Like many other folks, I’ve been commuting by bike quite a bit. I started out carrying a laptop and a bunch of other stuff in the typical over-the-shoulder style messenger bag. Carrying my gear in the messenger bag was becoming uncomfortable for me, so I set out to look for a backpack.

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Crumpler is a brand that we were contemplating bringing into excelcycle at some point during the summer. They’re an Australian company that has a lot of fun with their products and marketing. Crumpler made a big splash at Interbike several years ago, and always has a jam-packed booth that I’ve never been able to even get into.

After looking at their product line I settled on the Mahoubar Messenger Backpack. This particular backpack won Bicycling Magazine’s 2007 Editor’s Choice for Best Cycling Backpack. I figured I better try it out.

The Mahoubar is Crumpler’s middle-sized messenger backpack. They’ve got a smaller model called the Seedybar, and a larger one called The Famous Wine Bar.

All of the Crumpler bags are very reasonably priced. The Mahoubar backpack retails for $125, and is available in black, brown and red.

The construction quality of the bag is great. The backpack has shoulder straps and a waist strap that are both very adjustable. There’s also an adjustable chest strap that pulls the shoulder straps closer together. This makes the pack much more comfortable and usable on the bike because it prevents the shoulder straps from restricting your arm movement. The Mahoubar also has a nicely padded back so nothing pokes at you.

The backpack measures 8.6” thick, 14” wide and 22.4” high. I can easily fit a 17” Apple MacBook Pro inside a sleeve in the backpack, along with about 2.5” of files, a book or two, and cycling clothes for an afternoon road ride.

The main top flap has a very waterproof design. It’s a large flap that folds and closes over the top opening, and it’s held by two adjustable straps at the corners.

There are two large side opening pockets with vertical zippers on the outside of the backpack. Because they’re larger pockets it might be wise to use a smaller bag inside these to organize your bits and pieces. There’s also one zippered and one velcro inside pocket.

Like any sturdy bag, the Crumpler Mahoubar Messenger backpack takes a short while to break in. After a while the backpack becomes pretty darn comfortable. I now see why Bicycling Magazine gave this bag an Editor’s Choice award; I definitely like the backpack much more than the standard messenger bag that I had been using.

We now have this backpack along with several other great Crumpler bags at excelcycle. You can find out more about these by visiting the very entertaining Crumpler web site at www.crumplerbags.com.

retail: $125
available in brown, black and red