Manbags - right or wrong?

[Cue]

The Guardian has a look at Manbags and whether it is socially acceptable to carry them

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1808518,00.html

[rogue_audio]

Interesting. They're still gay though.

[red]

me thinks:

men wear backpacks or messenger bags. if you want something smaller, you wear bags like the one chard has (i think theyre called map bags), fannypacks, basically anything not associated with the feminine image (tote bags, handbags, purses, douche bags).

[sybaritical]

While I'm happy with my messenger bags, I support the application of a man-bag on the basis that:

1) Freitag make very nice ones.

and

2) Milspex utilises them and he's heavily armed.

[red]

at least carry a fucking tactical knife in there. so when some jackass confronts you WHAM. turn him my favorite color.

[sybaritical]

Knives? yeeahhh, they're ok, but everyone's got one in London right now and I like to stay ahead of the field, so I make sure I pack this when I'm out and about.

I've got it in black, but there's a chrome option available.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

[mlproject]

i'll go for a messenger bag like reload or osmething, but no man purses. only carry it when necessary. i don't get this carrying a bag all the time thing - that's for indie hip hop backpackers.

[sybaritical]

Calm down Peewee. You're making me nervous.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

i'll go for a messenger bag like reload or osmething, but no man purses

make sure that you specify metal hardware on reload bags, especially with the "civilian" jawns-----the plastic monster clips give out in less than a year.

[mlproject]

i've had my deluxe for about 2 years and it's still rolling strong. had a timbuk2 for about 4 years before that.

i didn't realize realize they had metal hardware. they'll replace parts and repair bags for cheap anyway.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

really? i emailed them a couple times, but no dice...

the hardware i refer to is the plastic quick-release clip on the shoulder strap of the civvie model.

i should just roll in there.

[damnIam]

Nice, it has the electrics feeder vs. the pnuematic one. More jams but quicker reaction and it changes out very quickly. Alittle heavy for pocket carry but man does it part the masses.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

[siemprefresco]

fugazi no doubt.

[mlproject]

really? i emailed them a couple times, but no dice...

the hardware i refer to is the plastic quick-release clip on the shoulder strap of the civvie model.

i should just roll in there.

yeah, every time i've asked them about doing stuff for me, they've replied really fast and seemed open to custom mods of their stuff for not that much extra. he was going to build me a custom hip pouch ... a little larger ... so i could have something to keep tools in while on the road.

[high_contrast]

As much as I would like to use a tote bag, in North America it's just wrong. Unless your outfit totally warrants the bag then I would say you're pretty brave to use a manbag in the west.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

i like tote bags, though i never have a need to carry that much stuff. i've been trying to scale down------10" messenger bag or 8" possibles belt bag just about does it. it subdues my ratpack impulses.

[greentea]

man bags are cool. ive seen some really cool ones on rakuten. like that skull jeans denim bag that shit is dope!

[simple]

the term manbag ain't well defined so difficult to answer to the original post, but any messenger shape bag big enough to carry an A4 notebook has to be safe.

incidentally, can any of you bag obsessors suggest something functional, light and hard wearing for less than $100 / £50? My old bag finally died the other day... took a look at the Frietag ones but would prefer something that at least feels like natural material. [Have read the Freitag/Baileys/Jack Spade post on here a while back - anything in the Jack Spade type shape but more practical looking? and velcro don't do it for me]

[mlproject]

most messenger work bags are made of heavy duty cordura like the jack spade greene street bags and are all very light. most will have velcro w/ buckles though, but i'm sure smaller companies like reload or baileyworks would make one without the velcro.

[wild style]

I back baileyworks. Also, I'm pretty sure their x-small 253 courier bag does not have velcro.

[damnIam]

I carry a Swedish Army bag of some sort. It is green canvas with a leather bottom and about 6 " wide and about 10-12" deep. Call it what you want but I got to have it. I am secure enough not to care if you call it a man purse/bag/whatever. It is funtional and allows me to carry what I need though a 10 to 12 hour work day. If that makes me brave...whatever, it's really not that big of a deal.

[mike lowrey]

I think a smaller messenger style bag is allright

by the way whats officially a man bag, like a tote bag? I call everything that looks like it wasn't made for men a man bag so I'm not sure what the official interpretation is..?

[mlproject]

tote bag would definitely qualify as a man purse

[6MT]

i thought the official term is "european carry'all"

[simple]

most messenger work bags are made of heavy duty cordura like the jack spade greene street bags and are all very light. most will have velcro w/ buckles though, but i'm sure smaller companies like reload or baileyworks would make one without the velcro.

cheers. know of any close alternatives to the js greene st bags? Think I'm after that sort of satchel style rather than authentic messenger style. Something that'll pass at the office when it needs to...

[denimdestroyedmylife]

EG Canoe Bag on sale for $130ish in blue or natch

can be used as messenger or backpack

[Seething Tortoise]

If it's too small to hold something that is A4 sized, then it is too small for me.

Anyway, I'm not really into small 'manbags.' I prefer the term manpurse, it sounds so much more gayer (though it implies wallets and purse sized items I don't use it in that context)

[artificialsky]

2) Milspex utilises them and he's heavily armed.

i think you mean visually uparmored.