Alchemy Goods Urban Messenger Bag : Recycled Road Gear

I hadn't heard of Alchemy Goods before, so I was curious to check out the company's new Urban Messenger Bag. I opened the box and peered in at what appeared to be a pile of bike shop leftovers -- but was actually one of the coolest bags I'd ever seen.

It's made out of recycled bicycle inner tubes -- and you can tell they're recycled since they've got patches on them. The bag is full of character, and each one is totally unique: mine's made from several different inner tubes, each with a different texture and logo. On the Urban's flap is a little Alchemy Goods label with a small number signifying the percentage of the bag that's recycled. Mine ticks in at 76%, a number that includes the outer material and a junkyard-salvaged shoulder strap (laundered, of course). Even the zipper pull is a recycled tire valve.

I've been using the bag to carry my computer and my work paraphernalia for the past few weeks, and I've found it to be really comfy. It carries really well, even loaded up with water, food, a computer, and various books. The shoulder strap is adjustable, and there's a stabilizing strap I can attach around my chest to keep it on my back while I'm on the bike. I feel really safe riding around town at dusk thanks to a three huge strips of reflective material that are permanently attached to the bag. Other shoulder bags I've used before have detachable reflective strips, which, of course, I immediately lost. I can also clip a blinking light to a specially-designed strap on the rear of the bag for extra safety. I even got caught in a spring thunderstorm a few days ago, and was assured that my computer would be safe since the bag is 100 percent waterproof.

The inside of the bag has enough space for a 17" laptop, and it's loaded with organizers and pockets. One of the problems I've had with messenger bags is that they tend to turn into a bottomless pit of stuff, but there are so many pockets in the Urban that I don't have to worry about that. My pens stay put, my wallet and phone stay put, my iPod stays put, my mail stays put. I really appreciate that. I also like the fact that I can clip my keys to a little built-in hook and not have to fish around for them when I come home.

Aside from being supremely well made, well designed, and just plain cool, the bag has won itself a convert thanks to Alchemy Goods being a great company. So far, Alchemy has recycled more than 20,000 tubes, and has set up programs with Seattle-area bike shops to keep them coming in. The company also turns old billboards into wallets and shopping bags, and has partnered with Whole Foods to create great reused products from the grocer's signs. Heck, Alchemy even markets a bottle opener made out of seatbelt clasps.

Bottom Line: One of the hippest, most earth-friendly shoulder bags on the market - N.W. (June '08)

Price: $148

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Manufacturer's Site: www.alchemygoods.com