Mission Workshop Sanction Backpack

missionworkshop.com
A subtle—but undeniable—rite of passage for the urban cyclist? The messenger bag. They provide an undeniable touch of courier cred to the commuting bicyclists. But, as the Mission Workshop demonstrates, the over-the-shoulder carrying solution isn’t the end-all, be-all in city-centric pedaling. In fact, one tester who’d used a shoulder bag for over ten years (and also developed a shoulder issue that might related to how he wore said pack) has now converted to the Sanction backpack (and in one month, the shoulder soreness lessened).  The svelte pack is made of a variety of water- and weatherproof materials to create one of the toughest cycling bags that we’ve tested.  You don’t get the same sort of easy access shoulder bags offer, but you do get poly-coated zips, heavy Velco closures, and elastic clips that collectively reinforce the Sanction’s tough, military identity.  Inside, you find a firm internal frame sheet and a wide waterproof zipper compartment that can accommodate 15-inch laptops. The long, five-inch-deep central pocket tapers at the bottom for a comfortable fit while riding (though it also makes it next-to-impossible to stand up on its own), and can swallow a post-work six-pack along with all your commuting supplies. Other internal pockets—one that extends the full length of the pack, and two zippered pockets of various depths—provide isolated organization, all secured by a combo Velcro-and-clip closer. Below the main compartment, a heavily waterproofed, Velcro-secured pocket is ideal for a U-lock.  Padding on the back and shoulder straps effectively keep the brunt of the weight from biting into your pressure points, and the elastic sternum strap accommodates deep breaths (hello, quad-burning hill) without sacrificing weight distribution. Its 16-liter storage capacity means it’s not a carry-all ruck sack (for that, upgrade to the Vandal, which has a max volume of 65 liters), but for daily use in all conditions, it’s a winner. Oh, and Mission Workshops—a boutique bag- and apparel-maker out of San Francisco—also makes killer shoulder bags, should your shoulder joints be in better shape than ours.