Last Updated: October 21, 2021
We know why you’re looking for the best bike messenger bag!
Whether you prefer to ride a bike because you’re going green, enjoy the exercise, because it’s cheaper, or all of the above, chances are, you need to carry around a bunch of stuff with you from point A to B every single day.
The simplest solution to this challenge is a messenger bag for biking, but how do you pick the right one? When choosing the best bike messenger bag, you will consider a few things: does it look good? Is it easy to carry? Does the price fall within my budget? How durable is the bike messenger bag?
Before you invest in one, please take a look through our selection of the best bike messenger bags available for purchase online right now!
8 Best Bike Messenger Bags Reviewed
1. Timbuk2 Especial Cycling Messenger Bag
A very versatile bag, TIMBUK2 Especial Cycling Messenger Bag makes life easier while biking. The bag’s Napolean side pocket is great for storing what you need and gives you easy and quick access without having to open the flap.
No matter what the conditions, you can rest assured the Cordura nylon exterior will keep the water out of your bag. Plus, it is designed to fit your body: There is something about knowing the little things that make up a product – e.g., the ventilated back panel and quick-release buckle on the strap make this bag a winner in terms of comfort.
- Water-resistant – Great for use in all kinds of weather
- Reflective panels – Give you visibility on the road at night
- Organized and accessible – Magnetic buckles allow you to easily undo them
- Weighs you down – It becomes heavy with more items
- Not enough cushioning – Gadgets or delicate items may get damaged
2. Chrome Industries Mini Metro Messenger Bag
The Chrome Industries Mini Metro is a tough little bag that works hard to stay on comfortably. This crossbody messenger bag is built to perform. It is sturdy and gadget-friendly, with definite room for a 13″ laptop. And as you sail down roads when riding a bike, you can be assured that the cross-chest load stabilizer will work to make sure whatever you’re carrying stays put.
These bags were designed to serve couriers, which means they are designed to distribute the weight and space of your cargo evenly, with stabilizing straps to provide further comfort and ease of use as you travel.
One of the coolest features on this bag is the shoulder strap design. The Chrome signature seatbelt buckle makes for an easy wearing experience, allowing you to simply slip in and out of it as needed.
- Comfortable fit – Chest strap keeps bag in place
- Weather resistant – Made with waterproof materials
- Easy to wear – Seatbelt buckle
- Durable – Can sustain heavy usage
- Not enough space – You cannot carry too many items
3. Kemy’s Messenger Bag
Kemy’s Messenger Bag is as useful as it is cute! The bag has several compartments that can hold your essentials securely. This bag can hold a 14” laptop easily, while various other pockets provide room to organize your other belongings such as cash, keys, notebooks, and phones.
Despite all the compartments this bag provides, it remains easy to use, making it friendly for longer rides and daily use.
The pockets are zippered, and the bag is constructed with high-quality material, making it very durable. The zippers do not get rusty and therefore never get stuck. The design is eye-catching with a pop of red on black, giving your biking look that extra zing!
- Lightweight – Weighs just a little over 2 lbs
- Comfortable – Shoulder and cross-shoulder strap provide a snug fit
- Great design – The red accent gives you visibility on the road
- Weather safe – Waterproof material keeps your belongings dry
- It can’t hold everything – Some pockets are impractically small
4. Leaper Canvas Messenger Bag
Some users of the Leaper Canvas Messenger talk about purchasing it as a gift, but keeping it for themselves because it looks good and is convenient for daily use. Different and stylish, the retro-chic appeal of this canvas cycling messenger bag is hard to deny. Soft, washed canvas material lends to its aesthetic appeal. The PU leather embellishments add to the overall design value.
With a length of 10.2”, 13.6” width, and 4.4” height, the bag can easily fit a lot of medium-sized items. It features several pockets inside and outside to hold the various things you might need. Top flap buttons keep you belongings contained and secure. An adjustable shoulder strap allows you to customize its length to fit your body.
