LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

pazza98 · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Hornsey

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me a recommendation on either a specific bag in this category. I want to use it for commuting, possibly carrying customer equipment (routers / firewalls etc.), skates, netbook etc.

So I'm looking at the larger end of the spectrum, my current backpack I use for commuting becomes very uncomfortable when I squeeze in my skates. I've got a K2 bag I could use, but I fancy trying something different.

I need something with a good capacity, preferably waterproof and comfortable to wear, which I can only assume that generally they are, as bike couriers use them and for a much greater time than I will be.

I've had a go configuring a timbuk2 bag online, but I really need to see some in the flesh and it ended up quite expensive for a bag. Can anyone recommend a good shop or shopping area to try some out and see what else is out there? Thanks.

sol · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:56 pm Subject:

I got my Caterpillar courier http://www.tontojacks.co.uk/caterpillar-inch-laptop-messenger-bag-p-851.html?osCsid=2f5b509b643c1b95a36c7c15a7a6ef4f from TK Maxx for 13 notes. It's big (takes my Bonts), waterproof and has a laptop pocket inside. My experience is that if you put skates inside a bag, it's not going to be that comfy whatever the bag

matty · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:34 pm Subject:

I've got a timbuktu courier bag i configured online (too pricey) and i did use it for cycling with skates in for a while and its was very uncomfy.. plus the one shoulder thing is just bad for the body..

I'd be going with one of these:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dakine/dispatch-laptop-bag-ec026700?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

i carry my skates both speed or the more bulky evo's plus pads, cones, food, clothes etc on an 7mile e/w commute to the park most weekends in mine, its great, its totally waterproof and stays pretty comfy whatever u put in it..(if you pack intellegently) theres extra space for other stuff too..
just an idea...but i reckon you'd get your race machines and Cat's Bonts in it if you wanted to.. the strap design does a nice job of distributing the weight, its nothing fancy but does seem to work..

(there's one left in CBR in black (or was on saturday) and with your LSST 10% and a little push on price you might get it for the same as the nasty grey one is from Evans...

i met the Dakine rep a couple of weeks back in CBR, he saw mine and said it was one of the best spec'd packs they'd recently done, but it has been discontinued as it didn't sell so well.. he was really pleased to see i was getting good use from mine..

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

I got a rack and pannier for my commuting bike. I forget what bike you have, so that may not be an option for you (or may be an option you don't want to countenance), but on the other hand it may be a justification to buy an n+1th bicycle ;-)

pazza98 · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Hornsey

matty · Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:26 am Subject:

BigSteev · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 282 Location: London

Expensive http://www.missionworkshop.com/ but very good.

matty · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:42 am Subject:

peterc · Joined: 10 Mar 2004 Posts: 1284 Location: M3 somewhere

I speced Bagaboo from hungry I think, very spendy not as good to cycle in ad my old one strap bag, but a great "Not a laptop" bag.

They will do a custom design to your specs which is nice.

pazza98 · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 257 Location: Hornsey