Ship of Fools: Man Bags

Thread: Man Bags Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

I post here because I need the support of Shipmates. For many years I have been vexed by the amount of stuff I need to carry in my pockets. It was bad enough when I only needed wallet, keys, change and pens. Then a mobile phone was added, and now a Kindle. Some sort of bag would be ideal, but I haven't seen anything that an British man could carry without embarrassment. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

My son has an excellent man bag, I will see what make it is [Smile]

Posted by deano (# 12063) on :

I see many men with what people of my age call a haversack. You know... the kind of thing campers carry around. They don't look too bad. Well they make you look like a dick but not a "metrosexual"

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

Here it is - smart, stylish and not in the least bit girly.

[Smile]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

My first thought was the local Army surplus store, where they have camouflage bags. Nobody would notice one of those.

However, I assume you'd want something with an adjustable shoulder strap, not too big. A dark colour, so as not to clash too much with whatever you're wearing; it will need to be waterproof and reasonably durable/scratchproof.

You'll want something with an inside pocket for the mobile phone because otherwise it'll rattle around and get scratched.

I see Boogie has just linked to one I was about to suggest. I'm not sure how waterproof it would be though.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

Carry around anything you want, in whatever style you wish. The very fact that you are a man makes it a man-bag. Just as when women carry a bag, either on their arms, shoulders or back, makes it a woman-bag.

Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

I followed Boogie's link and got the Debenham's homepage. Which product should I look at there?

Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

Pete, if life is really that simple in Canada I'm tempted to move there.

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

Fred Perry Navy Canvas Shoulder Bag.

Jengie

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

This one.

Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :

Mine is very similar to this one. The canvas look helps IMO.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Go to conferences. Droves of chaps in manly trades like engineering and vulcanology all hoicking shoulder bags, usually in black skivitex stencilled with IUGG/IASPEI Joint Meeting, Gothenburg 2013 (or similar). Not pretty, but strong, capacious and will increase your street cred with geophysicists.

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :

Big Bag for lots of stuff:

Naut e

Small Bag. Clips on belt. Fits; phone, wallet, glasses, headphones:

Front

back

Fly safe, Pyx_e

Posted by Spiffy (# 5267) on :

The bag I carry is this range bag, used to carry your handgun.

Not having a handgun, I use it to tote about my 7" tablet computer, sunscreen (to protect my tattoos from fading), and occasionally, a flask. You know. Just girl stuff. *nods*

[ 23. August 2013, 22:34: Message edited by: Spiffy ]

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :

Something like this?

Or this? I would suggest against camouflage, how would you find it once you set it down?

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

You can, apparently, get shirts with special kindle pockets.
I was told this by a female friend who tried one on at the same time as her bloke did (she had the female cut, he had the man one. He liked it and bought it, but she decided that when one put the kindle in it made her rather, er, quadrilateral-chested.
So maybe you don't need to get a man-bag at all..?

Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :

Or you can channel your inner Doctor and constantly wear a coat with SIX pockets! Plenty of room for everything you need to carry and yet your hands/shoulders remain unencumbered.

Posted by JB (# 1776) on :

How about this?

Posted by RuthW (# 13) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
Big Bag for lots of stuff:

Naut e

That's gorgeous. Did you make it?

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

I use a backpack-style laptop bag by Targus™ which is capacious enough for even some bits of shopping. I don't like bags that just hang from one shoulder as they make me feel [even more] lopsided. It is in silver and bright blue.

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :

There are any number of bags that a British man might reasonably carry to and from work, or some business engagement - briefcases, backpacks, even the ghastly messenger bag would work. There is, however, no bag that you may wear socially without looking like a complete arse.

You can take your bag into the pub and place it at your feet at the bar, and you may place your briefcase in the trolley as you're going around the supermarket.

But there is no bag which you can keep on your person in the way that ladies carry handbags without suffering from excessive rectal resemblance.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

How very helpful. I carry something along with me every day. For someone who walks, a messenger bag works well. I don't think anyone has in mind a clutch purse.

Posted by comet (# 10353) on :

I bought this for my son (aka The Destroyer of All Things) two years ago and it has survived intact and he uses it always and for everything. zippers have all held up despite the wear-and-tear a bike fanatic who plays soccer and Ultimate can give it.

of course, it's now $30 cheaper than when I bought it. *sigh* he has the full black model, which could fit into almost any social situation, except perhaps full business.

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:
For someone who walks, a messenger bag works well. I don't think anyone has in mind a clutch purse.

It's not the bag, it's what you do with it. If you're carrying stuff from A to B (work, sports gear, shopping, change of clothes, whatever) and the function of the bag is to transport stuff, and you treat it like that, leaving the bag in some convenient corner when you stop somewhere for any length of time, you can use whatever kind of bag you find most useful and comfortable, and it will be fine (well, there are one or two minor exceptions).

If, as Robert Armin's original post suggests, what he wants is a bag to keep on his person, in the same way as he keeps his pockets with him, then I fear embarrassment is inevitable.

Women keep their handbags with them in that fashion (and largely have to, because so much women's clothing is deficient in the pockets department). Men don't. Someone carrying a messenger bag around everywhere like a woman carries a handbag just looks silly. Treat a messenger bag as a briefcase, and it's OK.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

A sporran. That's what you need, a sporran.

