Review: Chrome Metropolis Courier Bag
We here at Robonza know that looking good on a bike is important. You gotta look good while commuting too. Panniers might work and cause less stress on your butt, but they do not make you look cool.
We all know looking good on a bike is made easy by using a nice courier bag. After 11 years of Timbuk2 DeeDog glory I decided I would try a Chrome bag. The Metropolis is 2000 inches^3, has the chrome seat belt buckle chest strap and is built like a tank.
Chaka Test
Before we delve in to the features, lets just show you how big it is, it can fit at least one fat cat. I call this the Chaka Malik test, as thats the cats name. Its no small cat, she’s like 13 pounds! Someone needs to go on a diet…
That 16 LED blinky light is a custom one I made, you can too if you follow these directions I put over on instructables.com
Features
The bag has reflective material sewn in to the quick release straps, a nice touch. It has a padded shoulder strap with a sort of quick release seat belt buckle in the middle. The buckle comes in usefull if tons of awkards stuff in the bag. It also has a nice velcro catch for the stabilizer strap to keep it out of the way when it is not needed. Also there is a piece of webbing on the bottom for sliding in a blinky light, although I’d argue its vertical and should be horizontal so the light doesn’t fall out.
Insides
What I really like about this bag and what sets it apart from the standard Timbuk2 is the internal dividers. The metropolis has a zippered change/wallet/passport pocket, pen holders, 3 nice pockets for cell phone, tools, ear warmer or other small items. Then the internal pocket, which is huge breaks away from the bag to form two sections in case want to seperate things. Like your dirty U-lock from your clean work clothes…
Using it
So I used this bag for a while commuting with:
Kryptonite New York U Lock
Tube
Pump
Soma Woodie 20 tool
Dress Pants
Dress Shirt
Drawls
Undershirt
Cell Phone
Wind Breaker/Rain shell
Widescreen Dell Laptop
Yeah this bag swallows all of this up while not being too big. I was getting wrinkled clothes so I used a garment bag insert from my carry on and that solved that problem.
If you have to jump curbs and ride looking good. This is one nice bag.
From Chrome:
Chrome Metropolis
Slightly smaller and nimbler than the Kremlin messenger, but still plenty big to carry a lot of what you really need. In addition to the cross-chest stabilizer strap, the Metropolis also includes a waist strap attachment point. Extra features include a secret stash pocket and front utility buckles for external rain gear storage. Click here to read reviews and to find out more about our messenger bags. Click here for color swatches.
Dimensions: 26 x 14 x 7 (flat dimensions)
Volume: 2000 cu. in. (not based on flat dimensions)
Website: www.chromebags.com