Insight · Work Bags

Satchel vs. Messenger Bag: What’s the Difference?

It can be tough to get a straight answer to the satchel vs. messenger bag question, because retailers use both words for almost any leather bag with a flap. We make both, plus a hybrid of the two, so we get this question every week. Here is what each bag is, where it came from, how they differ, and how to pick the right size for your laptop and your day.

Satchel vs. messenger bag at a glance

What is a messenger bag?

The messenger bag grew out of work bags made for telephone linemen and was taken up by city bike couriers in the mid-20th century. A courier needed three things: a strap that kept the bag on his body while he rode, a flap that kept the rain off the documents inside, and the ability to swing the bag around to the front and open it without stopping. Every trait of a modern messenger bag comes from that job.

• A cross-body strap. The strap goes over one shoulder and across the chest, so the bag rides against the lower back and swings to the front when you need it.
• A secure closure. A full flap over the whole front, held by a clasp, buckles, magnets, or snaps, protects what is inside.
• A flat profile. Wide and slim so it does not bang around while you move.

The first messenger bags were made from canvas and waxed canvas, which held up in the weather. Leather made them office-ready. For a deeper look, see what messenger bags are.

What is a satchel?

Satchel is the older and broader word. It has meant a bag with a strap and a flap for centuries, and for most of the 20th century it meant the leather school bag a boy carried books in. A satchel is built to be carried, not ridden with. That shows in the details:

• A top handle. You pick it up like a briefcase.
• Structure. Stiffer leather and a flat bottom, so it stands on its own and keeps its shape when half full.
• Buckles or a latch. A satchel flap usually closes with straps and buckles, not just a clasp.
• More depth. Five inches or more, which leaves room for more than a laptop.

What is a satchel messenger bag?

It is a hybrid, and it is what most men actually want. You get the structure, depth, and top handle of a satchel with the full flap and long strap of a messenger. Our Roosevelt Satchel Messenger is built that way. It stands up on a desk, carries by the handle into a meeting, and goes across the body on the walk home.

Which is better for a laptop?

Both carry one. The difference is what else you carry. A messenger bag is the better pick if your day is a laptop, a charger, a notebook, and your keys. It stays slim and light. A satchel is better if you also carry files, a lunch, a water bottle, a jacket, or a second device. Its depth and structure keep everything from pressing against the screen.

Whichever you choose, measure the laptop's body, not the screen, and compare it to the sleeve. Two 15-inch laptops can differ by an inch in height, and that inch decides whether the sleeve closes. A padded sleeve that holds the laptop against the back panel also matters more than the size of the main compartment.

The Roosevelt lineup: which size do you need?

All three Roosevelt bags are full-grain water buffalo leather, 1.8 to 2.0 mm thick, with antique brass and iron hardware and YKK zippers. They differ in shape, depth, and how much they hold.

Size up only if you need to. Daniel M. started with one of our larger bags, wrote that he "underestimated its size," and switched to the regular Laptop Messenger, which he loves. Jeff O., on the other hand, wrote that the Large "fits my 16" laptop perfectly and has more than ample storage space for books, folders, notebooks." If you carry a 16-inch laptop, the Large is the one. If you carry a 13 or 14-inch, the regular Satchel or the Laptop Messenger will feel right.

Two lighter options

If weight matters more than heft, the Walker Leather Messenger ($299.95) is full-grain cow leather with snap closures and a canvas strap, 16 x 3.5 x 10.5 inches, and weighs 2 lb 3 oz, about half a Roosevelt. The Jefferson Messenger ($279.95), from our Jack Andrews collection, is vegetable-tanned full-grain cow leather with a herringbone lining. It is the dressier of the two.

Shop Messenger Bags and Satchels

The Roosevelt Laptop Messenger, Satchel, and Satchel Large in water buffalo leather, plus the lighter Walker and Jefferson.

From $269.95

Shop Messenger Bags

What owners say

The Roosevelt Laptop Messenger holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 281 reviews, the Roosevelt Satchel a 4.8 from 308, and the Satchel Large a 4.7 from 181.

The complaints are worth reading too. The most common one is weight. Ryan K. said "the only knock is the weight," and Dylan M. found his bag stiff and heavy out of the box. Water buffalo leather is thick, and that thickness is why these bags last a decade, but it does start stiff and it does weigh more. The leather softens with use. If you want light from day one, choose the Walker.

How to wear a messenger bag or satchel

• Across the body for walking. Set the strap so the bag sits at your hip or just behind it. Too long and it bounces off your thigh.
• On one shoulder for short trips. Shorten the strap so the bag sits high against your side.
• By the handle into a meeting. A satchel carried by its top handle reads like a briefcase.
• Over the suitcase handle when you fly. The trolley strap on the Roosevelt Satchels slides over a roller so your shoulder gets a break.

More on this in how to wear a crossbody bag.

How to care for a leather messenger bag

Wipe off dust with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Condition the leather once or twice a year, or whenever it looks dry, and more often in a dry climate. Let rain dry naturally, away from heat. Do not overstuff the bag, because the flap and strap mounts carry the load. Light scratches are normal on full-grain buffalo leather. Rub them with your thumb and most of them disappear into the patina. See our leather bag care guide for more.

Frequently asked questions

Xan Hood founded Buffalo Jackson Trading Co. in 2009. He designs our bags and outerwear in Matthews, North Carolina.