✔ MATERIAL – Made of customized high-density canvas, this messenger bag was endowed with long-lasting performance and rugged style. Garment wash for the finished product adds soft and comfortable touch to it.
✔ DIMENSIONS – 11.2″(L) x 3.4″(W) x 9″(H); Item weighs 1.1 Lbs; Fits iPad up to 9.7-inch and A4/foolscap-sized folders, textbooks, magazines in its main compartment.
✔ COMPACT CAPACITY- Thanks to its minimalist design with multiple pockets, this courier bag is designed for daily commuters. The bag design is simple and allows you to carry lots of daily essentials with ease.
✔ FINEST CRAFTSMANSHIP – All seams have reinforced stitching with wrapped binding. Well-made hardware with brass accents ensure long lasting durability. This lovely crossbody shoulder bag is built to withstand whatever circumstances you may encounter during your daily or outdoor activities.
✔ PRACTICAL USE – Minimalist design with smart organization, as well as its distinctive vintage style, it can perfectly serve as casual sling bag, daily commuter bag or crossbody shoulder satchel etc,. it easily switches from work mode to play mode as fast as you can.
41 reviews for Women’s Canvas Messenger Bag -Vintage Crossbody Shoulder Bag
Rated 5 out of 5
pukuco –
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This is so cute and seems really well made. Snaps seem sturdy and very functional. Strap is a nice soft twill that looks and feels good. I would not consider this a messenger bag though! This is purse sized. You can easily fit a standard letter-size US spiral notebook inside (several actually) and from side to side you can fit a 3-ring binder, but you cannot close the bag as the binder spine would stick up and out at least 2” above the main compartment’s zipper opening. The zippers slide nicely and the canvas is a heavyweight feeling fabric. Would definitely keep as a purse, will not work for my wished-for use as a slim school bag.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jaz V. –
I used to carry a small backpack, like the novelty fun ones & decided to upgrade to this for a bit more space & accessibility. I wear it over my shoulder, across the chest mostly. The material of the bag is nice and on the thick side. It is very sturdy and not flimsy or easy to break & tear. The strap to the bag is nice & easy to adjust. Ive been using it for at least a week now & i love it a lot. I liked putting some pins on the front flap. There’s plenty of pockets inside and out the main pouch & you can definitely fit in a spiral notebook, to help size ref. I would definitely recommend to those who want a small but good quality side bag.
Rated 5 out of 5
Alexander P –
Muy buen tamaño y muy útil
Rated 5 out of 5
No need to know –
I got this bag for school 4 months ago with daily use and it’s still holding up great its everything I needed in a bag plenty of pockets but not to confusing! I love it good material, and it holds ALOT OF WEIGHT! It’s easy to clean aswell!
Rated 4 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
This is a good bag for work. Not too big. Fits a 9×11 pocket folder. There are pockets in front, back and inside for smaller items. Zippers work well to keep things secure. The snaps are of good quality. It would be even nicer if it was lined.
Rated 5 out of 5
No need to know –
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My babes. If you’re a fan of industrial strength messenger bags but looking to down size- look no further! I’m a big fan of the army-surplus style canvas bags that can fit a small toddler (or a large pizza and two bottles of wine), and have been since I was in high school (MANY a moon ago).
THIS bag… is not that size. It could fit 8.5×11 letter paper but not much else. It’s not truly a messenger bag. BUT it IS messenger bag style, which I love.
I’m going on vacation next week to a pickpocket-heavy location. I’ve spent ages looking for one of those cute little half bag things with theft resistant features. Absolute AGES.
And then I realized… I’d much rather have a version of my emotional-support-giant-bag. So once again, I went hunting. I needed something sturdy (I don’t baby my bags, they gotta be tough enough to survive me clumsily dropping them fairly often) and relatively secure.
Dolls- I have FOUND IT!
This bad boy is my fave olive-drab color and has the crossbody strap which I love- crossbody is way harder to steal from you, especially if the strap is sturdy and the bag is canvas, both make it hard to slice through. Even when I’m wandering around here, I still love crossbody. I’m in the habit of packing everything but the kitchen sink, so crossbody is way more comfortable than weighing one shoulder down with a half ton of random stuff.
This bag is SECURE- just look at all those pics! And the video, but be gentle with my skills, I’ve never tried to open everything with one hand while holding my phone with the other.
Anyway- yes. Secure!
-The top flap has a snap-button strap at the bottom to lock the whole shebang down. -Under the flap are two square pockets, each with a snap of their own. -Almost-full-sized zipper pocket above those -Fully-full-sized zipper pocket for the inside of the bag -And finally, a smaller zippered pocket inside the main space, big enough to fit a thick-ish standard size wallet and my insurance card.
