THE F-CREW’S FAVORITE BAGS
The story of FREITAG began in 1993 with the F13 TOP CAT messenger bag. Then as now, these sturdy messenger bags made from upcycled truck tarps are the quintessential FREITAG classic. Today, you can choose from six different models, each with its own distinct character.
But which bag is right for you? The people who know best will tell you: the wonderful FREITAG Crew. Our employees show off their one-offs and explain what makes their favorites so special.
A LIFETIME BY YOUR SIDE
FREITAG messenger bags are versatile and designed to last a long, long, long time by your side. But our six classic messenger models differ in size, shape, interior layout, and functionality.
Each one-off is crafted from discarded truck tarps in the most beautiful colors we’ve found along Europe’s transit routes. Marked by their first life on the road — ready for a second, long life by your side.
F41 HAWAII FIVE-0
The horizontal bag with rounded corners: F41 HAWAII FIVE-0 is a timeless FREITAG classic. This compact messenger bag accompanies you through carefree days and nights that seem to go on and on.
The F41 HAWAII FIVE-0 is Nadine’s favorite bag; she’s a brand designer and works at FREITAG headquarters in Zurich-Oerlikon. Nadine loves her one-of-a-kind bag because of its digital print and «because the medium size is perfect for those who aren’t quite minimalists.»
ALL ABOUT F41 HAWAII FIVE-0
HOW BIG IS F41 HAWAII FIVE-0?
ALL ABOUT F41 HAWAII FIVE-0
HOW BIG IS F41 HAWAII FIVE-0?
WHAT FITS INSIDE?
WHAT FITS INSIDE?
WHAT IS THE BAG GOOD FOR?
WHAT IS THE BAG GOOD FOR?
GOSSIP AND RUMORS?
GOSSIP AND RUMORS?
WHAT THE FREITAG CREW SAYS ABOUT THE F41 HAWAII FIVE-0
WHAT THE FREITAG CREW SAYS ABOUT THE F41 HAWAII FIVE-0
F40 JAMIE
FREITAG’s smallest messenger bag doubles as a hip bag and a crossbody bag. It features an adjustable strap, a zippered pocket, a pen holder, and plenty of room to move. Hip hip, hooray!
In the video, Jun from the FREITAG Store Tokyo Shibuya shows you how he wears the F40 JAMIE. Read what his colleagues Sohee (FREITAG Store Seoul Apgujeong by June), Kiki (FREITAG Store Munich), and Jongmoon (FREITAG Store Seoul Hongdae by June) have to say about their favorite bag in the Q&A section.
ALL ABOUT THE F40 JAMIE
HOW BIG IS THIS LITTLE ONE, ANYWAY?
ALL ABOUT THE F40 JAMIE
HOW BIG IS THIS LITTLE ONE, ANYWAY?
WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN YOU PUT IN IT?
WHAT KIND OF THINGS CAN YOU PUT IN IT?
Jun: «Passport, lighter, lip balm, ashtray, smartphone»
Sohee: «Whatever you need for the next few hours.»
WHEN AND FOR WHAT DO YOU USE THE F40 JAMIE?
WHEN AND FOR WHAT DO YOU USE THE F40 JAMIE?
Jongmoon: «Almost always. The F40 JAMIE is designed for everyday use.»
Kiki: «I always have it with me when I walk my dog — no matter the weather.»
Jun: «I carry it every day when I’m working at the store.»
TEAM CROSSBODY BAG OR TEAM HIP BAG?
TEAM CROSSBODY BAG OR TEAM HIP BAG?
Sohee: «Hip bag! I like to have my hands free.»
Kiki: «I wear the F40 JAMIE as a crossbody — unless I’m going to a concert, then I prefer to wear it on my hip.»
Jongmoon: «Always a hip bag, no question! It’s like a second skin.»
WHO IS THE F40 JAMIE THE PERFECT BAG FOR?
WHO IS THE F40 JAMIE THE PERFECT BAG FOR?
F11 LASSIE
Not only does she share her name with the famous TV dog — F11 LASSIE is just as loyal. A classic messenger silhouette, but in a compact size. Timeless since 1995.
Sarah works on FREITAG’s brand design team. What she loves about F11 LASSIE is that it grows with her when she needs to stow away spontaneous purchases. Laura is the team leader at the FREITAG flagship store in Zurich and says, «It’s cheesy, but what I love most about my job is finding the perfect match.» F11 LASSIE is her favorite messenger bag because, «It’s just the perfect size.»
WHAT YOU'LL LOVE ABOUT THE F11 LASSIE
WAIT, THE BAG CAN EXPAND?
WHAT YOU'LL LOVE ABOUT THE F11 LASSIE
WAIT, THE BAG CAN EXPAND?
WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND THE F11 LASSIE TO?
WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND THE F11 LASSIE TO?
Sarah: «To anyone who can’t decide on a specific size and needs flexibility. To anyone who, like me, doesn’t like big bags. And to all spontaneous shoppers!»
Laura: «The F11 LASSIE is the perfect all-rounder and is the ideal size for everyday use.»
WHAT DO YOU USE THE BAG FOR?
WHAT DO YOU USE THE BAG FOR?
Laura: «I take it to work, into town, and to the club — it’s never too small and never too big.»
Sarah: «I take it longboarding, go on spontaneous shopping trips, and use it in my everyday life.»
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES?
Laura: «The very special print and the little ‘R’ — it’s so cute. I had it reserved for two days, then I knew: I had to have it.»
Sarah: «Silver tarps just go with every outfit. I wear all kinds of things — sometimes street style, sometimes elegant — and silver has always been the best choice to pair with them.»
