The best messenger bags

Messenger bags are a great choice for commuters, students, and anyone looking for an alternative to a backpack.
After looking at a ton of options, we’ve found that the Chrome Industries Citizen is the best overall messenger bag for everyday use.

Originally used by bicycle couriers in New York City, the messenger bag is based on the types of bags used by messenger services as far back as the Pony Express. Messenger bags are an extremely popular alternative to backpacks, partly because they can usually carry the same amount of gear, but they are easier to access since you can simply shift the bag to your side or front. I prefer it on the subway, too, for the same reason. If it’s crowded, I can just shift it in front of me, rather than having to take it off and hold it.

Just like backpacks, there are lots of different designs, qualities, and price points among messenger bags, enough to fit any budget or need. We’ve looked at a ton of bags to find the best options, and we’ve narrowed them down here. Read on to check out our top picks. You can also check out the best travel backpacks and our guide to the best backpacks for students of all ages.

Here are the best messenger bags:

Best overall: Chrome Industries Citizen Messenger Bag
Best for laptops: Timbuk2 Command Messenger Bag
Best classic messenger bag: Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag
Best for the office: J.Crew Abingdon Messenger Bag
Best leather messenger bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction Show Business Messenger Bag

Prices and links are current as of 8/31/20. We also added a selection of related buying guides.

The best overall

Roomy and durable, the Chrome Industries Citizen bag makes it easy to carry heavy loads whether on bike or on foot.

Chrome Industries makes a few different backpacks and messenger bags that are well-adapted to cycling and city life, but the Citizen messenger bag is one of the most popular – and for good reason. This timeless bag was designed for biking, and it has an iconic, durable design with space, space, and more space.

When you open the bag, there’s one huge main compartment that takes up most of the bag. There’s no padded laptop pocket, no internal dividers, and nothing else to take up space. Even though the contents of that main section are less organized, there’s more room for all your gear. You can use a laptop sleeve to protect your computer and pouches or other sleeves to organize smaller items.

A larger slash pocket on the front of the bag can fit a bicycle U-lock or other items, while a slightly smaller slash pocket in front of the bag closes with a zipper and sits next to a few pen and pencil pockets. The bag is large enough to carry a laptop up to 17 inches, notebooks, pens, documents, chargers, maybe a change of clothes, and just about anything else you might need.

The main compartment is lined with a removable water-resistant tarp that's held in place with velcro, in case you need to dry it later. You can actually use this as a makeshift divider, putting items between the bag's outer shell and the tarp. It's a great way to keep dirty gym clothes separate from the rest of your stuff. The outer portion of the bag is built with an abrasion-resistant fabric and comes in a ton of color options.

The shoulder strap has a seatbelt buckle so that rather than having to swing the bag over your head, you can just pull it around your body and click the buckle into place. You can keep the strap adjusted shorter, which makes it easier to carry heavy loads or ride a bike. There's also a quick-adjust strap which makes changing the length a breeze. Importantly, the strap is well-padded and very comfortable to carry.

Pros: Lots of space, comfortable to carry, very durable

Cons: Doesn't come in multiple sizes, may be bigger than some are looking for, wouldn't work well for a formal office

The best for laptops

Foto: Source: Timbuk2/Business Insider

The Timbuk2 Command Messenger Bag is a well-designed bag that's built to manage any commute, from bicycle to subway to airplane.

Timbuk2 was founded in 1989 when a San Francisco bike courier set out to design a new, efficient messenger bag. Since then, the company has perfected its original model and built a number of variations and other kinds of bags, like backpacks and luggage.

The Command messenger bag was built for organization. The bag is generously endowed with pockets, buckles, and zippers for all your needs. When the bag is closed, there are three side entry pockets on the front that you can still access, and each one is closed securely with zippers. One smaller pocket is felt-lined, making it perfect for a smartphone or other electronics. The largest side pocket sits behind it, and is big enough for a bicycle U-lock, a magazine or newspaper, or a tablet, while the third pocket is on the other side of the flap and fits items like a power adapter or sunglasses.

Spinning the Command around, the laptop pocket is accessible through a zipper on the back of the bag, completely isolating it from the main compartment underneath the flap. The pocket is well padded, and there's a second pocket for a tablet. You can also separate the laptop to conform with TSA standards when traveling. On the back of the bag, outside of the laptop section, a luggage handle pass-through lets you place the bag securely on top of a roller bag.

The inside of the bag is extremely organized, which is always a welcome feature for a bag you're commuting with. Interior zip pockets keep smaller items accessible, while pockets for pens, pencils, and other supplies keep the essentials handy.

There's an exterior pocket for a water bottle, which can fit just about any type of bottle. At the top of the bag, a padded handle makes carrying the bag by hand a breeze. Like many Timbuk2 bags, the shoulder strap has a quick-release buckle, which lets you lengthen and shorten the strap with one easy motion. It's a real help if you're biking or carrying a heavy bag.

The bag is lined with a weather-resistant material to keep your belongings safe whatever the day may hold. There are many color options and multiple sizes of the Command bag available, so make sure to check the dimensions to see which one you need.

Pros: Padded handle, adjustable strap, tons of pockets and organization

Cons: Some reviewers have suggested the laptop sleeve is thinly padded

The best classic messenger bag

Foto: Source: Timbuk2/Facebook

Based on Timbuk2's original design, the Classic Messenger Bag has a traditional look with updated extras.

That's right, we've chosen a second Timbuk2 bag for this list. With more than 25 years in the business, the brand has managed to figure some things out and design great products.