LOVE this bag, it’s awesome. The only thing I would mention is the size- I took pics with the measuring tape but if you’re like me, reading those numbers won’t give you an accurate mental image.
I read the other reviews, I knew it would be smaller than I guessed- that’s great for this trip! I have weight/volume restrictions on what all I can take, so a smaller bag is definitely a perk.
Having said that, my normal bags are ginormous and it would’ve been a let down.
There’s a couple pics of a full-sized Bath & BodyWorks lotion for scale. Hope this helps!
Rated 5 out of 5
Katherine justice –
This messenger bag is perfect. It’s not too big and. It too small. It’s very well made and will last awhile. The zippers are strong and well made. Great bag for carrying around esp during travel.
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon Customer –
This has been my all summer long go-to bag. A good size for me and roomier than it looks! A good investment and a keeper. So far, holds up to plenty of abuse without any signs of wear or tear.
Rated 5 out of 5
Emma Giovanni –
Súper cómoda y el material es resistente. Para usarla en viajes es una gran opción
Rated 3 out of 5
Katherine justice –
The bag showcases good quality and an appropriate size tailored for men, yet its design significantly hampers its functionality.
The front pockets fall short in practicality, being neither tall enough to accommodate a phone nor suitably narrow for glasses or pens, and they are not conveniently accessible. The inner pocket’s capacity is disappointingly limited, barely fitting a checkbook and certainly inadequate for a men’s wallet.
For an improved user experience, I recommend that the manufacturer consider adding an open pocket on the back of the bag, providing an easily accessible slot for a phone.
Rated 5 out of 5
Johnny –
I really wasn’t wanting a big, clunky bag but decided to get this one based off the reviews and figured I’d just deal with it. However, this bag is the absolute perfect size. Big enough to hold what you need but not clunky and awkward. The strap adjusts easily and sits nicely on ones shoulder. It’s also really cute! I was wanting something bigger that didn’t scream feminine and this definitely fits the bill. I think the only ‘complaint’ I have is the two buttoned front pockets are a little small. I was hoping to put my 2 charging banks in each one for ease of use but they unfortunately don’t fit. The pockets are about as tall as a standard deck of cards though, so they’re not unusable and definitely not worth being upset over. Overall, I’m very happy with this bag and would recommend it!
Rated 5 out of 5
G. B. Kauffman –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
Rated 4 out of 5
(Peter) –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
Rated 4 out of 5
Shiplover –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
Rated 5 out of 5
Client d’Amazon –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Rated 5 out of 5
Client d’Amazon –
このぐらいのバッグが欲しくてこちらの商品を選びました。表のポケット2つも結構便利だと思います。
Rated 5 out of 5
Rachel –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Rated 5 out of 5
Douglass Davidoff –
Just the right size for a travel day bag. Easily stowed my iPad, tour book and incidentals while not being to big or bulky. Best part is the natural robust materials and construction. So glad to find a bag with old fashioned zippers and snaps. NO VELCRO!
Rated 5 out of 5
G. B. Kauffman –
Just the right size for a travel day bag. Easily stowed my iPad, tour book and incidentals while not being to big or bulky. Best part is the natural robust materials and construction. So glad to find a bag with old fashioned zippers and snaps. NO VELCRO!
Rated 5 out of 5
Roro S. –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
Rated 5 out of 5
(Peter) –
I am very happy with my recent purchase. My old and much traveled LL Bean side bag finally wore out, and I took a chance with this. Very pleased with the size. It should hold more than my LL Bean and will be easier to find things during travel, especially on a plane. The quality seems good I think it will hold up well. The closure works well and the two pockets on the front are very handy. No more multiple pockets inside to lose things. Simple works. I like the color and classic style and the strap seems comfortable. The price is amazing. I’d buy it again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kindle Customer –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
Rated 5 out of 5
Rachel –
Llegó en perfecto estado. Es muy linda, es pequeña pero bastante espaciosa. Muy linda. El material es de excelente calidad. La tela se siente gruesa y suave, volvería a comprar otra.
