Imachad

Heres the deal. My backpack i got in 8th grade is on the fringe of death and i need (no, want) a new bag.
I can get a deal on the Timbuk2's, but i know the Chrome bags are sweet. I need your opinions.

Bring it on!

colnago57

Damn, you are just asking for people to sh*t bricks on your head. Do a search of the forum and you'll find plenty of answers as to why a Timbuk2 will fall apart.

andre nickatina

is this even a question? chrome no question.

but the grass is always greener on the otherside, and now i kind of want to sell my chrome and get a reload or bailey works.

youth

funny, i have a very special place in my heart for my baileyworks superpro, but wouldn't mind getting a chrome bag either...

anyway, yeah. this topic has been done and done. where's the sage option when you need it

bonechilling

How long until this thread is locked? I'd say by
10 AM tomorrow morning.

j-lie

chrome has some problems but as long as you get the right size for the amount of stuff you carry you'll be happy with it.

problems:
1. don't hang around with people who are morons. they'll push the seatbelt button, and your stuff will break.
2. the bag opening is rectangular and is hard to load larger thing while you where it. this gets really annoying at hte grocery store.
3. plastic buckles break if you stop on them. it's happened to me on every bag i've owned though.
4. no place to hook a blinkie. you can sew one on though.
5. not a lot of reflective material.
6. extra storage is overly complicated with too many small pockets.

the plusses are pretty obvious and i love mine anyway.

big dane

most people (myself included) see no. 6 as a plus. also, on my bag (citizen) there is a blinkie loop. is this not standard?

Fugazi Dave

A nonstandard answer, but I proceed. How much walking vs riding will you do with the bag? On foot, I like my old Timbuk2 better. On the bike definitely my Chrome, but either will do.

j-lie

i had to add one to mine unless i missed it completely (metropolis)

somtimes i like the storage, but a lot of the time i wish there was just a big open compartment in front. the way it's constructed it seems like when the front pockets are full it takes away space from the inside compartment. i think that it's because the storage is built into the structure of the bag rather than on top of it. that said i haven't actually tried a bag with the alternative.

i carry a lot of misc. stuff and it has to go somewhere other than the main bag or else it's impossible to get to. i get a bit frustrated trying to dig to the bottom of those small pockets when they're stretch tight and packed with stuff. for my use i'd rather have one or two large pockets over an organizer.

seagull_bags

Go with a company who designs their bags for riding (if thats what you do most). Ask people about what bags they ride. That is the best way to find out what you should buy. Look at the following companies; hope this helps

Zupster bags
Freight Bags
Chicago Wig
Bailey works
REload
Zo Bags
Chrome (obviously)
Seagull Bags

I hope this helps.

Retem

good answer dan and you didn't even plug the black bag dude seriously get one of the seagull black bags the price is better than a timbuk2 pro

schnee

The main critique I have about my citizen is the 'flatness' of the extra pockets... they don't handle bulky stuff like tool bundles or inner tubes that well. Otherwise, the fit is fantastic and they are indestructible.

Retem

I like hand made bags I am a bag maker and I appreciate other peoples work I don't make messenger bags and I will not make messenger bags because I like what dan(seagull) and isaac(wig) are doing and do not beleive there is anything I can do to improve it

In Absentia

My Metropolis has served me pretty well, but I do get sick of trying to fit things into it sometimes (especially, as has been mentioned, at the grocery). And it does have a blinky loop.

That said, I just ordered a PAC Designs Ultimate today and I can't wait to get it.

j-lie

is there a blinkie loop i'm missing on the 2005 metropolis?

slvoid

Here's my experience with the chrome vs. timbuk2 issues from having owned both.

The chrome is infinitely more comfortable on or off the bike. The chrome is a heavier bag too.
That said, the timbuk2 sits a little more horizontal while the chrome sits more diagonal on your back. This meant for me, since I'm a skinny guy, that the timbuk2 felt more awkward when fully loaded while the chrome generally felt better while fully loaded.

skitbraviking

Haven't we done this subject like 5,000,000,000,000 times?

