Battle of the lifestyle messenger bags
Kelty Saunter courier bag
Pros: Urban style looks good; Durable fabric; Very water resistant
Cons: No triangular support strap; Loose end of strap flops; No reflective exterior surfaces
Bottom Line: Unless you want it solely for urban commuting via bus, train or car, the Saunter doesn’t cut it.
MSRP: $80
Kelty’s Web site
Osprey Flap Jack Courier
Pros: Easy-to-access pockets; Reflective straps; Functional laptop sleeve
Cons: Triangular support strap awkwardly attached to shoulder pad; Interior space seems small; Shoulder strap can’t be removed to more easily accommodate top handle
Bottom Line: While the Flap Jack Courier is somewhat designed as a commuter bag in the lifestyles category, it doesn’t fully nail form or function.
MSRP: $80
Osprey’s Web site
Neither Kelty’s nor Osprey’s lifestyle bags come close to competing with true messenger bags, but they’re in a different category.
Despite being an outdoor gear company, the Kelty Saunter is clearly designed for the urban jungle via mass transit – not bike – and Osprey’s Flap Jack Courier isn’t much better.
After a couple weeks of commuting to work via bike with both bags, I quickly understood the type of person who Osprey and Kelty are likely targeting.
Both bags are designed for style – and rightfully so as they are in the lifestyle category – and have an adequate amount of functionality for roaming around town or a tame commute to work or school.
Weighing one pound, eight ounces, the Saunter, which first hit shelves in spring 2009, is made of 60 percent recycled polyester and uses vegetable-tanned leather bringing it into the “green” category.
It has a fairly large main compartment, a divided laptop area and two small, hard-to-access front pockets for a total of 1,000 cubic inches of space. A Velcro-type strap to the left and right of center pass through separate aluminum buckles to secure the closure flap, and the entire bag is incredibly water resistant.
- Kelty Saunter
But the main shoulder strap, instead of being attached perpendicular to the bag’s seam, is attached parallel to it making the bag sit awkwardly on my back. And the loose end of the strap dangles freely instead of doubling back or having another way to prevent it from flopping uncomfortably.
Both cons are pretty big when it comes to using the bag for a bike commuting.
Osprey’s Flap Jack Courier, on the other hand, seems to be confused on whether it’s a commuter or lifestyles pack.
The triangulated support strap is designed to help hold loads tight to your body, but the strap is attached to the shoulder pad that slides the length of the shoulder strap. That means, when the shoulder pad is in the correct place, the support strap does nothing to help while commuting.
The one-pound, 12-ounce bag has reflective strips, and a spot to connect a blinker, crucial elements for any commuter, easy-to-access pockets and a padded laptop compartment.
- Osprey Flab Jack Courier
But the courier bag also has features that bring it into the lifestyles category. It has a top carrying strap, which would be much more functional if you could remove the shoulder strap, an easily accessible organizational pocket, and a host of included webbing colors to slightly customize the look.
Though reportedly bigger than Kelty’s Saunter (the Flap Jack is 1,200 cubic inches), I found it was difficult to fit clothes, shoes and a lunch in the pack while commuting to work via bike. Space wasn’t as big of an issue with the Kelty.
A true messenger bag is simple, durable, weatherproof, has reflective detailing and a few pockets to stash a wallet, keys, mp3 player, some pens and random other necessities. I also sits well on your back without moving – often with the help of a fully-functional support strap.
I’ve used my Timbuk2 Classic messenger bag for years with few complaints despite the abuse I put on it, and Chrome messenger bags are also tried and true.
While both the Osprey and the Kelty are quite different, if you’re looking for commuter functionality, the Osprey wins hands down, but the Kelty overtakes it when it comes to aesthetics and accessibility.