Rated 5 out of 5
Carlos l. –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Rated 5 out of 5
Customer –
We ordered the Gootium Canvas Messenger Bag in the army Green color. It arrived in the expected time frame, nice and on schedule! Let me start by saying first, that we ordered this bag several months ago and I decided to wait to write this review until I had plenty of time to use the bag and see how it wears after some use. Secondly, I have been looking for a good quality messenger bag for YEARS now (at least ten years)- and have looked in just about every store I could think of. I just wanted a basic, well made, messenger bag that zipped closed for security. When I found this Gootium bag here on Amazon, I was very excited to finally find something that met my requirements, seemed well made, and was not super expensive!! (I have since come to believe that $30 or $40 is a GREAT DEAL for this awesome bag!!!) When I got this in the mail, this first thing I noticed was how nicely it was packaged. Also, I was so excited to see that it really did appear in person just as it appeared in the pictures! The army green color does look a bit different in person (a little more of a khaki/brownish green color) but that was not something i was very concerned with- and also, it is not unusual for army greens to have that brownish hue to them. Also it really is a very minor difference from the picture, not very noticeable. I started using the bag right away, and I am still using it every day! I have to say– this is the nicest bag/purse I have ever gotten!!!! I am a typical female who loves her bags, and I have had all sorts of bags over the years… I have gotten things from army surplus stores, etc, and still have not had anything that has been made so well and with such quality!! I was hesitant to order a purse online, but I am so very glad I tried this Gootium bag– i know that this is a bag I will get a ton of use out of, for years to come!! (I also plan to post an update after more time has passed, to let shoppers know how it has continued to hold up) The quality of the canvas is great- nice and thick, without being all stiff (in fact, it even has a softness to it). The seams are nice and secure, and the strap is sewn directly into the bag. In my experience, the places where most bags go wrong is where the strap connects to the body of the bag (especially since my bags tend to be rather heavy since i carry so much stuff with me! =D )– this strap is not only made of a thick, strong material (even thicker than the canvas in the body portion)- but the strap is also soft for how thick and strong the material is (it is also a nice thickness/width and does not dig into my shoulder). It is reinforced by the square and X stitching in the place where it is sewn to the body, and in addition to the extra stitching, it also has a round, metal piece that is reinforcing the strap to the bag!! The metal hardware appears to be brass and is of superior quality. Also- I am in love with the zippers!! They are also brass, and zip very smoothly– they have not caught once since i have used this bag. They are sewn in very well, just like the rest of the stitching. Also, the leather pulls are very nice and are holding up very well. The size of this bag is also perfect! It is not a small bag, but also not huge either!! I carry one of those large check-book-sized wallets and this bag accommodates my large wallet, coin purse, make up bag, small notebook, several sets of keys, tons of charging cords/cables, bottles of advil, and tons of other small items that organize nicely in the pockets. I LOVE that it isn’t overly organizer-ish, yet it also isn’t just a big pocket either… It has the perfect number of pockets to keep things orderly, yet still open enough to find everything easily! I could go on even further about how much i love this bag, but i am sure you get the picture by now! XD **I would highly recommend this bag, and I would definitely purchase from this company and seller again!!! ** ~~I am continually impressed by the quality of this bag <3 Hope this has helped!!
***Review Update July 26, 2022** Just wanted to post a quick update to this review… It has been over 4 years since I got this bag, and I am still using it regularly. It is still in wonderful condition… actually, it’s pretty much in the same condition as when I got it brand new. It has broken-in a bit, canvas has softened up somewhat. I have swapped out to some different bags in that time frame, but I find myself going back to this bag again and again- when I just want a reliable, SECURE bag that will hold the necessities, plus a few extras. (Again- this size is great cuz I can keep everything I need, and it also helps to limit how much stuff I cram into my bag and then forget about! lol!) Over the past four years, I have been so impressed with this first bag, that I have since bought several other Gootium bags. I have two other messenger bags from them, a backpack, the little wristlet bag, a duffel bag, and two other purse-style bags. Needless to say, I am thrilled with this brand.. and whenever I need a quality, reliable, secure bag.. this is my go-to. I know I probably sound like a spokesperson for them at this point.. but I really am just a basic consumer and i am not being incentivized in any way to say this stuff. I am just really impressed to find this quality for the money. These days, it isn’t easy to find something that lasts and is made well. And I have wasted too much money on junk bags and purses that don’t hold up. Oh- one more detail- i have not tried washing any of these bags yet. I have had major issues in the past with washing bags and purses in the machine (a lesson i learned the hard way!)- so that will be a major test as to how well they hold up! When i cross that bridge, I will come back and update this again and let you all know how it goes. Anyways, hope this was helpful! Shopping online can be difficult, especially when you are trying to find something specific and you need to know the actual quality of an item (especially something like this, that you really rely on for day-to-day, and you need to be able to trust that your wallet and valuables are stored securely) God Bless!!! <3
Rated 5 out of 5
Shiplover –
I am very happy with my recent purchase. My old and much traveled LL Bean side bag finally wore out, and I took a chance with this. Very pleased with the size. It should hold more than my LL Bean and will be easier to find things during travel, especially on a plane. The quality seems good I think it will hold up well. The closure works well and the two pockets on the front are very handy. No more multiple pockets inside to lose things. Simple works. I like the color and classic style and the strap seems comfortable. The price is amazing. I’d buy it again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Roro S. –
Llegó en perfecto estado. Es muy linda, es pequeña pero bastante espaciosa. Muy linda. El material es de excelente calidad. La tela se siente gruesa y suave, volvería a comprar otra.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kindle Customer –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
Rated 5 out of 5
(Peter) –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Rated 4 out of 5
Douglass Davidoff –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
Rated 5 out of 5
(Peter) –
Nicest canvas messenger bag on Amazon?
