The Wallet Shoppe
Getting a suitable travel bag is as important as choosing the right pair of walking shoes.
Aside from being big enough to carry all of your essentials, the ideal bag should be lightweight and comfortable. Furthermore, a good messenger bag is designed to keep your items organized and safe yet easily accessible.
Nobody wants to get to the check-in counter only to discover that their bag has swallowed up their passport. These crossbody carryalls are also great for storing different items that you couldn’t fit inside your luggage.
Best Messenger Bags for Air Travel: Reviews
For those who are all “Just the facts, Ma’am”, here are our seven main picks in a simple table. The full reviews are straight after, and we do have one bonus bag as well!
Here’s what we like (and don’t) about each one.
Kenneth Cole Reaction Risky Messenger Bag
This laptop bag is made from luxurious Colombian leather that is incredibly durable. The exterior construction ensures that the bag keeps its shape while the interior features tear-resistant lining.
Review
The Risky Business is a slim leather messenger from Kenneth Cole Reaction. This sleek bag features a spacious main compartment and an adjustable shoulder strap, ideal for carrying everyday essentials. In addition, its numerous pockets will keep all your things organized and easy to locate.
The Kenneth Cole Reaction bag comes in three different colors and is designed to fit various electronic devices, such as a Mac and other laptops. It’s functional, has plenty of space for my paperwork, pens, and accessories.
Pros
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At 3-inches wide, it’s easy to carry
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Fashionable look
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Made of high-quality leather
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Has many storage compartments
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Adjustable, padded shoulder strap
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Available in three colors
Cons
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Not a proper padded laptop bag, so bring a sleeve
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Not big enough for everything if you’re traveling abroad
Amazon Basics 15.6” Laptop Shoulder Bag
If everything else on this list is out of budget, the Amazon Basics laptop shoulder bag is the cheapest real option, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Black polyester, padded laptop sleeve, a main compartment, a front pocket with pen slots — and that’s it.
Review
This is the bag you buy when you need a laptop bag for a trip next week and want a budget-friendly option. It’s not going to turn heads walking into a client meeting, but it gives you a padded laptop compartment, zipped storage, and a removable shoulder strap. No leather patina to develop, no heirloom quality — just a functional carry.
We wrote up our full take on all three Amazon Basics categories (wallets, messenger bags, backpacks) in our honest Amazon Basics review.
Pros
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The cheapest real option on this list
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Padded laptop compartment
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Light, so it won’t eat into your carry-on weight
Cons
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Looks exactly as cheap as it is
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Polyester isn’t weatherproof
Ytonet Water Resistant Business Messenger Bag
This laptop bag features a built-in organizer. It’s an expandable, unisex bag with plenty of compartments.
Review
The Ytonet Messenger Bag packs in more space than most on this list. It features a padded laptop sleeve and ten pockets to keep all of your essential items organized. Unzip the expansion zipper and it gets deeper, which is handy on the way home when the charger, the snacks and the duty-free all need somewhere to go. The fabric is water-resistant, good for a dash across the tarmac in the rain.
Pros
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Plenty of multi-functional compartments
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High-quality, water-resistant material
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Top carrying handles
Cons
- Once it’s expanded, it may not fit under the seat in front of you
FRYE Men’s Logan Messenger Bag
This leather messenger bag features a well-worn look and plenty of room for your belongings. Its main compartment has three pockets, and its front zip pocket has a built-in key clip.
Review
This Frye bag is made from high-quality materials and features a spacious interior that can hold various small and large items. In addition, the magnetic closure holds the flap in place, but does not enclose the contents as fully as a zippered main compartment. The flap-and-strap design gives it a more relaxed look than a business briefcase.
It’s uncomplicated with only a couple of pockets, and the quality of the leather looks and feels great. There’s no laptop padding, though, so bring a sleeve.
Pros
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Great quality leather material
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Very well constructed
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Timeless design
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Soft to the touch
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Roomy interior
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Leather styling that works beyond the airport
Cons
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No padding for the laptop compartment
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The strap isn’t detachable
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Magnetic snap closure isn’t very secure
Samsonite Colombian Leather Flap-Over Messenger Bag
The Samsonite Colombia Leather Laptop Bag features a medium-sized shape and three interior pockets to accommodate various items. It’s made from durable, luxurious Colombian leather.
Review
This sleek messenger bag by Samsonite features a spacious interior and multiple pockets for different items. Its built-in organizer makes it easy to find what you need. It’s also constructed with a built-in pen holder, cardholder, and phone pocket.
This bag is really great, fits a 15.6-inch laptop perfectly. The leather is soft and well stitched as well. The compartment is spacious enough for your mouse and tablet.
Pros
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Made from genuine, high-quality leather
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It has a top handle that makes it easy to lift
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Padded strap to reduce shoulder fatigue
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Adjustable shoulder strap
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Compartments for easy organization
Cons
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Leather can scuff, marring the appearance
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Leather construction adds weight compared with a fabric laptop case
Chrome Industries Citizen Messenger Bag
Chrome built its name on bags for bike couriers, and the Citizen is the classic: a 24L messenger with room for a laptop, a charger and a sweater for the plane.
