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Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag Howies Marloes Messenger Bag
Howies Marlies Messenger Bag

Howies Marloes Messenger Bag

7
by John Stevenson
UPDATED Fri, May 13, 2016 15:34

First Published Oct 12, 2015

5
£45.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Comfy, stable and practical mid-sized courier bag
Weight: 
740g
Contact: 
www.howies.co.uk
How we test

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There's plenty of space in the Howies Marloes Messenger Bag for a change of clothes, laptop and your valuables, and it sits comfortably and stably on your back when you ride.

With a claimed capacity of 11 litres, the Marloes is a handy size for carrying your stuff on a commute of up to four or five miles, or for popping to the shops. 

Find your nearest Howies shop here 

Buy this online here 

As well as the main compartment there's a padded section for a 15in laptop, a zipped outer pocket for your small valuables, and a larger zipped section on the back of the bag for smuggling secret documents.

A 2in webbing strap takes the load, with a dense foam pad to stop it digging a trench in your shoulder if you really fill the bag up. From the strap to the opposite corner of the bag a stabilising strap takes care of, would you believe it, stability.

And it all works very well. It sits in the middle of your back, the exact position depending on exactly how enthusiastically you cinch the strap, of course, and it stays there. All very fuss-free and straightforward to use.

If you ride through winter, there's reflective piping and a Howies logo for night-time visibility. Howies doesn't make any claims about waterproofing, but the double-layer construction has warded off real showers and kept the contents dry through a simulated deluge in a bathroom shower too.

A bag like this is as much about fashion as practicality. I like its subdued grey duotone appearance, though as I write this on a grey autumn day I can't help feeling a splash of colour would be nice too. But Howies is very much about unostentatious gear and it fits right in with that aesthetic.

Verdict

Comfy, stable and practical mid-sized courier bag

road.cc test report

Make and model: Howies Marloes Messenger Bag

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Howies says:

"Medium sized messenger bag with quick access slip pockets and a zip pocket under the flap. Large interior pockets and a separate padded laptop pocket, big enough to fit a 15" laptop or some documents (in case you are actually a bicycle messenger). Large external zip pocket against your back for secure storage of valuable stuff.

"Wide, adjustable cross shoulder strap with removable shoulder pad and clasp adjuster. Fitted with removable chest harness to stop the bag swinging around while on your bike.

"Velcro-down flap, fastened with adjustable clips. Finished with reflective piping and details to keep you visible at night."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* Approximately 11 litres capacity

* Comfortable, adjustable wide shoulder strap

* Removable shoulder pad

* Removable chest harness with clip garage

* Quick access front pockets

* Two interior slip pockets

* 15" Soft, padded laptop compartment

* Exterior back zip pocket for secure storage

* Adjustable velcro and clip fastening

* Zip pulls for easy access while wearing gloves

* Reflective piping

* Printed with reflective howies logo

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The Marloes is a solid 7/10. It does its job well and without fuss but it's otherwise unremarkable. It lacks some of the bells and whistles of a serious bag aimed at actual messengers, but it's smaller and cheaper than such bags, so it's unfair to expect ultra-quick release buckles, multiple compartments and the ability to swallow the kitchen sink. But judged as a courier-style round-town bag, it's a good example of the breed.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 5ft 11in  Weight: 85kg

I usually ride: Scapin Style  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking

 

Howies Marloes Messenger Bag
Howies 2015
Howies
John Stevenson

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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5 comments

Avatar
3mkru73 | 8 years ago
0 likes

I had the original Howies Messenger bag about 15 years ago. It lasted for a good few years of daily use and was huge. Would like to know how this compares in size to that?

Avatar
skull-collector... | 8 years ago
0 likes

What's the advantage of having this over a backpack?

Avatar
soma_rich replied to skull-collector-not-really | 8 years ago
0 likes

the weight sits lower on your back stopping sweaty back, you hold the weight with the front of your body rather than your shoulders. You can get in the bag without having to take it off.

Avatar
Chuck replied to skull-collector-not-really | 8 years ago
0 likes
skull-collector-not-really wrote:

What's the advantage of having this over a backpack?

I used messenger bags for a few years and went back to a backpack. I came to the conclusion that the main advantage (assuming that you're not actually a courier) is basically that they are a bit more stylish and 'urban', especially for when you're not actually on the bike. 

Nothing wrong with that of course, and TBH that was a large part of why I gave messenger bags a go in the first place. But if you want to carry your stuff from A to B on your back then IMO a backpack is still the best bet, especially for any sort of distance or weight. You still get a sweaty back with messenger bags, and I also started to suspect that they weren't doing my back/neck any favours. 

Avatar
Goldfever4 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Good imitation of the Crumpler messenger bags, which have had the excellent/necessary dog-leg strap for ages. I don't know how people cycle with messenger bags that don't have the extra strap. When I try it the bag ends up in my lap all the time. This bag looks good!

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