Chrome Bags: Corsair and Marathon Have Arrived!

Chrome Bags

I am sure by now, most of the readers of ReflectzYn are aware of my gear and fashion obsession. I have dozens upon dozens of articles covering all the many styles of “carry.” One brand in particular has held my interest for a number of years, and was kind enough to send out two of their fine bags for an official review. That brand is Chrome; let me formally introduce you to my new best friends for the next few weeks:

About Chrome

Chrome started in Boulder, Colorado 14 years ago when a couple of guys needed bags and couldn’t find anything that met their standards. So they got the toughest materials they could find, headed into their garage and started sewing. Functional seatbelts from used car lots were re-purposed into bag straps, and tough vinyl fabric salvaged from old furniture was sewn into bag liners.

Before long, people were knocking on their door. Word was out that Chrome was making the best messenger bags around. What started out of necessity became a business with an ethic: build functional products that people can rely on and do it well.

Eventually we moved to San Francisco, a city with a huge urban cycling scene. The business grew. Bags were joined by clothes, gear and shoes. Our products showed up from Brooklyn to Berlin to Tokyo. But what matters today is what mattered in the garage – building products that work, and standing behind everything we make.

Marathon Backpack

The Marathon falls under the Chrome Backpack lineup and possesses the following specs:

Weight: 3.2 lb.
Fabric: 1000 denier Cordura outer shell, 18 oz. seam-sealed truck tarp liner
Flat Dimensions: 14.5” wide, 18.5” high, 6.5” deep

Weatherproof 1000d Cordura outer shell
18 oz. weatherproof truck tarp liner sealed with military spec. seam binding
Ergonomic shoulder strap design with Airmesh backing
EVA foam back panel improves fit and breathability
Unbreakable Stainless steel hardware
Easy access side pocket for lock/waterbottle
YKK Zips

Corsair Messenger Bag

The Corsair falls under the Messenger lineup with specs and features akin to the bags in the lineup:

Weight: 1.8 lb.
Fabric: 1000 denier Cordura outer shell, 18 oz. truck tarp liner
Flat Dimensions: 18” wide, 12” high, 4” deep

Weatherproof 1,000 denier Cordura outer shell
18 oz. weatherproof truck tarp liner sealed with military spec. seam binding
Independently suspended weatherproof truck tarp liner with military spec binding eliminates any seams exposed to the outside elements
Five bar seat belt webbing
Easily adjustable strap with nickle-plated tri-glide
Nylon 69 thread and YKK zippers
Cross-stabilized strap around waist
Fits 15.4″ laptop

I will be product testing both the Marathon and Corsair bags around my new home in the city of Austin, Texas. As always I will have a full written and video review of my experiences with them in the city illustrating how they relate to not only cyclists, but those heavily involved in the tech scene. Stay tuned!