage of "messenger bag" does not mean any bag that's "weatherproof and made with cycling in mind" at all. Sorry.

I know this doesn't fit your criteria, in fact its not even close, but I am intrigued by these backpacks.

Ergon BD-1 Backpack

I am working on it, but it's taking some time. I'll post here with updates for sure.

OP: I have a specialized laptop bag that I don't use anymore. PM for details, it's cheap and nearly new. It's not the best thing available, but the laptop sleeve is nice.

i say timbuk2 as well, ive had mine for well over a year and so far there is almost no wear

Seriously, you should get a Timbuk2 off of steepandcheap.com. You may have to do some serious site watching for a few days, but I in the past week scored both a medium classic messenger and a large laptop messenger for under $70 for both. Don't ask why I needed these, as I already have a Chrome Metropolis...meh.