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 each one offers for a travel day.
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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Add a protective sleeve for a laptop rather than relying on the leather exterior
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The narrow shape suits a laptop and essentials rather than a change of clothes
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 honest no-frills option. 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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Budget-friendly, straightforward laptop carry
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Padded laptop compartment
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Lightweight fabric construction
Cons
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Plain business-case styling
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Polyester isn’t weatherproof
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Limited room for bulky clothing alongside your laptop
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. It’s also easy to expand the bag to a wider size by unzipping the expansion zipper. The extra depth is useful for a charger and a few travel essentials; it also makes the packed bag bulkier.
Water-resistant fabric helps with light rain, but the bag is not a sealed waterproof case.
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
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The expanded bag takes up more space under a seat
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Extra compartments and an expansion zipper make this a larger case than a slim messenger
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. Use a padded sleeve for a laptop, and compare its actual dimensions with the compartment rather than assuming every 17-inch machine fits.
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
The Citizen here is Chrome’s 24L messenger, a roomy choice for a laptop, charger and extra layers.
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. It keeps Chrome’s signature seatbelt buckle, with interchangeable buckle hardware.
That capacity is useful for a long travel day, but its broad shape makes it a better choice when you have a generous cabin-bag allowance. Check the packed dimensions against your airline’s personal-item limit before counting on under-seat storage.
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
- At 24L, this is a large messenger rather than a compact personal-item bag
- Chrome lists the empty weight at 2.5 lb
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag
A versatile messenger with a wide choice of sizes; the Medium is the one featured here.
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.
The divider isn’t padded, so budget space for your own laptop sleeve. A trolley sleeve is a feature of the limited-edition Classic, rather than every version. Choose the specific edition if stacking it on a suitcase matters to you.
It’s rugged, has useful storage for electronics, and looks professional without looking like a briefcase. Follow the security officer’s instructions about removing your laptop; screening procedures vary by airport and lane.
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
- Standard versions don’t include the limited edition’s trolley sleeve
- Medium is a roomy 16L bag; check your airline’s personal-item limits
Bonus! Travelon Women’s Anti-Theft Messenger Bag
As we said earlier, we have one extra bonus bag to show you here. Travelon’s Anti-Theft Classic Messenger is a compact option for documents and daily essentials. It uses slash-resistant body panels and a reinforced shoulder strap.
Review
The Classic Messenger has locking compartments, a strap that can secure to a chair, and RFID-blocking card and passport pockets. These features make opportunistic access harder; keep the bag with you rather than treating the strap lock as a substitute for supervision.
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
This is a document-and-essentials bag, not a laptop messenger
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. Compare the packed bag with your airline’s personal-item dimensions. Laptop screen sizes do not tell you the width and depth of the device, so check the compartment too. If you carry a fixed set of items, choose a bag that fits those essentials and not much else.
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?
Follow the maker’s care instructions for the specific material and finish. Many fabric messengers should be spot-cleaned and air-dried; leather needs finish-compatible care rather than a blanket soap recipe. Our messenger-bag cleaning guide covers the steps.
How Can I Waterproof My Messenger Bag?
A material-compatible treatment can improve surface water resistance, but it won’t seal an open flap, seams or zippers. Use a liner or dry pouch for sensitive electronics. Check the treatment’s exclusions before using it on leather, coated fabric or waxed canvas.
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.
