Patagonia  Black Hole Mini Messenger Bag

This product is not available.

Built like a can of whoop-ass to keep 2-wheeled commuters focused on their ride, not the status of their goods, the small but burly Black Hole Mini Messenger bag handily manages the daily essentials.

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Features

  • This condensed shoulder bag is highly water-resistant, super durable and designed to carry the essentials whether you're traveling via bike, rails or plane
  • Top flap opens to expose the main compartment, which holds the bulkier items such as a rain shell, paperwork or snacks
  • Main compartment houses a drop pocket, a mesh pocket, 3 pen slots and a discreet and secure zippered pocket
  • Padded sleeve inside accommodates most 15 in. laptops and tablets to keep them protected from the wear and tear of going places
  • Handy exterior pocket opens via a moisture-shedding, reverse-coil zipper on the top flap
  • Carrying handle; reflective panel for visibility at night; lash straps for a bike light
  • Fully adjustable shoulder strap
  • Top-mounted, reinforced haul handle
  • Lightweight yet strong ripstop polyester fabric with highly weatherproof thermoplastic urethane laminate and durable water repellent. Fabric is bluesign® approved

Imported.

View the Patagonia Black Hole Product LineView all Patagonia Messenger Bags

Technical Specs

Best Use

Casual

Bag Style

Messenger Bag

Gear Capacity (L)

12 liters

Gear Capacity (cu. in.)

732 cubic inches

Number of Exterior Pockets

1

Laptop Compartment

Yes

Fits Laptop Size (in.)

15 inches

iPad / Tablet Compartment

Yes

Carry-On

Yes

Material(s)

450-denier ripstop polyester

Dimensions

Unavailable

Weight

1 lb. 13 oz.

Gender

Unisex

Reviews
9 reviews with an average rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

5 out of 7 (71%) reviewers recommend this product

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My
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Great everyday bag

9 years ago

This bag is great for everyday use and it is made with beefy nylon rip-stop that can withstand rock abrasion. The reason why this product gets a four star and not five is because the features are lacking. I wish Patagonia added the same features it had on its original messenger bag to this one. The black hole mini messenger bag does not have an easy access pocket on the back, and there's no water bottle holder on the side. I have open the bag every time I want to drink my water. Also, there's no shoulder pad. The strap will rub against your shoulder, causing sores.

Yes , I recommend this product
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Desert man
Driggs, ID
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars

Comes short

9 years ago

I checked out the mini messenger bag in a store and liked the features, including the drop-in pocket on the back, handy for pulling out boarding passes in airline security, etc. I use a similar pocket regularly on my larger Timbuk2 bag. But, the fabric was more flexible than I'd prefer. There wasn't a Black Hole version in the store, but the stiffer material appealed to me so I ordered one, thinking it would be the same. There isn't a video of this bag on the website and scant description, but wouldn't have thought I'd need it. It is basically the same, except for some reason a genius at Patagonia opted to omit the back pocket rendering the bag, at least for me, undesirable and I'm going to return it.

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Sam M
alder mt
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Nope.

6 years ago

They took everything that was great about the old Mini Mass and got rid of it-- the exterior water bottle pocket (great for an umbrella on rainy days), the pliable fabric, the rear magazine pocket that was perfect for your boarding passes. What you are left with... isn't much, really. Super sad to see a company as successful as Patagonia de-contenting their product for the sake of the profit margin.

No, I do not recommend this product
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sbellavita
Salem, OR
Rated 2.0 out of 5 stars

I wanted to love this bag

6 years ago

I’m an Oregonian and thought this bag would be perfect keeping out the elements. It’s great on the outside but inside since I purchased in February 2019 the inside netted pockets have developed holes between the net and the seam attaching it as a pocket to the inner portion of the bag. I buy Patagonia because I expect it to last. 3 months of off and on light use it seems to be either defective or just poorly constructed. I want it to work but I can’t see spending Patagonia money on something the quality of a wal-mart messenger bag.

No, I do not recommend this product
Helpful?
Michael
Berkeley CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great as a "Minimalist Laptop Bag" for city/travel

