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M-24 Messenger bag M-24 Messenger bag M-24 Messenger bag M-24 Messenger bag M-24 Messenger bag
M-24 Messenger bag

M-24 Messenger bag

9
by George Hill
UPDATED Mon, Oct 24, 2016 09:45

First Published Oct 24, 2016

2
£50.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Really well made, stylish and environmentally friendly messenger bag
Weight: 
638g
Contact: 
www.m-24.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The M-24 Messenger Bag is a well made, innovative bag that does everything you need such a bag to do. It doesn't have the frills and tech of some others, but it more than makes up for it with its strong and environmentally friendly construction.

Like some others we've tested, M-24 has used recycled lorry tarpaulin for its bags, which has a few positive points. First is the robust nature of the material – it's waterproof, wipe-clean and very difficult to rip or tear. Secondly, because it's recycled it is environmentally friendly, minimising waste and giving you that warm feeling. And finally, it means that every bag is unique, as they are just bits of tarpaulin cut from a branded lorry.

> Buy this online here

It is also well made, with the entire bag being made from a single piece of material, simply folded over and sewn along the bottom and up the back. One of the real benefits of this is that weight isn't put on any of the seams – there's no stress put on them that can wear them over time.

The strap is made from seatbelt material, with a buckle at one end to adjust the length. This buckle is simple but effective, simply creating a larger or smaller loop of excess down the side of the bag, and can be adjusted on the go without too much fuss. It seems robust and, like the rest of the material on the bag, unlikely to wear too easily. The only thing I would change is to maybe have a little more grip, as I found that when I was wearing it on smooth materials (think puffer jacket material) it would sometimes slip around slightly, but this wasn't an issue with most jerseys.

M-24 Messenger bag - strap clamp.jpg

The bag is opened and closed by a flap that is secured by Velcro; this holds it in place well and also allows for a good amount of adjustability. For instance, I managed to easily use it to transport a couple of vinyls from work without any issues.

M-24 Messenger bag - inside.jpg

Storage is made up of one main area, a sleeve for laptops/tablets and a small pocket at the front for smaller items. It isn't big enough for carrying huge loads (its 38 x 28 x 11cm) but as a daily commuting bag or something to take around town, it is more than adequate.

M-24 Messenger bag - pocket.jpg

It comes with an RRP of £50, which for something that is robust and likely to last for several years, isn't especially steep. When you look at the other main recycled lorry tarp bags, it's about right. Upso's Cambridge bag is £5 less but smaller, and Freitag's Messenger Classic is £75 more (even the Jamie hip bag, which we tested a couple of years ago, is £80). 

> Prefer a rucksack? Check out our guide to the best

Overall I really like this bag. It is simple, stylish and, most importantly, robust and well made. It would be nice to have a little more grip on the strap when you're wearing something made from a smoother material, but this shouldn't take away from a strong performing messenger bag.

Verdict

Really well made, stylish and environmentally friendly messenger bag

road.cc test report

Make and model: M-24 Messenger bag

Size tested: 38cm x 28cm x 11cm

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?

An environmentally friendly, stylish and robust messenger bag.

M-24 says: "Perfectly designed for everyday use, carrying stuff to and from the workplace/college or university. There's enough space to store a 15inch laptop or smaller. It has two separate compartments inside to keep you items organised. The velcro fastening on the outside allows for vertical expansion to load additional items. Adjustable shoulder strap with quick release."

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

M-24 says: "M24 bags are designed from recycled truck tarpaulin. Each bag we make is totally unique because of the variety of lorry curtains (truck tarps) we collect."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made, good fabric choice, well placed stitching.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Performed very well, doing exactly what I needed it to, and adjustable enough to carry even strangely shaped items.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Amazing durability (I'm tempted to give it 10...), as you would expect from a fabric used for lorries.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
5/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

You could pay more than double for a very similar product, but there are a couple around the same price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well – carried everything I needed, comfortable and good looking.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The durability. I think I could drag this behind my bike without breaking it.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Perhaps a little more grip on the straps.

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

It's a tough, well made bag with a reasonable price tag. The fact that it looks good and is environmentally friendly boosts it up to a 9 in my opinion.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

M-24 Messenger bag 2016
M-24 Messenger bag
M-24 2016
M-24
George Hill

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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2 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

"... as a daily commuting bag or something to take around town, it is more than adequate."

I clearly need to rationalise my 'daily commute'! My 'take everywhere' load (lock, extender cable, toolroll, diary, phone, wallet, notepad, multi-tool, other multi tool which has a saw and a blade, etc) would fill a 14 litre bag to the brim before I even considered a change of clothes, some shopping, or taking-the-office-post-to-the-box-at-the-end-of-the-day.

My luggage these days is a pair of Carradice A4 panniers (18 litres *each*) or a Chrome Metropolis bag (40 litres, I think).

Avatar
George Hill replied to brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

"... as a daily commuting bag or something to take around town, it is more than adequate." I clearly need to rationalise my 'daily commute'! My 'take everywhere' load (lock, extender cable, toolroll, diary, phone, wallet, notepad, multi-tool, other multi tool which has a saw and a blade, etc) would fill a 14 litre bag to the brim before I even considered a change of clothes, some shopping, or taking-the-office-post-to-the-box-at-the-end-of-the-day. My luggage these days is a pair of Carradice A4 panniers (18 litres *each*) or a Chrome Metropolis bag (40 litres, I think).

You're in the minority. I commute 10 miles each way across London every day and the vast majority of the thousands of people I see don't take anything bigger than a regular 15/20l backpack. I also tested this with everything I normally take, plus what others are likely to take and it was fine. 

Different people have different needs, for instance for me: 

diary, phone, wallet, notepad = 1 smartphone and a card carrier

 multi-tool, other multi-tool which has a saw and a blade, etc), toolroll = 1 multi-tool

lock, extender cable = 1 Hiplock and security bolted skewers

Change of clothes or some shopping then easily fits in, so this bag suits me, doesn't seem like it would suit you.

​

 

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