This Nearly Perfect Pack Changed My Tune on Messenger Bags

I assumed I was past my messenger bag phase. From my 20s through much of my 30s, I rode a fixed-gear bike up and down every street in Minneapolis, tore through traffic during alley cat events, and even raced around a velodrome. And beyond the bike and a helmet, nothing completed the hell-on-wheels look like a messenger bag slung over one shoulder.

Made famous by Chrome Industries and its iconic seatbelt buckle closure, these bags were veritable dumpsters — big, gaping containers, built to endure the worst and stand up to anything. And most of the time, their aesthetic was decidedly grunge.

So, as a 40-something career keyboard jockey, whose lifestyle is markedly less acid wash and sweat stains, I was skeptical about testing a new entrant into the commuter messenger bag market. FARA launched its Raven commuter pack as a more refined EDC option, whether on foot or in the saddle.

After 5 months of testing, my love for the messenger bag has fully rekindled — even if my love for Hamm’s beer and whiskey shots hasn’t.

In short: The FARA Raven 16L messenger bag is a near-perfect daily-use urban commuter bag. Its combination of smart internal organization, highly durable and weatherproof materials, modular add-ons, and sharp style has made it my daily workhorse. It would benefit from a stabilizer strap for extended bike commutes, and the price is a bit higher than its competitors, but it’s a truly well-built, versatile EDC pack.

FARA Raven 16L Messenger Bag Review

Materials & Construction

Where many messenger bags use high-strength, heavyweight nylon on the exterior with a laminated interior to combine exterior toughness with internal waterproofing, the FARA bag takes a slightly different approach.

Unlike the canvas-like feel of traditional messenger bags, the Raven looks and feels sleeker, thanks to a zoned mix of lighter- and heavier-weight nylon, coated in polycarbonate. This makes the bag impervious to moisture intrusion from the exterior surface and allows water to bead and roll off upon contact.

The shoulder strap is nicely padded and can be swapped for left- or right-shoulder carry. There’s no buckle, but the strap slides easily over the head and cinches tight with a slide buckle. For hardcore hipsters, the sliding buckle doubles as a bottle opener, too.

The pack’s lid secures with two magnetic Fidlock buckles. A nice wide top strap lets you briefcase-carry, or lift the bag with two hands if it’s especially heavy. And for bikers, the face of the pack carries four reflective strips. They’re not large, only about 1.5 inches each, but they add some extra visibility for riders.

Organization

The organization on the FARA is absolutely stellar. Messenger bags, like most packs, often walk a fine line between a hyper-minimal dump sack and an over-engineered mess of pockets. But the Raven strikes a perfect balance.

Most of the storage and organization sit inside the main compartment. Near the back, a padded laptop sleeve fits devices up to 16 inches. Along the front of this pocket is a smaller sleeve with a nifty magnetic closure, perfect for cords and such.

Opposite these device pockets is a trio of smaller knick-knack pockets, two of which have magnetic closures, along with the standard array of pen holders. Each of these three pockets is about as wide as your hand, so it’s easy to grab whatever you need. Right behind these small pockets is a large zippered pocket that runs the full width of the main compartment.

Nestled between these front and rear storage areas is the main compartment, which takes up most of the Raven’s 16L capacity. This is ideal for extra layers or other large objects.

Additionally, at either end of this main compartment is a collapsible, soft-wall bottle holder. This is a particularly welcome addition, as messenger bags, by nature, can’t accommodate external bottle pockets. And this incorporates hydration storage in such a way that if you aren’t using them, they aren’t wasted space.

Finally, FARA added some useful external storage. On the face of the pack are three zippered pockets: one large center pocket flanked by two side zips, each running diagonally to match the silhouette of the pack. These side zips hide deceptively roomy pockets. Sitting atop the center zipped pocket is a larger, open quick-access pocket (this does not have a zipper or magnetic closure).

A Note on the Modular

It’s worth noting that FARA built this pack to work in conjunction with its VALR 3L and 4L slings. The smaller pack can buckle onto the exterior of the Raven, adding some precious liters of space. I didn’t really put this feature to the test, as I didn’t see a strong need for it.

However, I can imagine a scenario in which I bike to a friend’s house before an event and lash the VALR onto the Raven, and then leave the larger bag in favor of a smaller, venue-approved sling.

Commuter Tested

Despite my preconceptions about messenger bags, it did not take long for me to appreciate just how nice the Raven 16L really is. The internal organization is intuitive, uncluttered, and smartly designed. I often carry a 15-inch MacBook Pro in the main laptop sleeve and my smaller MacBook Air in the adjacent magnetic pocket. I stuff cords and adapters either in an unused bottle sleeve (they fit perfectly) or in the external dump pocket.

If my keys aren’t clipped to my belt loop, I’ll use the hidden clip in one of the external zipper pockets. These pockets are also great for snacks, a phone, or just-in-case sunglasses. As for the larger internal zippered pocket, I’ve found this perfect for books, notepads, and anything else I want to protect from oopses and creases.

For walking around town and remote work trips, it’s proven both comfortable and handsome enough to bring into office meetings and coffee shops alike. Best of all, the coated nylon construction has shed rain and street spray from below. And that has also made it easy to wipe clean after it’s been sitting on the floor or ground.

I haven’t hauled this pack through a thicket or dragged it along broken pavement, but beyond severe abuse, the Raven should withstand daily wear and tear with aplomb. After nearly half a year of testing, it shows almost no signs of wear.

What Could Be Better

Overall, I’m very happy with the FARA Raven 16L. There are two key areas of improvement that would really elevate this pack for bike commuters.

For starters, on longer rides, I felt the pack migrate. That is, it slowly slid down and away from the shoulder over which it was slung. This is a common design quirk of messenger-style bags, and FARA confirmed that a future iteration of this pack will include an additional stabilizer strap that loops around the hips to address it.

Secondly, while any reflective hits are better than nothing, I prefer bigger or more striking safety measures. As is, the hits blend in well with the professional look of the bag in the light. But I’d opt for a big, bold reflective strap designed for low-light visibility.

Who Should Buy?

Honestly, given the choice, 20-year-old me would probably still opt for a Chrome Industries belt-buckle messenger bag to pair with my fixie. They’re well-made packs, and they serve a dedicated following.

But 40-year-old me recognizes all the thought and design expertise that went into FARA’s Raven 16L: Internal collapsible water bottle pockets, magnetic hardware, and a sleek, simple aesthetic.

The Raven sits at the higher end of the price spectrum among similarly sized messenger bags, a nod to its target market. This is a commuter-friendly pack that will stand up to urban assault but pairs just as well in classier, more comfortable environs. Leave the acid wash and sweat stains to the kids.