… I probably looked at every single Product Description for items matching “canvas messenger bag” here on Amazon before rolling the dice on this one. On seeing and handling this bag I’m glad I chose it over the others. For a bag that’s $100 cheaper than an American name brand bag, it’s chock full o’ craftsmanship: all internal canvas seams have stitched piping to cover any rough fabric edges; zipper pulls are made of leather; exposed strap ends are wrapped in leather; etc. The bag is brand new but feels already gently broken in, like a pair of stone-washed denim jeans (but there’s no fading on the material).
The Olive Brown bag I purchased is a perfect blend of those two colors. Straps are medium brown, and leather accents are a darker shade of brown. Just enough contrast between bag body and accents, but not too much to be an eyesore.
The GOOTIUM brand leather tag is also a nice “thing”, but I’m not a big fan of these Chinese-coined words for brand names. GOOTIUM honestly sounds like some sort of Kryptonite goo that Superman might find on the bottom of his shoe…
I took a hint from a few other reviewers here and carefully removed that brand tag with a seam ripper. After that I dabbed a bit of water on the stitching holes and let it dry, which nicely pulled those holes closed. There are a few very small canvas threads remaining but this just adds to the broken-in look of the bag — more authentic, less name-brandey. See attached picture for the results.
Edited to add: There’s also a GOOTIUM cloth tag sewn to the zippered pocket inside the main compartment. I couldn’t stand the non-sensical motto “AFFECTION REMAINS UNCHANGED, YOUR CHOICE, WE MADE” (uh wut?), so I took the seam-ripper to that one as well. See additional attached photo for the now missing-but-not-missed parts of this bag.
The bag has a single large gusset and will easily accept a Chromebook with an 11.6″ diagonal screen, plus a charging brick, plus a phone or two, plus a few books… But empty it collapses fairly flat and looks like it has less volume than it actually does. The main flap secures through a ring with a strap and snap. But there’s also a zipper at the top of the main compartment underneath the main flap; so there’s no need to use the strap and snap (e.g. to keep out unwanted hands), unless you just want a tidier look.
Verdict: Get this bag! “You’ll be glad you did.”
Rated 5 out of 5
(Peter) –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
Rated 5 out of 5
Lauryn –
love this bag. i’ve used it for 2+ years and it hasn’t shown any signs of wear yet. there’s lots of space inside and has a good amount of pockets, but that doesn’t make it look too huge and bulky, it still gives a smaller purse-like feeling. the strap is pretty lengthy too, which is what i like. great all around!
Rated 5 out of 5
(Peter) –
I really wasn’t wanting a big, clunky bag but decided to get this one based off the reviews and figured I’d just deal with it. However, this bag is the absolute perfect size. Big enough to hold what you need but not clunky and awkward. The strap adjusts easily and sits nicely on ones shoulder. It’s also really cute! I was wanting something bigger that didn’t scream feminine and this definitely fits the bill. I think the only ‘complaint’ I have is the two buttoned front pockets are a little small. I was hoping to put my 2 charging banks in each one for ease of use but they unfortunately don’t fit. The pockets are about as tall as a standard deck of cards though, so they’re not unusable and definitely not worth being upset over. Overall, I’m very happy with this bag and would recommend it!
Rated 5 out of 5
Amazon カスタマー –
このぐらいのバッグが欲しくてこちらの商品を選びました。表のポケット2つも結構便利だと思います。
Rated 2 out of 5
Roro S. –
i was going to attach a picture but it looks like they don’t have that option anymore. the bag doesn’t fit a regular a4 book and the two front pockets get covered up by the big flap at the front. it doesn’t look the like picture.
Rated 5 out of 5
asma –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Rated 5 out of 5
Carlos l. –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
Rated 2 out of 5
asma –
i was going to attach a picture but it looks like they don’t have that option anymore. the bag doesn’t fit a regular a4 book and the two front pockets get covered up by the big flap at the front. it doesn’t look the like picture.
