Osprey  Metron 18 Messenger Bag

The good: it has 2 water bottle/ beverage holders and organizer pockets. Possibly good for bike commuting. The bad: Osprey used a firm frame for the back of the bag, like on the back of their daypacks, so the bag is too wide - sort of like it has wings. The padded area on the shoulder strap doesn’t adjust and it’s pulled to 1 side - great if you want to wear it across your torso, but not if you want to put it on your torso or if yo’re taller or shorter than average. The shoulder strap also have a thick metal g-hook and loops that are totally worthless, but the g-hook hands down ant threatens to boob people nearby. Annoying and worthlessly heavy. Instead of a zipper, Osprey used two more, smaller g-hooks and straps to secure the main flap. That means it takes too much effort to open and close the main compartment. There is Velcro, but then the hooks and straps just hang down or you have to tuck them in the rain cover compartment. If you try to stick a jacket in the bag, the flap has a hard time closing - not enough flap. The flap to secure a tablet or small laptop gets in the way of the smaller compartments. And here’s my favorite: Osprey used a material on the outside of the bag that’s like Velcro. It loves wool and pet hair and can get completely covered in wool fibers and dog or cat hairs. You end up with a bag that looks like it has wings, that doesn’t lay well next to your body, and is covered in hair and fibers. It’s a pain to use and I look and feel foolish. One more: no sleeve on the back to put it over a carry-on handle.

Purchased this bag over the holidays with the extra 20% off coupon. I’ve been using it daily at work for three months. I love the bag. It holds my water bottle, coffee mug, change of scrubs, planner and a couple folders with room to spare. The large zipper pocket is great for miscellaneous things such as pens, mints, a snack, etc. small zipper compartment is great for car keys, scissors, and other small objects. Most importantly, the zipper pockets do not impinge on the large compartment space. The rain fly is a nice feature. The strap is the only bummer. It’s clunky. The strap pad is static and worn best in full cross body mode. This makes sense as it’s a cycling bag. I have no problems with single shoulder wear. Once adjusted, it sits well in cross body mode for day to day use when not riding. Overall, great bag!

I wanted to love this bag -- The material is of good quality, but the functionality of this bag is lacking. It is overall low volume (holds a couple of books at most). The straps are not functional -- you can only wear the bag over one shoulder, it is sewn in odd (it has a twist in it and you are unable to untwist it because it is sewn in at both ends). There is also an additional hooked strap that extends from the shoulder strap and isn't removable -- I have no idea what it is for, but it catches on things and is overall a nuisance. It would could be improved by having a zipper top under the flap -- items are not always secure during use. I wish i hadn't purchased this bag -- but given the cost, I have to try and get some use out of it.

I bought this bag as may get dinged with return to office. Haven’t used it yet. Looks like will hold my laptop plus the USB-C dock, and power brick easily. However the strap seems to be meant to be a shoulder strap or a handle. Sucks as a shoulder strap as the wide part ends about at the top of my shoulder. Wouldn’t really use as a handle as would have a long walk from car, thru revolving door and up to office desk farm.

I have been loving this bag since the day I bought it. I needed to replace a worn-out backpack style laptop bag used primarily for work. My main focus was a simplistic, messenger style bag and the Metron 18 delivers. At 18L you know exactly what you are getting size wise and it allowed me to eliminate some of the unnecessary ""stuff"" you accumulate in a laptop bag over the years. The over the shoulder design carries comfortably and the material quality is excellent. Once closed and cinched the bag feels bulletproof. My only complaint would be that the bag should come with an instruction manual. The designers really did think of everything. Several days after purchase I was finding new little quirks and features of the bag that were not listed anywhere on the description - small stuff pouch for the secondary chest strap. Love it and would highly recommend.

I left a previous review and wanted to follow up... After some more use, I think I figured out the hook at the end of the shoulder strap. It make a really nice thumb pull when adjusting the strap. The length put it right where it should be ergonomically. It still hangs out there a bit, but liking the design more and more. The hardware on this pack is very nice.

I wish this awesome bag had a shoulder strap that could be hung the other way. I am left handed and wear my satchels over my right shoulder and sitting at my left hip. This bag is designed for people that wear it the other way, rendering most of the strap options useless for me. Very sad at this design.

Alright, one more follow up. They thought of everything... The thumb-pull hook at the end of strap clips into the daisy chain at the chest, so there is no dangling hook. There is even a built-in stuff pouch for the secondary chest strap when not in use. These industrial designers deserve a beer.

Perfect size for what I was looking for. Materials are great, lots of pockets. Wish the strap padded area moved so you can adjust it to where you want it, but overall great value for what you get.

Very comfy to wear, excellent internal organisation, would have liked it a bit more expandible, maybe up to 20 litres.