Product Review: Mission Workshop: The Shed

A few months ago, Mission Workshop hit me up to do a review on "The Shed", the first ever "Rolltop Messenger Bag". After taking this bag back and forth from work, Las vegas for interbike, and SF for the BFF, I figured it was time for the write up. I really took my time with this bag, I would love it, then out of nowhere I would just hate it, (the Gemini in me) and not use it for a few days. It was my travel bag, meaning I would pack clothes in another bag, and bring this as my roll around the city bag. Fill it with my shopping, tools, camera and other shit I would need during the trip. As for commuting, I liked it. It has a real professional look to it. Coming into a professional work environment, it made me feel legit, and very proud to be riding my bike to work. Almost like a briefcase, but more badass. As a working bag, i.e. Bike Messenger, I wouldn't use it (I'll explain below), for a commuter or Student, where you are in and out of your bag very little, and need to carry a bunch of stuff at one time. I highly recommend it. Read on for the full explanation.


The profile of the bag is sick. It looks good on, so many compliments from people on the street. At interbike, I was getting stopped left and right from industry folks wanting to know what bag company it was from.

I really liked the shoulder strap/ pad combo. Feels good and looks great on. I have carried a ton of weight in this bag, and always felt secure on my body. No real issues. At interbike, after having 30+Lbs in it, for over Ten hours my shoulder was feeling the pain, but most sling bags would have had the same issues after that much time. The width of the shoulder strap, really came into play when there was a lot of weight in the bag. It kept the bag on your shoulder not digging into it or in your neck. One of the features I liked.

One of the features I didn't like. The chest compression strap. It needs to change. Even after a few months, it never broke in, it was impossible for me to tighten or loosen while riding, with out going all over the road or almost crashing. I would have stop riding or before I got going, use both hands to muscle it through to get it how I wanted. I would curse it on a daily basis. Please fix it, or change it up.

The Rolltop feature. Never used it. I did once and it was very uncomfortable to ride with. I like how deep the bag is, but for me the rolltop was something I could do without. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I kept it traditional.

The Buckle system, very nice. Made for tightening and loosening the bag very easy. Looks flashy as well. You can now upgrade the buckles to various colors. The only I would add to this system is another buckle or D-ring to the end of the compression strap. Just a little something more to grab onto as you cinch the bag tight on your chest.

This photo is from my Shed update a bit ago. It really shows how deep the bag is, and also why this is not a working Bike Messenger's bag. The bag's fold over flap/ rolltop part, creates a huge pocket to fill, but it is impossible to get into while riding or standing, you can't really dig around in the bag or reach far into it, while it is on your body. Some many times, I had to take it off just get something out. This bag is perfect for commuters or students who want to look clean and have to carry a bunch of stuff while riding. That what I use it for, going to work or the grocery store, not for getting in and out of quickly and a lot of times through out your day.

I loved this pocket. The Laptop pocket. So good. This is what really makes this bag good for commuters and students. The laptop pocket creates a safe place to store your laptop, without sacraficing space in the main comparment. I have carried so much in the main pocket, had my laptop in it's cubby hole, and have forgotten it was there. All messenger bags need to adapt to this. I can't sing it's praises enough. Great work there. I have crashed, and the machine was perfectly protected, no worries at all.

The Shed, the new Urban Briefcase.