Dickies 614 Messenger Bag: Product Review
PROS of the Dickies 614 Messenger Bag:
– They have an obscene mix of colors and patterns available. It’s not just black, grey, blue, or red. There’s blue camouflage, safety orange, black-and-white checker, green plaid, and red stripe – just to name a handful. In all, there are over 40 colors available. Call me boring, but I picked the neutral “mushroom” color.
– The brand marking is relatively small – just enough to let curious passerby see the maker of the bag (in case they like it)âÂ?¦but not so egregious that it detracts from the overall aesthetic.
– The basic exterior design is simple, uncluttered with excessive pockets and pouches. Accordingly, it can function as a semi-professional bag as long as you select a modest color, as I did.
– It’s got some quasi-hip appeal because Dickies is one of those brand names, once reserved for more industrial purposes, that has since become popularized for mass consumption among pockets of urban scene-sters. In other words, you won’t be uncool with a Dickies bag.
– Thanks to the rough-n-tumble 600 Denier polyester construction, the Dickies 614 messenger bag is more waterproof than most competitor bags of similar price.
– Because there’s a strap and a handle, you can chose how you want to carry the bag. If you’ve ever shopped for a decent messenger bag, you’d be surprised how many lack the handle – practical for times when slinging the strap over your torso is inconvenient (i.e. when it’s dirty, when it’ll wrinkle your clothes, etc.)
– The zipper on the Dickies 614 Messenger Bag is strong and unlikely to get caught the way it might on a cheaper bag.
CONS of the Dickies 614 Messenger Bag:
– It’s not quite as laptop-friendly as I would’ve liked. These days, many of us want to carry our laptops around without a cumbersome briefcase or giant backpack, and this messenger bag suffices as long as you include some extra padding yourself. I added a laptop sleeve, for example, but I would’ve liked to see that built into this messenger bag more effectively.
– While I laud the lack of excessive pockets and pouches on the outside of the bag, I’d would’ve liked some more on the inside.
Note: Because the Dickies 614 Messenger Bag is a top seller at many online websites, there are plenty of them available. Be sure to check places like eBay and Amazon in addition to bag-only specialty stores, as you may get a good deal.