Freitag’s newest messenger bag is made from trash to last

I remember the day: a sinewy bicycle messenger skillfully weaved through honking automobiles and came to a stop at the traffic light in front of me. But instead of dropping a foot, he balanced high above his fixed-gear pedals for nearly a minute, his crossbody bag bulging against the urgent deliveries within. That was ‘90s San Francisco, when anyone could tap into that free-wheelin’ zeitgeist by wearing a messenger bag — only conformist dorks wore backpacks.

Switzerland-based Freitag got its start in 1993 with messenger bags, and it’s keeping that spirit alive with its latest, the F685 Henry. It’s heavy, water resistant, and incredibly durable because it’s made from worn seatbelts, recycled plastic bottles, and used tarps that act as walls on European trucks. That means no two Freitag bags are identical in a world of mass-produced homogeny.

Ironically, Freitag bags are built to last despite being made from trash. A Freitag messenger bag that I purchased almost 20 years ago is still my go-to for errands around town. I expect the same longevity from the Henry, which I’ve been testing as an all-purpose gear bag for the last few weeks. That makes its $330 price point a bit more agreeable, as does its generous three-year repair warranty after registering your purchase.

Freitag’s F685 Henry is a 13-liter messenger bag that can be expanded to 20 liters, giving it enough volume to function as a daily carryall. So that’s how I’ve been testing it while walking and bicycling to shops, the gym, train, and coworking space.

Like all Freitag bags, the company leans heavily into Velcro fasteners and buckles to hold all that tarp together. There’s so much of the stuff that opening the main compartment makes a loud guttural SHHHRRRRRIIIIIIIIP that will surely draw attention at a meeting or get you kicked out of the theater. I hate that Velcro sound, and the hook and loop material tears at clothing and collects loose bits of debris over time. But this brute-force closure certainly jibes with the Freitag aesthetic. Closing the heavy-duty buckles adds percussion to the performance.

The thing I love about the Henry — and all messenger bags — is how easily the padded shoulder strap allows the bag to be swung around to the front. With the stiff top material folded just right — something that comes with practice — a little shoulder sashay let me easily access the two outer pockets, one of which is zippered and contains a key lanyard. Another zippered side pocket allows for quick access to a wallet or phone.

You can also secure the bag against your body with a three-point strap. This worked very well, but it isn’t really needed on Amsterdam’s protected bike lanes, where I don’t have to dodge in and out of cars. The bag is accented with reflectors from recycled truck contour markings, which help with visibility at night.

Here, I’ll let Freitag show off the bag’s features because its no-nonsense, just-the-facts marketing is part of the company’s charm.

As a gear bag, the Henry works best with the addition of your own camera cubes and pouches to keep things organized. Otherwise, everything will jumble together inside the main pocket. The laptop sleeve offers a modicum of padding for protection against bumps, but not enough for me to toss the bag down when I return home — I gently place it on the floor, instead.

There’s plenty of webbing to clip on or tie down items around the bag for external carry. That includes carrying a U-lock through the belts on the outer flap, for example, or a yoga mat secured underneath with integrated straps. Fortunately, all the bag’s dangly straps can be stowed inside an external sleeve on the bottom for a cleaner look.

The biggest drawback to the Henry is the stiffness and weight. Most of the bag is constructed of a tough polyester fabric created from recycled PET bottles. If it’s like my own basic Freitag messenger, then that material will become malleable over time, but the weight is ever-present. Empty, the Henry tips the scales at 3.26 pounds, which is only a few ounces heavier than the much larger 45L version of Peak Design’s Outdoor Backpack.

I don’t mind the weight if it translates into longevity, and the bag’s already starting to loosen up with regular use. And compared to my own Freitag, this bag is stout, which should translate into better protection for your expensive gadgets.

Freitag tells me that messenger bags make up just 30 percent of its current sales but have recently returned to growth. Perhaps they’re being purchased by people in platform shoes, chokers, and other ‘90s fashion that has recently returned? Great. Because messenger bags are excellent carryalls and the Freitag F685 Henry is a very good messenger bag… if you’re okay with Velcro.

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge