Tag Archives: messenger bags
Product Highlight: Brooks Pickwick Day Pack
Brooks of England, the legendary saddle maker, designed the Pickwick in London but went to the hills of Tuscany to produce it, a classic daypack. The Pickwick’s water resistant European canvas, along with the rolltop design, will most definitely keep your items dry on those dreary days, and the Brooks leather trim will help the bag stand the test of time. In addition to the large main compartment, there are two smaller pouches, one located on the lower back portion of the bag and the other being on the bottom of the bag. The 2 smaller compartments are accessed from the “underside” of the bag, increasing security and ensuring waterproofness. Currently available in five colors, the Pickwick sells for $235. According to Harold, the Goose Beak hue is the standout choice.
accessories, Brooks, england, leather, messenger bags, pickwick, Style, tuscany
Winter Speciale: All Chrome Gear 25 – 50% OFF
As the NYC Velo Winter Speciale continues, all In-Stock Chrome gear is on sale! This means that all Chrome messenger bags (including the Citizen, the Metropolis, the Yalta, the Pawn, the Bravo, the Dually, the Sherman, the Krakow, the Olaf, and the Cardiel ORT) are up to 50% off. Chrome apparel (including the merino wool Cobra and Pasha, the waterproof Storm Cobra, and the Ike Windshirt) is up to 50% off. Chrome’s innovative shoes (including the Kursk, the Kursk Pro, the Midway, and the Southside Pro) are up to 50% off.
As always, the Winter Speciale applies to in-stock items only, and once they’re gone, they’re GONE! Call or stop by the shop to check out the selection in detail.
Field Test: Freight Baggage Rolltop Backpack
The Freight Baggage Rolltop Backpack (Small), as reviewed by Martin:
This bag hasn’t been given a break from its day-to-day duties for over eight months and it doesn’t seem to mind at all. Travis Poh, founder of Freight Baggage, has been sewing bags for bike messengers in San Francisco since 1998. Because bike messengers typically demand durable, high-quality bags and a penchant for destroying inferior ones, Freight Baggage bags have been put to the test from the start. I opted for the smaller ‘standard’ version of the three (small, medium, or large) for everyday use and have been very satisfied with its 20L capacity. The bag easily holds everyday items such as an (adult) lunchbox and a few extra layers of clothes, with spare room for unforeseen post-work trips to the grocery or wine shop.
Freight has felt no need to mess with perfection, exemplified by the fact that their Rolltop Backpacks remain largely unchanged since being released (as one of the first rolltop bags on the market) in 2006. All Freight bags are fully waterproof, which came in pretty handy for a commute through the Nor’easter a few days ago. If it weren’t waterproof, the snow that piled up on the bag would have eventually soaked right through the cordura and onto all of my gear. The side compression straps come in handy for cinching down small compact loads and the cargo straps add exterior versatility for carrying odd and oversized packages. The Rolltop Backpacks come in two different versions. The first being the ‘standard’ with an easily accessible exterior pocket with loads of organizational options, and the second is a ‘basic’ version with no outer pocket, but instead two smaller Velcro pockets on the inside.
In the end, my Freight Rolltop Backpack is a really durable product with a Made-in-the-USA provenance that I appreciate. It meets (and exceeds) my needs, and is highly recommended!
2012 NYC Velo Holiday Gift Guide
Phil Wood Hand Cleaner, a home mechanic must-have, $12
Brooks Limited Edition Union Jack-Series Swallow Saddles, Red ($275) and White ($350)
Grimpeur Bros 9 Dub Espresso Beans, roasted in Queens, $14/12oz
Endura 100% Merino Baabaa Base Layer, $69.99
CEP Compression Gear, Team NYC Velo Tested, $39.95
Andy Hampsten's Extra Virgin Olive Oil Co. from Tuscany, $24/.5l
Oakley Frogskins, A Classic, Revised, $100-140
Bailey Works/Independent Fabrication Whale Mouth Duffle, $150
NiteRider Lumina 350 Rechargeable Headlight, $95
Silca Classic Floor Pump, Made in Italy, $100
Silca Classic Floor Pump, $100
Defeet/Team NYC Velo 9 Inch Wool Socks, $20
NYC Velo Custom Wheels, Industry Nine Hubs, Velocity A23 Tubeless-Ready Rims, Sapim CX-Ray Spokes, $1100
NYC Velo Wool Longsleeve Jersey, Handmade in Canada by Cima Coppi, $190
Search And State S1-J Riding Jacket, Weatherproof, Handmade in New York City, $245
5ive Points with Travis Poh of Freight Baggage
Travis on the Omega with a messenger large Sling.
Elusive, overworked, and prolific are words describing San Francisco-based messenger bag maker Travis Poh, and all are fitting descriptions for anyone serious about what they do. For someone whose brand has such a massive following, there is little web information on the man behind the Cordura curtain. Why? Because his bags speak for him. As Travis states on his company’s website, Freight Bags are handmade in San Francisco – deigned and tested (daily) by working messengers (including himself). They strive to create the most comfortable and functional bags possible, using only the finest domestically manufactured materials. Freight Baggage guarantees all of their work to be of superior quality and craftsmanship. Big in Japan, huge in the states and coveted everywhere, Travis’s bags have been seriously field tested for years by us at NYC Velo and could be the last bag YOU ever buy. Freight bags are some of the first products we carried here in the bike shop. We met Travis back in July 2005 (6 weeks after opening our doors) when the Cycle Messenger World Championships were here in NYC (or Jersey City…) and became a dealer on the spot. Many thanks to Travis for taking time form his fabric filled schedule to participate in our 5ive Points Q&A.
NYC Velo: What bike do you ride?
Travis Poh: It varies. So many bikes… Currently its been an English Omega track bike with a P&S rack for boxes.
NYCV: What’s your favorite ride?
TP: S.O.B!, I just broke my favorite ride last month. It’s a custom Dale track bike. Its my pride and joy. R.I.P.
NYCV: What’s your favorite post-ride food?
TP: Makers Mark.
NYCV: What is one thing you always carry on a ride?
TP: I used to always have to wear a bag or I’d feel naked. Never nude. But since I’ve shed that fear, just a wallet.
NYCV: What’s next?
TP: Inevitably, to build a better mouse trap. Hopefully travel more. And get some sleep.
Gear Review: Mission Workshop Sanction Rucksack
As advanced as we may think we are as a people, we’re still trying to figure out smart solutions to intrinsic, basic problems. Take carrying stuff for instance. Ever since starting off as drooling knuckle draggers millions of years ago, us humans have searched for ways to carry more on our persons.
Cut to 2011 and you’ve got myriad companies looking to solve the portage problem for those of us who enjoy two-wheeled transportation.
You may remember my review of Mission Workshop’s Vandal backpack a little while back. I was in love with The Vandal’s Size, design, features and versatility.
That being said, the bag was a bit too capable. It was gigantic. its bulk made it a bit cumbersome as a day-pack, and I would sit there in bed late at night wishing for the MW deities to create something similar to the vandal and rambler, but sleeker.
Wish Granted.
The new Sanction Rucksack is the perfect daily commute backpack. Here’s why:
- Sleek
- Thoughtful, intuitive design throughout the bag
- 3 totally waterproof compartments, including one for laptops
- It looks awesome.
I got the sense that this is exactly what people were looking for. The fact that the shop sold out of them within the first week of stocking them was the big clue.
I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now. I’ve worn it while riding bikes, while riding motorcycles, and while walking around the subway. My only minor gripe is that it’s not immune to sweaty back syndrome when it’s hot outside, but that goes for almost ever backpack I’ve ever used.
The Sanction Rucksack is in stock at NYC Velo and retails for $179.99. Get one!
