It’s called the Lieutenant, and the new messenger bag from Chrome Industries might just command that kind of attention or respect. The company ain’t messing around with this sucker — it’s a waterproof beast of a bag that packs up to 26 liters’ worth of goods inside and weighs a healthy 3.4 pounds when empty.
A padded strap with the company’s requisite seatbelt buckle straps the pig on your back. It seals shut with Velcro and a roll-top closure akin to what you see on a kayaking dry bag.
It costs $170. The aesthetic, like other Chrome products, grabs influence from Army Surplus as well as urban design. Tough Cordura nylon makes up its outer shell, while inside a “military-grade truck tarpaulin liner” keeps it watertight.
The 21-inch-wide bag will drape across your whole back, guaranteeing substantial sweat spots while pedaling in summertime. But if you need this kind of honking capacity — and a waterproof bag made in the USA to last for years — there are few options like the Lieutenant.
—Stephen Regenold
