These days I tend to not travel far from home without a camera or two at hand, usually stashed along for the ride in my messenger bag, by my side if I’m taking the car or slung over my shoulder if going by foot. For any sort of activity that may take me outside, and potentially into unexpected rain, I prefer the peace of mind that a waterproof messenger bag lends to my travels though a full sized one can be overkill or just plain annoying for walking around or heading into a packed show space. Years ago I fell for a mini-messenger bag for most of my off-bike camera toting duties, and was happy to update my worn bag with the Outlaw Earth Derringer a few months back. Made in the USA, the the traditional style 12×8x5 Derringer messenger bag has all of the bells and whistles of its larger sibling bags packed into a smaller package better suited to casually kicking around town than carrying everything you own.

The outside of the bag is the industry standard 1000d Cordura, with a truck tarp interior lining and sealed seams throughout. The bottom features a vinyl boot, further making me confident that when putting the bag on the ground no matter the spill or puddle my gear won’t get wet. Multiple organizing pockets, two with zippers even, keep my usual blend of junk in some sort of order and the interior even has one of my favorite but oft overlooked pieces—multiple pen holders. Plastic clasps and heavy Velcro keep the flap closed, with a bit more overlap between the flap and the corners of the main compartment being one of my few wishes for the bag for better weatherproofing in a downpour. The light colored interior of this particular bag is welcome, and makes navigating for bits in the bottom that much easier no matter the size. Keeping true to the messenger bag lineage, the strap is constructed of seatbelt material with a central quick connect buckle, and the bag features a stabilizer strap that can be switched depending on which shoulder you prefer the bag to ride on. There is even reflective piping in the straps and a blinkie mount on the bottom edge of the bag, where it belongs. All in all a solidly constructed bag on par with the $85 price tag—you’re paying for top notch construction, and you’re getting it.

The size of this particular bag is what it is, perfect for running around with a camera and a few tools or going to a show, even picking up a six-pack with a jacket along for the ride home but not much more. This much is obvious, and Outlaw Earth offers a full line of more amply sized bags for people looking for more cargo space for about $100 all with a lifetime warranty. Everything is made in the USA, with custom colors and embroidery options available.