ID Messenger Bag Review

[maverick]

Hello,

My ID Messenger Bag arrived a couple of days ago. Here is my initial review of the bag.

I'll be traveling with it this weekend and will update the review with my experience with the ID on an airplane.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Maverick

[maverick]

hello,

seems i goofed in adding link - here it is.

thanks,
yash

[weirdguy]

Hello @maverick,

Finally. I am relief to find a review of previous-designed (old) ID. I clearly understand this Topic is more than decade old and the mentioned link isn't working anymore. I am hoping the content still could accessible by other means. Or even share here.

Thanks you,

[maverick]

Oh wow!

I don't know about that, but there is a video describing the ID!

The one I had before this was essentially the same design, but without the enhancements that came later.

The two pieces of 1050d baillistic nylton that join in a curve on the front do so with more flare now. The grab handle is filled with poron foam -- the previous handle was padded, but with something else. The section with the organizer pockets had a divider that went straight across, and now that divider goes across and curves up toward either end. On the outside of that divider were a zippered pocket and a pocket that had a diagonally cut opening. There is now a zippered pocket that goes with width of that opening in the place of the two pockets. And there are Ultrasuede lined zippered pockets at either end. You can now choose from the standard, Q-AM, and Absolute Shoulder Straps. Those options came after the ID from 2004. The current ID has a water bottle holder on one side that wasn't part of the design in 2004.

It's like looking at a Mercedes-Benz SL class over time. Naturally, there have been advancements in technology and enhancements to the design over time. But every generation of the SL is a pleasure to drive. Every generation of the ID, of every TOM BIHN bag, is a pleasure to use.

[weirdguy]

Haha. You made a great point there!
I understand and really like how you express your last paragraph and put them into words.

I didn't mean to dig up a decade-old topic. Something at eBay intrigued me and I am in search to discover more. Not sure whether it is appropriate to bring up that, so I am refrain myself further.

Thanks for the brief history of the ID too.
I never thought the ID has such a long history of revision.

Note: I am not in any possible way, related to the said eBay.

[moriond]

Hello @maverick,

Finally. I am relief to find a review of previous-designed (old) ID. I clearly understand this Topic is more than decade old and the mentioned link isn't working anymore. I am hoping the content still could accessible by other means. Or even share here.

Thanks you,

Hope this is OK with @maverick, but here's the link to his old review of the ID Messenger Bag through the Wayback machine. As always, he has great pictures! I'll also point people to Boolie's 11-Year Review of the ID Messenger Bag that appeared in last year's blog.

I'll comment on some of the differences between these older designs on the later redesigns, but you can also see my Questions on ID Bag Redesign and Comments on Sage post (#6) in the Attention Sage Fans! thread of October 2006.

One of the most notable differences in the older ID bags is the 2" padded strap. The webbing quality from that time is gorgeous and pliable, but the fact that it simply wasn't as comfortable as the Absolute Strap, and if you were carrying a heavy load the length adjustment could slip slightly. That issue was solved with the Cheater D-ring adapters, that allowed you to use a regular Absolute Strap with the bag, but alas, they haven't been separately sold for 2" webbing for over a year.

Newer features were the introduction of a water bottle pocket. I'll have to come back and edit this post later, because I'm really short on time now.

HTH

moriond

[weirdguy]

Thanks @moriond for taking your time to response and add to my questions.
Really appreciate Wayback Machine link too. How come I never thought of that? I was using it to turn back time to see the Official ID Product Page by then.

Like @maverick quoted, the old ID Messenger Bag is such a great piece by itself although there is lack of few today's great enhancement.

I find the direct link to Boolie's full review is not working but you can access it through Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20150621...1-year-review/, in case for any curious mind out there.

Thanks again @moriond and @maverick for chipping in.

Note: Not sure what happened. It seems like the Direct Official Link to Boolie's Review is back online. Please ignore the Wayback Machine's Link.

[maverick]

Ah, the Wayback Machine! Thanks moriond! :)

That brings back memories! I loved the red on that wall in my old house -- we moved from there in 2008. It feels like yesterday...it's amazing how quickly time goes by!