In the immortal words of George Carlin, “That’s the meaning of life: trying to find a place to keep your stuff.” I consider myself a tidy person, but I’ve actually just developed a Tetris-like efficiency when it comes to stuffing things into closets, desk drawers and—to my wife’s constant chagrin—the garage. we. Surrounding her adorable blue Mini Cooper are a row of shelves filled with crates (each labeled, of course), boxes, motorcycle accessories and enough helmets for a small army.
When traveling by motorbike, I keep things in the saddlebag or trunk if possible, or I can put them in the tank bag or rear bag. But if I need to buy a few things at the store or carry my laptop or camera equipment, the best option is a backpack or shoulder bag. Of the following, one of the most practical and versatile is the Messenger Bag made by the folks at Aerostich in Duluth, Minnesota.
Related: Aerostich: The Great American Motorcycle Suit
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The Messenger bag comes in four sizes: Letter (9 inches tall, 3.75 inches wide, 9 inches long at the bottom/12 inches long at the top; $107), Dispatch (12×7×12/18 inches; $137), Transfer Express (12×7×18/23 inches; $147) and Parcel (14×9×18/26 inches; $157). Wanting maximum carrying capacity, I chose the Parcel size, which is large enough to hold a full-face helmet and four bottles of wine, for example.
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The outer flap of the bag is designed to accommodate bulky items such as wide helmets and tall wine bottles. It’s secured by a hook-and-loop plate that runs the length of the lid – a 2-inch-wide hook plate on the underside of the lid that attaches to a 4-inch-wide loop plate on the bag. There are also two adjustable strap closures with quick release buckles.
Messenger bags are made of Cordura coated with 1000 denier polyurethane and they have a triangular cross-section with a seamless flat bottom. Inside is a yellow reinforced PVC waterproof lining, an organizer pocket (Parcel has two pockets) and a clip-on clasp.
The shoulder strap is made of 2-inch mil-spec nylon webbing and the cam buckle makes it easy to adjust the strap’s length. A removable 3.5×11.5-inch shoulder pad covered in Ultrasuede provides comfort when carrying heavy loads. The bag also has a top handle and a 2-inch 3M Scotchlite reflective panel running the length of the outer flap.
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Depending on how full the bag is and how firm the contents are, it usually stays in place while riding. Adjust the shoulder straps so the bag hugs your body to help keep it in place, and Aerostich sells a stabilizing strap for $10.
Overall, the Messenger Bag is a great place for me to store my stuff when I’m on the go. Many color options available.
