Messenger bag help

[Tri Girl]

OK- stupid question for you ladies. I've never worn a messenger bag before, but I hate my backpack (too bulky on my back) and I wanted something new. I don't know how this is supposed to look. I took pictures to see if you think it looks right. There is the big strap that has a padded part on the front, and a smaller waist strap that clips to the bag to keep it still. Is this how it's supposed to look when on? OMG- hello boobs! :eek: I have to have the main strap that tight or it falls off my shoulder, but I think it doesn't look right.

Don't mean to ask such a dumb question, but I'm still fairly new to commuting and really hoped the bag would come with instructions for dummies like me. :rolleyes:

Thanks for your help!

This is the bag: http://www.titlenine.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2355&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=697&iSubCat=700&iProductID=2355

[CycleTherapy]

TriGirl- check out this Timbuk link : http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/cms/faqProducts.htm#genWearBag

If you read the question: "How do I wear the bag and what do I do with the xtra strap" there is a link that you can click and view a video of one of their models actually putting on and clipping into the bag.

Hope this helps

[Tri Girl]

That is SO helpful!!! Thank you, Bliss. See, this is why I posted here- because you girls are so informative and can help with just about anything!
My bag doesn't work quite like that one (and that model is waaaay too skinny- her strap has all kinds of room). When I do it like they show- the strap just falls off my shoulder. I'll have to mess around with it to find a good fit.
Thanks again very, very much!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The heavily padded part of the strap is supposed to be on your shoulder, and the bag hangs between one hip and your lower back, sort of to one side. The bag is more of a shoulder pack than a backpack. It should not be in the middle of your back. :)

[Tri Girl]

hangs head sheepishly and looks at feet...

I AM an idiot!!! I figured out that the bag is made for righties (and I'm a lefty). When I took it off and put it on the "wrong" way- it fits like it's supposed to. Duh! It fits much better now (although it feels weird being over my left shoulder right now), so I'll give it a test ride tomorrow to see how it does when riding.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. Thanks Lisa- now it sits on me like you said it should.

DUH! (hits self on forehead)

[mimitabby]

can we see the after picture?

[uforgot]

This is so great! I love this thread! There are so many things I don't know and no one around here rides bikes, so I am right with you! I had no idea how to wear one of these either. Do you ever read bike names and terms and have absolutely no idea how to pronounce them, but you've read them so many times they are in your head? I went into a bike shop and wanted to see a Bee-an-chee! (Bianchi) Hey, that's what it looks like! They politely corrected me. Now I'm scared to say anything bike related without a disclaimer ahead of time. "I only read this and have never heard it pronounced...".

TE is like being around a bunch of friends you can trust..."hey, how does this look" or "what on earth do you do with this?". And everyone tells. Now, let's go get some 99 cent Margaritas!

[DrBadger]

hangs head sheepishly and looks at feet...

I AM an idiot!!! I figured out that the bag is made for righties (and I'm a lefty). When I took it off and put it on the "wrong" way- it fits like it's supposed to. Duh! It fits much better now (although it feels weird being over my left shoulder right now), so I'll give it a test ride tomorrow to see how it does when riding.


If you prefer to have it over your right shoulder, Timbuk2 makes bags for lefties. you can select that as an option on their website when you customize the bag: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/bagbuilder.htm

Don't know what you spent on yours, so don't know if this a more or less, but it is an option.

Good luck!
Ellen

[Tri Girl]

If you prefer to have it over your right shoulder, Timbuk2 makes bags for lefties. you can select that as an option on their website when you customize the bag: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/retail/bagbuilder.htm

Don't know what you spent on yours, so don't know if this a more or less, but it is an option.

Good luck!
Ellen

Thanks, Ellen! That is so cool that you can customize your bag the way you want! Timbuk2 bags are VERY cool (and very expensive, too :D ). My bag is about $60 cheaper, and since I'm a bit of a cheapskate- I'll just learn to adjust to the "righty" world in which I live. hee hee :p
Thanks for the link, tho. I absolutely love that you can customize a bag- when I win the lottery one day I'll buy one of those puppies!!!!

