ChicoBag Messenger Bag rePETe™ : For Men and Women

There are many attributes I like about the new ChicoBag line of bags, totes, and packs, but one of my favorites is that they're extremely light weight.

The last thing I want to do is carry around a shopping bag that either doesn't fit in my purse or weighs me down before I've even put anything in it. At 5.6 ounces, my ChicoBag Messenger10 rePETe™ has helped me get in the habit of bringing my own bag with me wherever I go since it adds virtually no weight to any other bag I want to carry. Like other ChicoBag bags, it has a tiny aliminum carabiner so I can attach it to a belt or purse strap if want to. Whether I'm out and about or just going for a walk, I never know when I might stop for groceries or come across a farmers' market, so it's good to have my stashable, expandable bag.

I love the messenger bag style; I can wear it over my shoulder or loosen the strap and wear it like a messenger bag. I don't often ride a bike, but if I did I could use a ChicoBag waist strap (sold separately) to secure the bag to my body. The bag comes in two sizes, Messenger10, which by the colors available seems to be designed for women, and the man-sized Messenger12 bag.

For such a thin bag, the Messenger10 rePETe™ is very durable. I used to stash old plastic bags from the store in my pockets and purse, but they tend to rip when I carry objects with sharp corners. My Messenger10 rePETe™ has held up very well to all sorts of abuse. It's also washable, so I never have to worry about hauling beach gear or produce or anything in this bag.

Another thing I love about this bag is its versatility. It has several useful pockets, so I can use it as a backup bag when I come home with more stuff than left home with or I can use it as my daily purse. On each side of the bag there's a stretchy pocket large enough to hold a water bottle or anything smaller in size, such as my sunglasses, cell phone, or travel tissues. The main compartment inside is large enough to hold a sweatshirt or several grocery items.

The strap is adjustable and fits comfortably over my shoulder. I like that the strap is wide enough to remain comfortable even when the bag is loaded with items. Because the material is made of a nylon-like fabric, it glides smoothly over my body as I walk, making it easy to access when I need to get something out of it.

I really love how the flap is secured in place by two magnets on the front side of the bag. They magically secure the cover flap to the front of the bag, and I don't even have to line up the magnets. They just seem to find each other.

Of course, I also appreciate that my Messenger10 rePETe™ bag is made out of recycled materials. Kudos to ChicoBag for finding a way to put old plastic bottles to good use!

Eco Creds: "Fabric 100% Recycled PET, Webbing 100% Recycled PET, Airmesh 100% Recycled Polypropylene, Carabiner 97% Recycled Aluminum, Strap Liner 100% Recycled Polypropylene, Hardware 100% Recycled Nylon." [FYI: "The term rePETe™ refers to recycled PET. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is the dominant material used in plastic drinking bottle production and can be recycled into a variety of useful materials." Source: www.chicobag.com.]

Colors: The Messenger10 bag: Meadow (green), Sapphire (blue), Amethyst (pink), and Smoke (grey). The Messenger12 bag comes in: Rust (orange), Aluminum (grey), Brownstone (brown), and Onyx (black).

See our Eco Bags page for links to more reviews of other ChicoBag products.

Bottom Line :  A backup bag that's so functional it's becoming my full-time bag. Can't wait to see what ChicoBag comes up with next!--N.S. (May '10)

BUY ONLINE : $19.99, on sale for $17.95 at Nubius Organics.

Manufacturer's Site: www.chicobag.com

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