Bags for your Back

Messenger Bags

The traditional one-shouldered messenger bag, love it or hate it (guess which camp I’m in?). Of course, you can get bags from me too.

• Zo Bags, the original.
• Freight Baggage finally has a website, although it’s only a placeholder. These are simple, nicely made bags. I’ve seen versions with an X-strap riding around San Francisco, they look great. Slightly unorthodox flap strap design. Travis makes a fantastic backpack too, and is constantly improving his bags.
• Chicagowig Isaac comes up with very cool designs and pockets everywhere. Now with backpacks.
• Seagull Bags, Columbus, Ohio. Another independent, Dan also does amazing embroidery.
• Under the Weather. They also make some nice cycling clothing. Bags feature a floating liner and other nice touches. Amazing custom embroidery work.
• Bedlam Custom, a D.C. area indie.
• Mike Arena makes his bags out of Gainesville, FL. He and I trade bags a while back.
• Bagaboo bags are made in Budapest, Hungary. Take a look at all the detail pictures – the stitching looks great, and they’re gorgeous bags. Split main strap,
• P.A.C. Designs probably holds the record for number of possible features. Also the highest price. Their “X-strap” design looks to be great for carrying heavy loads, and they’re reputed to be indestructable.
• R.E.Load makes relatively simple, but gorgeous bags, and can do amazing custom work.
• Baileyworks has a cool strap design and lots of pockets.
• Chrome. One of the larger bag makers, their bags are very comfortable. I upgraded from an age-old Timbuk2 to a Chrome Metropolis. It’s not wonderful when super-full of a rigid object, like a sewing machine, or several cases of cat food, but otherwise is great. I sold my Chrome two weeks after finishing this bag, which I use every day
• messengers.org maintains a long list of bag makers, although a lot of the web addresses on the list seem to have disappeared.
• Merbags, New York City.
• Aerostich
• Rambin’ Worker, also in San Francisco, does some amazing embroidery work
• Resistant and his blog, if you want an austere bag from Japan.

Messenger Backpacks

A recent trend is towards two-shouldered designs which feature easier access to their contents than a traditional backpack.

• Freight Baggage makes an excellent backpack.
• Lemolo Bags
• Chrome has three backpack designs
• R.E.Load has a big backpack and a smaller midpack