-CJ
messenger bags, Mission Workshop
30% off labeled courier bags and backpacks
That’s right! Stop by the shop and checkout the selection of Chrome courier bags and backpacks that we have on sale. We hand picked some colors and styles from our extensive selection and marked them down 30% (just for you.)
Chrome, messenger bags, SaleNYC Velo Gear: Bailey Works Backpack
We are a shop born to celebrate the handmade. From bikes to apparel, we work hard to bring you some of the finest in quality handmade cycling related items.
From the smallest single-person companies working out of their “live/work” spaces, to companies whose multi-employee workforce sports a collective discerning eye for detail and craft, we do our best to bring you the best. We really do derive a sense of pride from sharing items with our customers that are more than form and function, they’re craft as well.
One such artisan company is Bailey Works from New Hampshire. Known for their high quality bags, Bailey Works is a company whose bags are synonymous with durability, good design and cycling. We had the good folks at Bailey follow our recent bag design collaboration through production with a video camera. The result is a document and testament to how much work goes into a single bag. Enjoy the show.
bailey works, messenger bagsVandal Backpack: NYC Velo Special Edition
I’ve never had luck with timing. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Cavernous and awesome Vandal backpack, produced by our friends at MissionWorkshop. The minute I buy my own, I find out that Andy has been working with the west-coast luggage fiends on a special edition of the bag just for our shop. That’s right kids, now you can have your very own Vandal backpack bedecked with our awesome logo. I guess I was wrong when I though they couldn’t make this bag any cooler.
-CJ
Gear Review: Mission Workshop Vandal Backpack
I guess it’s easy to write off a shop’s “gear review” as a bit “biased.” However, one has to feel strongly enough about a product in order to overcome laziness and write about it. That should say something.
I had been using a small Chrome backpack for the last few years that an ex-girlfriend got me as a birthday present. While it looks good and is the de facto hipster norm of backpacks, it became apparent over the years that it wasn’t an effective bag when it came to carrying anything significant. Messenger-style bags that hang on a single shoulder have an inherent design flaw of using one shoulder instead of two (duh.). I had been waiting for someone to come along and produce a good looking yet utilitarian backpack.
Enter the Vandal, produced by Mission Workshop.
After owning this backpack for a few weeks, I can tell you that its the best messenger bag/backpack/urban bag/keg hauler I have ever used. Solidly and locally constructed, waterproof, and expandable, this bag is as versatile as MacGuyver in a hardware store. Here are some deets on the bag:
4,000 Cubic inches is enormous. Kloe Kardashian enourmous. The compression straps keep the bag tight when expanded. You would think that it’s too big for everyday use, but the collapsible midsection keeps things slim. Here’s a shot of it in its collapsed form, which still has 1,800 cu. in. on space:
Time to put it through its paces. I started by using it as my only bag for a 2 day excursion to the Gran Prix of Gloucester. It fit all of my CX gear (including helmet and shoes), clothes, laptop, camera, and other items. The perfect weekend bag.
The bag is comfortable when on the bike. I would assume this bag is well-liked by the “legit” messenger community as it is waterproof, comfortable, gigantic, and well-compartmentalized.
This bag is also perfect for anyone looking to carry something on a motorcycle. it fits well and doesn’t get in the way. to test this out, I used it for a few laundry runs on my Ducati. Yes, I’m aware that doing laundry runs on a Ducati is about a 105 on the douche-meter (out of 100) A week’s worth of laundry was no problem.
As for negatives, I would say that I’m worried about forgetting something in one of the cavernous pockets. it’s only a matter of time before I accidentally leave a Bahn Mi in one of the compartments only to discover it a month later…
This bag gets an A+ in my book. My friends are sick and tired of my ranting and raving about it, so to them, I apologize.
The Vandal retails for $259, and they are in stock at the shop. Stop by and see how you like it.
accessories, Cyclocross, messenger bags, Mission Workshop