I'll post a pic tomorrow of how it finally looks after I give it a test ride or two and find the perfect position (although I think it'll still wind up lookiing weird- but then again- it wouldn't be mine if it wasn't a little weird). :cool:

[KnottedYet]

I'm a lefty, too, and just can't cope with the idea of putting a messenger bag on the "wrong" shoulder. (though the USAT Timbuk2 bag had me seriously tempted)

Thinkin' a backpack is in my future just for the bus commute I'm doing. Maybe one of those Ortlieb systems that let you turn a pannier into a backpack.

Keep us posted on how riding with a "righty" messenger bag goes, ok?

[Kimmyt]

I think my Timbuk is ambidextrous. The thing the bottom part of the stabilizer strap clips to is detachable so you can rig it on either side. I think. I'm sitting too far from my pack to double check that though....

[bike4ever]

The regular messenger bags from Timbuk 2 can be used on either shoulder.

[xeney]

They can be, but it is better to have one that is either left or right handed because then you can adjust the strap without taking the bag off -- the adjuster thingie winds up in the proper spot.


The heavily padded part of the strap is supposed to be on your shoulder, and the bag hangs between one hip and your lower back, sort of to one side. The bag is more of a shoulder pack than a backpack. It should not be in the middle of your back.

Ah, not true. That's not how messengers wear them and you'll be sorry if you try to ride a bike that way. Putting it in the middle of your back, way up high, means it won't flap or slide around when you're bent over riding, and it won't bang on the seat, and the bag will be well-supported and won't hurt to wear. Your description is fine if you are wearing a messenger bag to walk around with, but it's not how you wear one on a bicycle.

That's why I like the Timbuk2 bags -- I frequently transition between walking and cycling, and I like to be able to drop the bag down around my hip when I get off the bike. My husband is left-handed and uses a regular TimBuk2 bag and this is his only complaint, that he has to take the bag off to adjust the main strap when he gets off the bike, so I am going to buy him a custom bag for his birthday, I think.

[mimitabby]

So what are the advantages to these over a backpack that sits in the middle of your back?

[Pax]

...Thinkin' a backpack is in my future just for the bus commute I'm doing. Maybe one of those Ortlieb systems that let you turn a pannier into a backpack.

A friend tried one of those set-ups, she really liked it until she needed to put the backpack after a ride that included some puddles...the bottom of the bag was filthy. Now she just uses a backpack.

[onimity]

So what are the advantages to these over a backpack that sits in the middle of your back?

I just gave up my backpack for a messenger bag on my daily commute. TE seems to not have the one I got anymore but it is a Timbuk2 bag with a huge (pink :D ) reflective panel. It's so over-the-top obnoxious that I always take it out when I'm riding at night, even if I don't need to carry anything. It's amazingly waterproof. Those are benefits, but of course you can get that in a good backpack. But I do like that the messenger bag is more cyclist-friendly in terms of visibility and keeping stuff dry on a commute.

I love the way my messenger bag fits. When I rode with the backpack my back, especially neck and shoulders, would get sore. Especially when riding home with my laptop. The strap on my messenger bag sits further out and I don't get nearly as sore with it.

Then, the sweaty back. My back still gets sweaty but not nearly as bad as with the backpack (where it was the whole back); with the messenger bag I can readjust my position slightly and get a nice cool breeze between me and the bag.

I agree with the comment on positioning, I wear my bag pretty high on my back while riding, much more comfortable/balanced that way.

Anne

[VeloVT]

Hmmm... backpack vs messenger bag... when I first decided to commute via bike I ordered a big, beautiful custom Timbuk2 messenger bag (a lefty -- and this does make it easier for us southpaws). Although I wore it the correct way (tight and pretty high on the back, with the cross strap buckled), to my great disappoinment, I found the weight distribution fairly uncomfortable and shifty while on the bike, and when walking with the bag worn as described above, if I had anything heavy like books or a laptop, I'd get a bruise on my last vertabra or two from the bag bouncing against them.

