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Epistemologist · May 16, 2007, 06:35 pm

Walking around a college campus, I've seen that messenger bags are increasingly common. They're really fashionable nowadays, much more, I think, than the plain traditional backpack.

But are they practical? I don't think they hold as much stuff, but they seem to be more accessible when you're walking around since they're at your side. It's also nice that there's not such a big burden behind you; sometimes I see backpacks that are wider than the wearer. Do they minimize strain on your back when you wear them? No, I think it simply redistributes it to your shoulders. Do they break more easily?

Anyway, I'm thinking about getting a new bookbag so what do you think I should get: a messenger bag or a regular backpack? Are they about the same price? Which do you like better?

Kamehameha34 · May 16, 2007, 06:39 pm

How many books do you have to carry? Messenger bags are a pain for carrying more than maybe 10 pounds of books after an extended period.

Epistemologist · May 16, 2007, 06:43 pm

Okay okay. Not too many books at a time. But then again, I think maybe a messenger bag would defeat the purpose of a bookbag.

Sarah22 · May 16, 2007, 08:06 pm

A messenger bag frequently doesn't close all the time, depending on how many books. Also, it's difficult to walk when the messenger bag is smacking against one of your legs. Backpacks are a lot easier.
I have a tote bag, and I really like using that...but...I don't see a lot of men walking around with them. maybe you could start a new trend in the male population!

Slevin57 · May 16, 2007, 08:14 pm

It's all Jack Bauers fault.

Epistemologist · May 16, 2007, 11:41 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Sarah22

I have a tote bag, and I really like using that...but...I don't see a lot of men walking around with them. maybe you could start a new trend in the male population!

Yeah, I've got some tote bags around here. Haha, yeah maybe I'll try. I have to accessorize.

Quote:

Quote by: Slevin57

It's all Jack Bauers fault.

I was just about to mention that in my original post, yeah, he was wearing that the whole time last season. Looked cool though haha.

CoffeeSaint · May 16, 2007, 11:48 pm

I've used a satchel with a single shoulder strap for years now; it's always been the best compromise. Several pockets, usually with zippers, allow me to carry several different things, all with easier access than either backpacks or messenger bags; I can sling it over one shoulder for simple carrying, put the strap across my chest for long hauls, or (on the one I have now, at least) grab the short handles and carry it like a briefcase. They also can hold a lot more than messenger bags, and several are expandable.

The problem? They're big and sometimes ungainly, and the closest they come to cool is black leather.

Kamehameha's right, though -- if you have to carry a lot of weight, get a real backpack or prepare to hurt.

Epistemologist · May 16, 2007, 11:53 pm

I'll look into that. Was your satchel expensive?

PatrickHenry · May 17, 2007, 12:24 am

Use a briefcase for style. Backpack for convenience. But maybe messenger bags are the cutting edge of fashion and I wouldn't even know, stuck out here on an island in the Pacific.

Chaossaber314 · May 17, 2007, 01:55 am

I use a beat up laptop capable, messenger bag. Started using it when my laptop still worked. Continued using it after the damn thing broke.

fushigi · May 17, 2007, 03:12 am

If you're camping, go for the backpack.

Otherwise, messenger bags are better. They're useful on the bus / subway, when you need to keep your stuff in view to avoid being pick-pocketed (huge problem in Beijing). I can just spin mine around to put the pockets in front. Doesn't look so fashionable, but it works.

On that note, I rode the light rail yesterday and didn't put my bag in front. Some asshole opened my zipper and stole my electronic dictionary somehow without me noticing.

CoffeeSaint · May 17, 2007, 03:46 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Epistemologist

I'll look into that. Was your satchel expensive?

I've had several; they've run the gamut beteen $20 and $150. Real quality leather is up to $200, and while it ups the coolness factor, there isn't enough of an increase in utility for me. The ones I prefer are the upper-middle range at Office Depot et al, and they're around $50-$80.

Actually, I just Googled "satchel" and ended up with mostly women's handbags; the site I found calls them "business cases" and "laptop cases" and prices them up to $500! :eek:

Look at an office superstore.

Osborn F Enready · May 17, 2007, 11:28 pm

I use a gym bag for everything, or a "6-pack" cooler if I am packing light.

I like the heavy-duty nylon ripstop, double-layer with compartments that have zippers, as well as both hand and shoulder straps.

The bigger the better for me.

Makes nice overnight luggage as well.

Epistemologist · May 18, 2007, 07:47 pm

Okay thanks guys, I better go check the local office store. Laptop capability is a plus. As for pickpocketing, yeah, that's awful; sometimes crooks even use knives to cut into people's purses and bags while on buses and then take stuff without being noticed. And what exactly do you carry around Osborn?

