Newbie needs help with commuting bags

I just registered for this site and I did some searching around, but maybe not enough to find a post concerning good computer commuting bags. I have been looking online for a while now and I have gone into a bunch of bike shops to check out their gear, but for the most part they carry messenger bags with padded laptop sleeves (Yay!), but then uncomfortable straps. I am fairly well endowed in the chest region, and having messenger bags slung across my front can get quite uncomfortable.

I don't want to get panniers, because I am worried all of that jostling will really mess with my brand new 15.4" macbook. The few backpacks that I have tried on were alright. I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions as to where I could find a good, comfortable bag.

I would like the bag to not only fit my computer, but also a lunch and a change of clothes. I would prefer it to be expandable, so that I could take it to get groceries and whatnot. Alas, we can't have it all, but any information/ tips/ links would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much!

I really like the Novara bike commuter backpack from REI. There's a chest strap as well as a waist strap to hold it firmly in place. It has three different zippered compartments plus a handy place to stuff your bike lock. You can really pack it, almost too full to carry. :eek: It's bright yellow and has lots of reflective bits, a place to clip a blinkie light and good padding against your back. I use it when I ride my road bike to work.

When I ride my trusty Surly I use panniers. I really like them too. I use my Ortlieb front panniers on my back rack. They are the perfect size for day to day commuting, plus waterPROOF. That's important for my foul weather commutes. I don't feel like stuff gets too jostled in the panniers. They are usually stuffed fairly tight with "stuff". I don't seem to be able to travel light. :rolleyes: Panniers are a good choice if you have any back issues. Plus, being the moist old bird that I am, my rain gear vents sooo much better with out the backpack. :D bikerHen

Don't diss panniers out of hand. I really like the Arkel Laptop Pannier. It has a suspended inner padded laptop case. I never had a problem with it or with my laptops. I found it so much more comfortable than a backpack or messenger bag. Let the bike carry the weight, not the body. Google Arkel and you'll find their site. Made in Canada. Very well made.

Chrome bags makes roll top messenger backpacks. Check them out. They're stuff is nothing but top-notch quality and made in the U.S.A. Around good ol' San Francisco or abouts. :D Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by bikerHen

I really like the Novara bike commuter backpack from REI. There's a chest strap as well as a waist strap to hold it firmly in place. It has three different zippered compartments plus a handy place to stuff your bike lock. You can really pack it, almost too full to carry. :eek: It's bright yellow and has lots of reflective bits, a place to clip a blinkie light and good padding against your back. I use it when I ride my road bike to work.

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+ 1 on the Novara commuter backpack. The largest compartment opens flat so you can pack alot of stuff in place rather than jam it in. I don't pack a laptop but it holds all the clothes I need, lunch, personal stuff, etc. etc. The padding on the back is great - good airflow between the pack & your back.

+1 on Arkel.
I have the Arkel Commuter. They designed the Commuter to carry and fully protect a laptop with a suspended, padded pouch (which I have removed, b/c I don't carry a laptop). The bag itself is da bomb. Very well thought out. Top-notch construction. Rock-solid attachment (since my Ortliebs put me in the ER...a solid attachment was a definite when I looked for a new bag). I love the little cover they put on it to cover the mounting hardware. Makes carrying the bag up from the locker MUCH more comfortable than my old bag, which would stick me in the sides.

I understand your dilemma really well. I'm also really well-endowed, and a lot of bags seemed to be designed for boys (i.e. double-shouldered backpacks, where the stabilizing clip that keep the straps together always seems to sit front and center right on top of the girls!!). I haven't had experience with panniers, but, echoing Tulip, don't write off messenger bags too soon either!

My favorite is a bag with a padded strap that has a cross-body stabilizer, like the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger. The padded strap goes down the middle, and the cross strap goes underneath "Righty." ;) DH has a Chrome Metropolis (large classic messenger shape), and that cross strap fits right at his armpit, so I would probably avoid that one, but I would die without my Timbuk2. The volume on messengers is expandable, versus the static dimensions of a traditional backpack or panniers, and it shapes to fit your body so you can always shift things around to find a comfortable spot.

Here's me home from work. Contents of the day are 1) remains of lunch--one small and two medium-sized Tupps, 2) saddle I bought off Craig's List, 3) work shoes--flats, 4) work clothes, 5) 2 textbooks, and 6) the usual junk:my wallet, graphing calculator, 3 lights, jewellery, and tire levers, spare tube and handpump. Would that fit your bill? :D Plenty of room for more!

I have bag by PAC Designs and love it. The padded back and straps are super-adjustable and super-comfortable, and the bag itself is bombproof. I've been caught in the rain with books and everything inside stayed dry. Mine doesn't have a laptop sleeve, but some bags have the option to, or you could buy a separate laptop sleeve and toss it in with your other things. I practically sound like an advertisement, but I can't imagine owning another bag.