So I got this backpack (in orange):
http://www.fogdog.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2051274

And it's been great, so much easier and more comfortable to ride with than the messenger bag. The back is very comfortably padded/molded, the load is very stable (esp with hip belt/sternum strap buckled, which I always use when on the bike), and three panels means I can store laptop/books in a separately zipped compartment from my clothes, and still have a panel for organizing pens/pencils/wallet/keys/bike light etc. It even has an integrated, stowaway rain fly. And the back compartment is hydration bladder compatible, though I haven't had reason to put a bladder in this pack yet. And the sweaty back thing -- it's a tossup between the two, I think this backpack may actually be better than the messenger in that regard since the back has molded aeration channels. Oh -- and my pack has an exterior expandable mesh panel that's perfect for carrying my helmet and lock. And water bottle pockets so I can take mine with me when I lock up my bike :)...

So I'm a backpack convert -- more comfortable and more convenient for me. But I still think messenger bags look cooler :).

[Geonz]

I also don't like the way messenger bags "hang." I got me a Camelbak Blowfish that carries a fair amount. It's not *really* enough, though, which is why I got the Xtracycle, which can carry everything in the whole wide world.

[surgtech1956]

Have you checked Ebay? Quite a few of these bags up for sale.

[mimitabby]

thanks. Too late, i spent hours today and ended up buying a North face bag
similar to the one suggested.
backpack that is

[Bron]

So what are the advantages to these over a backpack that sits in the middle of your back?

For me the advantage was not so much when cycling (if anything, a backpack distributes weight better), but that I can get at the things inside it better when I have reached my office, unlike with the backpack where I have to take everything out to get at the stuff at the bottom.

[uforgot]

I'm a lefty, too, and just can't cope with the idea of putting a messenger bag on the "wrong" shoulder. (though the USAT Timbuk2 bag had me seriously tempted)

For which shoulder are the Timbuk2 s made? I'm right handed, but when I wear any kind of bag that crosses my body, I want the bag hanging to the left, near my left hip. The strap is on my right shoulder. It appears that this is this contrary to what it's suppose to be, according to these posts and the Timbuk2 site. Open the door with your right hand, reach for your keys with the left. I've been looking at these and wonder if I should order the "left" one. What makes it really confusing is that I have a Travelon bag and it hangs on the right shoulder and the left hip, unless I'm wearing it wrong and the cell case faces the back, but I don't think so.

[Crankin]

Liza, how tall are you? Right now I use a Camelbak with the bladder taken out, but it is a woman's model because I am really short (5' 1"). Also, I can't really get a lot of stuff in there. I commute on my road bike because it's light and fast, but I can't put a rack or any kind of bag on it because my seatpost is so low and the carbon, etc. I like the features of the pack you describe, esp. the hip strap. I tried riding with a regular (kid's sized) backpack, but it killed my back. The messenger bag I tried was waaay too big for me and I felt really unbalanced.

[VeloVT]

Hi Robyn,
I'm 5'6". The backpack I have is not too long for me, and the hip belt hits just where it should, but I have to cinch the shoulder strap fittings down almost all the way.

The North Face, and lots of other companies that make packs, (Dakine comes to mind) make women's specific packs, which might be worth looking at.

[Bron]

For which shoulder are the Timbuk2 s made? I'm right handed, but when I wear any kind of bag that crosses my body, I want the bag hanging to the left, near my left hip. The strap is on my right shoulder. It appears that this is this contrary to what it's suppose to be, according to these posts and the Timbuk2 site. Open the door with your right hand, reach for your keys with the left. I've been looking at these and wonder if I should order the "left" one. What makes it really confusing is that I have a Travelon bag and it hangs on the right shoulder and the left hip, unless I'm wearing it wrong and the cell case faces the back, but I don't think so.

Mine (standard small messengerl) can be worn on either shoulder - the cross strap can be clipped on either the bottom left or the bottom right of the bag.

