Messenger / Courier Bags List

I might just go to the EU and have their wine and cheese and forget all about the bloody bag. Was kind of looking at a chrome one and chain reaction stock em, but not the one I like/want.... I'm going to have to sell a kidney to finance a bloody bag it seems.

kattiep, there are good bags for £25, like the Royal Mail bag, made by Linnels, and a few others at around £40. Depending on how big, colourful, and featured you want your bag, of course prices can go up to £200.

A Linnels Royal Mail bag is roughly the same as a Chrome. It is however fire-engine red, so its not subtle. It also doesn't have loads of features, but its really, really, strong, and will keep loads in it, and dry.

+1
I love my royal mail bag. Asked my postie if he could sort me one out and dropped off a used one to me the next day.
It certainly does the job

kattiep, which specific one are you after? Perhaps someone could track it down cheaper.. someone who spends all day in front of a computer.. someone who likes nothing better than to UTFS.. someone.. oh fuck it.. it's me. What is your budget? Perhaps save a search on ebay with your bag description and have it email you when stuff crops up?

Also, there is the Schwalbe Courier bag, that though is a bit smaller than others, I like it. Its less than £25 and won't break the bank. Waterproof too.

A pricey mother, but loooks sweeeeeet: http://www.flatspot.com/store/incase-skate-messenger-bag-black-10169-0.html

kattiep, which specific one are you after? Perhaps someone could track it down cheaper.. someone who spends all day in front of a computer.. someone who likes nothing better than to UTFS.. someone.. oh fuck it.. it's me. What is your budget? Perhaps save a search on ebay with your bag description and have it email you when stuff crops up?

God - if you can be arsed, it would be much appreciated. Since my folks owe me xmas presents for the last say 3 years, my (their) budget is under £100. Gotta be waterproof. An internal pocket or two, and one of those stabiliser strap things that stop it swinging back round when you ride would be swell. I like the chrome ones - maybe a citizen one? I don't carry loads generally (think lunchbox and gym stuff), but need it to be big enough for a weekly shop (think leg of lamb and all the makings of a sunday lunch). THANKS - lots!

A pricey mother, but loooks sweeeeeet: http://www.flatspot.com/store/incase-skate-messenger-bag-black-10169-0.html

Clearly you had not even bothered to look at the first page of this thread, where the list of bags is.

It is only a slight variation on their other bags. Nothing really new.

What a bastard he is for letting people know about a messenger bag in the right thread eh?

Is your tongue still in your cheek, or have you pushed it all the way through?

Guys this is a pretty long thread and given that I'm at 'work' and all that I shouldn't be paffing so much. BUT - quick Q.... if I get a bag off the net (whatever I decide on) am I going to get stung for import duty or whatever its called in the UK? I'm Aussie so don't understand how it works and well it may make a massive difference as to costs and where I end up buying from. Ta.

Import a second-hand one from the US (check eBay.com), and when the seller posts it, ask them to INSURE IT FOR LESS THAT YOU PAID FOR IT. For instance, if you pay $200 for the bag, ask them to insure it for $50. Then you won't get charged import taxes, and there's a very slim chance of it getting lost in the post anyway. I've done it with a few high-value bits of kit.

for those interested, my brother just got his Cocotte Alfredo in the mail.

I checked it out in pretty close detail and carried a full load with it.

tings i noticed:

-It's very pretty. A beautiful shape. Gorgeous lines and construction. Sounds silly but it's the first thing you notice. A real piece of craft and art together.

-It doesn't have the same ***construction ***as many messenger bags, with a nylon outer layer and a separate waterproof truck tarp layer on the inside. Instead, the inner waterproof layer is sewn into the bag and is more integrated as one piece with the bag. They claim its waterproof, but it doesn't seem as waterproof as my chrome, which has a very very heavy duty liner with minimal stitching. Don't get me wrong, it appears waterproof, and if it wasn't for the overbuilt Chrome bag I ride with, I wouldn't ever have considered this to be a potential weakness.

