Chrome Bags: A Review
When riding around, one of the most helpful things is having a good bag to carry your things around in. You want something that is comfortable to wear for an extended amount of time, can deal with bad weather, and of course, hold all of your things. One of the most popular bag with cyclists is Chrome. Started in 1995 in Boulder, Colorado, these bags are built to both hold your things and take a beating while doing it. Most of their lines are made in the US, so they’re on the pricier end, but they’re made with a quality that is definitely worth the money.
Citizen
You’ve probably seen these bags around, from people commuting to work and school to the bike messengers seen throughout the city. With the signature over-the-shoulder seat buckle strap, the Citizen is arguably Chrome’s most popular bag. It’s big, it’s durable, and it’s available in a huge variety of colors. Mine look’s a bit beat up, which is because it is. I was lucky enough to get this bag for cheap at a flea market, and through it’s long life it has shown how tough it is.
Pros
The feature that stand out the most with this bag is how much it can hold. I’ve brought this out for hikes, weekend trips, and just days where I’ve had to bring everything to school. It holds it all. The velcro closure helps making closing the bag quick and easy, even when filled to capacity. The inside is lined with a thick waterproof material to make sure that all your good stay dry on a rainy day. The belt buckle is another cool feature, making it easy to take off and put on the bag without straining your arms. The belt buckle also doubles as a bottle opener! Finally, the reflective material on the straps help for safe riding during the night
Cons
There’s only one large pocket and a few very small utility pockets for things like pencils or tools, so if you have something a little too big for those pockets, you have to throw it into the huge one, which doesn’t help for organization. When empty, it sometimes feels a little silly to wear, since its so big. It also wears pretty high on the back, so when heavy, it may affect your center of gravity, which you have to be careful about. Plus, with the asymmetrical wear, you may strain one shoulder a bit more than the other. Finally, there’s no outside padding, so any hard items in the bag you will feel on your back.
Fortnight
A few months ago, I got the Chrome Fortnight as a gift, and have been using it ever since. One of the more recent additions to their line, the Fortnight is a bag co-designed by Pro skateboarder John Cardiel.
Cardiel x CHROME: Episode # 3 – FORTNIGHT from Chrome Industries on Vimeo.
As the site says, the Fortnight “is a versatile travel pack with enough capacity to go for a week (two if you’re John Cardiel).” While I don’t know how true that is with this bag alone, It’s certainly worth betting on. It’s got many great features similar to the Citizen, such as the waterproof lining and rugged durability, packed into a more compressed backpack form.
Pros
What I really like about the Fortnight is its more subtle silhouette compared to the Citizen. At first, it may seem like just a regular backpack, but as you use it, you notice all the cool little features included. While it may not seem like it carries as much, there are a lot more pockets to stick your things in, and the straps in the front are built to hold items outside of the bag, from sleeping bags to an extra jacket. Because it’s made in a more traditional backpack style, it distributes weight better, making it easier to ride. The padding on the back is also a huge lifesaver, especially when riding around nonstop with a heavy load on your back. Plus, it not only has the waterproof liner, but also a laptop sleeve for carrying your work around.
Cons
Because it’s built to carry a lot in a smaller amount of space, there is a chance it may squeeze your things together pretty tight. While I have no problem with flat things like notebooks, which is what I’m usually carrying around, I have some trouble with boxier objects, such as tupperware. It can also be a bit of a struggle taking those things out when packed so tightly.
These are just two of Chrome’s huge collection, which you can check out at their New York store in SoHo. It’s a pretty neat store, you can not only try on the bags, but also test them with weights so you know how they feel when full. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Until next time!
-Eddie