Review
The Citizen 24L has a padded, zipped device pocket for most 15-inch laptops, a quick-grab top handle and a shoulder strap that switches for left- or right-handed carry. And it has Chrome’s signature seatbelt buckle, which clicks open with one hand.
It’s big, though. On a budget airline with a strict personal-item limit, it may have to go in the overhead bin.
Pros
- Wide, padded shoulder strap
- Padded laptop pocket with separate zipped access
- Top handle for lifting it out from under a seat
- Weather-resistant construction and an internal bottle pocket
- Left- or right-shoulder carry
Cons
- Big for a personal item
- Heavy before you’ve put anything in it (Chrome lists 2.5 lb empty)
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag
Our Editor’s Pick. Timbuk2 has been making messenger bags in San Francisco since 1989, and the Classic comes in sizes from Extra Small up. The Medium is the one we’d take traveling.
Review
The Classic Medium takes most 16-inch laptops in an internal divider pocket. There’s a built-in organiser for the small stuff that otherwise migrates to the bottom of the bag, plus internal bottle pockets and a padded shoulder strap.
One owner of an older Classic described more than ten years of use for work, travel and other errands.
It’s rugged, has useful storage for electronics, and looks professional without looking like a briefcase. Two things to know: the laptop divider isn’t padded, so bring a sleeve, and only the limited-edition Classic has a trolley sleeve for riding on top of your suitcase.
Pros
- A versatile bag for travel or everyday laptop carry
- Useful organisation and bottle storage
- Left- or right-shoulder carry
- Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects
Cons
- The laptop divider isn’t padded
- No trolley sleeve unless you get the limited edition
Bonus! Travelon Women’s Anti-Theft Messenger Bag
As we said earlier, we have one extra bonus bag to show you here. If you’ve ever had your bag go missing in a crowded terminal, Travelon’s Anti-Theft Classic Messenger is the bag for you. It has slash-resistant panels and a reinforced strap.
Review
The Classic Messenger has locking compartments, a strap that can secure to a chair, and RFID-blocking card and passport pockets. None of that will stop a determined thief, but it makes a quick grab a lot harder.
Pros
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It has a strap lock that secures the bag to a stationary object like a chair
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RFID-blocking card and passport pockets
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Stylish design
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The main compartment is roomy and can hold essential items
Cons
- No room for a laptop
Buyer’s Guide
Backpacks may be great carryalls, but when looking for a bag that allows for easy access and agility, nothing beats a messenger bag.
They are an excellent option for those who need to access essential items while on the move. These bags also tend to draw people who don’t carry bulky materials and want a more professional look. Here are the factors you should consider when choosing a suitable messenger bag for air travel.
Material
Genuine leather messenger bags tend to be durable, reliable, and high quality. Their lifespan depends on the leather, stitching, hardware and care. Leather bags also add style and authority to your collection, giving you a professional look while you travel. One major downside of leather bags is their price tag. They tend to be more expensive than bags made from other materials.
Size
Ideally, your messenger bag should be large enough to hold all of the gear you need to carry. However, it’s also essential to ensure that it’s not too big as you wouldn’t want to lug any unnecessary weight around. The one number worth checking is your airline’s personal-item size: measure the bag packed, not empty, because that’s how it’ll be at the gate.
Style
There are so many factors that go into choosing a messenger bag, such as its color, materials, and design. Before you buy, think about what you need to wear it for. For instance, if you’re using it for work, consider what type of environment you will be carrying it in.
A clean silhouette or soft draping design will make it easier to fit into formal settings. However, if you don’t need it for work, then you have the freedom to pick a less subdued bag than the black, tan, and blue variety.
Storage
Getting to your gear is a primary reason for carrying a messenger bag over other types of carryalls. These bags can help you get to your items quickly and easily without removing them from your shoulder with on-body access.
In addition, they have various features such as shoulder straps and pockets to help keep you organized. When selecting a messenger bag, it’s vital to ensure that it has enough compartments to keep all your items organized.
Durability
If you’re going to be carrying your bag regularly, it should be made from durable materials and built with sturdy construction. Materials like water-resistant fabric can help keep your bag going when the going gets tough.
FAQ
How Should I Clean My Messenger Bag?
It depends on what it’s made of. Most fabric messengers just need spot-cleaning and a day to air-dry; keep them out of the washing machine. Leather needs a gentler touch, and the maker’s care label is the place to start. Our messenger-bag cleaning guide goes through it step by step.
How Can I Waterproof My Messenger Bag?
A spray-on treatment like Nikwax will help a fabric bag shed water (pick one made for your bag’s material). It won’t seal the flap or the zippers, though, so if your laptop’s in there during a downpour, put it in a dry bag too.
Are Messenger Bags Professional?
There are different types of messenger bags on the market, but these products are considered professional for the most part. They are viewed as alternatives to the briefcase, primarily when constructed from high-quality, genuine leather.
The Verdict Is In
For price and functionality, it’s hard to beat the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag.
If you also need a rolling carry-on to go in the overhead bin, the carry-on luggage pilots and flight attendants actually use is the shortlist to start with — it covers the carry-on features that matter for frequent trips.