- Gadget-friendly – Can hold a slim, 13″ laptop
- Easy access – The outer pockets ensure easy access
- Secure – Top flap buttons and zippered pocket
- Crossbody design – Carry the bag from its top handle or strap it across your body
- Uncomfortable – The crossbody feature isn’t entirely comfortable
- Not great for wet climates – Canvas isn’t water-resistant
5. TIMBUK2 Classic Messenger Bag
Are you someone who has to carry everything they may need during the course of a day with them? Then this messenger bag ideal for biking is definitely for people who love to keep their belongings being neat and organized.
TIMBUK2 Classic is perfect for daily use. It features a number of pockets, which are designed to hold items of all sizes. The bag also is super comfortable, allowing you to wear it in the position you prefer.
We love that we can either grab the bag at the top handle and just walk off, or wear it crossbody style over the shoulder with an adjustable, padded shoulder strap.
- Comfortable – Padded, airmesh shoulder strap
- Versatile – Crossbody strap provided
- Organized and spacious – Multiple pockets
- Water-resistant – Made with waterproof materials
- Bulks up – Too many items make the bag heavy
6. Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag
We love the Timbuk2 Commute Messenger Bag because it has several pockets we can put to good use. Who doesn’t love all the space on a bag to hold everything they can think of? The Timbuk2 Commute gives us several internal storage areas as well as zipped and accessible exterior pockets to hold the things we may need to reach around for in a pinch!
While it is built for daily use, it is ideal for travel as well. The external laptop area can be unzipped to lie flat for airport security checks without having to remove your laptop. Whether you like carrying your laptop everywhere, or are more of an iPad person, this messenger bag for men makes room for both, in separate, lined pockets.
- Padded safety – Lined pockets keep your gadgets safe
- Ideal for work or play – Shoulder strap can be adjusted to be worn cross body or to carry as a briefcase
- Nylon exterior – Durable material keeps your things dry in wet weather
- Can feel heavy – The bag tends to get bulky and isn’t ideal for longer rides
7. Sweetbriar Classic Messenger Bag
The most pocket-friendly bike messenger bag of them all. The Sweetbriar Classic messenger bag is an all-purpose, everyday pick that can carry your daily essentials with ease. With dimensions of 17.5x12x5″, with this bag you can carry around anything you need for work or school, a grocery trip across town, or even a short overnight trip!
The expansive main compartment is large enough to store items such as a laptop or bigger notebooks and folders. Smaller internal pockets are made hold items you’d like to keep safe. This is a good-looking, sturdy bicycle messenger bag which does not offer many extra frills but the price is just right!
- Easy to carry – Padded and adjustable shoulder strap
- Spacious – Multiple pockets to hold varied items
- Secure – Internal pouch to carry smaller, valuable items
- Durable – Made for rugged use
- Stylish – Smart metal accents
- No extra padding – Delicate items may be damaged
8. XINCADA Men’s Bag
Sometimes all you need to carry around with you on your daily commute consists of smaller items. Larger messenger bags may make that task challenging, as they might sag and feel uncomfortable to carry. The XINCADA Men’s Bag, compact and easy to strap on, with a length of 8.27″, 3.74″ width, and at 9.87”high, makes the job easier.
These bags can store your iPad Mini, along with those important personal items you must carry at all times. Their vertical design makes it highly compatible for people who may not need to carry around large items but value the bag’s compact and agile structure for easy movement. The bag is made with PU leather accents and quality zippers, and is definitely is a go-to for times when you need a stable container for your belongings that does not weigh you down.
- Comfortable adjustable strap – Adjusting the length of the strap to your frame provides better experience overall
- Ease of organization – Great division of space
- High-quality construction – Made with quality cotton canvas
- Size matters – Cannot hold larger laptops or notebooks
Buyer’s Guide: Some Things To Consider Before Your Purchase
Now that you’ve gone through our list of pros and cons of various products, you should have a good idea of what you want. Each bag boasts its own unique features, and caters to a wide variety of practical and aesthetic factors.
When trying to find the best cycling messenger bag, consider your everyday necessities, as well as practicalities such as commute time or purpose, and then focus on the following factors:
Space
It needs to have just enough space to carry everything you need, from laptop to snacks. However, only you know how your daily cargo expands according to your needs. There will be days you will want to carry more than just one laptop and a water bottle. If you are someone inclined towards being prepared for any situation, you will need a bicycle messenger bag with more compartments. So narrow down your choices in terms of the space you will need to carry your everyday essentials.
