I’ve worn a backpack to school for as long as I can remember, but now that I go to school in a part of San Diego with a relatively fickle climate, it’s causing me problems in the warmer months. You see, when it heats up, I sweat a little bit more easily than others. It’s usually not a big deal, but for some reason if I’m wearing a backpack I sweat massively on my back, to the point where it soaks through my shirt in a huge backpack shape. It’s rather nasty, and has probably cost me a few dates. When I attended college in Arizona, I lived on campus and I just carried whatever books I needed in my arms. Here I don’t have that option–I live 15 minutes away from school and it’s a pain in the ass to get to the parking lots from anywhere on campus. Walking from class or the library to my car and back can easily cut my precious study time by half.
What to do? I’ve decided: I want a messenger bag. That way I can carry all my books in style, without having to leave any in my car, and I won’t have to worry about being especially nasty and smelly when the brutal cold (60 deg F ) currently battering the region finally lets up. But it can’t be just any messenger bag. It has to be big enough to comfortably carry a number of large textbooks, with substantial shoulder padding so I don’t feel all the weight of my education as I’m walking about, and it has to have some kind of flair, some unique character that will differentiate it from a Wal-Mart store brand bag. And it needs pockets to hold my pens, calculator, etc.
Ebay, Goodwill, Urban Outfitters often has nice ones, or a consignment shop like Arizona Trading Company (or your local equivalent). I got my last one at the Gap for like, $4.
Timbuk2 has all kinds of bags, you can design your own, they’re sturdy and comfortable, and they last forever. I have the medium, which holds a couple of textbooks, so you should get the large ($95) or extra large ($105). You can also buy a variety of shoulder pads, cell phone pockets, etc, etc.
I’ve struck out at Goodwill before, but I suppose I’ll have to try again. Urban Outfitters always seemed a little pricy for me, but I’ll have to check it out again. ($4 at the Gap? Geez!)
I’ve checked out that website before, and everything is way out of my price range.
Sweet! I’m terrible at graphic design, but I have a friend who loves to design stuff like this; I’ll see if he’s interested in drawing some things up. (Just so we’re clear, we’re talking about electroluminescence without an external power source, right?)
I’ve found Cafe Press a little pricy before, but a current look shows messenger bags aren’t terribly expensive compared to the retail standard.
That said, the yellow looks heinous IMO (I prefer dark colors in a messenger bag), and even among the most awesome designs nothing really looks “natural” superimposed on it.
Not to rain on your parade - because I think there is a place for messenger bags, but for textbooks? Do you really want a curvy spine that badly?
I’d go for something like this Eddie Bauer backpack. It’s their sport line, so, as they put it “[the] Back features a mesh suspension carry system that wears away from the body.” Most backpacks like this (sports bags, I mean) will have similar features because they’re designed to be worn in a high-sweat environment.
Check your local sporting goods store or order online.
Not exactly cheap, but Airbag Craftworks offers unique bags made from a variety of materials. Selling points are individually made bags, high quality of construction, use of recycled materials, and uniqueness.
Oh!! You have to check Etsy ! They have lots of messenger bags, with tons of character. I did a quick search for you; a friend of mine bought one from the seller katrinakaye and loves his.
:eek: Awesome! Thank you! A lot of these are out of my price range for right now, but there are some really kickass art pieces there. I’ll have to save up for one.
) currently battering the region finally lets up. But it can’t be just any messenger bag. It has to be big enough to comfortably carry a number of large textbooks, with substantial shoulder padding so I don’t feel all the weight of my education as I’m walking about, and it has to have some kind of flair, some unique character that will differentiate it from a Wal-Mart store brand bag. And it needs pockets to hold my pens, calculator, etc.
Thank you! Glad to have helped.