I've been a lifelong cyclist and full-time bicycle commuter for 30+ years. In that time I've used panniers, backpacks, messenger bags, and bikepacking bags. After the past 15 years of running bikepacking bags, I decided to switch things up and streamline my commuter bike. I had a 13 year-old Timbuk2 bag, but it finally wore out and I never really cared for the strap buckle and padding. I've known about Chrome messenger bags for years, so I finally bought one after reading a ton of reviews. I was a little hesitant due to the fact that ownership had apparently changed recently, and some long-term fans seemed disappointed, but I was never super happy with my Timbuk2 bag for commuting.

So far this bag has been perfect. My commute in is 26 miles round-trip. The shoulder pad is very comfortable, and the bag sits nice and still while riding, even when standing up on a climb. It has a huge capacity, so I can cram my work clothes, food, and bike tools in it with room to spare. My 15-inch laptop just barely fits in the laptop sleeve, but the sleeve itself is very soft and I really like the fact that it is not at the back of the bag. I've found that sweat manages to work its way into any bag, so having your laptop separated from your body is really helpful. I live in AZ, so rain isn't much of an issue, but the bag seems to be pretty weather resistant.

The bag is only a couple of weeks old, but it appears to be really durable. I have sewn a bunch of my own bikepacking bags with my…