Commuter Girl’s Guide to Messenger Bags & Backpacks
16. Apr, 2011 
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Carrying Capacity
There’s times where you need to take it with you on your bike. For heavy loads, a well-balanced set of panniers on the rear rack is the best option. Yet many commuters choose to keep their bikes light and carry what they need on their backs. The choices are usually the standard backpack or the messenger bag. Not all backpacks and messenger bags are made the same however. Messenger bags and backpacks made with the cyclist in mind will have many advantages over bags that are made for pedestrians. Ideally, a cyclist’s bag or backback should hold the load evenly distributed for good balance and it should be high enough on the body to not get in the way.
Getting the Best Fit
When buying a messenger bag, do yourself a big favor and make sure it fits you! Case in point: I bought my first bike messenger bag at a bike shop and chose it because I liked its looks and the fact that it was 50% off. When I wasn’t on the bike I didn’t notice that it was actually sized for a man (about 5’10″ or taller). The bag’s strap could not be adjusted high enough, so the bag hung low and would cover the back of the bike seat. As I stopped at stoplights, it might slide between me and my bike seat and could have resulted in a nasty fall, had I not been careful when remounting the bike. Note in the photo above that the messenger bag hangs just above the bike seat. That is your ideal.
As you are trying on messenger bags, pay attention to the shoulder strap. It should be wide to distribute weight evenly across your body. Pay attention to where the strap rubs on your shoulder and make sure the strap has some reinforcement or padding. A bonus is an adjustable padding that can be moved into just the right spot for comfort. The cross-strap can be used to keep the bag where you want it while riding. Lastly, if you like to accessorize, you can add a cell-phone holder to the strap to keep your phone conveniently handy.
The Med. Zero Waste bag is 11" H x 19" W x 6" D. A 13-inch laptop will fit within it.
Carrying What you Need
Rickshaw's laptop sleeve
If you are carrying a laptop, buy the bag or backpack that will fit it. Be sure to get a sleeve for it to keep it protected. Do you need a lot of separate compartments? Backpacks often have more compartmental storage. Need more? I throw in a small zippered pouch to hold small items–especially what I call my touch-up kit which includes mascara, lipstick, comb, and a small container of sunscreen.
The Best Uses of Each
Rickshaw Bags
Rickshaw Bagworks makes custom bags for the cyclist in San Francisco. You can choose the fabric, the size and type of messenger bag or backpack, add a laptop sleeve and have it made your way. Rickshaw’s CEO, Mark Dwight is a commited bike commuter himself and environmentally conscious. 
Shh! Love the magnetic silencer feature
My personal favorite of Rickshaw’s collection is the Skinny Commuter Backpack. It’s perfectly sized for carrying today’s slim technological tools, and it doesn’t let one overpack and carry too much. As we tried them out, we found the sizing is about right for an average-sized woman. That’s a big bonus in our book. It comes in a variety of colors and has well thought out compartments. It has a waterproof liner and will carry a 15-inch laptop. The shoulder strap allows it to be carried like a shoulder bag if desired. It also has a “magnetic silencer” which means it does not make a loud velcro sound as you open or close your bag.
Rickshaw’s Zero Messenger bag was named for the lack of waste produced in the making of this stylish and sustainable bag. The Zero was especially designed “to optimize cutting and eliminate material waste.” The fabrics used are durable, eco-friendly and machine washable. They come in four sizes: large, medium, small and the purse-sized “mini.” A cross-strap and strap pad for the Zero Messenger bag are sold separately.
Rickshaw’s handlebar bag is called the Pipsqueak and it is just right for handily carrying small items. It’s being offered by Rickshaw as a giveaway to Cycle and Style readers.
If you’d like to win this cute handlebar bag, make a comment here, giving us your tips/questions for carrying it with you on the bike. The contest runs from now until May 4th.
Cute handlebar bag!
On days I ride to work, I minimize as much as possible. I don’t need my whole wallet, and definitely not a purse – I can get away with my ID and a couple of cards wrapped with a rubber band. If I’m bringing clothes, a dress weighs less than jeans and a shirt. I’ll choose lighter shoes, consciously keep everything light.
If I have a chance to leave things at my desk the night before, I have a small backpack that works great for incidentals. If not, I use a larger backpack, and try not to stuff it to the brim.
Love the color of the handlebar bag.
Hej I liked your piece on messenger bags, but over here (København Danmark) most people carry their stuff on the frame or in baskets. The bikes are much more stable if there is any amount of weight. A friend of mine in the US takes her little dog for a ride in a big basket that is also useful for shopping. It is super cute – here is the place it is from: http://www.cynthiastwigs.com/
My daughter would LOVE this bag to put her little friends in so they can ride with her too. She could also carry her pens and paper with her so she can draw pretty pictures at the edge of our property. Great bag!
I know my daughter would LOVE this bag! Hope I win.
I LOVE Rickshaw and their Pipsqueak bag is perfect for commuting. The Pipsqueak is perfect for carrying a camera (which I carry almost every day, wallet, or a cell phone. I love how the bag snaps easily on the handlebars and closes with a velcro fastener. Someone will be ECSTATIC to get this treasure.
This bag is so cute, if I won I would definitely fill it up with my cell phone, lip gloss, etc!
thanks, Katie
katiebuggirl219@gmail.com
I love the tips on getting the proper sized bag. I am a very small person and would have likely gotten a bag way too big for me without reading this. Thank you!!
Love the tips–I am in the market for a new bag!
I love the Rickshaw bag. I use panniers alot and would like a hybrid pannier and backpack type for my son and his school stuff.