Manhattan Portage—love the look. Naturally I wanted a messenger. I checked Amazon/Mercari and there are so many model numbers. The JP site lists 88 messenger models alone. Stores don’t stock everything; online is overwhelming. I made a complete guide (unisex).

First, the product lineup

The JP site even has sweats/hoodies. Top categories show bags and apparel—didn’t know they had clothes.

Bags

• Messenger
• Backpack
• Waist bag
• Tote bag
• Shoulder bag
• Briefcase
• Duffle bag

Apparel

• Caps/hats
• Outerwear
• T-shirts
• Pants

Messenger/waist/shoulder feel similar, but I’m focusing on messengers—I want one.

Messenger sizes

Four rough sizes: XS, S, M, L (some thickness differences within a size).

Size	Use case
XS	Quick neighborhood outings
S	Day out (but no space for souvenirs)
M	School/uni
L	Work/pro use?

Detailed table

Sorted small → large. Units: cm (official specs).

Model	Size	Price	W	H	D	Capacity	Notes
1602	?	¥6,600	23	14.5	10	3L	Not on official site; BEAMS collab
1603	XS	¥7,040	29	18	11	6L	Fits a PET bottle
1604	S	¥8,140	28	26	11	8L	Square silhouette
1605 JRS	S	¥9,020	34	21	12	9L	Fits B5
1605 JR	S	¥9,020	34	21	14	10L	—
1605	M	¥9,240	38	28	18	19L	Square silhouette
1606VJR	M	¥11,000	42	25	17	18L	Fits A4; might feel big on women
1606	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not sold in JP? doesn’t seem to exist
1607V	L	¥12,870	55	31	20	34L	Fits A3

What do V / JR / S mean?

Code	Meaning	Origin guess
V	Strap hardware is metal	Vintage
JR	Downsized for Japan	Japan something / Junior?
S	Thinner gusset, slimmer strap/Velcro, shorter flap	Probably Slim/Smart

Materials/variants

Base is Cordura nylon; some are neoprene, tarpaulin, suede bottoms, prints, etc. Variants are common in XS/S.

Size visual guide

Numbers don’t help decide. Does a bottle fit? A4 sheets? Commuting? I was torn between XS and S, so I made scale images: average-height JP male/female, bags to scale, and A4, etc., from smallest up. Female versions are below.

License:

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.ja

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:David_von_Michelangelo.jpg

MP1602

MP likely = Manhattan Portage. 1602 isn’t on the site; it shows up as a BEAMS BOY collab. More a small pouch than messenger—wallet + phone size. Quick errands.

[ビームスボーイ] バッグ Manhattan Portage 別注 ミニ メッセンジャーバッグ 1602 レディース

MP1603

Also for short outings; fits a 500 ml bottle. Lots of colors; kids use it too.

[マンハッタンポーテージ] 正規品【公式】 Casual Messenger Bag(US XXS 日本XS) メッセンジャーバッグ MP1603 ネイビー

[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage

MP1604

Square silhouette. Officially a long-running staple.

F ブラック Manhattan Portage マンハッタンポーテージ カジュアル メッセンジャーバッグ ボディバッグ S 628906-010-001 [並行輸入品]

MP1605JR

1605 in JR (smaller) size. JRS is 2 cm thinner gusset; flat appearance is the same.

The signature model—tons of reviews. B5 fits; A4 needs bending. A woman said it was perfect for a full day at Disney—cosmetics, etc., yet compact.

[[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage] 正規品【公式】 Casual Messenger Bag JR メッセンジャーバッグ MP1605JR メンズ Black

[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage

MP1605

Another square (not my favorite shape).

[マンハッタンポーテージ] 1605 NYLON MESSENGER BAG ナイロン メッセンジャーバッグ/ショルダーバッグ ネイビー [並行輸入品]

MP1606VJR

There’s also 1606JR (plastic strap parts). I couldn’t find a plain 1606—maybe US only?

Medium size with good capacity—great for commuting/school. At this size you can stuff a jacket or convenience-store haul easily.

[マンハッタンポーテージ] 公式 Vintage Messenger MP1606VJR BLK (Black)

[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage

MP1607V

Largest messenger. Fits A3. Carrying this volume on one shoulder suits real messengers; I had a similar size and a backpack is way better.

Messengers were born for bike couriers: big load, easy access, worn on the back while leaning forward. Walk upright with all weight on one shoulder and you’ll twist yourself.

[[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage] 正規品【公式】 Vintage Messenger Bag (L) メッセンジャーバッグ MP1607V ブラック

[マンハッタンポーテージ] Manhattan Portage

Women’s visuals

Captions same as above; here are the scaled images.

Takeaways

Once organized, patterns emerged. Core staples seem to be:

• 1603 (XS)
• 1605JRS (S)
• 1606JR (M)

My quick rules: XS for convenience-store runs; S for half-day outings; M for commuting/school. XS/S come in many colors/materials—nice if you want it as a fashion piece. M is usually black/navy; when in doubt, go black.

If torn on V/JR, the versions with those suffixes look a bit sharper (V is optional).

Finally, here’s the full size chart image—hope it helps you pick the right one.

2025/11/29 update: bags I actually bought

I’m using MP1603 and MP1605JR. The MP1603 (red) is perfect for a stroll with just phone, wallet, and snacks.

My MP1605JR is black, but lots of people have it, so I removed the logo and slapped on a random patch. Even grandpas carry this bag now.

I grab the MP1603 for trips to the nearest station; the MP1605JR is for heading into the city with my kid.

I also bought a backpack that’s not listed above: the roll-top Silvercup Backpack JR MP1236JR. I never see anyone else using it, which I like. It came with an extremely tough, heavy laptop sleeve inside, so I cut it out. Manhattan Portage’s appeal is tough yet light fabric, and that sleeve ruined it—modding it out fixed the weight.

Manhattan Portage Silvercup Backpack With Roll Top Closure Spacious Main Compartment And Water Resistant Coating In 1000D Cordura (Black)

Manhattan Portage