Keen Alameda Messenger Bag

Keen Alameda Messenger Bag – eco-friendly bag with padded laptop sleeve
We are giving away one Keen Alameda Messenger Bag on Travel Gear Blog this week – Just post a comment on our Facebook used gear discussion for your chance to win by November 5, 2010, 11:59pm EST.
I am not sure when Keen first started making packs, but I am certainly happy they are. I’ve been touring around the Southern Utah desert all week with my new fave hiking pack – the Keen Newport Daypack and keeping my laptop safely stashed away in the Keen Alameda Messenger Bag.
Using scraps from their footwear production, Keen incorporates recycled aluminum, polyester, and rubber into their Alameda Messenger Bag giving your eco-conscience a boost. Wide shoulder straps are soft and comfy and adjust easily for over-the-shoulder carrying and a padded top handle lets you carry the bag at your side.
The feature packed bag has an internal laptop sleeve that cushions a 15-inch laptop, plenty of space for books, notebooks, and binders in the main compartment, side pockets for a water bottle or umbrella, a back zippered pocket for important documents, a phone pockets on the shoulder strap, plus a compartment for pens, business cards, and other small items.
I wasn’t totally stoked on the U-shaped zipper used to close off the interior compartment – it can be a little difficult to close up on the fly. The top closure also doesn’t really want to stay closed when I have it packed to the max. Other than that the bag is pretty sweet and it looks as snazzy as their shoes.
>>Read more about the best daypacks
The quick & dirty:
Where you can find on:
Backcountry: $99.95
Amazon: $73.41

Why they rock:

Made from eco-friendly materials include 100% recycled aluminum components, 100% recycled interior liner, and 100% recycled molded rubber bottom
15.4″ inch padded and suspended laptop sleeve
Carabineer tethered key keeper
Easy slip on design with secure-fit lace capture system
Plenty of interior organizers
Recycled rubber, taken from the outsoles of Keen shoes, adds excellent abrasion resistance and durability to bottom of bag

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 8 out of 10
Sadly, but sweet for one lucky Travel Gear Blog reader, I am just not a messenger bag fan. I rather toss my laptop in a hiking backpack any day, but I will happily give away the messenger bag to one of our Facebook fans that contributes to our discussion on what you can do with old gear. Just post a comment on our used gear discussion for your chance to win by November 5, 2010, 11:59pm EST. Speaking of used gear, the Alameda was only slightly used for this review and has absolutely no wear whatsoever. Good luck!

Looking to buy? Here’s where you can get one:
Backcountry: $99.95
Amazon: $73.41