Compared to the Command bag, the Classic is relatively minimalist. It manages to be more compact with a simple design and it keeps more inside the bag under the flap. There's no real handle, save for a small loop of fabric in the back. Although this works for quick carrying, it's not sturdy enough for much more than picking up the bag. There's only one pocket you can access while the bag is closed. This side entry pocket has a zipper and is deep and wide enough for a few essential items like a work ID, a phone, a commuter pass, or maybe a wallet.

Once you open the bag, you'll notice that there isn't really a padded laptop pocket - rather, there's a divider running the length of the interior to bisect the main compartment into two sections. While that does create a section you can use for a laptop, you may want to put your computer in a laptop sleeve to make sure it's adequately protected.

Inside, the Classic messenger bag has a bunch of pockets to help organize gear and keep weight evenly distributed. An interior water bottle pocket up against one side keeps a bottle or thermos upright and in place, while a similar pocket on the other side can hold an umbrella.

A slash pocket near the front can hold relatively quick-access items like earbuds, while a zippered pocket on the outside of the bag that's covered by the flap has a key strap and hook. A hard-to-spot zippered pocket inside the bag and near the front is almost a "secret" compartment and has plenty of room for a wallet, a passport, or anything else you want to keep safe. Like the Command bag, the Classic also has a few pockets for pens and pencils, as well as other small office items.

The Classic is lined with weather-resistant material and has a quick-adjust shoulder strap. It also comes in a ton of colors and sizes. For cyclists, all sizes except for XS come with an optional, removable crossbody strap for added stability.

Pros: Clean, classic design, well-organized with great weight distribution, holds a lot

Cons: Poorly padded laptop area means you should use a laptop sleeve

The for the office

Foto: Source: J. Crew

With a classic and sophisticated style, the J.Crew Abingdon Messenger Bag is equally at home in the office or on a weekend adventure.

J.Crew is known more for its clothes than its accessories, but the company managed to use its knowledge and experience with classic styling to design a stylish, understated messenger bag perfect for the modern man. The Abingdon Messenger is built from a waxed cotton canvas with leather trim and pulls off a clean look that hides a handful of useful features.

Outside the bag on the front side, there are two mid-sized pockets which can hold any range of quick-access essentials. The bag's flap just covers the top of those pockets, which use hidden magnetic snaps to keep closed. At the back of the bag, a wide slash pocket also closes with a magnetic snap. The back pocket is perfect for a magazine or tablet - that way you can access it during a commute without opening the whole bag. Rounding out the exterior pockets are two small pouches on the sides. They seem to be designed for a rolled-up newspaper or a water bottle, but they're too narrow for most reusable ones. They work well for a compact umbrella, though.

Inside the bag, there are a few open pockets at the front - two medium-sized slip pockets can hold plenty of everyday items, with a few pockets for pens next to them. Against the rear of the main compartment, a medium-sized zippered pocket is good for loose items you want to keep more secure. A leather strap and buckle holds the bag closed, while the flap folds down and is secured by two more buckles with quick release loops. Rather than undoing the whole buckles, you can just slip the strap off a brass hook.

J.Crew has been making the Abingdon Messenger Bag for a few years and has been tweaking it since. While reviews in past years suggested that the strap could break or fray if you were carrying heavy items in the bag, J.Crew seems to have fixed that problem - I've used the bag to carry some pretty heavy stuff without any issue.

The bag is great because of its flexibility, both in terms of functionality and style. The bag is softer and less structured than many alternatives, which makes it easy to under-fill or overstuff depending on what you need for the day.

As far as style goes, the bag, which is available in two colors, is like a lot of J.Crew's clothing collection - it can dress up or dress down equally well. I've felt comfortable carrying it to a job interview while wearing a suit, as well as bringing it on an overnight trip wearing sneakers and jeans.

Pros: Stylish, functional, flexible, lately well-constructed

Cons: No padded laptop pocket, strap is long so can be annoying for shorter people

The best leather messenger bag

Foto: Source: Kenneth Cole Reaction/Business Insider

The Kenneth Cole Reaction Show Business Messenger Bag is affordable and stylish, but it can also hold your laptop and other essentials.

There are a lot of leather messenger bags out there, which made this category a hard one to pick. In the end, though, once I factored in price and value, it became an easy choice. The Kenneth Cole Reaction Show Business bag thoughtfully designed and a fantastic bag for the price.

The bag looks a little more like a traditional briefcase than some other messenger bags, but the benefit of this is a structured, protective laptop pocket. Because the bag holds its shape, you can easily carry folders and documents without worrying about them getting bent - a possibility with less-structured bags like the J.Crew Abingdon.

A front pocket runs the length of the bag and has organizer loops and pockets for pens, a cell phone, business cards, and more. There's also a zippered pocket within that section. The main pocket has the padded laptop pouch, plus two extra open-top padded pockets - these are great for a tablet or a charger. There's room left over for any other items, too. Finally, there's a full zippered section on the back of the bag. Big enough for files, folders or magazines, it can also be used as a quick-access pocket, which you can get to while the rest of the bag is closed.

The bag has a sturdy handle on top and the shoulder strap is removable, so if you ever wanted to carry it as a briefcase you have that option. The flap has two buckles with quick-release clasps so that you don't have to undo them every time you want to access the bag. It's available in four different colors and is a steal for the price.

Pros: Great laptop protection, removable shoulder strap, good for carrying folders or documents.

Cons: More formal than most messenger bags, stiff.

Check out our other great travel gear guides

Foto: Source: Dagne Dover

The best messenger bags