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I spent the last two years as a backcountry ranger, in Northern California. There, I wore a backpack almost every day. Now I am a bicycle commuter in Sacramento and I choose panniers first, a messenger bag second, and the backpack a distant third. There are three reasons why the backpack is my last choice in this list. Any bag I carry ends up being ...

The primary reason why bike messengers use messenger bags is that you don't have to take them off to load or unload them. If you're continually picking things up and dropping things off all day, you don't want to be faffing about taking a backpack on and off all the time. A secondary reason is that the flat rectangular shape of a messenger bag is more ...

Messenger bags still get your back sweaty, sometimes even moreso than a backpack since messenger bags are often wider than a backpack. I find a messenger bag more convenient than a backpack for shorter trips, but a pannier better for rides of greater than a mile or two. A messenger bag is quite handy if you have to make a lot of stops and don't have a lot to ...

A messenger bag is great when you: Are not transporting a heavy load Have to put items into the bag, or remove items from the bag very often. Are doing short trips, or having to leave your bike a lot as part of a longer trip A rucksack is great when you: Wish to be able to easily carry the load while off the bike You have to walk a long way after your ...

Another cargo solution is a messenger bag or backpack strapped to a porteur rack or in a front basket. You have all the flexibility of a human-designed bag plus the ability to easily carry large/bulky loads when needed. Many bicycles handle quite well with even a moderate front load, but the lower the load can sit the better.

I also hate leaving my rack on my bike carrying a back pack. One solution that I have been thinking about is to get a trailer. Most trailers can be attached in about 2 seconds so it is fast, keeps the weight off your back, etc. Update: Bought a trailer. Love it. Highly recommended. Have a Bob trailer. Was as much as my bike but easily worth it. ...

Another option is a handlebar bag. Most models have a quick-release and shoulder strap so they're easier to take with you than a pannier. Mine is large enough to carry an iPad/netbook plus lunch, sunglasses and other small items. As long as your load isn't too heavy the effect on your steering is minimal. Otherwise I'd go with panniers or a rack-top bag. ...

There are a few reasons I prefer a messenger bag or backpack over panniers. A bag on your back is easy to carry around off your bike. If you're using a bike as your primary mode of transportation and making multiple stops, it can be inconvenient to secure your panniers without detaching them and carrying them. I can get off my bike and go to a concert or ...

I'll add to the already, good reasons for using a messenger bag. Backpacks, I've found, can sometimes stick up too high, making it difficult to raise your head; especially if you have an aggressive riding position (which most real messengers have) Properly packed, a messenger bag can be every bit as comfortable as a backpack. The myth that the single ...

There are so many options for this I can't list them all, here are a few good ones. Mission Workshop has very refined and expensive bags, very full featured multi purpose bags. Rickshaw Bagworks has several commuter bags you may want to check out. Chrome Bags has lots of laptop bags in addition to their standard messenger bags.

I actually always wear a backpack. I would like to get packs to put on the back of my bike. But I only have one bike and it's carbon so I will not add any pack frame to it. I did, however try my friend's messenger bag one time and it left a bruise the size of a softball on my back. I think messenger bags could be good if you have only a lunch a ...