Comfort
The bag you pick will be strapped on to you for long periods of time while you are mobile: comfort is a must! One of the most important features contributing to a messenger bag’s comfort factor is how the straps are constructed. Pick a bag with comfortable straps that can be adjusted to fit your frame, so the weight of the bag is divided evenly across your shoulders and back, reducing instances of muscle strain and stress. Look for bags with added cross body straps, so you have an additional option to secure your cargo comfortably on yourself. Shoulder straps should ideally be padded, so they do not dig into your skin, and skin-friendly materials and features are an added bonus.
Safety
While all bags feature pockets and compartments, they do not all offer guaranteed safety for your items. Pick your bag according to the things you definitely carry every day. If you have to carry your laptop, iPad, or other gadgets daily, you will want to ensure they are safely tucked away into your bag. While looking at the specs of any bags you shortlist, check if they are padded or lined to keep your things safe. If you do carry several small but important things every day, such as wallets, keys, or even your phone, opt for a bag that will have smaller, pockets with zippers or closures to hold these items safely.
Durability
You will not be purchasing a new bag frequently, and chances are, you’d like the one you pick to last you for a long period of time. When looking at your choices, dive deep and research the materials used to construct them. This includes the materials used to build the exterior – waterproof materials are ideal to protect your bag and the items it holds during wet weather conditions – as well as the materials used for smaller components. Zippers and buckles should ideally be sturdy and rust proof, to reduce risk of them becoming stuck at crucial moments. Accents should be in materials that do not wear down easily.
Design
While factors of comfort and durability are of the essence, the way a bike messenger bag looks is important too. After all, you will be wearing it as your most visible accessory day in and out! While the bags we have listed are all well-designed and aesthetically pleasing, not each one of them will appeal to everyone. Are you more into vintage design, and would prefer the Leaper Canvas Messenger? Or does the contrast the red accent on Kemy’s Messenger Bag appeal to you more? Perhaps you just want something that is super-functional and goes with everything you own. Luckily, a lot of the best messenger bags for bike commuting come with a choice of color, so you can find a design, color, and specs combo that works for you!
Price
The price of any purchase we make is usually the great equalizer between our options. While we have listed down bags available at a variety of price points for you, you must weigh the pros and cons, as well as the features of each while making your decision. Sometimes a bag may be on the lower end of the price spectrum but still be well-designed and practical. A lot of bags priced on the higher end are priced so because of the superior quality of materials and construction used for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of bike messenger bags?
Aside from the obvious benefit of having a bag that doesn’t hinder your movement, bike messenger bags also have a lot to offer. For starters, you get a decent storage area where you can put your stuff. When you are on a bike, it is important that you stay in control so as to not lose stability and messenger bags for cycling are perfect for that.
What can I put in a bike messenger bag?
Cycling messengers bags are all about functionality. You can fit everything you need in there, like laptops, books, phones, water bottles etc. And you‘re able to carry it in a comfortable way, considering that you have planned well and looked for enough compartments.
Is a bicycle messenger bag better than a backpack?
The basic function of a messenger bag is to transport your stuff, after all. It’s there to make carrying things easy. This makes messenger bags in comparision to backpacks very attractive for bike courriers, because it’s easy to load and unload without having to take it off, it stays put no matter what you’re doing with it and doesn’t hurt your back.
Are bike messenger bags waterproof?
They can be waterproof, but not all of them have this feature. It is recommended that you choose one that is at least water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your items getting wet. Without a doubt, the top quality bike messenger bags listed above feature waterproof materials.
Can I also use them for other purposes?
Of course. They have a clean, classic and functional design that makes them very versatile and suitable for use not just on bikes but also in pretty much any setting.
Conclusion
One of the best bike messenger bags on our list has to be the TIMBUK2 Especial Cycling Messenger Bag. It has is super convenient with a Napolean side pocket, as well as lots of organized space to carry your day-to-day essentials for you as you ride. Reflective hits are a plus, as they make you more visible during nighttime rides. Best of all, this bag has a nylon exterior that can brave wet and damp weather wonderfully, and a back panel and buckles that are designed to provide you with the most comfortable experience.
Good luck finding your perfect bike messenger bag!