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :

I wish more men carried manbags, esp. Mr S. That would reduce the instances of 'can you just put this in your bag for me?' which currently drive me crazy.

WW, a cross-body or messenger bag is better than a shoulder bag and puts less strain on the shoulder, but they are also easier to access than a rucksack. I use the Cath Kidston satchels in waterproof oilcloth, because they have lots of lovely pockets and are lined in cream canvas which makes it easy to see what's in there: but sadly that just encourages Mr. S to ask me to carry his wallet etc *sigh*. Will have to settle for something smaller
[Roll Eyes]

The Rueful Mrs. S

Posted by Anglican't (# 15292) on :

If you liked the bag that Boogie posted, but want to pretend that you're a member of The Beatles or Richard Burton in The VIPs, you can buy a retro flight bag.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:
Women keep their handbags with them in that fashion (and largely have to, because so much women's clothing is deficient in the pockets department).

Not always it's not. I can manage if I have to with the essentials in my pockets. However, many women do need to carry some women-specific items that men don't use. And while you've got a handbag, you might as well also add the folding umbrella, comb, phone, pen, tiny pocket mirror (essential for contact lens wearers), and a shopping bag that folds into nothing until you need to use it.

And then once you're out it comes in useful for stowing those receipts, half eaten bar of chocolate, book to read, packet of hankies, pair of earphones and small random purchases. And if the woman has children, heaven only knows what else may be in there.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
...but sadly that just encourages Mr. S to ask me to carry his wallet etc *sigh*...

Next time don't give it back until you've had a chance to empty it.

[Two face]

Posted by Pyx_e (# 57) on :

Ruth yes they both my creations.

Men who wear belt pouches and are cool:

Phil Harding

Stormtroopers

Batman

Pouches FTW.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I often carry poo in my bag these days [Razz]

yes, really.

This is the bag - brilliant for dog walks where no bins are provided.

It works too - the charcoal keeps all smeels away 'till I get to a bin.

[Link amended - WW]

[ 24. August 2013, 10:45: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]

Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on :

I suspect the reason some men find the idea of carrying a handbag as cissy is because of the pre-equality days when women and handbags were regarded as figure of fun.
When men carrying handbags around becomes a common sight we might also be able to gain some amusement as to what they contain.

Biggest problem for a man and his man-bag ,TMM, is the likelihood of him losing it.

Posted by Doublethink (# 1984) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
I often carry poo in my bag these days yes, really.

This is the bag - brilliant for dog walks where no bins are provided.

It works too - the charcoal keeps all smeels away 'till I get to a bin.

I got a virus warning from that link - is it just me.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Me too so I have changed the link to something that doesn't set of alarms on my machine by the same company but via Amazon.com - hope that is okay, Boogie.

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

Try the National Trust - they do various sizes of bags. Darllenwr has one to carry his glucometer and insulin in - and his wallet and any other items.

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Me too so I have changed the link to something that doesn't set of alarms on my machine by the same company but via Amazon.com - hope that is okay, Boogie.

Oooops - sorry about that!
[Hot and Hormonal]

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pyx_e:
yes they both my creations.

Wow - very cool indeed. [Overused]

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

I don't know how it is in Great Britain, but IMO a plain, cross-body messenger bag for guys looks cool and un-pursey even if he keeps it about his person at most times.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
And if the woman has children, heaven only knows what else may be in there.

Or who.

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :

I have a friend who has a messenger type bag in Harris tweed, which, I must confess, I lust after. Most times though he uses an ordinary rucksack.

And Pyx_e, thanks for the pics. I'd forgotten how beautiful your creations are.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

As soon as I saw the title of the thread, I came straight here to see if Pyx_e had posted any photos. And wasn't disappointed.

It's easy in Creamtealand (and other rural walking areas) - men just carry one of these.

Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

Thank you for all the suggestions. I'm going to go with Spiffy's idea, as it looks to be the right sort of size and price. However, I would love Pyx_e's first offering - where can I get something as stylish as that?

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:

quote:
Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
...but sadly that just encourages Mr. S to ask me to carry his wallet etc *sigh*...
Next time don't give it back until you've had a chance to empty it.

*rofl* would that there were real money in it!

Mrs. S, still rueful, but laughing

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

In the good old days we used to use webbing army surplus respirator bags, or (more likely) facsimiles of them: but I don't know whether you can still get them and whether they'd look a bit scruffily adolescent now.
Slight tangent but in a thread here some time ago someone said that plain clothes RCMP officers carry their guns in man bags. That seemed so wonderfully stereotypically Canadian*.

*I say this admiringly.

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :

Quite a selection of canvas ex-military / military surplus bags out there when I bothered to look.

Army Surplus belt ammo bags
Polish Canvas shoulder bag
Yugoslavian backpack/ shoulder bag
Finnish army gas mask bag
Infantry gas mask bag
French army ammo bag

[links checked - WW]

[ 26. August 2013, 13:15: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]

Posted by pererin (# 16956) on :

I might be late and missing the point, but why not wear a proper jacket with lots of pockets in it? The reason that women have handbags is that pens in top pockets plus breasts can have comedy results.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Undead thread alert!

WAP! WAP!

Firenze van Helsing
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