Messenger Bag and Sling Backpack Shopping Tips and Buying Guide

Messenger bags are as stylish and hip as ever.

Messenger Bags and Sling Backpacks have become the default carrying cases and briefcases for the travelling businessmen, college student and young professionals.

In this article we will try to explain what a messenger bag and sling backpacks are, what they are used for, features to look for when buying new sling backpacks and messenger bags and new the new styles that are being sold by the top manufacturers.

What is a Messenger Bag and Sling Backpack?

Before we can discuss the various features, merits and advantages of Messenger bags, we have to first agree on what exactly makes a Messenger bag a Messenger bag.

Most people acknowledge and recognize a Messenger bag as a satchel type bag, with one or possibly two main pockets, and a single long carrying strap that is usually worn over one shoulder.

Messenger bags can be made or leather, canvas, nylon, polyester, cotton or just about any other material.

What are Messenger Bags and Sling Backpacks used for?

Messenger, or Courier bags as they were once know as, were originally created to be used by the Pony Express for carrying mail and post items over long distances. Later they were adopted and used by the US Postal Service local letter delivery.

More recently, in the 1980’s, they were adapted for use by bicycle messengers in cities such as New York and Chicago for use in deliveries between offices.

Starting in the 1990’s they were starting to be seen as the ‘cool’ bag by high school and college students. Manufacturers weren’t far behind and started making various types and models of the Messenger bags for use as bookbags.

Now the Messenger bag has all but replaced the standard briefcase for day-to-day use in the office as a briefcase replacement and laptop bag, due to its versatility and durability, while remaining the standard for college campuses for its use as a replacement bookbags and convenient carrying bag for laptops, mp3 players, cell phones, etc.

Usually the only difference between a college kids Messenger bag and the Business persons Messenger bag is the materials that were used in its construction.

Manufacturers have recently started making a new hybrid type of bag called a ‘Sling Bag’ that is a mixture of Messenger bags and typical Backpacks. Sling Bags have the single strap of a Messenger bag, but the main body and pocket design more like a traditional backpack and are usually worn slung across the back like a backpack.

Messenger bags have also started to see life as general carry-on types of bags for travelers of all sorts for their ease of use, conformity to TSA, FAA and airline carry-on baggage requirements

In part two of this post we will discuss the advantages of Sling and Messenger Bags, as well as the features that separate the best Messenger bags from the all the rest.