Since I lost my really nice Bailey Works bag last month, I have been missing its carrying capacity pretty badly. I took my young’uns downtown today and where I would have had cameras with me and gotten some pictures, I only have memories and regrets.
So now to replace it. Bailey Works is my first choice, but their color options are limited unless you buy from them direct. $25 price difference, yo. And celery 
and burgundy 
would not be my preferred picks.
Chrome also gets favorably compared but are even more spendy. Timbuk2 are off the list: I’d rather buy from a domestic maker if I can.
Any recommendations out there?
[this looks like what a lot of people are looking for: a pattern and some style ideas. very cool. ]
Have you considered Tom Bihn? They’re here in Seattle. My wife and I have had a number of their bags and they have all been very well constructed. One messenger bag saw three years of regular bike-commuting service before being relegated to diaper bag status. Six years later, it’s still going strong.
They don’t make anything specifically sold as a messenger bag, but Sundog is local (Issaquah) and makes decent bags, if the small one I’ve got is any indication. One of their office product line might work as a messenger bag.
Trager is also local, and does make a few messenger bags that look pretty nice. I’ve got a laptop sleeve from them, and it’s great.
I don’t know where Eagle Creek makes their stuff, but they’ve got some decent-looking messenger bags too.
And, for what it’s worth, Timbuk2 claims that their custom and classic bags are made in San Francisco.
Dunno why so many comments are getting stuck in moderation.
I’ll follow up on these suggestions, thanks. Timbuk2 has some PR to do, if they are making their stuff domestically. I found a lot of aspersions being cast their way on that issue. The enclosed link is busted, but I’ll look into that.
[edit] So there is a mixed policy here. I have to give them credit for being upfront about what they’re doing and why. I really like that kind of transparency and wish more manufacturers did it. Thanks for the nudge to go check ‘em out myself.
Ironically, in the same google search that turned up your blog, I found an article about the messenger bag trend which mentioned that Timbuk2 developed a remarkably efficient Just-In-Time manufacturing system. This allowed them to keep their manufacturing plant in San Francisco instead of going overseas.
http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/cms/manufacturing.htm
I’d say you owe them an apology.
did you read all the way through? Did you follow the link? The one that goes to the same place you linked?
As I noted above and linked to, it’s a mixed policy — they do some stuff domestically and some overseas — and I gave them credit for being upfront about it. Yes, their messenger bags are made domestically. But there is a lot of information out there that claims all their manufacturing has been moved offshore. I have found — and linked to — information that states otherwise. And for this I should apologize? Get over yourself.
Ah well. I figure that some people don’t want to hear about strongly-held values unless they hold them, too. I’m not rabidly anti-china, but I do feel weird supporting a culture that’s pledged to end my way of life.
I’ll agree, BaileyWorks generally makes the best bags in the biz as far as quality. R.E. Load are also extremely popular because of all the custom sewing. Chrome bags are pretty much the “IT” bag for the common folks right now. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
Personally, I have used a Timbuk2 Classic Large for years. Bottom Line: I don’t care about fashion. I am not made out of money. A BaileyWorks in the same size costs twice the price and does the same thing… carry stuff.
It’s about utility to me, not style or politics. Odds are every piece of clothing you wear is made in a different country. Now buying a bag made in the USA is important? ………………..Ok………………..
It’s not so much fashion, though I take your point. Politics or values are closer to the truth, but even then it’s not cut and dried.
I just got a replacement for my {snif} lost BaileyWorks bag, some no-name one I found on FreeCycle (ems?). About the same dimensions, so it’ll do.
Hey Paul….nto sure which you decidd, but TB2 has a hybrid business model with their bag manufacturing. Custom made bags are made in SF while the mass produced color combo’s (like the ones you find on ebags, etc) are made in China.
I ended up scoring a free one from my local FreeCycle collective. Good enough for now, though if I really had to work one pretty hard, I’d be looking for something a little better.
Some of the smaller companies are often led by ex messengers so they understand about the product. I really like the Bagaboo messenger bags from Budapest. They are generally made to order but some companies have stock. There is a UK one that will ship to the US at http://www.urbanhunter.biz
Hey this won’t help you much now since your problem is solved, but i made my own messenger bag this past week and it’s amazing! You could make your own bag.