Buy a Canvas Messenger Bag Online

When I was a teenager and student I was a great fan of old army surplus stores and the gear one could get really cheaply there. One of my favourite items was a small canvas shoulder bag. It had a reasonably sized centre pouch and two side pockets about the right size for carrying the magazines for a rifle. It was a simple and light bag that really served me well for daily use at university and around town. It had just enough space for an A4 sized book or notepad so that I could take notes in class and there was space for pens and a few other minor necessities for daily life.

You have to remember, however, that this was in the stone ages. Although it wasn’t that long ago, it was in the days before students had laptop computers and notebook referred to something made of paper not silicone. So a small bag such as that was ample for my needs. Then one also did not have all the accessories and gadgets that one carries about now. iPods were a long way from being invented and there was not much by way of other technology that one could carry around (anyone remember the old 1980s walkman?)

These days however we all need a lot more space and more pockets too. There isn’t just the need to carry a book or two but also the need for a computer, its charger, a music player, a phone, pens and USB flash memory drives and the other innumerable bits of electronics that have now become part of daily life. Carrying all that stuff needs a lot more space as well as a tough bag able to withstand the rigours of daily use. Its one of the reasons I’ve become such an enthusiastic user of messenger bags. Their wide straps allow me to carry heavy loads all day without becoming uncomfortable. And their big interiors give me loads of space for all the items I need to carry. I’ve also become a keen user of dedicated laptop messenger bags.

One reason is that I simply hate the look of the standard work-issue laptop bag that you normally get. It just shouts corporate and boring. I also don’t find them that practical. They are either so small that you struggle to pack in anything beyond the laptop and its charger (and sometimes you can’t even get that in) or they are awkwardly big but still impractical as you can’t use them as overnight bags or for much of anything other than just carrying your damned laptop. A messenger bag, on the other hand, gives plenty of space for all my daily gear, notes, reading matter and snacks. I also use mine regularly for business travel. With a bit of careful packing I’m good for a weekend trip using nothing more than a light shoulder bag that has everything I need from toothbrush and spare underwear to my laptop.

Yet, much as I love my modern messenger bag, I still have a slight longing for the retro look and feel of my old canvas army bag. So I was delighted to discover that these old bags have enjoyed something of a revival, both in terms of style and of function as the canvas messenger bag. There is a huge variety of styles out there but many follow the usual messenger bag pattern. A canvas messenger bag, much like the normal sort, will generally have a large main compartment with a flip top and a broad strap that allows them to be carried slung diagonally across the oppose shoulder. This helps to really spread the weight and make the bag sit snugly against your side or back. Unlike a normal laptop back or briefcase, a canvas messenger bag won’t slip of your shoulder.

I’ve also been interested to discover that in fact many of them started their life as messenger bags in the military. These canvas bags were the sorts of bags that dispatch riders would have used when carrying urgent messages to the front lines. We often think of messenger bags as originating in big cities such a New York or San Francisco and having been invented by bicycle couriers, but in fact the cyclists stole the idea after seeing the canvas messenger bags of the Second World War.

Now the canvas messenger bag has a lot going for it, mainly in terms of style and retro look. These certainly are distinctive bags and will look good on any campus or in any workplace. They are also really reasonably priced. You can also find really cheap canvas messenger bags online. Most will often set you back no more than a fifth or so of the cost of a more modern bag. But the canvas that they are made of is heavier than many of the materials that modern messenger bags are made of. So they lose points on weight.

They also lose points when it comes to protection. Most are still made to a pretty simple design so they won’t have the padding and shock protection built in that a more expensive bag would have. And the modern bags are usually designed to shrug off water whereas canvas will soak some of it up and in time will soak through. I don’t find that much of a problem, mainly because I simply put my laptop in a snug padded zip-up skin that seems to protect it just fine from minor knocks and bumps. Obviously this is not going to be the same level of protection as a dedicated bag with airbags and the like but it is enough from me when I’m being careful and make sure not to drop my bag. I also like the fact that canvas feels a bit more natural than many of the more modern petroleum-based fibres that go into newer styles of bag. And if you are looking for a relatively small messenger bag for just carrying keys and a phone or perhaps a small netbook or iPad, then you should be able to find one that works for you. If you travel a lot you might also find it more convenient to get a TSA approved checkpoint friendly bag as that can get you past the security and to the boarding gate a lot quicker.

There are a wide range of messenger bags and laptop bags that you can buy online and Amazon has a great range. Here are some of their nicer canvas messenger bags.