Osborn F Enready · May 19, 2007, 01:40 am

I carry around anything I made need for the work I am doing that day, or whatever.

I usually wear sweat pants or sweat pant shorts so I don't often have pockets.

When I work a regular job people accuse me of having a "man-purse" because I carry everything in my 6-pack cooler..... wallet, keys, change, lunch, cigarettes, lighters, books, maps, whatever.....

I travel prepared.

gw120 · May 20, 2007, 12:36 am

I hate messenger bags!!

glycerine · May 20, 2007, 12:55 am

I have a messenger bag and carry it around with me everywhere. I haven't gone more than 500 yards from it in a year =P It holds quite a lot and when it gets heavy I can just put the strap across my chest, and if I have to run I can carry it by the handle to avoid it hitting my legs. I never liked backpacks because of accessability issues. Backpacks hurt my shoulders more too. *shrug* If just having one strap hurts your shoulder you could get one with a padded strap =P I also found that messenger bags are cheaper.

Isn't a satchel basically the same thing as a messenger bag anyway?

notworthabean · May 20, 2007, 01:51 am

I had one, it started to kill my shoulder so i reverted to a back pack. much easier on your back and more convenient. Not a stylish true but unless your jack bauer its ok.

Epistemologist · May 20, 2007, 01:16 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Osborn F Enready

I carry around anything I made need for the work I am doing that day, or whatever.

Ah I thought you'd be carrying around parts of sniper rifles and explosives. :)

Quote:

Quote by: glycerine

Isn't a satchel basically the same thing as a messenger bag anyway?

Yeah they basically look the same.

Quote:

Quote by: gw120

I hate messenger bags!!

Their ubiquity seems weird. Nowadays wearing a backpack often makes you a rebel.

Quote:

Quote by: notworthabean

I had one, it started to kill my shoulder so i reverted to a back pack. much easier on your back and more convenient. Not a stylish true but unless your jack bauer its ok.

Indeed. Well, it turns out after my old backpack broke I had a free satchelesque bag at home, so I'll probably be using that from now on.

Osborn F Enready · May 20, 2007, 10:45 pm

Quote:

Epistemoligist said:
Ah I thought you'd be carrying around parts of sniper rifles and explosives.

Did somebody start the revolution and not tell me!!!!

J/K

No, I actually have gun cases for my guns, and the only explosives I have ever obtained go up on the 4th of July.

View Poll Results: Which do you like better?
Messenger bags	2	25.00%
Regular backpacks	6	75.00%
Voters: 8. You may not vote

May 16, 2007, 06:35 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Epistemologist God is good Location: Down by the river, stealing your water Posts: 1,518	Messenger Bags Walking around a college campus, I've seen that messenger bags are increasingly common. They're really fashionable nowadays, much more, I think, than the plain traditional backpack. But are they practical? I don't think they hold as much stuff, but they seem to be more accessible when you're walking around since they're at your side. It's also nice that there's not such a big burden behind you; sometimes I see backpacks that are wider than the wearer. Do they minimize strain on your back when you wear them? No, I think it simply redistributes it to your shoulders. Do they break more easily? Anyway, I'm thinking about getting a new bookbag so what do you think I should get: a messenger bag or a regular backpack? Are they about the same price? Which do you like better? But what's to stop the manic tide, The suicide of our own pride? The Complex Last edited by Epistemologist; May 16, 2007 at 06:38 pm. Reason: Changed picture

May 16, 2007, 06:43 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Epistemologist God is good Location: Down by the river, stealing your water Posts: 1,518	Okay okay. Not too many books at a time. But then again, I think maybe a messenger bag would defeat the purpose of a bookbag. But what's to stop the manic tide, The suicide of our own pride? The Complex

May 16, 2007, 08:14 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Slevin57 Igneous Magma Posts: 438	It's all Jack Bauers fault. -Chris "I guess we are the people our parents warned us about."

May 16, 2007, 11:48 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
CoffeeSaint Moral Turnip Location: Oregon, US Posts: 2,283	I've used a satchel with a single shoulder strap for years now; it's always been the best compromise. Several pockets, usually with zippers, allow me to carry several different things, all with easier access than either backpacks or messenger bags; I can sling it over one shoulder for simple carrying, put the strap across my chest for long hauls, or (on the one I have now, at least) grab the short handles and carry it like a briefcase. They also can hold a lot more than messenger bags, and several are expandable. The problem? They're big and sometimes ungainly, and the closest they come to cool is black leather. Kamehameha's right, though -- if you have to carry a lot of weight, get a real backpack or prepare to hurt. "Would you like some pie, Dr. Stark?" "Science is my pie. Curiosity, my sweet tooth. Knowledge is my candy."

