Osprey Flap Jack Courier Review

I recently decided to switch from a commuter backpack to a messenger bag for my urban shleps. Backpacks are a pain on the subway, are tough to get things in and out of and frankly, messenger bags jut look better when heading from work to a nice dinner. There are quite a few companies making messenger bags and they run the spectrum from true bike messenger style to all leather luxury bags costing thousands. I settled on the Osprey Flap Jack in part because of the reputation Osprey has built for themselves. I love my Osprey Talon 44 so when I saw the Osprey Flap Jack I jumped on it. And at $79 it's one of the cheaper options on the market. The Osprey Flap Jack is a laptop messenger bag that holds up to a 17" laptop in a padded sleeve and sports 1200 cubic inches of space. Other features include interchangeable nylon webbing for a customized look, a patch for attaching a light, a drawcord to protect the contents from the elements, and an earbud cable router on the bag. The Osprey Flap Jack is a very nice size for the day-to-day commuter -- I even find room in it to stash a jacket -- but don't expect to go away for more than a night with what you can pack. I would not have been upset to see a bit more space. The bag wears great and is easily adjustable while the triangle support is only needed when hauling around heavier items for a period of time. The laptop sleeve fits a 15" laptop perfectly while those with 17" laptops, particularly those at the larger end of the spectrum, may have some trouble. The laptop sleeve is padded but I miss the sleeve on the Patagonia Crosstown that kept the laptop off the ground when you set the bag down. Even with the padding in the Osprey laptop envelope, I still worry about setting my bag down too hard and doing damage to my laptop. I did find the internal pocket lacking organization and would love to have seen some more pockets inside the main compartment. The bag is not waterproof although it is water resistant enough to keep your things dry in a freak thunderstorm and a drawcord keeps the bag cinched tight around your items to keep the rain out. The system works well enough, though I would have preferred the flap actually be more like a lid that extends a few inches down the side of the bag thus completely enclosing the contents. The Osprey Flap Jack has proven to be an indispensable companion in my travels over the last few months. It's been to Colorado, London, and all over Manhattan. The chances that it will be replaced anytime soon are slim to nil. Osprey also has a couple other bags in the 'Flap Series'. For men they offer the Flap Jack Pack in addition to the Flap Jack Courier. Women are offered the Flap Jill Pack (in large and regular), Flap Jill Courier, and the Flap Jill Mini. $79 www.ospreypacks.com