Let's rate how cool your mess bag is! (And therefore how cool you are.)

I like Bike Hugger quite a bit, although I find it annoying that they're going to SXSW this year. More to the point, I find it annoying that they are going and I am not. For all the quality cycling content I provide here, compared to all of their silly cheerleading for utility bikes and their own line of "hugga" socks and tee-shirts, don't I deserve a mess of Texas BBQ and a pile of Crumpler bags to give away? I mean, really? What has the Hugger done for you lately?

Anyway, when dudes start giving away Crumplers down in Austin, you know it's time for a quick rundown on relative coolness of messenger bags. Crumpler is red hot, of course, but where are Chrome, Timbuktu, Banjo Bros. and Bailey Works right now on the heat register?


Crumpler: Red hot. In grave danger of mainstreaming. Power rating: 6





Chrome: Yellow. Cooling fast. Power rating: 1





Bailey Works: Green. Stealthy. Power rating: 5




Banjo Bros.: Green. überobscure=übercool Power rating: 9





Timbuktu: Blue. Cold. Power rating: 3





Remember: Just one man's opinion -- inarguable and authoritative though it may be.

Ingenious code for Early Adaptors(TM) everywhere:

Cool is good, cold is bad.

Red means stop. Don't buy! Sell! Sell!

Yellow means proceed with caution.

Green means thumbs up.

Blue means ask again later.