6 years ago

2018 current edition: Lost the rear "magazine" panel, but gained Velcro on the lid for quick-closing without grabbing the buckles. Only this 12L Mini edition, the full-size 24L has been discontinued. Gained an iPad-sized tablet slot piggy-backed onto the front of the 13" laptop slot.The tablet/laptop slots are raised off the bag's floor (which is padded anyway) and minimally, but effectively, padded, but open at the top. Theoretically if the bag falls off a counter it might land on it's top, but even then the stiff Black Hole coated fabric should cushion much of the shock. Pretty much "tropical deluge-proof" due to the rain-coat style coating on the top and sides (except body-side) and lid. The non-coated bathtub-bottom and body-side panel will get damp. All parts are resistant to smudges from airport/restaurant floor/counter dirt. If you do pick up smudges on the non-coated areas, they should wash out. All exterior surfaces have a water/stain repellent coating, and even the non-coated areas have smooth-woven surfaces which resist dirt stains better. No pad on the cross-body strap, but the strap is supple and feels very comfortable to me, whether on shoulder or cross-body. Be aware that it will slide off your shoulder easily unless you add an anti-slip shoulder pad. Bicyclists should be aware there is no stabilizing secondary strap or even clip points for one, so this is useless for bike riders, it will swing around to the front. There's an interior large phone slot, but phones keep getting larger more quickly than Patagonia can re-design for them, so more likely than not the exterior lid slot (zippered) is going to be the best place to keep your phone, plus it's easier to get to, you don't have to open the main compartment lid. I agree with Patagonia's decision to get rid of the exterior rear panel slot. It was a rain trap. And while I liked the external bottle slot on the old non-Black Hole Messenger, my water bottle routinely slid out (not during carry, when setting down etc.), leaving it useful only for a watchcap, which I didn't use that often. YMMV of course. I like the dual tablet/laptop slot design, where the smaller laptop slot piggybacks on the front panel of the actual laptop lot. It's padded on the critical sides, and elevated off the "floor" of the Messenger - but then the floor is padded anyway, offering extra protection. I often travel with both tablet and laptop, so having a handy, fixed location for each, with effective but not wasteful padding, is great. For city use, I stuff a flat-folded Baggu or Chico Sack in the laptop slot for grocery shopping. I don't think this is the best choice for rain jackets, fleece, or other bulky items. It will easily handle a slim, compressible down vest, but keep in mind you are working with just 12L and my Baggu grocery bag has more volume than that. If you need more space and can work around your tablet needs, the REI Flash 18 or 22 ultralight daypacks have significantly more space, the Patagonia Refugio is a whopping 28L AND has similar piggyback style tablet/laptop slots. In terms of security, the inward facing "ears" at the top of each end panel will keep stuff from slipping out of the main compartment if you shove this under the airplane seat. For urban carry, the new lid Velcro is obviously more secure than the prior buckles-only design - Velcro is both noisy AND you usually feel the "tug". Of course you can carry the "lid" towards your body, instead of facing outward, or rotate the bag to the front, on crowded subways. By its nature, crossbody carry seems slightly more secure than single-shoulder day pack carry. This is only 12L, so it makes a perfect "personal item" (aka "purse" or 'briefcase") for air travel (most airlines don't challenge unless you have 25-35L plus a wheelie). It easily fits under the seat if the bins are full. It's a perfect companion to overhead luggage since it keeps the most critical items at your seat, is large enough for comfort items like neck cushion and water, but is small enough for local use at your destination. Unlike a daypack, you can swing this Messenger around the front to rummage inside it - a daypack requires at least one of your hands to hold it, while this Messenger frees up two hands. Also, you can backpack carry an overhead bag simultaneously by rotating this Messenger in front, leaving both hands free. This is not very "packable" in other luggage since the bottom is padded, so it won't fold very flat. My solution, on the very rare occasions when I'm not just bringing this into the cabin with me, is to stuff clothes inside to reduce the amount of dead air space when it goes into checked luggage. It can also provide protection for fragile items.

Yes , I recommend this product
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Schmeg
Berkeley Springs, WV
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Durable

5 years ago

I love the style and durability of this bag. The can not reason I left off a star is the lack of zipper. Lack of a zipper does make for ease of access, but if you have an active lifestyle and fly a lot, a zipper makes me feel more secure when placing under airplane seats, tossing it in with other gear, etc. Patagonia makes amazing items and the Black Hope line holds up incredibly, I just wish they had a messenger that was “perfect”, the others I have purchased include zippers, but are much larger. This is a perfect everyday size. A side pocket for water bottles would be a great touch as well.

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Obie Obrien
St. Louie MO
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars

Great Design, but lacking features older model

5 years ago

Got this bag as I have Black Hole MLC Bag and day pack. I was disappointed this was lacking features of the original, Water bottle holder, Back sleeve, and it was just "lacking". I may give it to my son for riding his bike in the rain. I know everyone has their own individual preferences for details on a bag like this. Well made, but just not for me.

Yes , I recommend this product
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RKH
Durango, CO, United States
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Efficient commuter bag

8 years ago

I've only had this a couple of weeks. I bought this because I wanted a smaller bag to carry in my bike basket. I commute about 3 miles miles. I do like the size for this purpose. I haven't carried a laptop but I do carry a tablet and paperwork, easily. Weather has been clear and dry, so the water resistance has not been tested. Fills the need and the price was right.

Yes , I recommend this product
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P Man
Rhode Island
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars

SMALL

6 years ago

This is a small bag. It can fit (2) laptops, and thats it. Charging cables wont even fit, nor a water bottle. For $89, this is way to small. Well made, but simply, small.

Yes , I recommend this product
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