To say the the Rickshaw Bagworks Medium Commuter Messenger Bag is large might be a bit of an understatement. This roomy laptop bag is catch-on-doorways, take-up-an-extra-seat-on-the-subway, knock-out-fellow-commuters big. But hey, you'll never complain about not being able to carry all of your stuff with you.

It's clear that a lot of thought went into design with the Commuter. The laptop sleeve, which can house systems up to 15 inches is completely detachable, meaning you can carry it with you separate from the messenger bag. The front closures are magnetic, with velcro strips. If you don't want the noise of pulling apart velcro in a quiet lecture hall, "SHHHHHH" strips are included with velcro on one side and magnets built in to keep the bag securely closed.

Besides the roomy main pocket, the bag has two smaller front pockets and a thin pocket on the back. Unfortunately there are no easy access pockets for items like subway cards and cell phones, a frequent complaint of mine when it comes to laptop bags. Otherwise, I had trouble filling the Commuter, so even with a whole load of textbooks you should have plenty of space. That said, you likely won't want to fill up all the space. The bag is sturdy, but also a bit heavy because of the materials used and the removable laptop sleeve. It's already 3.5 pounds and, with a laptop thrown in, plus a book, iPod, planner, and other necessities, I ended up with a backache after walking around a particularly long commute.

The Commuter comes in a wide range of designs from plaid to stripes and flowers to polka dots, besides the standard solid colors. The front flap has waterproof lining and the whole thing is plenty padded. This bag is nothing if not durable. The shoulder strap has a lot of give and a nice removable pad helps save your shoulder some discomfort.

The bag is a bit pricey at $180, but it still has plenty going for it including attractive styling, a thoughtful design, and plenty of storage space. If you're the kind of person who likes to carry everything with them, the Rickshaw Bagworks Medium Commuter Messenger Bag has plenty of room, and then some.