Another Bag Thread...

Hi, I have searched and uncovered some great bits, but...

has anyone had any experience with the manhattan portage brand of bags? specifically the large pro messenger, http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=92{1}54

it seems to be reletively good value per litre,
looking to spend between £60-80 mark, so rules out archies grobags, which do look really nice!

any help greatly recieved. or any other bags a similar price range with ~30L capacity.

cheers

In my opinion not worth it over timbuk or any other basic bag.
http://www.1lesscar.com/reviews/bag.html

surely a bag thread would be cotton.

Go Chrome, Bagaboo or Archies

The design of manhattan portage makes them suceptible to "messenger bag sway". It's because they use the sake bag for left and right. Just the strap is slightly different. A good bag will be very different for left and right. Look for a bag where the strap joins at the sides and not the top ala chrome and bagaboo.

A good bag will be very different for left and right.

Not true....Almost every bag out there uses the same bag body but just has the straps swapped to the opposite sides.
The only difference on mine apart from swapped straps is the flap pocket orientation and d-lock strap orientation.

how hard is it to modify a bag that is already made, scott?

Your bag is in my desk draw BRM.. so until you get it.. no mods for you! :P

not that one

i'll grab that in the next coupla days.

Depends what needs doing...but due to most bags having floating liners it means taking off all the edging....seperating the two parts then unpicking whatever needs modifying.

not that one
i'll grab that in the next coupla days.

Mmmm... bewdiful!

so, a pain in the arse then.

my bag has two flaps on the front of the main compartment that (to me) are too long. When the main flap is shut, the velcro on it catches on the edging of the two flaps - make any sense?

can the flaps be shortened?

you can modify a manhattan portage to give it an antisway strap without any sewing, just cutting but it might for some people ruin the look of the bag, it involves removing the cordura from the flap so it is bare vinal, but it worked for me.

IMO manhattan were really good but they have sacrificed comfort for old school design. they need to catch up and put on some nice padding and a clip. and a properly designed anti sway.

You mean shorten the pocket flaps? If so it might be possible....i'd have to see it.
I'll probably have time to look at it in 2011 sometime....;)

they need to catch up and put on some nice padding and a clip. and a properly designed anti sway.

So all the essential features of a good bag then....:)

in fact i have one that anybody can have for a fiver posted.

So all the essential features of a good bag then....:)

yes exactly the point, i don't know why they haven't done so.

they could have kept the old design for posterity and had a new design to stay at the top of the market but for some reason they have let chrome etc creep up on them and take their legs away. i don't get it.

@ sns

hehe, yeah.

I'll show you if a) I ever get to easts, or b) we get you and baldy out west again.

:)

b) we get you and baldy out west again.

:)

i AM baldy! it would be like 'right said fred' attending the funeral of the 3rd band member!

haha

Deep voice:

....deeply dippy....

in fact i have one that anybody can have for a fiver posted.

dibs and pm sent!

cheers