[xeney]

Yeah, the cross strap can be moved (on the newer bags -- I have an old one where it is really a pain to move the cross strap), but the slider thing for adjusting the length of the main shoulder strap is on one side or the other -- if it is in the wrong place for the shoulder on which you wear the bag, you have to take the bag off to adjust it. I don't know if the smaller bags even have that slider -- my oldest bag doesn't have it, and it's a small (the size they used to call "PeeWee"). That is a feature I didn't even think to miss until I bought a new larger bag, and now I can't stand to use bags that don't let me adjust the strap that easily. And it's my left-handed husband's only complaint about the used Timbuk2 bag I bought for him (from someone here at TE).

To answer the other question, I am right-handed and use a right-handed bag, but I wear it on my left shoulder, hanging down towards my right hip.

[bluestocking]

Er...hi...I'm new here.

I wanted to contribute a personal endorsement for Chrome messenger bags. Their padded strap system is far more comfortable than any Timbuk2 or other messenger bag I have tried -- it's one big padded shaped strap that goes over one shoulder that meets a standard webbing strap with a retro seatbelt buckle. That description is a bit crap, so just go check out the photos on their site, I guess. The only downside is that they look so cool you kind of give off a hipster fakenger vibe if you aren't careful! ;)

I have one of these:
http://www.chromebags.com/products/bags/show/13/

However, I find that carrying a large load puts too much weight on my back, especially when being carried on one shoulder. For heavier loads, or for days when I don't feel like being encumbered (or when I just want to look like a bike dork), I use one of my Ortleib panniers (clipped to my rear rack), which I also highly recommend. It's nice to have options!

[extra-vert]

Those messenger style bags, in my opinion, put too much weight to one side of your body which is not cool when riding - they just hurt after a while. I bought a Deuter 'race x air' backpack. It comes with a water pack thing-a ma-jig, which I actually took out, but hold onto in case I want it. What I love about this back is that there is a taut, but springy mesh like back rest that rests against the back, with the actual bag part not touching your back , so you arrive at the end of your commute with a nice dry back instead of a sweaty one - this is an EXCELLENT feature. Also this allows for the backrest area never to be lumpy due to the contents of the bag - that bag part never touches your back. So the support and comfort of this bag is second to none in my opinion. The drawback is that this bag does not hold a whole lot. That said, there are various deuter models, my model is not meant to carry a whole lot - still does the trick though. Btw, almost forgot, the straps are also mesh so that you stay dry. Don't really need the padding because there are 2 straps , one around the chest, the other around the waist that really distribute the weight nicely - way better for your back than those messenger bags!:D

[colby]

Hey TG, is that one of the bags from Steep and Cheap? Not Timbuk2 but whatever the other brand was... I was curious if they had a stabilizer cross-strap, they didn't mention anything about it on the page and I never got a chance to look it up. It looks from your pictures that they do.

I'm in the market for a new bag that will possibly hold my laptop (a 15" MacBook Pro), but most of the time will just carry my clothes and stuff to/from work. For a while they had Timbuk2 bags on Steep and Cheap but I'm not a huge fan of pink and I don't want anything too big.

I've carried my husband's bag with his laptop in it (he has a 17" Dell, which weighs 5 lbs more than my laptop and is bigger, I was playing sherpa). It was nearly impossible without the strap AND the shoulder straps could not be made short enough for shorties like myself. Turns out I made it so short that he thinks it's great now, but it's still too long for me. :)

[Tri Girl]

Colby- I got that bag from Title Nine. It was on sale and was a good deal (www.titlenine.com). It had the stabilizer strap, and the shoulder strap had a giant padded part that I liked.
I had to return it, tho because I'm not able to commute anymore (well, until I find a safe route...hopefully soon).

Check Title Nine. I think it was called the Aussie Sport Bag. It was big, but not too big. Def. big enough for the laptop and some other stuff. Nice pockets, and I really liked the front closure and the reflective panel on it.

[colby]

Colby- I got that bag from Title Nine. It was on sale and was a good deal (www.titlenine.com). It had the stabilizer strap, and the shoulder strap had a giant padded part that I liked.
I had to return it, tho because I'm not able to commute anymore (well, until I find a safe route...hopefully soon).

