Meta Bags. My hometown hero, Dom, designs and makes them. Super sturdy, any size/shape you can imagine, shipped to your doorstep filled with nude women and beer. Can't go wrong.

I don't think he/she makes them commercially any more. Ebay would be the only way to find 'em.

Somewhere along the line, Timbuk2 expanded their distribution and outsourced some (most?) of their production and became kind of popular and therefore not "cool" anymore. But I've had my smallish Timbuk2 bag for at least 12 years and the damn thing just won't die! It is still as solid as it was day one.

But a messenger bag does something for the street cred a jolly ol basket just can't compete with.

I use a bag because I am generally only carrying a few sandwiches at a time. I also like being able to keep all of my personal effects on me as I leave my bike (generally deliver to large office/campus buildings and I don't like the idea of having things left outside with my bike). I tried a rear rack and milk crate but didn't really like it, though a front basket may be more practical.

Those Seagull bags look pretty nice, I may give one of them a shot.

The strap on the timbuk is the problem, they are sewn directly to the bag and when you fill them up (especially with boxes) they tend to roll up and not sit flat against your back. Cocotte is out of Montreal, waterproof, most comfortable strap out there, and loops for radio/phone/keys whatever