Messenger bag

A shoulder bag with a long strap, usually worn across the body, designed to carry items while leaving the hands free.

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Shoulder bag: A bag carried by a strap resting on one shoulder. Messenger bags belong to this broader family of bags carried from the shoulder.
Bicycle commuting: Regular travel by bicycle, often between home and work or school. A cross-body carry keeps a bag accessible without requiring a bicycle rack.
Bike messenger: A courier who transports items by bicycle, especially in an urban area. Bike messengers helped make the shoulder-carried delivery bag a recognizable everyday form.
Backpack: A bag carried on the back with shoulder straps, usually one over each shoulder. A backpack spreads its load across two shoulders; a messenger bag typically hangs from one.
Crossbody bag: A bag worn with its strap crossing the torso from one shoulder to the opposite hip. Messenger bags are commonly worn this way to stay secure and leave both hands free.
Laptop bag: A bag designed to carry and protect a laptop computer and related equipment. Messenger bags often use padded compartments to carry laptops between locations.
Postal service: An organization that collects, transports, and delivers letters and parcels. Postal workers' carrying equipment is part of the broader history of shoulder-borne delivery bags.
Tote bag: An open-topped bag with parallel handles designed for carrying by hand or over a shoulder. A tote usually lacks the long cross-body strap that defines a messenger bag's carry.
Shoulder strap: A length of material attached to a bag so it can be carried over the shoulder. Its length and width affect how a messenger bag sits and distributes weight.
Photographic equipment: Cameras, lenses, and accessories used to take photographs. Removable padded dividers adapt some messenger bags to protect camera gear.