Life In The Saddle

Sometimes you get a product that just feels  right. The right style, the right fit, the right quality, the right functionality. The Booq Boa Nerve messenger bag seems to be one of those... Booq are an American brand that are best known for their high-end laptop bags. They're a small family run company, and specialise in bags for the professional; namely, those who like style and function in equal measure. The Booq Boa Nerve messenger bag is the company's foray into a product that could specifically be used by the cycling market (although I regularly use a messenger bag off the bike, too). It will safely house a 15" Laptop or 17" Macbook, as well as all that you're likely to need on the day-to-day office run. From the moment you unpack the Boa Nerve Graphite, it oozes quality and style. The nylon outer looks and feels hardwearing and water-repellent. The rubberised base of the bag provides extra protection from spray and ground water, and gives a water resi...

The tag line of the BaileyWorks Super Pro Messenger Bag is "Built for Life In The Saddle". Perfect! BaileyWorks is a US brand, making hand-made bags with quality materials and expert knowledge for 20 years. The Super Pro comes from their Professional range; designed to deal with the rigours of intense everyday use, this is a pack built to last. The Digital Super Pro is an evolution of the Super Pro bag; with a padded laptop sleeve and a shoulder pouch for your smart phone, making it ideal for commuting to the office or university. The Digital Super Pro feels like a quality bag the moment you pick it up; the hand-made detailing is clear, there is no stitch unchecked, and no material that isn't the highest standard. The outer shell is made of Cordura, the same fabric found on motorbike skid wear (it's damn tough). The inner is made of Coverlight, a fully waterproof tarpaulin type fabric that ensures water doesn't get into your kit even in the torrential Br...

To say that my Bagaboo Messenger Bag makes me smile whenever I wear it, is probably a good place to start this review... Bagaboo is a Hungarian brand, which can be bought direct from the manufacturer at Bagaboo.hu  or from select UK distributors. It makes both fully prepared off-the-shelf bags; including messenger bags, rucksacks and shoulder bags; but more excitingly it also makes fully customizable bags which can be tailored in almost every aspect to your desired specification. Firstly, the looks... I chose the internal tarpaulin, Cordura outer and trim to match my team colours; dark blue and yellow. I reckon it is a pretty damn good looking pack; fitting in well when I go to events, whilst also being a practical and classy colour scheme. Second I customized a few other features; I had additional reflective strips added (see the large photo below), Airflow back padding for added comfort and I had an internal zippered pocket added for valuables. You can take the customisa...