Messenger / Courier Bags List

sort of, the coating on the back side helps prevent water sluicing through the fabric in volumous amounts but does little to prevent wicking, corduro begins to let water through as soon as the water no longer beads on the face side. Why i dont bother with undercoated fabric for my camping tent, a rain fly with a dwr coating on the face works better. cordoro is much heavier than the nylon for tents but it works in the same way

As i said...cordura is porous without the coating on the back. you couldn't have the coating on the outer face of a messenger bag as it wouldn't last 5 mins.
How much water wicks through the cordura is dependant on the thickness and integrity of the coating.
A brand new piece of 1000d cordura with a good quality, intact coating on the back does prevent wicking....my point is that that coating breaks down pretty quickly through use on bags and so the cordura starts to let the water through.