www.nau.com, 2 pounds, 9 ounces
Despite the rep created by mud-covered bike messengers, cycle commuting doesn’t have to be ugly. Take the Motil Commuter as evindence of that fact. The eco-friendly and fashion-forward company Nau has created the perfect hybrid shoulder pack. The bag’s exterior is encased in a 500-denier poly shell that’s both breathable and water-repellent (read: strong), crafted into a herringbone pattern (read: stylish), and lined with 210-denier poly taffeta (read: smooth).  Inside find space for damn near everything a working stiff—or savvy traveler—would carry: enough room to haul shoes, books, and extra layers; a 17-inch padded laptop sleeve; a zipper mesh pocket under the flap; and all sorts of zipper pockets and storage sleeves. A recycled wool shoulder straps reduces the bite of heavier loads, two external pockets keep small water bottles on hand, and the aluminum hardwear (also recycled) gives the bag a quiet, fashion-forward revolution against the typical clips and/or Velcro on the market. Those who like a really snug fit while biking will find that the Motil fits loose (an optional waist strap helps), and the metal buckles take some practice (at least until you use the bag a few times).  But we have to give credit to Nau’s customer service—the first test product had some simple defects, so we called (without revealing our Gearzilla creds) and had a new bag in our hands in 72 hours.