Manbags....

[J4CKO]

I have a NorthFace "Surge" backpack which is great, use it for the gym, going on days out, taking on holiday etc but its 31 litres or so, so pretty massive to be hoiking from under the seat in front on a flight and generally just carrying round.

So, I make a choice, bag or no bag, went to cork with my mates earlier in the year, a no bag trip but you potentially have a phone, passport, sunglasses, book, magazine, drink, snacks and a power bank.

So, and I am aware I will suddenly be accused of being a notorious homosexual (Not that I care about such things) I have looked into getting a smaller bag that isnt a rucksack, or "tactical" in any way.

Bought an "Osprey" one on eBay for £21 plus postage and its rather nice, but a bit small, so ordered this,

https://www.ospreylondon.com/en-gb/the-brooks-larg...

Which I think looks rather smart, its on its way.

Was talking to my son who has a masters degree in fashion and he said that "Women have been gatekeeping the bag thing too long, think we have the balaclava types to thank for making it acceptable"

I guess in the past blokes wore suits with ample pockets and had less stuff to carry, or had a briefcase, think the Inbetweeners killed the briefcase off, every school did have a kid who looked like a 2/3rds scale Sir John Harvey Jones with a full sized briefcase for three books, some pens and a sandwich.

Going away in a week and a bit so hopefully it arrives, so I can go through the airport without lumping my rucksack through.

Culture is a weird thing isnt it ? used to be you cant have a bag as thats for women ? Think for me its partly that and the getting old comfort and convenience thing and not giving a st what anyone thinks.

So, come on who is rocking a manbag ?

Edited by J4CKO on Thursday 9th July 08:59

[Wills2]

I've been man bagging for decades, honestly it's not something worthy of a thread, either use one or don't no one cares, "gate keeping" wow.

[Castrol for a knave]

I have exactly that bag, in brown, for my laptop and my lipstick.

Perfect for when heading into the office in London, to get murdered (twice on a Tuesday)/ my watch stolen/run over by a Limebike.

Really well made and it just looks like a work bag than something someone with Turkey teeth would carry.

I assume you're going to go with something like a messenger bag, rather than an over the shoulder thing with DIOR written on it - to match your Balenciaga onesie?

[Mr Pointy]

Tom Binh bags are very good - I use a Small Cafe Bag but that have lots of alternatives. The only problem is not all of them are available in the UK & they rarely come up second hand as people seem to hang on to them:

https://www.tombihn.com/collections/all-tom-bihn-s...

[vikingaero]

I don't think you can beat a good fanny pack in a lurid dayglo colour paired with a peak cap and open toed sandals worn with socks.

I think some of the canvas/billingham style manbags look OK.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

I suppose if its good enough for Harrison Ford.....

[louiebaby]

I nearly always have a bag over my shoulder when I go out these days.

It typically has hand sanitiser, a small packet of tissues, a gentle leader muzzle thingy, a couple of squeaky tennis balls, and about half a dozen poo bags, unless the roll is getting small, in which case the whole roll comes.

[iphonedyou]

Manbag brings to mind this sort of thing, which is exclusively used to carry a couple of baggies, a knife and the last few phones one stole:



Yours is fine. Although crossbody may be a step too far unless you're able to pull that look off.

[borcy]

I can't say I've seen many men wearing them, apart the east european chaps. They seem to love them, especially the Ukrainians.

[Landlubber]

I used to use one all the time, who wants to spoil a good suit with bunches of keys and all the other st we carry with us. Just common sense really.

[MC Bodge]

I have one of these for daily use:



Helikon-Tex Bushcraft satchel

It works when cycling to the office too. The "bushcraft" name is unnecessary.


Fashion question: If I had something similar in leather, would I need to wear a polo neck and Birkenstocks?

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 9th July 09:27

[MC Bodge]

louiebaby said:

I nearly always have a bag over my shoulder when I go out these days.

It typically has hand sanitiser, a small packet of tissues, a gentle leader muzzle thingy, a couple of squeaky tennis balls, and about half a dozen poo bags, unless the roll is getting small, in which case the whole roll comes.

You must go to some interesting clubs.

[s p a c e m a n]

They say fashion is cyclical, you're all just wearing the record bags that we used for school in the '90s

[iphonedyou]

s p a c e m a n said:

They say fashion is cyclical, you're all just wearing the record bags that we used for school in the '90s

There's a memory!

[J4CKO]

louiebaby said:

I nearly always have a bag over my shoulder when I go out these days.

It typically has hand sanitiser, a small packet of tissues, a gentle leader muzzle thingy, a couple of squeaky tennis balls, and about half a dozen poo bags, unless the roll is getting small, in which case the whole roll comes.

I am really hoping you own a dog...

[J4CKO]

LightweightLouisDanvers said:

I suppose if its good enough for Harrison Ford.....

My eBay purchase is a little similar.

[Lotobear]

Waitrose is Hexham is a great place for man bag spotting - middle aged retired blokes usually with horn rimmed round specs, a loosely knotted scarf (even in this weather) and salmon pink slacks, latest EV outside and hovering around the artisan pesto aisle.

[MDMA .]

I did photography at college and had/have a Belstaff Messenger bag. Back then, it was much cheaper than a dedicated Billingham camera bag. Didn't have the foam dividers, but did the same job. Must go round and dig it out at some point.

Apart from then, i've never felt the need to have or carry a bag.

Edited by MDMA . on Thursday 9th July 13:20

[paulrockliffe]

J4CKO said:

My eBay purchase is a little similar.

I bought one of these, not Osprey though, when I upgraded my tablet to Samsung's A4-sized behemoth. No matter what I wear, a 14" tablet just doesn't fit in your pockets!

I use it all the time, it's dead handy to have something that covers all those scenarios where you just need a bit more than your pockets can cope with, you want a drink and some snacks with you or it might rain.

[davek_964]

I've been using a small bag when flying for years - chuck the rucksack in the overhead locker, and the small bag has headphones / water / tablet etc.

I've been considering one of the cross shoulder bags. I've started walking to work - it's only a ~20 min walk but with a rucksack on carrying a laptop etc. it does result in a horribly sweaty back. I bought a mesh spacer thing yesterday, which should help - but if that doesn't solve the problem, I think a bag that goes over one shoulder is probably better.

I like the look of that Osprey, but I'm dubious that it would have enough space for me (laptop, music headphones, work headphones for the laptop, lunch etc.)