I’m new to Chrome’s products, just bought my first Citizen bag here in 2025. I was leery given mixed reviews from people who had experienced their older bags from back in the day, but I took the risk anyway.

The materials are as hefty as you can get without making the bag weigh a ton. I like the large design as it distributes the load across my whole back, and while the strap is stiff, it is breaking in and proving to be awesome. LOVE the magnetic flap pockets.

I am puzzled by the sheer size/footprint of the bag given its capacity, but I’m such a sucker for the NYC courier aesthetic that I’m cool with it. Should I have got the Kadet Max? Yeah, probably, but I’m digging this bag.

Got these alongside a new bag using in part a voucher offered to me as a replacement for my old bag which had some small faults. Super happy with the companies policy generally and love almost everything about the new bag although there are some minor design changes which I feel lean more towards hipster aesthetics and slightly away from the roots of the bag in functional utility for bike messengers.

The lack of ring on the shoulder for a key clip as default was a bit of a downgrade for me (especially for work use) and I ended up cutting the ring out of my old bag to put it on the new one. I love the new pocket system and less Velcro means less damage to my clothes stored inside but things like the water bottle pocket felt a bit ott and I preferred the traditional slimmed down approach.

The handle on the top is an excellent addition and really appreciated. The loss of the second smaller reflective strip across the back was also a bit a bit of a shame.

Its an excellent, super high quality bag, no doubts - I just have a bit of nostalgia for the older version.

Overall thoughts:

+ Looks great.

+ Magnetic quiet pockets

+ Laptop sleeve

+ Handle on top

- No pen/pocket like organizer. Must buy as extra

- Front pockets hard to use when bag full as pocket are flat vs cube like.

- Main opening still harder to put stuff in as opening is less square than say a Timbuk2. This does keep top more flat looking though. Overall storage is more like a trapezoid vs say cube where bottom is more spacious than opening.

- Velcro is super strong, almost too much. I need to block parts to make it easier to rip open with 1 hand. Perhaps reduce velcro amount. Blocks usage of quiet magnetic pockets if needing to rip loud main flap.

- Strap is super long and flaps around body when wearing.

Unsure longevity as i just got, but my timbuk2 lasted a decade+ so hope this does.