I'm in the process of phasing out my current messenger bag and it made me curious. What do you look for in a bag? Style,material, brand, what?

I prefer canvas messenger bags, one simple main pocket, maybe a back pocket, and a few small pockets for misc stuff under the flap. I hate shoulder straps with that crappy little moving padding. I like canvas because I like the texture more, I feel like its more durable, and I hate the sound of nylon on itself. I'd like to try a leather one sometime but thats not going to be for a while.

this is probably going to be my next one soon, the only things I don't like are the pockets on the sides being smaller than what I had on this last one.

What do you look for in your bag/purse/manpurse/satchel/backpack/napsack/hobopack?

I have one of these for work and it's great. Probably not what you're looking for, though.

I use one of these when I ride my motorbike. I love it.

http://www.amazon.com/5-11-Tactical-Select-Carry-Sling/dp/B003V2BTAE/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1

I like it because it's secure so it doesn't move in 100MPH winds, there are no extra flappy doodles or clippymajigs to rattle and wiggle and slap, and it has plastic snap buckles so I can put it on and take it off without having to take off my helmet or do an awkward dance.

I paid considerably less that that link advertises; it seems prices have increased since last spring. I can fit a sweater, a pair of gloves, a water bottle, a can of Fix-A-Flat, and two small novel-sized books. It wouldn't be very good for a student with a ton of books, but it's perfect for me.

Get the cop bag, just for style. All I have is a backpack.

I have this for school: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/523/1/

Got one on ebay for $40 with free shipping, can't go wrong there. Its durable as all hell, and has a pocket for every single storage need I may have. Not to mention the padding on it makes it VERY comfortable to wear. I love it.

I like plastic bags.

I've never heard the term messenger bag before, interesting

I might need a new one.

It's mostly held together with staples and tape.

I got my current one at Walmart a few years back [for some reason they stock a lot of them by the men's boxer section around here] and love it, has compartments and pockets and such for anything I can imagine [eg toothbrush, deoderant, compact, books, netbook, notecards, cardcase, prescriptions, razor, and sooo on.]

I think it's primarily canvas and less than a foot square.

I also have a Finnish map pack I got at an army surplus store that's pretty classy.

They're both fairly different dimensions though than the one you posted so may not suit your needs.

I have this same backpack. It's the best I've ever had.

I have a Manhattan Portage. Go to their website, they have a lot of different configurations/styles to choose from. Supposedly, they last forever. I don't really abuse my bag, but have used it almost every day for the past 6 years and there's still no sign of any wear. Downside is that there's a premium to having that red "Manhattan Portage" patch on your messenger bag.

Edit: I have the Europa Expandable - http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/Shoulder-Bags/Europa-Expandable/112.

I use a black version of this:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TC238LL/A?n=messenger_bags&fnode=MTY1NDA2Ng&mco=MTA4MjU1ODY&s=topSellers

I got it about $10 cheaper off of Amazon IIRC. It's a really nice laptop bag, and has a ton of room for notebooks and such. And it's designed in such a way that you can access all the compartments without opening the laptop flap (the big flap covers everything, there's another for the laptop).

An old Lowe Alpine 45 litre mountaineering rucksack.

It’s good for mountaineering with the ice axe loops and a thick material flap for holding in crampons, plenty of room inside for extra layers, rope and food. For birdwatching the strapping on the side and the deep sidepockets mean I can strap my tripod to the outside with the scope attached and have it ready at short notice without having it levered over my shoulder for hours. The compression straps help tidy it up into a low profile rucksack for day-to-day use. I carry far too much crap around with me all day.

I have this bag that isn't what it says it is.

But I got it for like $5

I've got two that I use on a regular basis

For carrying my laptop around I use

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sheep-Scarer-dk-navy-silver-lt-blue/dp/B0001MQ4L6 in all black, I first noticed it because of the name but went to have a look at one before I got it and it's got a great inner compartment for a laptop, great padding all round and a bunch of pockets that are easy to access. The inner laptop compartment can be removed totally if you don't want it.

For anything else (normally skiing and any form of exercise) I use

http://www.salomon.com/cz/product/trailblazer-25.html

It's light, plenty of outter pockets/bungies to attach stuff to and it also has an opening in the top for sticking out a water tube if you are carrying a camel pack.

this sounds cruel and unusual...

This... [URL]http://www.scaramangashop.co.uk/retro-leather satchel-bag/prod_27.html[/URL]

Or maybe this... http://www.gentlemansgadgets.com/carbon2cobalts-inauguration-leather-bag/

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/messenger-bags/citizen-buckle-bag---medium.html?c=214

love it.

i have a zebra print diaper bag...usually just put all my crap in one of the pockets.

I don't use bags.

I also like milk bags.

I have one of these (an earlier model) that I use for camping & hiking. I'm very happy with it. I don't use a pack for anything else.

I can't find mine anywhere online, but it's an Eastpak laptop backpack. I've had it for years... Much longer than I've even had a laptop. It's got two large main pouches. The back one has a laptop flap. Then on the front it has two smaller pouches. The larger of the two is divided into 3 smaller compartments.