# Messenger Bags **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933 "2009-06-25T14:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Time\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Time\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/1 "2009-06-25T14:15:29Z")
I am in the market to buy a messenger bag (or comparable type bag). My main requirement is that I be able to wear it on my bike and not have it slip everywhere, and also use it as a general going out bag (I usually carry a lot of stuff - sketchbook, paperback, umbrella, water bottle, etc). I’ve been using a backpack, but it gets really hot here and makes my entire back really sweaty and gross. Also, I feel like a dork wearing it out as it’s just too big. At first I was just going to get a Timbuk2 bag, since everyone seems to think they’re pretty solid, and I like that you can customize it. But I did a little googling and there are several other bags out there that are intriguing. I like the Chrome bags, but I don’t know if I could get away with wearing it around town as even the mini looks huge (TMI: another concern with them is that the front buckle, while cool, looks like it might create the dreaded middle-of-the-boobs-sweat-stain. Any girls have experience with this? It’s one of the reasons I gave up messengers several years ago, but that was before I was riding). If you use a messenger bag, which one do you have? What do you like about it and has it held up well? Any other bag recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/2 "2009-06-25T14:17:14Z")
I just got this one from Gama-go: [http://www.gama-go.com/product.php?productid=16791&cat=286&page=1](http://www.gama-go.com/product.php?productid=16791&cat=286&page=1) JUST got it, so I can’t vouch for how well it holds up…but it’s SO cute. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Time\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/3 "2009-06-25T14:57:25Z")
Wow, that is really cute! I love Gama-go’s designs, I had forgot about them. Do you think it would stay in place if you were on a bike? ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/4 "2009-06-25T15:35:35Z")
I think so, the strap is attached to hang right for bike wearing. I wish the strap was padded, particularly with that giant buckle, but I can live with it. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/5 "2009-06-25T15:45:03Z")
I love my [Brooks Barbican](http://www.calhouncycle.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1633&IDCategory=143). I know, it’s expensive, but I didn’t find anything cheaper that I thought looked good. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/6 "2009-06-25T19:02:52Z")
Check out [Seagull Bags](http://www.seagullbags.com/). Their shop used to be located up the street from me. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/7 "2009-06-25T19:40:54Z")
I’ve got a Timbuk2 laptop messenger bag that I’ve taken everywhere I’ve gone for a year now, including many places that were less than kind to it. It still looks like the day I bought it. I couldn’t be happier with it. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/8 "2009-06-25T19:59:17Z")
You may want to take a look at Ortlieb Panniers. They clip on to a rack easily, are waterproof and roomy, and have a good shoulder strap for carrying as a messenger bag when off the bike. They’re quite popular with college students and bike commuters who usually have to carry books and paperwork and such. They’re somewhat expensive, but they last forever. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/9 "2009-06-25T20:42:36Z")
I have a large Timbuk2 bag. I’ve had it for about 8 years, and it’s been pretty durable. What’s nice about it is that you can reverse the secondary strap to make it left-handed. I’m sure a dedicated left-hand bag would be more comfy. But when I had a tattoo done on my left shoulder and needed to shift the weight to my right shoulder, it did the trick. I like the choice of available colors and fabrics (including ballistic nylons, which weren’t available when i bought mine) and the options. I switched phones and have yet to find a phone pouch, but I’ll probably visit R.E.Load and see what they have. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/10 "2009-06-25T22:05:40Z")
I love my Timbuk2 bag. I bought it used off eBay when I was headed to Europe about three years ago. It’s been to, across and back from Europe, used daily as a school bag for 2.5 years, has hauled groceries, library books, laundry, and quite a bit of beer. Other than some dirt on the bottom, there’s practically no sign of wear, and it’s surprisingly water-resistant. It’s incredibly durable, and pretty comfortable. It does tend to shift a little bit when I ride, but that’s mostly because I’m a teeny tiny person, so I don’t know if that’s an issue for others. Mine also doesn’t have a secondary strap, so that’s part of it too. I do not, however, have a solution for the mid-boob sweat issue. I think the only way to avoid that is wear a backpack, in which case you get sweaty shoulders, or to not sweat. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/11 "2009-06-26T00:24:13Z")
Manhattan Portage is the preferred brand of actual messengers - the classic bag is fully waterproof. [http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/Messenger-Bags/NY-Bike-Messenger/90](http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/Messenger-Bags/NY-Bike-Messenger/90) ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Time\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/12 "2009-06-26T12:48:59Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I’ll definitely check out all the suggested bags. It’s going to be a hard to limit myself to one! ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messenger-bags/500933/13 "2009-06-26T16:22:25Z")
To add fuel to the fire, I really dig Tom Bihn bags.