Limited Edition Adobe Messenger Bag Handsomely Totes Creative Gear

New limited-edition messenger bag from Adobe and MEDIUM carries all in style.

Featuring thermoformed pockets for stowing a 17-inch laptop, cell phone, keys, pens, and, of course, MP3 player, and stretch mesh pockets for cables and assorted other gadgets, the Adobe Messenger Bag is billed as the ultimate messenger bag for the creative professional. Stylish and feature-packed, it lives up to its billing—only a few quibbles hold it back from earning props as the ultimately styled messenger bag for the creative professional.

The new Adobe Messenger Bag by Adobe and MEDIUM

On commission from Adobe, Santa Barbara, California’s MEDIUM Design Group designed, proofed, and promotes the bag exclusively with Adobe Creative Suite 2 software—even the bag’s website was designed in GoLive CS2.

Emblazoned with the Adobe logo on the front and the MEDIUM logo on the back, the handsome Adobe Messenger Bag is crafted from 1.6-1.8mm tumbled full grain black leather and high-denier nylon and appointed with discrete red stitching. It features a toggle closure, top-mounted leather-wrapped carry handle, and an oversized shoulder strap, which distributes the weight of all that gear. Measuring 27 cm tall, 45 cm wide, and 10 cm thick, it’s big enough for your everyday commute, but clearly not intended as an overnighter.

Accommodating 10 - 17-inch laptops, the internal thermoformed sleeve is padded and suspended above the bag base—your laptop won’t hit the floor when the bag does.

Audiophiles—and in the age of iPod, who isn’t?—will benefit from more than just the MP3 player pocket. A slit in the exterior allows passage to headphones from the MP3 player stored inside, and routing clips built into the padded shoulder strap channel the wire from bag to head with minimal risk of snagging.

Opened roll-top.

Secured with nylon straps, a unique and not entirely obvious “roll-top closure system” appears to access the main pouch from above, and fold over to become the back flap—not unlike a backpack. We’re willing to give MEDIUM the benefit of the doubt and assume that the closure is more elegant than it appears in the product shots. Given the dual tightening straps, however, we have to wonder if the bag to store all creative gadgets can be opened and closed on the go and one-handed, as any messenger bag should.

The included tear-resistant nylon rain hood, which slips out from the rear pouch to wrap the entire satchel against the elements, is a nice touch. It does make one wonder if it was commissioned by the rainy Adobe Seattle office, though, because we just can’t see anyone in the sunny San Jose headquarters requiring rain protection. Unlike similar attempts to protect the gear protector, this one accommodates normal transportation by allowing the shoulder strap to protrude from the rain slicker. We would prefer to see the fitted rain slip in complementary black instead of silver.

The bag certainly is handsome from the front and sides, but for US$250, one would expect an all-leather bag—but this is a minor quibble. Even in nylon, the back panel stylishly compliments the design. We do, however, have to mark off for the shoulder and draw strap fasteners conspicuous on either side of the bag. Though they appear to be necessitated by the roll-top closure system, these black plastic pieces detract mightily from an otherwise dapper satchel.

The rain pouch.

We travel with both a PowerBook and PC laptop. We already have the sleek Adobe padfolio and duffle, but can only hope that, if this collaboration between Adobe and MEDIUM proves successful, we’ll soon see another version of the Adobe Messenger Bag sporting dual suspended laptop sleeves.

The Adobe Messenger Bag is available for pre-order today for US$250.00, and will begin shipping 15 November 2005. To order, or for more information and photos, visit the official website.