Timbuk2 Revives Scumbags Label for Limited-Edition Messenger Bag

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  • TF Editors
Timbuk2 Revives Scumbags Label for Limited-Edition Messenger Bag

photography by Christopher Stewart

OG San Francisco bag maker revives the name that started it all in 1989 for surprise USA made drop


Published: 03-21-2018

Updated: 11-18-2020

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Field Mag Editors
Field Mag Editors
Insight and inspiration from the Field Mag editorial team, sharing decades of hard-earned experience and knowhow.

In 1989 San Francisco bike messenger Rob Honeycutt purchased a sewing machine and got to work, creating what would later become the foundation for Timbuk2. In the beginning though, Honeycutt called his brand Scumbags—a not so subtle nod to life as a grimy messenger in gritty cities worldwide. To pay homage to these early days, Timbuk2 has released a special Scumbags re-release, available exclusively through Beams in Japan, and Urban Outfitters stateside. (Learn more about Timbuk2's History here)

With only the slightest adjustments made, the stealth Scumbags messenger is effectively a direct revival of the original bag first produced in a SF garage. Rad thing is, each is still manufactured by hand in San Francisco’s Mission District. Though the brand has grown significantly since the early Scumbags years, the DIY spirit still remains, as does a commitment to domestic manufacturing, and clearest of all, to the city they represent.

The product itself is certainly a looker, but built to take a beating and never quit. Heavy duty Cordura makes up the body, with contrast red ripstop nylon interior for increased durability and to aid in finding stuff jammed in each corner (ever try finding keys in a bag with a black interior?). The main compartment secures with two sturdy buckles with reflective tags, and the whole thing hangs with a padded shoulder strap, as per usual.

Truth be told, we're not massive fans of messenger bags. But this one? This one might have just changed our minds...

photography by Christopher Stewart
photography by Christopher Stewart
photography by Leandro Marte
image courtesy UO
image courtesy UO

$199 exclusively from Urban Outfitters stateside, and Beams in Japan