[Closed] new messenger / man bag reqd.

Not sure how they rank in the coolness stakes anymore, a relative term anyway. But, Manhattan Portage are built to last. My Large Europa Expandable (ooooh!) is still going strong after 8 years of daily abuse.

http://www.manhattanportage.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php/europa-lg-p-114

STW std issue:

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My Courierware bag is nearly twenty years old.

http://courierbags.com

Large, plain black Timbuk2 FTW.

Tough as old boots.

crumpler. Tough as old boots....

timbuk2 here too. i have 3. the most recent one was a free of charge replacement following me asking them if they did repairs as my bag was 15 years old and the velcro was starting to fail. they gave me a store credit for a new bag. great bags, great people to deal with. 😀 i got to keep the original bag too.

Cheers chaps - will have look this eve

Howies Chevron bag:

[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxt36C4FEhCR2gHJGaoid82VYVZMFd2H7DVXCoC6e3rB4veTqC [/img]

Although 2nd hand only now.....

Bagaboo. Tough as the old boots that would stomp all over the other old boots that the other bags are made of 🙂

And personalised as you like.

[url= http://www.urbanhunter.biz/ ]Urban Hunter[/url] have a good range. Some aren't cheap though.

I have 2 Timbuk 2 bags...love them you could even make your own www.timbuk2.com hwoever not sure that would come in at the "doesn't cost an earth" 😉

Tk Maxx, got a Crumpler for £20 and got a new Briko helmet for £17 last week.

Cactus Climbing from NZ:

http://www.cactusclimbing.co.nz/online-shop/urban-packs/witness/83-105

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Or, not cheap by any means, Trakke from Glasgow:

http://www.trakke.co.uk/product/mule

http://missionworkshop.com/products/limited_edition_gear/waxed-canvas-messenger-bag.php
Not cheap, but beautifully made, these are the guys who originally set up Chrome then sold it so they could produce bags with innovations that didn't fit the Chrome style. The shoulder strap adjustment is really clever and simple, and the tubular roll-top is excellent for keeping stuff in safely and weather out. They have a lifetime guarantee, so I think the price is acceptable. I was almost dribbling over them in a bike shop in Bath, just about managed to stop myself getting one right there and then. The waxed cotton one is what I'd love.

My Timbuk2 is now 23 years old and still going strong even after all the abuse it's had.

Indestructible and cool as ****. (well it was back in the day anyway).

Those mission bags are tasty aren't they! Bit more than I was wanting to shell out though

Did you dribble yourself too when you looked at them?

I definitely have the strangest...

But think how long they will last? If you spend £100 on a bag which lasts 20 odd years, versus £25 on something that lasts 5 years is it not worth it? I've thought that before when I bought a Howies handbag I was like "how much!???" but I use it every day and have had it donkeys

You are right, I'm just skint lol -

I recently got a Sandqvist from Sweden that is beautifully mad and also painfully cool 8)

[url= http://http://www.sandqvist.net/en/ ]Sandqvist[/url]

I have one of those europa expandable from MP like Bravo which I really like but my those missions are lovely. I think I could actually fit in the shed one. More research required.

messenger bags are one of those products that just seem to be stupidly expensive for what they are.
having said that, the rucksack I use for commuting was £50 and has lasted about 2 years of daily abuse, 6 months of which has been with broken zips.
you'd think messenger bags would be cheaper though as they're simpler and there's less to go wrong?

oddjob - did you buy it here in CPH ??

Those mission bags are tasty aren't they! Bit more than I was wanting to shell out though

Plus 45 bucks postage, WTF ??

I love my Chrome messenger bag. Like some of the others they are not cheap but they are built very well and are extremely sturdy. I've had mine for about 5 years now and it still looks like new after a lot of abuse. It's also completely water-proof too.[url= http://www.dasisttragbar.de/epages/61385222.sf/?Locale=de_DE&ObjectPath=/Shops/61385222/Products/chr_metropolis_L/SubProducts/%22chr_metropolis_black+black+buckle%22&ViewAction=ViewProductViaPortal ]click[/url]

Of absolutely no use is my recommendation for the long discontinued Karrimor messenger bag, it must by 15 years old and shows little signs of wearing out. Worst issue was caused by a rat that climbed into the bag ate sn old apple and ate its way through one of the corners...

However a smaller bag would be good for my current needs as I want to carry it in my panniers, until they are full of shopping etc.

Dr J, I bought it online driect from Sandqvist but I see that they sell some of them on Asos.com so they will have free shipping.

The one i got was reduced, it's a bit more brief casey and annoyingly enough I just got a new PC that only just fits in and it's a pain fighting it in every day. Quality of the bag is great though

love the freitag bags and their whole recycled thing, but daft money

Timbuk2 are ace IMHO...

Cheap from here: http://www.shopeezee.co.uk/Timbuk2.php

Bagabu: http://bagaboo.hu/ make lovely ones too..

Loads of decent bags can be found here: http://www.tokyofixedgear.com/products/21-Messenger-Bags/

My favourite bag of choice is this: http://www.urban-cyclery.co.uk/shop/tag/Mission%20Workshop/?brand=true

These are nice too: http://www.pacdesigns.com/

surprised nobody has mentioned the [url= http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/schwalbe-recycled-tyre-messenger-courier-bag-2230-p.asp ]Schwalbe Recycled Tyre Messenger Courier Bag[/url] £23 from charlie.

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I think I quite like that - seen too late, ordered a dakine one in dark grey - might have one of those too!

In a world where some great courier bag names have moved production to the far east and the bags are now a glossy plastic shadow of what they used to be... The schwalbe is a standout honest bag, dirt cheap, damned simple... And great fun in a rubbery way too.