REASONS TO BUY
Secure bicycle carry
Ambidextrous shoulder strap
Pack-away rain fly
Glove-friendly buckles
More-affordable price
REASONS TO AVOID
Average interior pockets and sleeves
Not particularly robust
Thinner padding
Osprey Metron 18 Messenger Review
An affordable messenger bag with lots of extras for people who pedal their way around the city
Credit: Jason Wanlass
By Jason Wanlass ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 4, 2026
RELATED: Best Laptop Backpack
Our Verdict
If you spend a lot of time on two wheels, this bag was built for you. The Osprey Metron 18 Messenger is a lightweight over-the-shoulder bag that offers a lot of extras for the office worker or student who commutes by bike. This bag is comfortable, can be worn on either shoulder, and it has a built-in water-resistant pack cover for when riding conditions turn sour. Best of all, we really like the look of its price tag.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This bag was made for riding. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Likes
Our favorite thing about the Osprey Metron 18 Messenger is its thoughtful extras. This bag is tailored for the bicyclist, and we love the many value-adding conveniences that Osprey included in its design. Things like glove-friendly buckles and zipper pulls, interchangeable shoulder strap, and a vented back panel, are just a few of them. It also has a pocket for your bike lock and a loop for attaching a blinky light.
Perhaps the most important feature for cyclists is the secondary strap that keeps the bag from swinging around your torso when you lean forward on your bike.
We loved the added feature of the Messenger's cross-body strap. It allowed us to secure the bag to our upper body before using other forms of transportation. Credit: Jason Wanlass
The bag's pack-away pack cover was a feature all of our users loved. The cover is easy to deploy or stow. Having a separate rain cover allows the Osprey to be made from lighter-weight fabrics, which makes it more flexible, comfortable, and easier to carry. Plus, it has a dedicated pocket, so you don't forget it at home.
Leave it to Osprey (they also make backpacks) to include an attachable pack cover. We loved this option and know that it really works. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Dislikes
The Osprey Metron 18 Messenger did a great job of protecting our laptop and other essentials from precipitation; however, we didn't feel it encased it very well, leaving it more vulnerable to bumps and bruises. We found the Osprey's padding to be so-so. It's high-quality, but a little too thin. Likewise, we don't feel the laptop's sleeve is very protective. It sits open in the main compartment and doesn't have its own zipper closure. The laptop is held in place by a Velcro strap (something we liked), but the only other thing that covers it is the main flap of the messenger bag. This felt a little too exposed for some of our testers.
A closer look at the laptop sleeve. We liked the Velcro strap, but felt the padding was a little thin. Credit: Jason Wanlass
What Other Laptop Backpacks Should You Consider?
If you'd rather have a messenger bag that is water-resistant without the need for an added covering, the Timbuk2 Especial Stash Messenger is our suggestion. It doesn't have the slew of biking extras, but it definitely protects against rain or snow. Osprey also makes the Osprey Nebula 32. It has more of a backpack design, but it has a lot more storage space. The Aer Tech Brief is a great briefcase option that also has a removable shoulder strap. But if you just want the best all-around bag, we highly suggest the Timbuk2 Authority Deluxe.
Waiting for the Green Line Train to arrive. Credit: Jason Wanlass
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Osprey Metron 18 Messenger versus top competing products:
| Awards | |
|---|---|
| Price | $135 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | An affordable messenger bag with lots of extras for people who pedal their way around the city |
| Pros | Secure bicycle carry, ambidextrous shoulder strap, pack-away rain fly, glove-friendly buckles, more-affordable price |
| Cons | Average interior pockets and sleeves, not particularly robust, thinner padding |
| Rating Categories | Osprey Metron 18 Mes... |
| Comfort and Fit (30%) | |
| Laptop Protection (20%) | |
| Storage and Organization (20%) | |
| Ease of Use (15%) | |
| Versatility (15%) | |
| Specifications | Osprey Metron 18 Mes... |
| Compatible Laptop Size | 16" |
| Carry Style | Crossbody, briefcase |
| Volume | 18 L |
| External Water Bottle Holder | No |
| Location of Laptop Compatrment | Separate/Back |
| Unique Features | Made for biking, built-in rainfly |
| External Side Pockets | No |
| Weight | 1.9 lb |
—Jason Wanlass
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