I need a new courier bag
September 7, 2012 9:43 AM   Subscribe

My Bag of Holding is falling apart after almost 4 years of daily use. This thing is constantly stuffed, so I need something that's just as, if not more spacious. Does anyone have any recommendations for a respectable courier-style replacement? Requirements: vegan-friendly materials, must have a gajillion pockets to store all of my doodads and whirlygigs. Hopefully some of these pockets will be easily accessible while the bag is closed. I tend to carry my laptop, a lot of writing implements as well as notebooks, a kindle and texts. Sometimes a change of clothes will be squeezed in. A cellphone holder/clip on the strap would be fantastic. If it's got some special thingy for putting in a water bottle, even better. Maybe an extra comfortable shoulder strap, too? Should look awesome/geeky. Am I asking for too much in a courier bag?
posted by Cat Pie Hurts to Shopping (18 answers total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
I've recently started carrying a freitag brand bag which i love. I think they might customize the bag to the way you want it but i'm not quite sure.
heres a link to have a look

http://www.freitag.ch/
posted by rtmfeng at 9:53 AM on September 7, 2012


Tom Bihn (beloved purveyor to one-bag travelers) offers a variety of messenger bags.

I've been using a Timbuk2 Commute Messenger bag for ages. It has TARDIS-like qualities for the stuff I tend to carry, though I've thought about replacing the standard strap with the Bihn Absolute Shoulder Strap. Were I to replace it, I'd probably get a regular Timbuk2 messenger and carry my computer in a sleeve instead.
posted by catlet at 9:53 AM on September 7, 2012


Seconting timbuk2. My siblings and I all have the laptop messenger bag. They are indestructible, and hold everything.
posted by nickhb at 10:05 AM on September 7, 2012


+1 Timbuk2. They sell clip-on cellphone cases for their straps and a strap pad as add-ons to any of their bags that don't come with the features directly. I have a messenger that was originally a kind of limited edition design, it didn't come with either, but the slider doodad and the pad work just fine.
posted by The Master and Margarita Mix at 10:14 AM on September 7, 2012


I've have a Tom Bihn bag as does my wife. They are indestructible and entirely synthetic. I've used mine as personal bag a field collection trips. Bomb-proof.

Crumpler too makes very high quality bags. I've got a ten-year old "moderate embarrassment" that still looks brand new I use for dayhikes and personal travel. They are also entirely synthetic bags.
posted by bonehead at 10:18 AM on September 7, 2012


I lust after the Timbuk2 Especial Tres.
posted by namewithoutwords at 10:36 AM on September 7, 2012


I have this Crumpler bag. When I worked as a bike courier, this is the bag I used. It was *usually* sufficiently enormous, and certainly sturdy, but was a little on the small side to be the perfect courier bag. In my regular life, I tend to lug around the same amount/type of shit as you (plus dance shoes), and the size of bag I have is *just* big enough to handle it all on my insane days, and has plenty of room on not-so-insane days. I also carry groceries in there (I have no car and therefore shop by bike), and can shove in a good week's worth of groceries if I'm crafty about it and don't buy too many bulky things. If I were to get another one (which I probably won't do for quite a while, since the bag so far shows no signs of wear), I would almost certainly go up a size, since I'm pushing the capacity of my current bag fairly often.

Things I like:
- super sturdy
- vegan
- padded laptop pocket
- lots of pockets of various sizes to keep me from total chaos
Things I don't like:
- the strap is not awesome (even with the "comfort" padding thing)
- the strap is too long, even when adjusted to the smallest size, and the bag therefore doesn't sit right on my back when I'm riding my bike. I had do do some fancy "adjusting" with an elastic band in order to make it fit me the way I like it, which is not ideal.....but maybe my body is just shaped funny?
- not waterproof
- kind of pricey compared to other similar bags
- not as many fun colour options as Timbuk2 et al

I'd give it 3.5/5 stars.
posted by Dorinda at 10:51 AM on September 7, 2012


Personally, I use Chrome Bags. I have one that's a decade old and another that's about 6 years old (and a more awesome color, and was free, otherwise I'd still be using the decade old bag). This thing gets packed full of tools and groceries and motorcycle parts and pretty much whatever random crap I need to carry. It's amazing.
posted by mollymayhem at 10:59 AM on September 7, 2012


Tom Bihn has fantastic bags. (And in my opinion, they're the snazziest-looking of their class.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:34 AM on September 7, 2012


I have had experience with both Timbuk2 and and Chrome bags, and depending on your intended usage, both are excellent bags.

