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Apr 16, 2023

Best Messenger Bags For Men 2023

Let’s face it: You’ve grown out of your backpack. You’re not dropping off your

Let's face it: You’ve grown out of your backpack. You’re not dropping off your stuff in your locker anymore. You’re an adult man, with an adult job—so you need an adult way to carry around your wallet, work items, laptop and other everyday essentials. Enter the best messenger bags for men. A messenger bag is the cool, tough guy's version of the purse: a bag that you sling over your shoulder or across your body that comes in different sizes and styles to accommodate your needs.

The best messenger bags for men are stylish, durable and well organized.

The right messenger bag for you depends on what you plan to carry around (a laptop, iPad, book, gym clothes?) and where you’re heading (to work or a coffee shop?). Ahead, we did the research on the styles and materials for different use case scenarios. Here's what made our list of the best messenger bags for guys, including our top pick, Chrome's Citizen, and a budget-friendly alternative from Timbuk2.

Amazon

Materials: Nylon | Closure: Buckle | Colors: 8 total, including Black and Amber Tritone

Simple, durable, and undeniably elegant, Chrome's Citizen is a bestseller from the brand known for messenger bags. Made from military-grade nylon—you know it’ll stand up to the elements—and with an easy-release buckle closure, it's a travel-ready messenger bag that always looks great and has multiple compartments to organize your things, including a main pocket with separate wet and dry compartments and space for a 15-inch laptop. You might not want to head into a boardroom with it, though—the tough exterior doesn't really work in high-end business settings.

Timbuk2

Materials: Recycled polyester | Closure: Buckle | Colors: 3 total, including Eco Black and Eco Army Pop

For an entry level messenger, you can't beat Timbuk2's. It's made from an incredibly durable tech canvas derived from eco-friendly recycled polyester—so you can feel good about your buy—plus a water-resistant exterior to keep your laptop, books and whatever else you have in there dry. The interior capacity is only medium sized, however; we wouldn't recommend buying if you need to haul around a lot of stuff.

Shinola Detroit

Materials: Leather | Closure: Zip | Colors: Brown Leather

If you’re ready to take the dive into a more sophisticated style—and the price that comes with it—Shinola's messenger bag is made with luxurious leather infused with oils for a rich patina that only gets better with wear. Plus, you can carry it crossbody or as a briefcase with the removable, adjustable strap. Inside, there's three open interior pockets and a larger interior zip compartment that can hold a 15-inch laptop. While it doesn't have room for your gym clothes, it's an excellent choice for something more high-end.

Leatherology

Materials: Leather | Closure: Front flap | Colors: 3 total, including Black Onyx and Brown

Looking for great style, but not willing to take out a loan? Leatherology's messenger bag is made from full-grain leather and has more than enough room to carry everything you need—including a main compartment with four interior pockets, three pen loops and an interior computer sleeve. Also nice: You can monogram the exterior. If you’re a big guy, however, you may want to think twice: The shoulder strap is slightly shorter so it sits higher on your body.

Nordstrom

Materials: Polyester/PVC | Closure: Buckle | Colors: Black

If you need something a little tougher than your standard fare, Ted Baker's messenger bag has a durable, rubberized exterior that works to keep rain, sleet and snow out. A removable, adjustable shoulder strap lets you carry the bag by the top handle or over the shoulder, and there's enough space in here to carry your gym clothes. While it looks fairly expandable, it's only medium sized, though, so you’ll need to pack lightly.

Huckberry

Materials: Nylon, leather | Closure: Zip | Colors: 3 total, including Otter Green and Dark Navy

There aren't many tougher messenger bags out there than those from Filson—trust us, we’ve checked. The body on this bag is made from a water-repellent, abrasion-resistant nylon that won't wear out quickly or tear and a double-layer bottom for extra durability. Inside and outside, there are multiple pockets for organization; just keep in mind that the interior is fairly dark, however, so you may have trouble finding your goods in low lighting.

Bellroy

Materials: Recycled fabric | Closure: Zip | Colors: 3 total, including Black and Navy

If you take your work on the go, you need a messenger bag that keeps up. This no-effort, ultra-sleek bag from Bellroy has a padded laptop sleeve for machines up to 16 inches, as well as a separate main compartment, internal mesh zip pocket and all sorts of slots. Plus, it's easy on the eyes with a smooth, leather-free construction. It only comes in neutral colors, though. If you want something with a little more pop, look elsewhere.