-The bag expands as they claim. It's a very nice system once it's cinched down. Basically, the straps that hold the flap down go all the way under the bag and so when you tighten them it's pulls any excess space with it. Problem is that the bag can be unwieldy when the straps are not tightened. I don't know about you guys, but i rarely use my straps. On this bag you have to use them otherwise you have a very very large bag flopping around on your back. It's very very easy to imagine a way this can be fixed by the manufacturer or the owner by simply having the same straps contain an in-line slidey plastic piece that keeps the bottom cinched even when the buckles are undone. My brother an I are already getting it done. Note that if you use your straps all the time, this entire issue becomes moot. It's only an issue if you don't lock the flap down such as myself.

-The shoulder strap is very comfy, and with three large texts books in the bag, the load is well distributed. It seems to distribute the weight over the whole strap and back. The bag hugs you. Very nice. The underarm retention is really well done. Overall it's better than my chrome which is impressive. Also, the system is reversible from left to right. Everything unclips and can be flipped. Very nice. The hardware is strong, and the thing is easy to adjust with one arm while riding. Very smooth operation.

-The ***pockets ***aren't perfect. Again i'm comparing to a Chrome which has perfect pockets. Generally they are too big. I would like to see a small one to put a lock in, and a useful tool slot, such as the Chrome has. These aren't really all that great. They are floppy and none of them appear to have any kind of "cycling specific" purposes.

Overall the bag is great. Good construction, very comfy. If the pockets were better sorted and the expansion system didn't rely on having the flap locked down, the bag would be perfect. As it is now, It's the only bag besides a Chrome worth considering, in my opinion. If you are in the market for a new bag, want something really great and dont think the two issues I cited are much of a bother for you, this may be your top choice. A truly comfy well made piece.

I was chatting to a courier (Peter) this week, who owned a Bagaboo Workhorse Pro. It was Army Green, and I really was intrigued by it. He let me poke around in it and give it a good examination. It was really excellently made, and had a strap/harness that could be used in a traditional sling fashion (ie. one major strap), or had an additional strap that was not a stabiliser (and it had that too), but it was essentially a four-point strap harness. This "Peter" was a heavy-set bloke, and it made me wonder if that set-up wouild fit me also? I was anyway very impressed. The bag sits without moving, when the four-point harness is in place, and that is quite a feat. The main strap adjusts quickly, though there is a learning curve. I didn't think I'd admire a four-point harness, as it seems too much like a backpack to be of much point. But, a four-point harness, that can be also used as a normal two-point harness, seems actually quite a beautiful solution.

Pac and Archies Bags also have this, called an x-strap (because of the strap formation), I used to own a Pac Ultimate with this, I have tried my mates workhorse pro, and I now own an Archies Theo, Scott has got it dialled in the best, with all four straps hooked up the bag is ridiculously stable, I can bomb around all over the place on bmx or fixed and the bag stays stable, and does not move the whole time, not to mention it is extremely comfy.
Way more stable than a backpack, I think because the x-formation is far more effecive at preventing the side to side sway that is common with a backpack when throwing the bike around.

is there a website for Archies?

There's a thread here...

Here's the thread

But make sure you read the last few posts from Scott not Scot/Archie's grobags on the last few pages so you know what's what.

so then no. was curious to see whats offered. I did read the last few pages. but doesn't really help. anyway no bother. and not trying to be an ass. just wanted to see a concise set of photos or something.

jersey, you gave up too easily. Here are pics of Scott's set-up.

Hope that helps you.

Marlon

Ninjas

Scott's donkey bike bags set up for DD

That's all I can find at this time. Hope that satisfies your curiosity somehow.

What an Archie's Grobag will carry, using only the external straps (a complete bike!).

Lord knows how Scott travelled back in time to get that grizzlied fellow (circa 1800?) to model his bag.

;)

Jim and Nhatt, I'll be coming to look for you guys at BC next week.

Does anyone know where they stock those smaller crumpler bags in London?

Does anyone know where they stock those smaller crumpler bags in London?

London Crumpler Stores; and John Lewis have a dedicated Crumpler section also.