Rated 5 out of 5
Johnny –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Rated 5 out of 5
Shiplover –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
pukuco –
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This is so cute and seems really well made. Snaps seem sturdy and very functional. Strap is a nice soft twill that looks and feels good. I would not consider this a messenger bag though! This is purse sized. You can easily fit a standard letter-size US spiral notebook inside (several actually) and from side to side you can fit a 3-ring binder, but you cannot close the bag as the binder spine would stick up and out at least 2” above the main compartment’s zipper opening. The zippers slide nicely and the canvas is a heavyweight feeling fabric. Would definitely keep as a purse, will not work for my wished-for use as a slim school bag.
Jaz V. –
I used to carry a small backpack, like the novelty fun ones & decided to upgrade to this for a bit more space & accessibility. I wear it over my shoulder, across the chest mostly.
The material of the bag is nice and on the thick side. It is very sturdy and not flimsy or easy to break & tear. The strap to the bag is nice & easy to adjust.
Ive been using it for at least a week now & i love it a lot. I liked putting some pins on the front flap.
There’s plenty of pockets inside and out the main pouch & you can definitely fit in a spiral notebook, to help size ref.
I would definitely recommend to those who want a small but good quality side bag.
Alexander P –
Muy buen tamaño y muy útil
No need to know –
I got this bag for school 4 months ago with daily use and it’s still holding up great its everything I needed in a bag plenty of pockets but not to confusing! I love it good material, and it holds ALOT OF WEIGHT! It’s easy to clean aswell!
Amazon Customer –
This is a good bag for work. Not too big. Fits a 9×11 pocket folder. There are pockets in front, back and inside for smaller items. Zippers work well to keep things secure. The snaps are of good quality. It would be even nicer if it was lined.
No need to know –
The media could not be loaded.
My babes. If you’re a fan of industrial strength messenger bags but looking to down size- look no further! I’m a big fan of the army-surplus style canvas bags that can fit a small toddler (or a large pizza and two bottles of wine), and have been since I was in high school (MANY a moon ago).
THIS bag… is not that size. It could fit 8.5×11 letter paper but not much else. It’s not truly a messenger bag. BUT it IS messenger bag style, which I love.
I’m going on vacation next week to a pickpocket-heavy location. I’ve spent ages looking for one of those cute little half bag things with theft resistant features. Absolute AGES.
And then I realized… I’d much rather have a version of my emotional-support-giant-bag. So once again, I went hunting. I needed something sturdy (I don’t baby my bags, they gotta be tough enough to survive me clumsily dropping them fairly often) and relatively secure.
Dolls- I have FOUND IT!
This bad boy is my fave olive-drab color and has the crossbody strap which I love- crossbody is way harder to steal from you, especially if the strap is sturdy and the bag is canvas, both make it hard to slice through. Even when I’m wandering around here, I still love crossbody. I’m in the habit of packing everything but the kitchen sink, so crossbody is way more comfortable than weighing one shoulder down with a half ton of random stuff.
This bag is SECURE- just look at all those pics! And the video, but be gentle with my skills, I’ve never tried to open everything with one hand while holding my phone with the other.
Anyway- yes. Secure!
-The top flap has a snap-button strap at the bottom to lock the whole shebang down.
-Under the flap are two square pockets, each with a snap of their own.
-Almost-full-sized zipper pocket above those
-Fully-full-sized zipper pocket for the inside of the bag
-And finally, a smaller zippered pocket inside the main space, big enough to fit a thick-ish standard size wallet and my insurance card.
LOVE this bag, it’s awesome. The only thing I would mention is the size- I took pics with the measuring tape but if you’re like me, reading those numbers won’t give you an accurate mental image.
I read the other reviews, I knew it would be smaller than I guessed- that’s great for this trip! I have weight/volume restrictions on what all I can take, so a smaller bag is definitely a perk.
Having said that, my normal bags are ginormous and it would’ve been a let down.
There’s a couple pics of a full-sized Bath & BodyWorks lotion for scale. Hope this helps!
Katherine justice –
This messenger bag is perfect. It’s not too big and. It too small. It’s very well made and will last awhile. The zippers are strong and well made. Great bag for carrying around esp during travel.
Amazon Customer –
This has been my all summer long go-to bag. A good size for me and roomier than it looks! A good investment and a keeper. So far, holds up to plenty of abuse without any signs of wear or tear.
Emma Giovanni –
Súper cómoda y el material es resistente. Para usarla en viajes es una gran opción
Katherine justice –
The bag showcases good quality and an appropriate size tailored for men, yet its design significantly hampers its functionality.
