I need a new bag to carry stuff (mostly books, U-lock, laptop) back and forth from school on my bike, and the weekly grocery run for a single person. I've pretty much narrowed the bag down to the BW Super Pro, which I've heard are fantastic bags, but I'm not sure about size. I tend to think a medium would work well, but I'm a smaller guy at 5'7", ~130 lbs. Not sure if a medium would be too big on me. I know there are measurements on the site, but it's still not always clear how measurements translate to how the bag sits on one's frame.

Also, I would like to use the bag to walk around sometimes too. I wouldn't store much in it in such cases. Perhaps a small GPS unit, sweater, food, beer or two, etc. Would a medium size bag be unwieldy for me so that a small would be better? Does anyone who have experience with these sizes or are on the shorter end of the scale care to comment?

your shoulder will be very unhappy when walking around with a packed messenger bag. i found that the only time messengers bags are anywhere near comfortable is when your on the bike. thats why i went back to backpacks.

if youk r still set on getting a messenger bag you might like the chrome citizen; im only a couple inches taller than you and the size was perfect for me. go to the chrome website to find the measurements for the citizen and then you can compare it with the measurements for the reload bag.

Go for the medium. I'm an inch taller and three pounds heavier than you, and my medium suits me fine. I use it as an all-purpose bag, just the way it sounds like you're planning to use yours.

Thanks for the response. I think I'll probably spring for the medium. I actually have been using a backpack for the past few years (Timbuk2 Hacker) which has for the most part been awesome and super-duper tough against the rain and tarmac here. In fact, I've been resistant to the idea of using messenger pack for a while since I really like the security and comfort of backpacks. The only issue I have with it is that its really a huge pain to get stuff in and out of it while on the go (in particular, getting out/packing up my u-lock or bike lights between classes, or dropping off mail pieces at mailboxes). Also, the compartments in the backpack make carrying laptops and papers a cinch, but leads to compromises when moving larger things like cereal boxes/jugs of milk/cabbages/etc.

I know walking in msnger bags generally doesn't work, but I'm usually packed very light when trekking in the city.

I use this in black. hellafine

https://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/...0&CS_010=67005

I was a little nervous before I went ahead and sprung for the medium, but it turned out to be a good move on my part. I had to give up backpacks because they were causing too much strain on my shoulders, but messenger bags are for the most part pretty painless for me. It's easy to walk around with them as long as they're not fully loaded (as mentioned above, the only time they're anywhere near comfortable when fully loaded is when you're on the bike in an aggressive or semi-aggressive riding position). It's also convenient to have the extra bag space in case you want to pick a few things up at the store or whatever, and the easy access to your stuff is a plus as well.

i'm also trying to decide between the small and medium super pro, i'm a girl, 5'6" 110 lbs and I'm using a timbuk2 (classic?) in a Medium. That size is pretty comfortable, and I've tried the medium baileyworks on at my LBS, but without seeing the small i'm really unsure. the medium is comfortable on, and doesnt seem like overly big if i dont want to pack my whole life into it and just walk around (i live in boston)

does anyone have both? how much smaller is the Small compared to the medium? the measurements online don't really help.

no, its because you have a brain.

I'm a bit late on this thread but thought I'd chime in on the Medium Bailey Works Super Pro bag I just received. I was also looking at the small vs. medium and decided on the medium which is rather large but when I pack it with my change of work cloths, SLR, lunch, phone and iPod and other odds and ends I carry to work it begins to fill up rather quickly; I just don't think the small would have handled these items easily. I wish Bailey had something between 1200 and 1300 cu in, but the 1536 is pretty comfortable also. I haven't commuted with it yet but just walking around with it I can say it's pretty comfortable to carry, far more comfortable than any other bags I currently own. I purchased Chrome metro which I returned because it just wasn't as comfortable to carry off the bike (Chrome makes a great bag though) but the Bailey Works is perfect for both.

I'm thinking that for someone 5'7", ~130 lbs it could be kinda' large though; I'm 5'10, ~190 lbs and at first the medium seemed to be a bit on the large side for me, but I like it now.