Words By Izuru Shimasaki from Daisy Messenger
"I personally wish I had used this when I was riding as a messenger." Trevor Beanes
It holds an immense amount of stuff, fits your body perfectly, and while not strictly perfect, it is highly water-resistant.
These are the major hallmarks of a messenger bag. And naturally, its history is directly linked to the work of a messenger.
What is a messenger bag?
It is literally a bag used by a messenger. In this context, "messenger" refers to a bicycle messenger—someone who earns an income by delivering documents and packages across the city via bicycle on the same day. The origin of the messenger bag, used to transport the legal and financial documents required by an economy converging into nation-to-global supply chains in the post-war era, was the canvas shoulder bag made by De Martini. That was in the 70s.
After he paved the first path for the messenger bag, Eric Zo of San Francisco created a bag in the 80s with a structure that remains indispensable to the messenger community he belonged to. While Zo's bags were incredibly solid, they were not designed to accommodate everything that followed—specifically the development of computers and broadband, which significantly changed the types of goods being transported. In that sense, he provided an opportunity for further innovation for future messenger bag makers.
As manufacturers like Pac Designs in Toronto and Reload Baggage in Philadelphia began handling orders not just locally but from messengers all over the world, the number of creators grew—those who would repair these bags or craft them with specs tailored to the unique circumstances of various cities. Today, there are distinctive messenger bag makers in countries and cities across the globe.
The Crossover of Bicycle Culture and Messenger Culture
The 70s, when the messenger bag was born, was an era of vibrant subcultures. Hippie culture and punk rock emerged as actions in opposition to the authoritative powers of the time, and I heard from Chris King—the boss of the manufacturer Chris King, which has deep ties to Circles—that he himself was a messenger in Austin during the 70s.
Perhaps it was the 90s when more people began choosing bicycles as a lifestyle and for leisure as a counter to the auto industry, which was charging ahead with tremendous force toward becoming the new authority, and this started to cross over with messenger culture. San Francisco's Critical Mass began in 1992, and messenger culture saw a global surge in the 90s as well; the first CMWC (Cycle Messenger World Championship) was held in Berlin in 1993.
The crossover between bicycle culture and messenger culture has continued to this day. Wearing a messenger bag to school or work has become a totally normal sight, and if that bag was made by someone in a worldwide cycling community, it brings me as much joy as having a Cyclocross World Cup in my own city.
From San Francisco – ZODIAC BAGGAGE
San Francisco, the home of ZODIAC BAGGAGE, has long been a city with many messengers. Their community is tight-knit; they have a union, run a fund for the injured and sick, and even publish zines. ZODIAC BAGGAGE, started by Trevor Beanes—who was a member of that community—does more than just follow the history of the bags that were essential to the messenger community; it is packed with feedback gained from his own time riding as a messenger.
Fully loaded! It has the capacity to hold several large tote bags.
The suspension strap allows you to freely adjust the position of the bag.
By combining the X-strap and sway strap, the load on your shoulders is lightened, and the bag won't sway even when running.
Sling-type bags feature suspension straps for large, oddly shaped items, back panel padding, and an X-strap (on L size only) to distribute weight across both shoulders, accommodating a wide range of goods beyond just the old-school documents.
Furthermore, the roll-top bag, which could be said to be a product of the modern messenger community, is the type of bag Trevor used most as a messenger, and its design follows the roll-top bags made by his mentor in the messenger community, FREIGHT BAGGAGE.
It also features unique improvements based on his own ideas: an independent inner tarp construction with Gore-Tex seam-sealed wrapping prevents water ingress, while a double-layered back panel and insert prevent the cargo from pushing against the body while simultaneously keeping the bag's form stable at all times.
Alone with the road noise, the messenger smells the flowers, feels the sensation of crushing fallen leaves, struggles against the heat, faces the cold and rain, and dives into traffic. That is why they value their companions and enjoy every day. What he has crafted into a bag, using combinations of industrial materials like Cordura nylon, tent fabric, and seatbelt webbing, is something gained through that lifestyle. It is an art form—the messenger bag—and at the same time, that is why it is more "pop" than any other bag.
And what I want to say is that slings made by San Francisco messengers are horizontal-oriented. And that the roll-tops Trevor makes are packed with the history of the community. Also, both roll-top and sling Large sizes are the "pro messenger size" (I, the author, also use the L size).
At Circles, we have begun carrying ZODIAC BAGGAGE, created one-man, two-hands by Trevor Beanes, who belongs to the San Francisco messenger & bicycle community.
A rich lineup of sizes and colors is available for both the standard sling type and the roll-top type.
【ZODIAC BAGGAGE】 Sling Messenger Bag
S: 44,550 JPY
M: 47,850 JPY
L: 52,250 JPY
(All prices include tax)
【ZODIAC BAGGAGE】 Roll Top Messenger Bag
XS: 47,580 JPY
S: 51,150 JPY
M: 55,550 JPY
L: 58,850 JPY
(All prices include tax)
If you are nearby, please come check out these bags in person—they are built robustly enough to withstand the rigors of messengers racing through the city in rain, wind, and snow. Roll-top messenger bags are also in stock at Daisy Messenger.