I'm a pretty small girl and haven't had to worry too much about how the straps fit across my chest, but the anti-sway strap is still pretty low when the bag is at its highest/tightest adjustment. The bags are designed by a woman, Pat, so perhaps send her an email? (She seems pretty easy to contact, and she took my order, anyway)

I haven't yet tried out a rack/panniers, but Queen Bee panniers have caught my fancy.

You may like this clamshell backpack (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category...ackpack_KPC308) from Briggs & Riley. Although it’s not expandable, it has lots of space to fit your clothes and lunch besides your laptop. You can use the file section, which is pretty big, to keep groceries and whatever else you buy on your shopping trips.

While I very much prefer panniers, my current bike/long bus ride/bike commute has meant that I need to carry stuff on me instead of the bike. If you can swing something like the Arkel, really consider it -- all weather comfort, convenience, etc.

I really really wanted to love my Timbuk 2 medium, but my neck and shoulders rebelled. The one-strap messenger bag thing and my body don't match.

Since I carry laptop, clothes, lunch, and often breakfast (yes my commute is nuts) I needed a roomy, comfy backpack. I have a Jansport Firewire backpack with a suspended (sort of) laptop sleeve that works well and saved my laptop at least once when the bag fell. It's got 2000 cu inches total, including a separate big main compartment and smaller outside pockets for cell phone, sunglasses, etc..it's as ugly/boring as they come though. And a bit heavy. But comfortable shoulder straps and workable sternum strap, and it's held up to quite a beating over the years. If I were to buy again I'd start with the Novara but not sure I could fit everything.

Be sure you either can try it out in a store or get one with a good return policy, because how they carry and how they fit your particular configuration of stuff really matters!

Wow! Thanks so much for the quick response and the great suggestions. I really do appreciate it!!

Now time to get cracking on all of these links...

THANKS AGAIN!!

I really like Chrome messenger bags. They are made well and will not fall apart. They do a great job of keeping things dry. I also like Ortlieb panniers because they are equally well made and no way will water ever get in.

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Originally Posted by hpark

I don't want to get panniers, because I am worried all of that jostling will really mess with my brand new 15.4" macbook. The few backpacks that I have tried on were alright. I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions as to where I could find a good, comfortable bag.

I would like the bag to not only fit my computer, but also a lunch and a change of clothes. I would prefer it to be expandable, so that I could take it to get groceries and whatnot. Alas, we can't have it all, but any information/ tips/ links would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much!

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Okay, I know you said you weren't really interested in panniers; but I've been down this road for the last two years and have bought far too many shoulder bag types.

The problem is finding one big enough that isn't to heavy to really weigh you down. That in itself is almost impossible.

I have finally found the answer to my dilemma which gets the weight off my back which really gets to you after a few miles. I've been transporting very expensive cameras, extra lenses, laptops, iPods, you name it and have never had any harm come to them in a carefully loaded pannier....a VERY lightweight set of panniers.

Here's my setup which would be overkill for most but since I no longer have a car, everything goes with me every day.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...anniersWEB.jpg

It's a combination of a set of panniers and a messenger bag both made by Axiom and purchased through Amazon. The messenger bag was about $30 and the panniers were about $40. Being very lightweight and water resistant, they aren't padded at all. Just use a laptop sleeve, and pack your clothing around it.

I could wear the messenger bag on my back but I prefer to strap it on top of the panniers. I HATE having anything on my back.

Just a suggestion.

Incidentally I went the Arkel route first and spent about $200 for a quick release system that never really worked well and disintegrated in a month. They aren't padded either so I don't see any reason to spend that much for a quick release system that doesn't work. The fabric also wore out at the stress points very quickly as well. On both of the panniers.

You may be wise to start with a backpack (not messenger bag) for your laptop and 1 back pannier for clothes, etc.

I'm not sure why people diss panniers anyway, carrying noticeable weight on back while cycling for long periods of time, is just not good on a long-term basis. Unless one does regular cross training with yoga, etc. to strengthen back for posture, etc.

I have been using panniers...ever since I returned to cycling many moons ago. (1992) I rarely use backpacks when cycling. And shoulder strap type bags, ie. messenger bags aren't useful to me since I have a small body frame and I find the bag weight shifts around my body and hinders my cycling. It actually is so bothersome, it slows me down because I have to fling the bag out of my way. Useless.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

And shoulder strap type bags, ie. messenger bags aren't useful to me since I have a small body frame and I find the bag weight shifts around my body and hinders my cycling. It actually is so bothersome, it slows me down because I have to fling the bag out of my way. Useless.

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I'm barely 4'11" and a lightweight and don't have the problem with having to fling my messenger bag around, as long as it has a waist strap to stabilize it. I also much prefer a messenger bag over a backpack because I can adjust it more. Maybe it's just me, but with a messenger bag, the weight is comfortably distributed across my back, but with a backpack, it's all on my shoulders.

I did specifically exclude certain bags from the running because the dimensions wouldn't work for my torso (I don't want a bag that's 20" across if it isn't going to hold much), but the main reason I'd go for panniers is back sweat.