The front pockets fall short in practicality, being neither tall enough to accommodate a phone nor suitably narrow for glasses or pens, and they are not conveniently accessible. The inner pocket’s capacity is disappointingly limited, barely fitting a checkbook and certainly inadequate for a men’s wallet.
For an improved user experience, I recommend that the manufacturer consider adding an open pocket on the back of the bag, providing an easily accessible slot for a phone.
Johnny –
I really wasn’t wanting a big, clunky bag but decided to get this one based off the reviews and figured I’d just deal with it. However, this bag is the absolute perfect size. Big enough to hold what you need but not clunky and awkward. The strap adjusts easily and sits nicely on ones shoulder. It’s also really cute! I was wanting something bigger that didn’t scream feminine and this definitely fits the bill. I think the only ‘complaint’ I have is the two buttoned front pockets are a little small. I was hoping to put my 2 charging banks in each one for ease of use but they unfortunately don’t fit. The pockets are about as tall as a standard deck of cards though, so they’re not unusable and definitely not worth being upset over. Overall, I’m very happy with this bag and would recommend it!
G. B. Kauffman –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
(Peter) –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
Shiplover –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
Client d’Amazon –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Client d’Amazon –
このぐらいのバッグが欲しくてこちらの商品を選びました。表のポケット2つも結構便利だと思います。
Rachel –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Douglass Davidoff –
Just the right size for a travel day bag. Easily stowed my iPad, tour book and incidentals while not being to big or bulky. Best part is the natural robust materials and construction. So glad to find a bag with old fashioned zippers and snaps. NO VELCRO!
G. B. Kauffman –
Just the right size for a travel day bag. Easily stowed my iPad, tour book and incidentals while not being to big or bulky. Best part is the natural robust materials and construction. So glad to find a bag with old fashioned zippers and snaps. NO VELCRO!
Roro S. –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
(Peter) –
I am very happy with my recent purchase. My old and much traveled LL Bean side bag finally wore out, and I took a chance with this. Very pleased with the size. It should hold more than my LL Bean and will be easier to find things during travel, especially on a plane. The quality seems good I think it will hold up well. The closure works well and the two pockets on the front are very handy. No more multiple pockets inside to lose things. Simple works. I like the color and classic style and the strap seems comfortable. The price is amazing. I’d buy it again.
Kindle Customer –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
Rachel –
Llegó en perfecto estado. Es muy linda, es pequeña pero bastante espaciosa. Muy linda. El material es de excelente calidad. La tela se siente gruesa y suave, volvería a comprar otra.
Carlos l. –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Customer –
We ordered the Gootium Canvas Messenger Bag in the army Green color. It arrived in the expected time frame, nice and on schedule!
Let me start by saying first, that we ordered this bag several months ago and I decided to wait to write this review until I had plenty of time to use the bag and see how it wears after some use. Secondly, I have been looking for a good quality messenger bag for YEARS now (at least ten years)- and have looked in just about every store I could think of. I just wanted a basic, well made, messenger bag that zipped closed for security.
When I found this Gootium bag here on Amazon, I was very excited to finally find something that met my requirements, seemed well made, and was not super expensive!! (I have since come to believe that $30 or $40 is a GREAT DEAL for this awesome bag!!!)
When I got this in the mail, this first thing I noticed was how nicely it was packaged. Also, I was so excited to see that it really did appear in person just as it appeared in the pictures! The army green color does look a bit different in person (a little more of a khaki/brownish green color) but that was not something i was very concerned with- and also, it is not unusual for army greens to have that brownish hue to them. Also it really is a very minor difference from the picture, not very noticeable.
I started using the bag right away, and I am still using it every day! I have to say– this is the nicest bag/purse I have ever gotten!!!! I am a typical female who loves her bags, and I have had all sorts of bags over the years… I have gotten things from army surplus stores, etc, and still have not had anything that has been made so well and with such quality!!
I was hesitant to order a purse online, but I am so very glad I tried this Gootium bag– i know that this is a bag I will get a ton of use out of, for years to come!! (I also plan to post an update after more time has passed, to let shoppers know how it has continued to hold up)
The quality of the canvas is great- nice and thick, without being all stiff (in fact, it even has a softness to it). The seams are nice and secure, and the strap is sewn directly into the bag. In my experience, the places where most bags go wrong is where the strap connects to the body of the bag (especially since my bags tend to be rather heavy since i carry so much stuff with me! =D )– this strap is not only made of a thick, strong material (even thicker than the canvas in the body portion)- but the strap is also soft for how thick and strong the material is (it is also a nice thickness/width and does not dig into my shoulder). It is reinforced by the square and X stitching in the place where it is sewn to the body, and in addition to the extra stitching, it also has a round, metal piece that is reinforcing the strap to the bag!!