Chrome bags are very... "hip" in their aesthetic. Everything from the red-on-black colour scheme to the seatbelt-material shoulder strap look very fitting in a West-coast, bike heavy downtown environment. They do not have a gajillion internal pockets, but it does have organizers in the outfacing side of the "bag" part (as opposed to the "flap" part, if that makes any sense).

Timbuk2 bags are your typical "geek-chic" style of nylon bags, not very hip, but their design won't scream "NERD" either. You can now design your bags with your own choices of materials and colours on their website for a few more buckaroos, which isn't a bad deal at all. Plus, they now have bags made entirely of recycled materials. They usually have one laptop compartment, few penholders, and a cellphone pocket internally, and 3 outward facing zippered compartments, plus one side-entry zipper pocket that you can access without ripping apart the velcro'd flap - a lifesaver when unpacking for a class you are late to.

Both have a bunch of rings and such littered around the bag and strap for hooking things unto, and both are extremely waterproof on the inside (meaning the outside of the bag may be wet, but the internal liner repel water like no other).

However, in my own personal experience, Chrome bags are much better biking bags. They are extremely stable when riding, little to no shifting even when bombing down a hill at breakneck speeds. But for extensive amounts of walking, the strap tends to dig into your skin when wearing light clothing.

Timbuk2 bags are better for public transport or extended walking commutes, IMHO. They are subtle, and I'd like to think much less likely to get you mugged if that's of concern in your area. They seem to be a lot more akin to the Bag of Holding than Chrome bags, as well.

If you drive to work, then can't go wrong with either, really.
posted by Geektox at 11:47 AM on September 7, 2012


Seconding Freitag. My answer to a similar question.
posted by mlis at 12:03 PM on September 7, 2012


Another vote for my Timbuktu bag, 3+years old and going strong.
posted by arcticseal at 12:50 PM on September 7, 2012


If you had a Timbuk2 bag in this situation, you could return it for a full store credit refund, right now.

That's what I did last month with my two year-old Timbuk2 Mavericks Messenger when the velcro started to rip off. I emailed them some photos and set up an RMA, and now I have a Timbuk2 Command and couldn't be happier. Having velcro silencers allows me to open the bag by moving two metal hooks from loops, and I really really really love the pocket arrangement - I am able to regularly carry around a macbook pro, bluetooth keyboard, magic trackpad wallet, breathmints, cell phone, book, paper, water bottle, laptop charger, cell phone charger, pens, keys, etc. Everything stays organized because everything has a place. Also, it's vegan. Also, they will donate the old bag to someone in need. I keep my cell phone and ipod in a concealed side pocket that is accessible while the bag is closed. Get the large if you (unlike me) can handle not having a choice of brown because I wish I had those extra inches for MOAR STUFFZ.
posted by oceanjesse at 1:49 PM on September 7, 2012


I should add that my wallet is not a magic track pad.
posted by oceanjesse at 1:51 PM on September 7, 2012 [2 favorites]


Having blazed through many a messenger bag, the two that I have found most reliable are those by Bailey Works and Courier Ware. From the sound of your needs, I'd recommend the Bailey Works though.

(Thanks to some shoulder issues I recently switched to a Timbuk2 backpack, which I have found pretty delightful)
posted by tip120 at 1:51 PM on September 7, 2012


My SO has a Timbuk2 bag for cycle commuting.

I am very pleased with the Eastpak messenger bag I bought back in 2007 - I really abuse bags, especially ones designed for holding lots of stuff, and it's still going strong for carrying my camera equipment about in. I can't remember the model name, but it's the one you can unzip at the sides to make bigger (handy if you've bought too many foreign groceries on holiday).
posted by mippy at 1:12 AM on September 8, 2012


All of the bags mentioned here are great bags. But if you truly want a perfect bag, you should seek a custom bag designer. I happen to be one and my website is http://www.poise.cc. I love making custom bags and started making bags because I couldn't find a perfect bag. Even of my bags don't interest you there are many indie makers on Etsy.com who can help you get your new Bag of Holding.
posted by cinnachick at 6:09 AM on September 9, 2012


Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses. I think a Timbuk2 might fall exactly in the style/utility/price range I'm looking for. Now I'm stuck between the Command and the Commuter and whether to get a medium or large. I stopped by REI today to checkout a variety of styles. It looks like they didn't have the uPdated 2012 versions, but I still got a good feel for what I want.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 3:07 PM on September 9, 2012


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