Chrome, no competition

Imachad

Thanks, im a noob and haven't heard of those before. sorry if it is a redundant question but its all new to me.

piwonka

i found this to be especially true with my timbukII bag.
the chrome i have is better...i have the large.
i would've gotten a reload or something when i upgraded from the timbuk but a new condition chrome popped up on craigslist and i picked it up for $45...i like it alot, it works great.

dijos

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

it's a place to start, plus, Seagull bags is making a special black bag soon. Search this forum for black bag, or posts by seagull bags.

crushkilldstroy

i'm gonna go against the grain here. i got a large timbuk2 from somewhere on the internet brand new for 40 bucks shipped. i can't remember where now, but you can find lots of places selling for similar prices on froogle and yahoo. it hasn't caught fire yet and i've found that i can store things in it when i'm traveling from place to place. it's durable, it's waterproof, it holds more than enough, and it doesn't have a dumbass seatbelt buckle that gets caught on stuff. i will say that you're gonna want to get a strap pad for another 10 or so, but that's really the only negative i've found. all in all, i've been pretty damned happy with it. it saved me 50 odd bucks off of a metropolis and has been more than reliable.

Natron

Everybody knows that you don't want either company's bag. You need to find the most obscure bag-making company in the world that no one else has ever heard of if you want to be cool.


"Hey is that messenger bag made of..... saran wrap??"
"Yeah I found a single-person company in Pakistan that makes them by hand for only $475!"
"Awesommmmmmmmmeee!"

Gyeswho

(this will help greatly) https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php...ome+vs+timbuk2

it depends on what Chrome bag you get. i have Kremlin and have not had the prob's ppl say about space issue who have the Metro. Metro = 2000 while Krem = 3000, BIG diff (this bag is HUGE). The front pocket issue can be annoying at time because i too wish it was expandable like other bags do it. It is a heavy bag and not very good for walking around in but on the bike(since this is what it's made for) it is perfectly comfy. i regularly carry around 20lbs and its not a prob for me (im 5'11 so i think height may have a deciding factor as to how it fits your body since i hear for other ppl who are smaller or skinnier it can be uncomfy at times due to wrapping around the body but this is a good thing since you get a nice fit). i have carried a 50lb bag of salt in it along with my tools in one side pocket and a water bottle in the other; another time carried a 24 pack of water in it with my tools, 5 fruitcups, and some books; another time stuffed 4 brand new standard size pillows in it with tools and water in the side pockets, nothing in the front pocket and my u lock in the main compartment as well. the side pockets make up for the lack of having extra pocket around the bag because they are kinda of deep. I'd say go for the Chrome Kremlin (sorry for being bias but it's the only thing i have experience but really worth it) as the extra size will be worth it in the long run. Why go with a smaller more suitable size bag and one day get stuck and say man i wish i got a bigger size. i always say its better to be over than under prepared.

Again, i am only speaking in terms of the Kremlin bag. It's the only bag ive owned so far and i really love it.
Heres some things i did to it to make it more comfy:
strap was added to make walking around in more better since it can aggrivate the back cuz of weight
https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=274912
this makes it feel comfy when having sharp objects like books
https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=259766&page=6

If you have the $ i'd say go with a PAC Ultimate OS because this is THE BAG to get and far exceeds any other bag on the market.

DerekU2

Anyone with any experience with Banjo Brothers bags? The included Laptop Sleeve might be nice to have, though you could just purchase a separate one for the chrome.

https://banjobrothers.com/products/01050.php#

fixedpip

Thats Zugster bags, not Zupster.

Also look at:
Under the Weather (https://under-the-weather.ca/)
Bagaboo (https://www.bagaboo.hu/)

Also run by messengers? for messengers and nice people.