The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Janie on August 16, 2014, 03:39:55 PM
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Currently I'm using a borrowed Timbuk2 but the owner in heading back to school and will take it with him. I need a bag for my commute (a couple miles by bike, followed by train, then a 1/2 mile walk). Usually I carry some a jacket or sweater, lunch, and some reading material. I often stop and buy a few groceries on the way home. I also travel a lot for work and would use it as one of my carry ons. The Timbuk2 is fine, but I was wondering if anyone had other recommendations.
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We have an EMS bag that is about 10 years old and we use it for traveling, my DH travels for work, and he has used it for a bike bag for commuting, we have no complaints and it still even looks good.
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Seagull Bags (http://www.seagullbags.com)
I bought a Standard Large from them when I went car-free two years ago and can't say enough good things about the bag and the company. Comfortable, spacious, waterproof, DURABLE (would look brand new if I bothered to wash it, and I use it 6 days a week), made in Columbus OH, excellent customer service, not really any more expensive than similar options from Timbuk2 and other larger companies. Size L is just right for carry-on luggage, and it's pretty much all I travel with.
It's not really made for walking. The asymmetry of any messenger bag will mess with you after a few miles. But it's still better at that than anything else I've tried. If you ever want to use it to walk more than a few miles, get a backpack (which Seagull also makes, I don't have one but they are recommended by a few of my friends who do)
You'll probably want something smaller than what I have, looking at what you want to carry... maybe a medium
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Thanks, I'll check them out and consider a backpack. The walk component of the commute is pretty short, but a pack would work well for traveling too.
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Manhattan portage has excellent quality messenger bags and backpacks. My messenger bag has been through some abuse over the past 5 years and still looks brand new. The fabric is very durable and construction is solid.
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I was popping over to recommend a Timbuk2. I loved mine when I commuted via bike. I'm not very big, but I was able to carry a large bag comfortably.
If you like the bag, REI usually has a few colors on close-out sale. I ordered mine through Moosejaw (on sale). If I were to do it again, I would buy a used one on eBay. Even though my bag is 8 years old, it still looks great.