Oracle Online

So, what’s the deal with these bags, anyway? According to Mark Little of Minneapolis’s bike shop The Free Wheel, it started out as a simple matter of practicality.

“A few years back, you only saw them on bike messengers,” he said, noting the bag’s easy-to-remove, easy-to-carry qualities. “They hadn’t hit the mainstream yet.”

Made of ballistic nylon or cordura, the bags are certainly sturdy enough to withstand the occasional (or frequent) bike ride. The bags are also designed to hang from one shoulder, making it easier to reach things and pull the bag on and off quickly if needed.

“I bike to work every day. It fits all of my work, and it’s waterproof,” said Prof. of English Marcela Kostihova about her own Timbuk2 bag, which she has had for two years now.

For her, the choice to buy the bag was purely practical. She needed a bike-friendly bag and wasn’t finding much of a selection. “I don’t do purses,” she said, explaining that whatever she needs for the day gets put into her Timbuk2 before she makes the trek from Minneapolis to St. Paul.

Others' bags never even see a bike. After their first appearance in 1989, the bags have become increasingly popular, particularly among the college crowd. Made in bright colors and blocky patterns, they’ve become a trend among artsy urbanites.

“It’s an alternative to the traditional daypack,” Rudi Hargesheimer explains. At Cedar Avenue’s Midwest Mountaineering, he sells them not only to outdoor types but also to those intrigued by the bag’s tri-panel mod design, reminiscent of past popular art movements.

“Most people wear daypacks over just one shoulder anyways,” he said. “Why not market it?”

Hargesheimer added that while he’s seen a host of bag brands come and go in his store, Timbuk2 has always sold the best. Little experienced the same thing at his store, which also sells the highly-ranked brand Chrome.

He himself has opted for a Timbuk2--he’s been toting it for four years now. After traveling with him around the world, he says it still looks new.

Another big draw to the bags is the option to customize. Although you can only do this at Timbuk2’s website, you can choose the style, colors, fabric, and additions you would like your bag to have. And yes, they do have an optional case for your iPod.

The bags start at around $60 and go up from there--a price that Little says is pretty affordable. And even though Kostihova says her bag was more expensive than she would prefer, it’s served her well over the years.

“[Timbuk2 is] the Doc Marten of the bags,” she stated--sometimes spendy, but they last. She does, however, wish that the reflectors on the straps were a little bit larger to accommodate night-time bike riders. The small, square reflectors may be chic, but if you’re looking for protection you may want to add some of your own.

Little said many brands will try to mimic Timbuk2. “They’re very simple, very durable, and incredibly practical,” explaining the urge to follow suit. “And they’re much cooler than backpacks.”

Besides, he added, they do give you a certain amount of “street cred.”