ChicoBag Messenger 10 rePETe Review

By Allison on Oct 06, 2010 in Travel

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I have a cabinet full of reusable grocery bags. Most of them are rather crappy thus I never think to grab them. So I often bring groceries home in a cardboard box or have loose produce rolling around my car. When I grab a bag or two, it’s never enough. I show up at the farmer’s market prepared to purchase a little of this and a little of that, imagining a fresh and bountiful dinner on the patio or a lazy Sunday brunch. Instead I have one overstuffed bag with smashed cheese and broken eggs on the bottom, plus am trying to manage a ripping plastic bag with a dozen ears of corn and a box of peaches. The peaceful meal flew out the window at the peach stand with my delusional visions of a pantry stocked with shiney jars of jewel toned fruit.

ChicoBags have been my saving grace. Mind you, I still over purchase at the farmer’s market, but now at least I can do it in style!

ChicoBags makes a wide variety of reusable, stuffable bags and totes, but the Messenger 10, weighing just 5.6oz, is hard to beat.

For a bag that packs to the size of a grapefruit, the Messenger 10 doesnt’ scrimp on quality features. Stuffed in its own zip pouch with a handy carabiner, it measures 7.5 inches by 6 inches. Opened and ready for use, it’s 12 inches by 14.5 inches and includes a two-inch wide adjustable shoulder strap, two zippered pockets, one large pocket with a magnetic closing flap and two water bottle pockets.

True to ChicoBag standards, they don’t sacrifice the environment just so you look good. The Messenger 10 is constructed of 85% recycled materials, from the 100% recycled PET ripstop fabric to the 97% recycled aluminum carabiner.

I first used the Messenger 10 hauling catalogs and press kits around the Winter Outdoor Retailer show and was impressed with how comfortable it was while fully loaded–and also at just how much it could hold. This is one piece I don’t like to be caught without and it’s a bag I actually choose to carry, not just because I need to for extra space.

An optional waist strap is available for $4.99, to provide extra stability while biking. The bag is already set-up with easy attach loops for the strap.

The Messenger 10 retails for $19.99. Go to www.chicobag.com.

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Brands: ChicoBag

About the Author

Allison is a freelance gear, travel and fitness writer based in the mountains of Colorado. She played golf and field hockey while growing up, and discovered the simple joys of running while in college. Camping, hiking, hang-gliding (once was enough), scuba diving, skiing, kayaking, triathlons and mountaineering eventually worked their way into her life, along with the accompanying gear. Crazy but true, Allison really believes you can have too much gear and seeks out durable, multi-functional pieces that transition well from one activity to the next. Whether skiing in Colorado, kayaking in Florida, paddle-boarding off the coast of South Carolina or running through a Nevada desert, Allison puts gear through the paces to see if it truly belongs in her arsenal of favorites. Her work is featured in the Military Times newspapers, Women's Running magazine, Elevation Outdoors magazine, Runningtimes.com and iRunFar.com.