The metal hardware appears to be brass and is of superior quality. Also- I am in love with the zippers!! They are also brass, and zip very smoothly– they have not caught once since i have used this bag. They are sewn in very well, just like the rest of the stitching. Also, the leather pulls are very nice and are holding up very well.
The size of this bag is also perfect! It is not a small bag, but also not huge either!! I carry one of those large check-book-sized wallets and this bag accommodates my large wallet, coin purse, make up bag, small notebook, several sets of keys, tons of charging cords/cables, bottles of advil, and tons of other small items that organize nicely in the pockets.
I LOVE that it isn’t overly organizer-ish, yet it also isn’t just a big pocket either… It has the perfect number of pockets to keep things orderly, yet still open enough to find everything easily!
I could go on even further about how much i love this bag, but i am sure you get the picture by now! XD
**I would highly recommend this bag, and I would definitely purchase from this company and seller again!!! **
~~I am continually impressed by the quality of this bag <3 Hope this has helped!!
***Review Update July 26, 2022**
Just wanted to post a quick update to this review… It has been over 4 years since I got this bag, and I am still using it regularly. It is still in wonderful condition… actually, it’s pretty much in the same condition as when I got it brand new. It has broken-in a bit, canvas has softened up somewhat. I have swapped out to some different bags in that time frame, but I find myself going back to this bag again and again- when I just want a reliable, SECURE bag that will hold the necessities, plus a few extras. (Again- this size is great cuz I can keep everything I need, and it also helps to limit how much stuff I cram into my bag and then forget about! lol!)
Over the past four years, I have been so impressed with this first bag, that I have since bought several other Gootium bags. I have two other messenger bags from them, a backpack, the little wristlet bag, a duffel bag, and two other purse-style bags. Needless to say, I am thrilled with this brand.. and whenever I need a quality, reliable, secure bag.. this is my go-to.
I know I probably sound like a spokesperson for them at this point.. but I really am just a basic consumer and i am not being incentivized in any way to say this stuff. I am just really impressed to find this quality for the money. These days, it isn’t easy to find something that lasts and is made well. And I have wasted too much money on junk bags and purses that don’t hold up.
Oh- one more detail- i have not tried washing any of these bags yet. I have had major issues in the past with washing bags and purses in the machine (a lesson i learned the hard way!)- so that will be a major test as to how well they hold up! When i cross that bridge, I will come back and update this again and let you all know how it goes.
Anyways, hope this was helpful! Shopping online can be difficult, especially when you are trying to find something specific and you need to know the actual quality of an item (especially something like this, that you really rely on for day-to-day, and you need to be able to trust that your wallet and valuables are stored securely)
God Bless!!! <3
Shiplover –
I am very happy with my recent purchase. My old and much traveled LL Bean side bag finally wore out, and I took a chance with this. Very pleased with the size. It should hold more than my LL Bean and will be easier to find things during travel, especially on a plane. The quality seems good I think it will hold up well. The closure works well and the two pockets on the front are very handy. No more multiple pockets inside to lose things. Simple works. I like the color and classic style and the strap seems comfortable. The price is amazing. I’d buy it again.
Roro S. –
Llegó en perfecto estado. Es muy linda, es pequeña pero bastante espaciosa. Muy linda. El material es de excelente calidad. La tela se siente gruesa y suave, volvería a comprar otra.
Kindle Customer –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
(Peter) –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Douglass Davidoff –
I purchased this bag about four months ago. I love it. I’m an older adult and I’ve had a succession of canvass briefcases, then backpacks, and now a series of three so-called “man bags” or “murses” — That’s my partner’s term for “man + purse.”
Whatever you call it, this one is darn near perfect. Right size to hold my iPad in a case along with my Kindle, some pens, and a journal notebook in the main section. Cords and such plus a business card case inside the interior’s zipper pocket. Wallet and keys live in the left and right exterior pockets. A flap seals the whole package nicely and trims out with a snap closure.
But in terms of utility, the flap is handsome but also pretty much useless. And I have a need that the flap, with new engineering, could handle well in another iteration. I have no exterior place to store my iPhone and keep it handy. Maybe a pocket for smart phones could be sewn into or attached to the flap so phones can me tucked into place and retrieved whenever they ring or warble or whatever is the sound(s) your phone makes to get your attention.
So that’s my suggestion. In a new iteration, add a pocket to the outside of the flap. Make it right-sized for smartphones. Because, by the way, my smartphone is too big to be stored in the two other exterior pockets with snap closures. That’s why I use them for my wallet and keys. Leaving my phone to find a home in my pants pocket (not a good look) and in the bag’s big interior space, which means the phone is rather inaccessible when it rings or beeps or chirps or vibrates.
