Aerostich Courier Bag

For about a month now I have been using an Aerostich Courier bag when commuting to work on my 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and my 2012 Suzuki GSX-R750. As you can imagine, the body position is rather different between these two bikes. The V-Strom has an upright, neutral position and the Gixxer has me leaning forward with my elbows practically touching my knees.

I use the Courier bag to carry my lunch, an iPad, an external hard drive, and a few other miscellaneous items. The total weight is around six pounds.

The bag itself is one large compartment. I purchased the additional pocket organizer that attaches to the inside panel (that presses against my back) with hook-and-loop fasteners. In this I store pens, business cards, a small notebook, and a few other small miscellaneous items.

I switched from using a Targus backpack with traditional shoulder straps and several external pockets, and so far I think I like the one big compartment of the Courier bag much better. It's faster to get stuff in and out of the courier bag, and of course it's easier to see in a single glance what is inside.

My biggest concern was switching from shoulder straps (plural) to a singular over-the-shoulder strap. Once the bag is slung over my head to the opposite shoulder, it presses against the flat of my back and I don't notice it anymore after I get on the bike. Even when leaning forward on my Gixxer, the courier bag is comfortable and stable.

The hook-and-loop panel holding the main flap down is very wide and opening it can be rather loud.

I commuted to work through some serious rain the other day on my V-Strom while wearing my Aerostich Courier bag slung over my Roadcrafter one-piece suit. The bag remained stable and the contents were kept completely dry despite the heavy precipitation. I'm sold on the quality of this bag and wish I had purchased it long ago.

The craftsmanship of this bag is outstanding, just like that of my Darien jacket and Roadcrafter one-piece suit. The materials are solid and I can tell this bag is going to last me a very long time. Considering the very low price, I think it is an outstanding value.

The bag due to the quality of its material is very stiff and unyielding and will require some break in time.(this is a good thing) It is cavernous and seems somehow magical in the items it seems to be able to carry, it just keeps expanding somehow. Yet when you only have a few things in it, it does not wear like a sea bag that is empty. It wears small.
The organizer is very useful especially the back zippered pocket which will hold a couple magazines. It could not have been easier to install with the Velcro already in place.
The stabilizer was tested on my BMW R1150GS at 100mph and it did not flop around or move around even though it was nearly empty (BTW, I am 5'8” tall, 185lbs with a normal build). My BMW courier bag would be airborne and become very annoying in any cross wind. In its defense I did not have the optional stabilizer strap.
Also, the strap pad is awesome! With about 30 lbs of weight in the bag it was not digging into my shoulder at all when I was carrying it around, off the bike, with just a T-shirt on. Amazing!
The con, and it is the only con that I have, no outside pocket. The BMW bag has a waterproof zippered pocket on the flap that can hold small items, I carry a small Bible in it so it would be accessible in a moments notice. Very convenient. With your bag, two clips and all that Velcro, (how many Velcro trees were killed in the making of this bag?) it is annoying.
In short, anytime I ride my bike, I grab your bag. The hi-viz yellow and the reflective material and the pad, oh the pad, I will use nothing else. I have yet to test it in the rain and don't even know if you claim that it is waterproof (?).
It is an outside waterproof pocket away from being sheer courier bag nirvana. If you come out with an bag with an outside pocket, you better take trade ins or I will picket!

Well made bag. It contains my earthquake bug-out gear and lives near my front door. This is the bag you want when the stuff hits the fan. I can live for two weeks with the contents inside this bag.

"Hey Chris, I thought this was a moto bag review?!?" Hey - shut up. Get on your bike and ride. This bag shifts all over the place when I ride and I found a better use for it. Stop reading this and buy it. Get the yellow one.

