<p>I'm in the process of getting things for college next year, and I'm stuck on what kind of bag to get. I'm waffling between a messenger bag and a regular backpack, and I was curious to see what other people were getting and if anybody had opinions (I'm sure someone does).
For reference, I'm going to Northwestern University next year, and probably living on South Campus. I'm going to be a bio major, so I'll be doing a lot of biking up to North campus for my science classes. I plan on carrying my 13" MacBook Pro in my bag, as well as any books I'll need, but I don't want the bag to be too large. I was thinking about a traditional messenger bag (you know, the kind that actual bike messengers wear in cities) that I could strap on my back for easy bike riding. But, I'm worried one of those won't work well off of a bike, walking around. I've looked at this one Patagonia Half</a> Mass Bag - ClimbingGear.com from Patagonia, and this one CHROME</a> | Citizen Messenger Bag, Yellow-Sky | Official Site from Chrome. Does anyone have any experiences with these particular bags, or others like them?</p>
<p>As a side note, I've been lurking here for a while, but I think it's such a great site! I've learned so much, especially during the application process.</p>
<p>It never ceases to amuse me when an 18 year old can’t decide what type of bookbag to buy…lol. </p>
<p>But I guess they just use this forum as a release for all of their overexcitement about college…</p>
<p>I would say backpack.</p>
<p>Messenger bags aren’t as good for your back and don’t make riding a bike any easier (at least not in the distance involved around the Northwestern campus…). In fact you may find it easier to ride a bike with a backpack, due to the more even distribution of weight. Not to mention even very cheap backpacks come with simple things like many extra pockets, good for keeping your pencils separate from your books, wallet separate from everything else, etc. Whereas messenger bags of similar prices tend to be like giant oversized purses…lol.</p>
<p>If you want to sacrifice comfort for your own personal style or cool factor or whatever, by all means go with a messenger bag…but i think backpacks are most comfortable and practical.</p>
<p>Umcp11: Haha, yes, I’m just as indecisive about everything else as I am about this. I’m sure I’ll still be like this when I’m 50. And thanks for the reply!
I think I am leaning towards a backpack now, as opposed to a messenger bag. Any suggestions? or am I overthinking this? :)</p>
<p>I have an eastpack backpack and a messenger bag (the bag of holding from thinkgeek.com). I prefer my messenger bag for things I like to have on me most of the time and the backpack for carrying large numbers of things. The messenger bag is a lot easier to access and has better pockets but the eastpack is easier on the back.</p>
<p>“If you want to sacrifice comfort for your own personal style or cool factor or whatever, by all means go with a messenger bag…but i think backpacks are most comfortable and practical.”</p>
<p>the most practical, in your case, would be to get both. Keep a backpack for when you need to lug around heavy textbooks/notebooks/laptop.
Keep the messenger bag for just bringing the bare essentials during test/exam time, or when you just want to look fly around campus, but still carry some stuff. lol</p>
<p>^ That’s what I think I’m going to do. I’ve found a backpack from High Sierra on eBags.com, and I’ll use that for heavy stuff. Then I’m going to take my old messenger bag for music.</p>
<p>I guess it really depends on how much stuff you wanna carry. If you carry everything because your classes have little time separation, get a backpack - its not simply possible for a messenger bag to carry that much weight and have you comfortable. </p>
<p>If you have your classes very spaced out, than get a messenger bag. Its just so simple to put stuff in and very convenient - if you only need it for a little.</p>
<p>I always use my messenger for when I only have my laptop and a novel or something. Like if I am only going to one class. Or studying somewhere. I use my backpack for hardcore not going back to my room until the end of the day carrying. </p>
<p>I also use it as a suitcase, grocery bag, etc. Make sure you don’t get a “looks pretty but cant carry crap” sort of backpack. Also make sure its waterproof.</p>
<p>Urgh, I was debating this too. I usually like to carry textbooks, so I can study in the library but I’ve gotten myself a messenger bag >.< It’s bigger than the average bag and it’s pretty sturdy I believe. Unfortunately, I tried putting my organic chemistry textbook inside, when I was walking, it was hurting my legs as it kept bumping into them. Maybe I’ll use both too. I wonder if I have an extra backpack at home :/</p>
<p>I just ordered a messenger bag. I hate backpacks! They’re bulky and uncomfortable, and it’s impossible to get anything out of them without taking it off your back and unzipping it…Many messenger bags have a similar problem, the flap being in the way…but the one I bought is like a huge tote bag with a zipper and a longer strap.</p>
<p>This thread is old, but I am reviving it, as I am chilling with you and just had an epiphany. </p>
<p>You’re not just more comfortable and practical.</p>
<p>You’re also MORE AWESOME.</p>
<p>You’ve been bleached by Moroccan sun, soaked on a water taxi in Latin America, stuffed with clothes and shoved under bus seats for impromptu road trips to Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston…you’re always my one piece of free carry on luggage, my one necessity on any journey into the unknown. </p>
<p>What kind of pansy messenger bag could hike with me, trek across a city all day and all night with me (with my jeans and my sweatshirts for the San Francisco fog, and my shampoo and toothbrush because we haven’t found a hotel yet), or just in general be so awesome? </p>
<p>Get a backpack- I got a messenger bag for my first semester and it was horrendous. Throw in a couple of textbooks along with that laptop and you’re set to have your shoulders dislocated in due time. </p>