Nisolo

Materials: Vegetable-tanned leather | Closure: Snap | Colors: Chestnut, Waxed Canvas

You can't beat a classic, all-leather messenger when it comes to great style. Nisolo's combines timeless leather construction with plenty of room for storing everything you need smartly and the price is reasonable for the quality. A padded strap keeps you comfortable on the go, and a snap closure prevents your essentials from falling out. Because it's all-leather, though, the exterior is prone to scratches and wear but that's part of the charm and character.

Pacsafe

Materials: Nylon, recycled polyester | Closure: Zip | Colors: Ocean, Black

Travel worry-free with this impenetrable messenger bag that works as your personal Fort Knox. Made entirely from recycled materials and containing a laptop sleeve with plenty of pockets, Pacsafe's messenger stands out for its security features, including lockable zips, RFID-blocking pockets and a durable anchor strap that refuses to rip. It does have more of a knapsack-like body, however, so if you want a sleeker messenger bag, this might not be it.

Chrome

Materials: Nylon, tarp, polyester | Closure: Buckle | Colors: Black

If you’re moving through the city on a bike, the last thing you need is your stuff flying all over the place on a tight turn. Enter Chrome's messenger bag that easily mounts to the handlebar so you can navigate like a pro. With five liters of capacity, it’ll hold the essentials (your wallet, phone, food, water) but not extra bulk.

Away

Materials: Recycled polyester | Closure: Zip | Colors: Navy, Atomic Celery

This light, stretchy polyester bag is built for the daily commute. It has plenty of room in the main compartment for a laptop or books and inner zip pockets to stash everything else you need—and it all comes in a sleek, simple design that's office-ready. It's not meant to be a fancy tote, though, so keep that in mind if you want a higher-end option.

Amazon

Materials: Canvas, nylon, polyester, leather | Closure: Zip | Colors: 4 toatl, including Canvas Dark Grey and New Black

Not sure whether to get a backpack or a messenger bag? Why not both? This bag from Coolbell is lightweight with nice storage, but has not one but three carrying styles: as a backpack, shoulder bag or messenger bag. So no matter where you’re off to, you can adjust the look. It's not constructed with the most high-end materials, though, so you may experience jiggling zips and the occasional abrasion.

The North Face

Materials: Polyester| Closure: Zip | Colors: 5 total, including Lunar Slate and Black

If you’re a gym rat, you’ll need more room for your gear than your average messenger bag. The North Face's Voyager has space for your shoes, shorts and blender bottle in an easy sling form. It's made from recycled, durable, lightweight materials as well, so you know it won't weigh you down on the go. It's fairly large, so it's really is for holding your gym clothes, though; expect a great carrying experience but not an ultra-compact one.

As writers and researchers, the Forbes Vetted team has tested and published many men's fashion articles on everything from the best wallets to the most comfortable dress shoes to the best suits. As consumers, we have high standards about what we buy and how we shop, and we like to think our readers benefit from our pickiness and obsessive tendencies. To ensure our coverage is broad and diverse, we also talk to stylists, fashion academics, designers and other experts in the field with decades of experience.

Based on our knowledge of the fashion space, which includes testing out many trusted brands and top products, we pinpointed the best messenger bags for men, depending on a variety of different needs in terms of sizes, materials and styles. This story is regularly updated for accuracy and was last edited in May 2023.

To select the messenger bags on this list, we looked at dozens of firsthand customer reviews, checked out prices and considered how each model would comfortable store and organize one's belongings to ultimately determine which bags were the best investments.

Durability was also a top priority; you want to hold onto a messenger bag for a few years, so we prioritized high-quality materials, such as leather and waterproof PVC polyester, and also checked for resilient hardware, including buckles and adjustable straps. Price was another consideration; you shouldn't have to overspend to find a sophisticated, stylish messenger bag. Instead, we located a range of options that work with all budgets (small or large), from the affordable Timbuk2 Classic Messenger to the higher-end Shinola Computer Brief. Finally, we made sure all of the bags were available from trusted retailers with good return policies, so you can try out these messenger bags risk-free in order to make the best purchase for your needs.