Chrome Industries Metropolis Messenger Bag - Black

The Chrome Metropolis is the legendary, extra-roomy big sibling of the Citizen - a messenger bag for anyone who really needs to carry a lot. The model has its roots in the bike messenger culture that made Chrome known around the world and was relaunched in a limited 30th anniversary edition. With 40 liters of volume, there’s room for a change of clothes, groceries, work gear and the day’s deliveries without having to treat every inch like a game of Tetris.

The Metropolis builds on what made the original so popular with bike messengers: a large, open main compartment that’s quick to access and a shoulder strap that lets you rotate the bag to the front without taking it off. On this anniversary edition, the padded strap can be adjusted to carry over either the right or left shoulder, and the stabilizer strap keeps the bag in place better while riding. The classic Chrome buckle makes it quick to take the bag off and can also be swapped for other compatible Chrome buckles.

The outer shell is made from rugged 1050D recycled nylon, and the interior uses a red 500D TPE tarp liner that offers solid protection from rain and dirt. The construction has a simple wet/dry separation to keep wet gear apart from the rest of your load. This is a truly weather-resistant messenger bag, but because it closes with a large flap rather than a welded roll-top, we wouldn’t treat it as a fully sealed dry bag.

At the front, there’s a separate U-lock slot and a zippered pocket for tools, keys and other smaller items you want to reach quickly. Reflective details on the straps add extra visibility when light hits them. The main compartment is designed primarily for large, open packing space rather than lots of small organizer pockets, and there’s no padded laptop sleeve - if you carry a laptop, we recommend using a separate case.

40 liters is a lot for a messenger bag, and it's also the key difference from the Citizen. The Metropolis isn't the model for you if you only need to carry a laptop, jacket, and lunch to work; a smaller messenger bag is more convenient for that. It's for those who appreciate the quick access of a classic bike courier bag and actually use its large capacity. If you regularly carry really heavy loads, a backpack distributes the weight better across both shoulders, but for large, changing loads that need to be loaded and unloaded quickly, the Metropolis is still a very special bag.

Quick Specs

• Model: Chrome Industries Metropolis 40L Messenger
• Type: Large messenger bag / bike courier bag
• Version: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition
• Capacity: 40 liters
• Dimensions: Approximately 68 cm wide at the top / 50 cm at the bottom × 38 × 17.5 cm
• Weight: Approximately 1.4 kg
• Outer material: 1050D recycled nylon
• Inner lining: 500D TPE tarp
• Weather protection: Weatherproof construction with water-repellent outer fabric and TPE lining
• Shoulder strap: Padded and adjustable for the right or left shoulder
• Stabilizer strap: Yes
• Buckle: Replaceable Chrome Large Seatbelt Buckle
• Front storage: U-lock slot and zippered pocket
• Internal organization: Simple wet/dry separation
• Laptop pocket: No padded laptop pocket – a separate sleeve is recommended
• Reflective details: Yes
• PFAS: PFAS-free
• Color: Black
• Warranty: Chrome Lifetime Warranty