Messenger Bags

[Tuckervill]

Laptop sleeves were hard to come by around here when I first bought my laptop. The ones I found all made the laptop take up more space in my backpack. So, I made one out of quilted fabric (all psychedelic with bright daisies all over it). I've really enjoyed it.

Karen

[la bicicleta]

Tuckerville, what a coincidence - the laptop, I'm replacing is the Dell 700m. It's a fine little laptop. Of course, specs are outdated. Sadly, I no longer have 20/20 vision! I feel like I could stay with another 12.1". The new Dell 1525 which about to debut is a slim 5.5lbs 15'4". I'd love to get the flamingo pink color. Only the lid is pink. The interior is silver.

[Tuckervill]

I recently did upgrade my memory, so it moves really fast now. I have trouble seeing the words on the screen, but I hit CTRL and the plus sign and it makes them bigger for me.

Karen

[VeloVT]

Snapdragon,
I assume you've actually tried riding with a messenger bag? If not, you might try to borrow one, load it up, get on the bike and see if you like it.

I mention this because I have a custom Timbuk2 messenger that I ordered for commuting to work & school (I got the large, which is enormous & could hold a weekend's worth of clothes/toiletries -- I'd recommend no larger than the medium if you get one), and I discovered that I really don't like the way it balances weight on the bike. Even worn across the body with the strap nice and tight, it still feels unbalanced and wants to pull you in one direction. Plus the back isn't padded, and I found that I'd get bruises on the last couple of vertebrae from heavy things that migrate to the bottom (laptop, books), both riding and walking. I'm much happier riding with a well-constructed backpack, with padded back, waist belt & sternum strap. The weight is better balanced and more stable, for me at least. (And if your waterbottles don't provide enough hydration, you can get hydration-compatible packs with quite a bit of cargo room).

Hope this isn't raining on the parade. Everyone is different, and definitely some people seem to prefer messengers. (I definitely think they look cooler).