May 16, 2007, 06:39 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Kamehameha34 The dingos! Posts: 4,548	How many books do you have to carry? Messenger bags are a pain for carrying more than maybe 10 pounds of books after an extended period.

May 16, 2007, 08:06 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
Sarah22 Asian Sensation Posts: 153	A messenger bag frequently doesn't close all the time, depending on how many books. Also, it's difficult to walk when the messenger bag is smacking against one of your legs. Backpacks are a lot easier. I have a tote bag, and I really like using that...but...I don't see a lot of men walking around with them. maybe you could start a new trend in the male population!

May 16, 2007, 11:53 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Epistemologist God is good Location: Down by the river, stealing your water Posts: 1,518	I'll look into that. Was your satchel expensive? But what's to stop the manic tide, The suicide of our own pride? The Complex

May 17, 2007, 12:24 am	#9 (permalink) (top)
PatrickHenry 9/11: Inside Job Location: Hawai'i, Big Island Posts: 10,453	Use a briefcase for style. Backpack for convenience. But maybe messenger bags are the cutting edge of fashion and I wouldn't even know, stuck out here on an island in the Pacific. "Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private self-defense." -- John Adams

May 17, 2007, 01:55 am	#10 (permalink) (top)
Chaossaber314 The Cake is a lie... Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,388	I use a beat up laptop capable, messenger bag. Started using it when my laptop still worked. Continued using it after the damn thing broke. What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?

May 17, 2007, 03:12 am	#11 (permalink) (top)
fushigi Hot Lava Location: Beijing Posts: 2,414	If you're camping, go for the backpack. Otherwise, messenger bags are better. They're useful on the bus / subway, when you need to keep your stuff in view to avoid being pick-pocketed (huge problem in Beijing). I can just spin mine around to put the pockets in front. Doesn't look so fashionable, but it works. On that note, I rode the light rail yesterday and didn't put my bag in front. Some asshole opened my zipper and stole my electronic dictionary somehow without me noticing. "What truth endures beneath the flaming stream?" -- A Volcano, Bartolome de Las Casas, Inferno de Marsaya, 1536

May 17, 2007, 11:28 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,876	I use a gym bag for everything, or a "6-pack" cooler if I am packing light. I like the heavy-duty nylon ripstop, double-layer with compartments that have zippers, as well as both hand and shoulder straps. The bigger the better for me. Makes nice overnight luggage as well. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

May 18, 2007, 07:47 pm	#14 (permalink) (top)
Epistemologist God is good Location: Down by the river, stealing your water Posts: 1,518	Okay thanks guys, I better go check the local office store. Laptop capability is a plus. As for pickpocketing, yeah, that's awful; sometimes crooks even use knives to cut into people's purses and bags while on buses and then take stuff without being noticed. And what exactly do you carry around Osborn? But what's to stop the manic tide, The suicide of our own pride? The Complex

May 19, 2007, 01:40 am	#15 (permalink) (top)
Osborn F Enready Principled Observer Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 13,876	I carry around anything I made need for the work I am doing that day, or whatever. I usually wear sweat pants or sweat pant shorts so I don't often have pockets. When I work a regular job people accuse me of having a "man-purse" because I carry everything in my 6-pack cooler..... wallet, keys, change, lunch, cigarettes, lighters, books, maps, whatever..... I travel prepared. Petition of Redress of Grievances: http://www.givemeliberty.org/default.htm Canadian Lawsuit Against Their National Banks: http://www.freewebs.com/classaction/ Osborn F. Enready

May 20, 2007, 12:36 am	#16 (permalink) (top)
gw120 Stabbed By Satan Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 247	I hate messenger bags!! Economic Left/Right: -9.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.79 Reality is fantasy; Facts are perception.

May 20, 2007, 12:55 am	#17 (permalink) (top)
glycerine Deviant Insomniac Posts: 5	I have a messenger bag and carry it around with me everywhere. I haven't gone more than 500 yards from it in a year =P It holds quite a lot and when it gets heavy I can just put the strap across my chest, and if I have to run I can carry it by the handle to avoid it hitting my legs. I never liked backpacks because of accessability issues. Backpacks hurt my shoulders more too. shrug If just having one strap hurts your shoulder you could get one with a padded strap =P I also found that messenger bags are cheaper. Isn't a satchel basically the same thing as a messenger bag anyway? This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.

May 20, 2007, 01:51 am	#18 (permalink) (top)
notworthabean libertarian neocon Location: north east Posts: 630	I had one, it started to kill my shoulder so i reverted to a back pack. much easier on your back and more convenient. Not a stylish true but unless your jack bauer its ok.