Messenger Bags have become pretty popular lately. In all honesty, I’m not sure why. I purchased my bag because I was biking more and my existing bag just plain sucked when it came to carrying around my gear. I found a bag that worked alright over time but I found I needed more out of my bag. Below are some ideas you can try on your own if you are looking for that extra “something” out of your bag.
Step 1: Attaching Your Hacks
Velcro is probably your best bet. It is a fairly cheap material and very forgivable if you make a mistake the first time around. If you are using Velcro, would highly suggest reinforcing the Velcro by sewing it in permanently on both the bag and whatever you are attaching. The downside to sewing Velcro to your bag is if your interior of the bag is waterproof, you may affect it’s ability to keep water out.
If your sewing skills are pretty bad and don’t’ want to risk your bags waterproof-ness, try using a cyano-acrylate glue (such as Zap-A-Gap or Crazy Glue) to attach the Velcro (or the item itself). It will reinforce the bond if you use Velcro, though it could still slip later on. Other methods include using power staples and safety pins though, like sewing, could affect your bags ability to keep water out.
Step 2: Choosing A Hack
Keep Your Camera Safe
I caught this hack over on the Timbuk2 web site, though their hack is a bit overboard for what a lot of messenger bag users need. Most people only carry a single camera with lens, especially if they want to go biking. If you plan on carrying a messenger bag full of equipment, then I’d take a look at their hack otherwise check out a sized-down method.
A camera bag insert
First off you will need to pickup an insert. You can pick one up at B&H or any photo shop that you trust. Make sure the dimensions are large enough to hold your camera, lens, or whatever else you plan on storing in the compartment(s). Once you have your insert, simply get your trusty Velcro tape and line the area of your bag where you want the insert to stay in. Place Velcro where you need extra support on the insert as well. Once they are together, then you should have a tight bond and will not have to worry about the equipment slipping around as much as if they were not attached.
Dealing With That Laptop
When I purchased my messenger bag a couple of years ago, I needed something that could also lug around a laptop. I searched for a while and could only come up with the Manhattan Portage Laptop Messenger, which is actually a decent bag in its own right. The upside to having an attached sleeve in my bag is that I don’t have to worry about it slipping around. The downside to the bag is that the sleeve is not removable, so if you need extra storage sometimes then you are out of luck.
In the future, if I purchase a bag again then I would only purchase a bag that met all of my needs THEN order a separate sleeve. At that point, I would add Velcro to the bag and laptop sleeve so I would have a modular solution for my laptop needs.
Seat Belt Buckle Strap
Picture from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories
If you like the functionality of a Chrome bags strap, but don’t want the look or need what they offer, then hacking an existing bag is a great trick. By adding a seat belt buckle, you can easily take your bag on & off without having to constantly slip it over your head. If you wear a hat all of the time, then this hack will be your best friend. The people at the Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories did an excellent write-up on adding a seat belt to your bag, which I could do no justice to.
Pencils, Erasers, Watches, et cetera…
Messenger bags were not originally made to keep items organized like your school old school backpack. They are meant to be functional and comfortable while riding bikes and performing deliveries. If your bag doesn’t have enough pockets and you need something to keep your junk organized, pick up a small pencil bag or pencil case. Makeup cases and tampon holders can be equally as effective if you have smaller things to keep around. Just throw it into your open bag and there is your organizer. If you want it fixed, just attach it with Velcro or one of the other methods. I’d call this one a no-brainer, but a lot of people out there don’t think about it until they see it.
Step 3: The Finale
Shoulder Pad
It’s not really a hack per se, but highly suggested. After using a messenger bag religiously for a couple of years now, I can tell you that neck pain is an eventuality. When someone wears one, they tend to either put it on their left shoulder or their right shoulder. I tend to put it on my left shoulder, which has strained my neck and back muscles enough over time to make me wish I could take a drill to my back and relieve the pressure. It is not good, plus it can cause future back and neck issues later on. To try and keep some of the load off of your back, use a shoulder pad. Almost all of the messenger bag manufacturers make them yet are don’t include them with your bag order. If you have not purchased your bag yet, make sure you pickup a shoulder pad if it’s not already included. Your body will thank you.
This is fun to read, Adam. It makes me want to do projects with you. Like sewing things into bags and painting chairs and stuff. I’m glad you are so handy!
I hope the Manhattan Portage bag has been serving you well!
Yeah, this bag has been great! I love it so much. It is large enough to hold all of my stuff while at the same time being strong enough to take a harsh rain. I would highly suggest this bag to anyone who has a need to do heavy biking while carrying a laptop with them.
beyond just a shoulder pad, one could also make an adjustable strap/pouch thingy for holding essentials near the shoulder. Plus a place for a bag like a timbuk2 to clip it’s stabilizer in would be smart.
Also the seatbelt from chrome is popular for a reason. It means less wear and tear on a bag’s strap, plus the ability to wear your bag snugly without having to worry about adjusting and un-adjusting it.
Another good trick is a special place to hold a lock for your bike.
Also a small sewn-in pouch for an extra $10 or $20 for emergencies. I think PAC bags and Chrome bags offer it as an option on some models, but having a small pocket in one of the pockets would be handy for things like an extra key or maybe someplace to stash anything you wouldn’t want others to find.
Also for messenger bags I recommend carrying your papers or small objects in pouches or folders. I use a binder full of folders for all my subjects.
Also if you’re interested in putting a design or something decorative on the flap, I suggest acryilic paint and a stencil, or an iron-on patch(don’t sew it on or use pins, lots of time messenger bags have a special layer for waterproofing and that’d puncture it, like you mentioned with sewing).