Check Title Nine. I think it was called the Aussie Sport Bag. It was big, but not too big. Def. big enough for the laptop and some other stuff. Nice pockets, and I really liked the front closure and the reflective panel on it.

Wow, only $49 at Title Nine! I think they are the same ones Steep and Cheap had.

http://www.crumplerbags.com

(Cute website, too)

Thanks for the tip. :)

[kfergos]

I've been looking at these and wonder if I should order the "left" one.

I'm a right-hander but I ended up buying a Timbuk2 bag that hangs from my right shoulder (technically the left-hander's bag). It's served me extremely well, and feels more natural than the right-handed configuration.

Also, hasn't anybody mentioned that Timbuk2 bags are waterproof? When I commuted with a backpack, I had to wrap it in a garbage bag to keep my clothes dry. No longer! It holds everything I need easily -- a medium bag can contain a full change of clothes, a jacket, and a good-sized lunch, plus three medium-sized books and quite a lot of miscellaneous stuff -- and I can access it quickly and easily.

In the interest of full disclosure: Clothes do tend to get crunched, and if you lean over real far on a road bike, it does tend to shift around some even cinched down real tight. Plus you can't carry tupperware in it very easily or you'll get bruises on your back.

[Dianyla]

I'm very happy with Deuter's backpacks designed for cycling. For long rides, I use the Race X Air with hydration bladder and snacks. For occasional commuting on the racy bike, I like the Trans Alp backpack. I don't like the asymmetrical strain that shoulder and messenger bags put on the body.

For serious commuting, though, it's Ortlieb panniers all the way! :)

[stella]

Er...hi...I'm new here.

I wanted to contribute a personal endorsement for Chrome messenger bags.

great bag! A friend of mine has one and loves it!

I'm going to plug baileyworks messenger bag, superpro size large. www.baileyworks.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=2 I purchased one last year and it is great! the shoulder strap is adjustable and can be easily switched to accommodate for either left or right handed person. It has a lot of features. (I'm a lefty and used a demartini then a timbuk2: both great bags but got sick of having to take it off to adjust it). When it is fully loaded--it keeps the items distributed well and when it is empty--I can adjust it with the straps and it doesn't flap around.

Oh, and Jonathan (the owner) is great to deal with. A pricey bag but worth it.

[Eden]

If you want to see some incredible bags check out this place http://reloadbags.com/bags/list.php?t=old

their workshop/store is just down the street from my house - they always have beautiful bags out in the window

[Blueberry]

Has anybody tried Pac Designs? They look a lot like what Timbuk2 used to do (e.g. bottom cinch straps, etc.). I've been thinking of ordering another one since my dh took over my oldie but goodie timbuk2.

CA

[stella]

Has anybody tried Pac Designs? They look a lot like what Timbuk2 used to do (e.g. bottom cinch straps, etc.). I've been thinking of ordering another one since my dh took over my oldie but goodie timbuk2.

CA

I purchased the hip pack--the construction is excellent. If you have questions, Pat gets back to you quickly.

Their messenger bags have a great rep on another forum full of bike messengers.

[Beane]

Bailey Works are the best! I have a 253 (size medium) and my husband has a Super Pro (size large). We both love them and definitely recommend. The owner is great -- I emailed him a bunch of questions to decide between the 253 and the Super Pro and he was very helpful.

www.baileyworks.com

[Christopher]

Thanks for all the info in this thread - I'm also looking for a messenger bag and am a southpaw. I'll waht size suits when I try it on, but can't really mail -order one

Near as I can tell, the Timbuk2 bags are symmetrical, so can theoretically be worn over either shoulder. The Citizen bags are 'handed'.

Oh is that Crumpler bag from T9 waterproof? I can't find anything on it.

cheers
C

[Blueberry]

I purchased the hip pack--the construction is excellent. If you have questions, Pat gets back to you quickly.

Their messenger bags have a great rep on another forum full of bike messengers.

Thanks for the info! Still trying to decide whether I want to spend *that* much on a bag, but they do have a good reputation:)

[Beane]

I finally stumbled across the site I'd been looking for when this thread started. it has a very thorough review of several messenger bags.

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/messengerbags/