(Peter) –
Nicest canvas messenger bag on Amazon?
… I probably looked at every single Product Description for items matching “canvas messenger bag” here on Amazon before rolling the dice on this one. On seeing and handling this bag I’m glad I chose it over the others. For a bag that’s $100 cheaper than an American name brand bag, it’s chock full o’ craftsmanship: all internal canvas seams have stitched piping to cover any rough fabric edges; zipper pulls are made of leather; exposed strap ends are wrapped in leather; etc. The bag is brand new but feels already gently broken in, like a pair of stone-washed denim jeans (but there’s no fading on the material).
The Olive Brown bag I purchased is a perfect blend of those two colors. Straps are medium brown, and leather accents are a darker shade of brown. Just enough contrast between bag body and accents, but not too much to be an eyesore.
The GOOTIUM brand leather tag is also a nice “thing”, but I’m not a big fan of these Chinese-coined words for brand names. GOOTIUM honestly sounds like some sort of Kryptonite goo that Superman might find on the bottom of his shoe…
I took a hint from a few other reviewers here and carefully removed that brand tag with a seam ripper. After that I dabbed a bit of water on the stitching holes and let it dry, which nicely pulled those holes closed. There are a few very small canvas threads remaining but this just adds to the broken-in look of the bag — more authentic, less name-brandey. See attached picture for the results.
Edited to add: There’s also a GOOTIUM cloth tag sewn to the zippered pocket inside the main compartment. I couldn’t stand the non-sensical motto “AFFECTION REMAINS UNCHANGED, YOUR CHOICE, WE MADE” (uh wut?), so I took the seam-ripper to that one as well. See additional attached photo for the now missing-but-not-missed parts of this bag.
The bag has a single large gusset and will easily accept a Chromebook with an 11.6″ diagonal screen, plus a charging brick, plus a phone or two, plus a few books… But empty it collapses fairly flat and looks like it has less volume than it actually does. The main flap secures through a ring with a strap and snap. But there’s also a zipper at the top of the main compartment underneath the main flap; so there’s no need to use the strap and snap (e.g. to keep out unwanted hands), unless you just want a tidier look.
Verdict: Get this bag! “You’ll be glad you did.”
(Peter) –
As described, arrived on time. Recipient very happy
Lauryn –
love this bag. i’ve used it for 2+ years and it hasn’t shown any signs of wear yet. there’s lots of space inside and has a good amount of pockets, but that doesn’t make it look too huge and bulky, it still gives a smaller purse-like feeling. the strap is pretty lengthy too, which is what i like. great all around!
(Peter) –
I really wasn’t wanting a big, clunky bag but decided to get this one based off the reviews and figured I’d just deal with it. However, this bag is the absolute perfect size. Big enough to hold what you need but not clunky and awkward. The strap adjusts easily and sits nicely on ones shoulder. It’s also really cute! I was wanting something bigger that didn’t scream feminine and this definitely fits the bill. I think the only ‘complaint’ I have is the two buttoned front pockets are a little small. I was hoping to put my 2 charging banks in each one for ease of use but they unfortunately don’t fit. The pockets are about as tall as a standard deck of cards though, so they’re not unusable and definitely not worth being upset over. Overall, I’m very happy with this bag and would recommend it!
Amazon カスタマー –
このぐらいのバッグが欲しくてこちらの商品を選びました。表のポケット2つも結構便利だと思います。
Roro S. –
i was going to attach a picture but it looks like they don’t have that option anymore. the bag doesn’t fit a regular a4 book and the two front pockets get covered up by the big flap at the front. it doesn’t look the like picture.
asma –
Ce sac correspond parfaitement à mes attentes. J’ai pris le vert kaki, pas déçue ! La couleur est fidèle à la photo. La toile est de belle qualité. Les poches sont bien pratiques. Les fermetures éclair et les boutons pression semblent bien costauds. Pour celles qui aiment un style un brin baroudeur, il est très sympa à la ville comme à la campagne. Il ne fait pas “cheap”, juste décontracté pour un usage au quotidien.
Carlos l. –
Mu daughter is in love with it. She uses it everywhere. It can be used to school too, but a bit small for an A4 notebook and a laptop. Thr canvas is durable and the color is nice. Will buy the bigger for school.
asma –
i was going to attach a picture but it looks like they don’t have that option anymore. the bag doesn’t fit a regular a4 book and the two front pockets get covered up by the big flap at the front. it doesn’t look the like picture.
Johnny –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.
Shiplover –
Es un producto excelente, buen material, buen tamaño para lo que requiero, lo recomiendo.