GOSSIP AND RUMORS?
GOSSIP AND RUMORS?
F42 SURFSIDE 6
F42 SURFSIDE 6 was designed in 1996, discontinued in 2020, and has been back in the lineup since 2025 — in response to widespread requests from the FREITAG Crew. This widescreen-style messenger bag with soft edges is bigger than it looks.
The F42 SURFSIDE 6 is the favorite bag of Seongeun — or Sonny — Dennis, and Moe. Sonny is the manager of the FREITAG Store on the South Korean island of Jeju and likes to be prepared for anything. Dennis is part of the FREITAG China team in Shanghai. For him, the F42 SURFSIDE 6 is the perfect bag for his versatile workday. Finally, Moe is happy that the F42 SURFSIDE 6 is back. He’s been at the helm of the FREITAG Store in Cologne for 17 years.
WHAT THE F42 SURFSIDE 6 CAN DO
DOES IT FIT A LAPTOP?
WHAT THE F42 SURFSIDE 6 CAN DO
DOES IT FIT A LAPTOP?
Yes, it can hold a device up to 13″. For Dennis, that’s one reason he relies on the F42 SURFSIDE 6: «My laptop doesn’t fit in the smaller bags. The SURFSIDE 6 is my compact work bag.»
WHAT DO YOU CARRY IN YOUR ONE-OFFS?
WHAT DO YOU CARRY IN YOUR ONE-OFFS?
Moe: «The great thing is: it’s compact, yet it holds a lot. My lunch, a change of clothes, my cell phone, keys, wallet, a book, a bottle of water — the essentials for everyday life.»
Dennis: «Laptop, drink, jacket, power bank, snacks — and the two plush toys of my cats at home.»
WHAT DOES THE F-CREW LIKE ABOUT THE F42 SURFSIDE 6?
WHAT DOES THE F-CREW LIKE ABOUT THE F42 SURFSIDE 6?
Moe: «It has a beautiful, clean shape. The design is perfect yet simple — exactly what FREITAG stands for.»
Sonny: «It’s just my favorite silhouette. I liked it so much that I’d been dying to get one long before I joined FREITAG.»
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW?
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW?
WHERE DOES THE UNUSUAL NAME COME FROM?
WHERE DOES THE UNUSUAL NAME COME FROM?
F14 DEXTER
The F14 DEXTER is the classic, medium-sized FREITAG messenger bag. With its expandable capacity and additional compartments inside and out, it keeps things organized while providing plenty of space for a varied daily routine.
Yuki (FREITAG Store Kyoto) and Rita (FREITAG Store Amsterdam) live in different worlds, but they have a lot in common. For example, the F14 DEXTER is both of their favorite messenger bag.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT F14 DEXTER
WHAT MAKES F14 DEXTER SO SPECIAL TO YOU?
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT F14 DEXTER
WHAT MAKES F14 DEXTER SO SPECIAL TO YOU?
Yuki: «I like the bag because it lets me complete almost all of my outfits. When my style is a little more daring, I like to use it as an accent to balance out the look a bit.»
Rita: «Me too. Plus, it really does have room for everything you need. It’s my everyday bag.»
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES?
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES?
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR ONE-OFF?
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR ONE-OFF?
Yuki: «The dirtier a bag’s truck tarp is, the more I like it! The more marks it has, the more I can imagine it has already traveled through all kinds of countries. I bought my one-of-a-kind piece right away as soon as I spotted it.»
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Rita: «In Amsterdam, we have a lot of tourism, but also a strong local community. Interacting with both groups, listening to them, and finding unique pieces for unique people — I just love that.»
F13 TOP CAT
It was the very first FREITAG bag. Designed in 1993 by Markus and Daniel Freitag, it was produced in the living room of their shared apartment in Zurich. The extra-large F13 TOP CAT is the quintessential messenger bag and the cornerstone of what FREITAG is today.
The F13 TOP CAT has fans all over the world. Two of them are Martin, who has been the store manager at the FREITAG Store Berlin for 17 years, and Motohiro, a social media content creator and longtime employee at the FREITAG Store Kyoto. These two FREITAG veterans will tell you about their spacious, gracefully aged one-of-a-kind bags.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT F13 TOP CAT
WHAT HAVE YOU TRANSPORTED IN YOUR F13 TOP CAT?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT F13 TOP CAT
WHAT HAVE YOU TRANSPORTED IN YOUR F13 TOP CAT?
Martin: «Pretty much everything. Records, rocks, huge packages, a toilet seat… once I even carried 35 liters of milk. I’ve had it for 10 or 11 years, and it just handles everything.»
WHO IS F13 TOP CAT PERFECT FOR?
WHO IS F13 TOP CAT PERFECT FOR?
Martin: «I think this bag is for anyone who doesn’t need all the bells and whistles. For anyone who wants to be flexible, carry both small and large items, loves how comfortable it is to wear, and simply appreciates the design.»
WHAT FEATURES MAKE F13 TOP CAT ESPECIALLY PRACTICAL?
WHAT FEATURES MAKE F13 TOP CAT ESPECIALLY PRACTICAL?
Motohiro: «It expands as its contents do. You can adjust the volume in three stages — I haven’t seen that with other brands.»
Martin: «The hip belt makes sure nothing slips around while cycling. But I’ve also looped it around to the front to secure larger items.»
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR BAG?
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR BAG?
Motohiro: «The design is iconic. For me, the F13 TOP CAT represents everything that makes FREITAG special. I love my one-off because of its bright blue color. It still has the old logo — it’s definitely 20 years old. I can carry all my gear in it — and even bring my groceries home in the evening.»