After about 15 years I cracked one of the small plastic buckles on this bag. Today it goes back to Aersotich for repair. The buckle breaking was totally my fault, and it's awesome that I can get it repaired. This back has been through the ringer over and over again and still looks and functions great. This is awesome compared to all other choices.

the bag is a good one. the only 2 faults that i find are the velcro is way overkill. it takes some force to get the lid open. and when i am in a meeting and have to open the bag the noise is really distracting.

the other thing is the accessory pouch as an additional cost. a simpler pouch should be included within the price, and the design could be simplified. this business of accessories as an additional cost is a marketing tool to make additional more profit on the product. just keep it simple, include the necessary pouch and keep the price down.

thanks for this opportunity to respond.
best,
james

The courier bag works exactly as advertised. It's more comfortable than a backpack tossed over one shoulder, and worn around the neck (minus the padding) it is as comfortable as the load allows. Unlike a backpack you can look for stuff inside the bag if riding and are stopped at, say, a light. The bag is versatile and indispensable. The details prove once again that Aerostich use what they sell.

If you do, get a Courier bag. Mine has hauled college books, a laptop, enough supplies for a small office, a water bottle, and my lunch for the past year. Yes, it's snug, but it all fits. I'm in the Northwet, and the only time water has entered the yellow cavern of this bag was when my old water bottle leaked. Winter storms, on and off the bike, failed to put more than two drops inside it. The corners are just starting to get fuzzy, and it has some stains, but not one thread has popped even when the weight exceeded 40 lbs. Campus is big, and I do a lot of walking, so I needed a bag that could survive when one term savaged a Jansport backpack.

About the only downside to hauling so much around is, the items tend to get their share of scars. Softcover books have their spines and corners worn, spiral-bounds tend to get hammered hard. But then I'm not nice with the bag. It gets dropped, slid, shoved around and occasionally tossed. Yet this bag doesn't quit, doesn't leak, doesn't do anything except take my stuff where it needs to go.

this is the bag that your Chrome or Timbuktu bag wants to be when it grows up. I was super close to getting the chrome one because of the quick release on the strap. decided to go with aerostich however as it is moto specific and Aerostich has never let me down. Besides every other trendy hip-guy on the street has one of the other two. I am so glad I went with the 'stich. I use it for school, work and the gym. all at the same time. it will hold my 17" laptop, in it's padded case, with room for books and work clothes! it conforms to you when it is empty or close to, making it very comfortable at all times. I have found that it works better over the left shoulder, that way the release for the strap is on your right and easy to reach. you can tighten or loosen the bag without spinning it around. I realized the other bags seat-belt quick release buckle was unnecessary and would prob create pressure points, dig into chest, interfere with zipper etc. with the stich bag you can have it cinched up tight, but when you want to take it off with a heavy load you release the clamp and pull the shoulder strap up to pass over your head without actually lifting the whole bag. or just release and let it go to the floor around you, step out. the point is it's perfect the way it is and doesn't need a quick release. yes there are 2 places where water could potentially get in at the top, but if you are careful to close it evenly and tightly when it rains there is no way water will get in. I got the grey one and love the color,look of it. very nice, subtle styling, obviously well built with the best materials. the only thing I didn't like was the strap pad. it didn't work well with my shoulder armor. I think given time it would have conformed and gotten comfy, but I bought a maxpedition one to replace it and found that it works very well. I also got a "molle" style shotgun shell soft-pack from ebay that velcros onto the strap and is perfect for carrying cell phone or sunglasses, it has velcro on the front for sticking a patch on, I use it to temporarilly attach my gloves to when I get off or put on helmet, etc. it holds them for you! I am super happy with the comfort, convenience, etc. well done Aerostich!

I purchased a courier bag almost 15 years ago. I have been using this bag every day for the last few years to carry my laptop and general "stuff" It still looks great. I purchase a hi Vis replacement so that I could send in my original for some sewing repairs. There is not a better courier bag on the market. Some of my friend that ride bicycles have switched to this bag, even though it is heavier than the bicycle specific bags, because of the superior construction.

Purchased this bag mainly as a gym bag. With the organizer pockets I have everything where it should be. Works great as an overnight bag and we'll use it as a carry on when flying. Another great product from Aerostitch.