This Messenger Bag Is Absurdly Light, But Still Big Enough For Your Laptop

Bellroy’s Cinch Messenger looks like a remarkably light and capable daily commuter bag that’s still big enough to hold a 14-inch laptop.

Bellroy's cinch messenger bag shown laid flat and open to reveal its organizational pockets for phones, keys and other small items.

By Ben Bowers

Published October 24, 2024

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Updated October 24, 2024

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Melbourne, Australia-based Bellroy has been innovating in the EDC and travel space for over a decade.

It all started in 2010 with the Slim Sleeve wallet, which holds up to 11 credit cards and cash without transforming into a Constaza-level disaster. Seven years later, the brand moved into bags and hasn’t looked back.

So nowadays, when the brand introduces an entire new collection, we’re always curious to see the new features they’ll introduce.

And the new Cinch collection doesn’t disappoint.

An Easy New Daily Carry Option

The entire Cinch collection is clearly designed to look and feel effortless. Case in point: Bellroy named the recycled nylon material the bags are made of Relaxo.

Then there’s the dual exterior stretch pockets with elastic gathers, which eliminate the hassle of dealing with zippers or additional velcro flaps to grab small items. However, zippered compartments are still available for valuables if you need them.

The bag’s exterior stretch pockets are designed to make it easy to quickly grab smaller items without dealing with additional flaps and zippers.

Tack on features like a dedicated internal pocket for stashing an AirTag, a luggage pass-through, and a wide-mouth opening capable of holding a 14-inch laptop (in the case of the larger 12L version), and you’ve got all the makings of an capable daily commuter bag.

That’s Also Insanely Light

The 12L version of the Bellroy Cinch Messenger weighs just over 14 ounces. For perspective, according to the amazing and semi-ridiculous resource The Measure of Things, that’s about as heavy as an Official NFL-sized football. The smaller 6L size is naturally even lighter, weighing in at 7 ounces, or roughly the weight of two decks of cards.

Despite weighing about as much as a NFL football, Bellyroy’s cinch messenger is still big enough to hold a 14-inch laptop, a pair of noise canceling headphones and more.

Those weight specs are remarkable in the world of messenger bags and briefcases. Just consider this: Filson’s 13L Rugged Twill Original Briefcase, our upgrade pick for the best laptop bag, is nearly five times heavier.

Or what about another popular nylon-based messenger? Timbuk2’s class-leading Comuter Messenger Bag 2.0, which matches the Cinch Messenger’s 12L capacity exactly, weighs over three times as much at 44.8 ounces. Even Bellroy’s excellent 12L Tokyo Wonder Tote weighs 21 ounces, or nearly twice as much.

The bottom line is that few, if any, commuter bags we know of can safely carry so much and while weighing so little. So anyone aspiring to streamline their commute should probably give Bellroy’s Cinch Messenger a long, hard look.