Suggestions for a "man-bag

[Cleophus]

I’m looking around for a “man-bag”, something I can toss all of my stuff in when I’m out of the house. I usually carry around a bit more equipment than can comfortably fit on a belt or in my pockets, generally:

My Newton (8.3x4.7x1.1, 43 cubic inches)
My iPod (4.02 x 2.43 x 0.7, 7 cubic inches)
A set of headphones (not earbuds)
My camera (3.78 x 2.95 x 1.34, 15 cubic inches)
My cellphone (size varies)
A small selection of cables (phone cord, cell phone data cable, etc.) They usually take up about 24 to 36 cubic inches.

Right now, I use an American Tourister shoulder bag that’s large enough for a laptop (one of the reasons I like it is it doesn’t scream “I’m a laptop, steal me”), but I don’t always carry my laptop, so most of the space is unused, and the bag tends to get in the way. I’m thinking something that’s about half as large will do nicely.

What are your recommendations?

[!ceQueen]

I don't know, look at anything by Kenneth Cole, he usually does stuff like that quite nicely.

[lee]

A Newton?

[Sock Munkey]

Heh, heh heh.
He said "man bag".
Heh heh heh.

(sorry couldn't resist)

[Troy McClure SF]

A Newton (http://www.oldschool.net/newton/).

Apple's entry into the PDA market.

[Mockingbird]

They still make Newtons? Wow.

[Flamsterette_X]

My friends Daniel and Nathan both carry a man-purse! :)

F_X

[Sock Munkey]

I'm flashing back to that Sienfeld episode where he wears a fur coat and has a purse.

[Bad News Baboon]

How about a nifty messenger style bag?

www.timbuk2.com

[3waygeek]

This bag (http://www.disturbingauctions.com/view.php?item=11) is about as masculine as you're likely to get.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Originally posted by 3waygeek
This bag (http://www.disturbingauctions.com/view.php?item=11) is about as masculine as you're likely to get.

Yeah, but does he have the balls to carry it?
:D

[ParentalAdvisory]

What men require when out of the house:


Wallet
Keys
Cell phone

[dantheman]

Originally posted by Flamsterette_X
My friends Daniel and Nathan both carry a man-purse! :)

F_X

That must be some man-purse, if they both have to carry it. Does it have four handles?

[Doomtrain]

Originally posted by dantheman
That must be some man-purse, if they both have to carry it. Does it have four handles?

It's not a purse, it's a man-boat!

[robgruver]

I ran into the same problem a couple of years ago. To much stuff, not enough pockets. So I stole Mrsrobgruver's purse... so to speak. See, she had picked up a smallish backpack style purse from some place or another, and it held all my stuff.

Now I carry a purse, but it doesn't look like a purse. It looks like a backpack. I am a man. I am not weird.... well, not that weird. :)

[voguevixen]

I often find the best selection of bags are at the markdown stores such as: Burlington Coat Factory, Ross, TJMaxx, Marshalls, etc. I've had really good luck there finding all manner of bags to be adapeted for specific weird purposes (portable DVD player, minidisk player and car attachments, sample case/bag/briefcase for my soap business) and the styles range from downright girly (dripping with pink glitter, sequins and feathers) to a nice, severe, businesslike (manly) black matte fabric or even some nice leather-look bags. I think if you go someplace with a big enough selection you might stumble on exactly what you're looking for (and if you go to one of the clearance places you'll probably find it for less than $20 or so.) Good luck! Be sure to show us what you end up with!

[Terminus Est]

Originally posted by Sock Munkey
I'm flashing back to that Sienfeld episode where he wears a fur coat and has a purse.
It's European!

[Kobaltblu]

I thought of the same thing as "Sock Munkey," and said in Beavis' voice also.
I had the same problem as yourself, and got a messenger bag from Banana Republic that had a sling strap, instead of two straps like backpacks. Alas, BR no longer makes messenger bags, just high-end (and priced likewise) attachés and leather shoulder bags.
I did find some similar items on Buy.com, which I'm going to have to use later because my messenger bag is wearing out. Depending on your age, and what you wear, and your hipness quotient, you could carry off the messenger bag very well, and not only look, uh, butch but very up-to-date.

[dantheman]

I'm pretty sure JuanitaTech had a thread asking the same question as the OP (it was for her husband); I wonder if she found anything.

[Vlad Dracul]

Use a gym bag. Better yet... a scuffed, beat-up, ripped-and-patched-with-duct-tape gym bag.

Very manly.... it's sports-related, indicates a fine indifference to appearances, and suggests you've dragged it through some harsh circumstances and survived.

Added bonus... nobody wants to steal your smelly gym socks and jockstrap. :)

[photopat]

I use my camera bag. It's large enough for my 'blad and a paperback or two, plus for an overnighter I can toss in a clean pair of underwear and my toothbrush/razor/floss/gel and I'm set.

[UrbanChic]

Here are two (http://www.jackspade.com/greenest/messenger02/index.html) bags (http://www.jackspade.com/greenest/messenger05/index.html) that seem to fit your needs. You can wear them across your body like a messenger bag.

dan, here's the bag (http://www.jackspade.com/warrenst/messenger01/index.html) I bought for Mr. Tech for Fathers Day. He likes it.

[dantheman]

Holy frijoles! $275!

[oceans_11]

I used to carry something like this (http://www.ebags.com/Ogio/Sweet_Sour/product_detail/index.cfm?ModelID=15467&bb_id=c10699&ProductList_21_Link=Details&sub_site_id=21) for my camera, pda, cellphone, etc. Mine was from Eddie Bauer, but I don't think they make them anymore. The previous link actually has a pretty decent selection of bags and packs.

[jackelope]

Go poke around a big Army Surplus store. That stuff is cheap and it'll last forever, plus it's good and manly: no one will call it a "purse" if you take it out in the country and put a few strategically placed bulletholes in it.

[Mangetout]

Have a look in a camera store and get a small foam-lined hard case - I saw one the other day that was about the size of an A4 sheet and two inches thick.
I think they even have eyelets that you can attach a webbing shoulder strap to.

[Cleophus]

I'm going to check out a few places tomorrow. The first bag JuanitaTech linked to is appealing, though. I'm tempted, but $75 is too much to drop without looking around first. Thanks for your suggestions!

And Mockingbird,

They still make Newtons? Wow.

Apple doesn't, but eBay does. :)

[Zoe]

Speaking of eBay, I would think that would be a good place to look for something leather that has been roughed up a little.

[Emperor Penguin]

Originally posted by Cleophus


Right now, I use an American Tourister shoulder bag that’s large enough for a laptop.



A slight hijack, but how well do you like your American Tourister bag? I was looking at one today, and I fell in love with it. I'll probably get it tommorow as a birthday prezzie (I'll be 22. Whoo!). Unless of course you have stories about it randomly spontaniously combusting. Sponatiously combusting at regular intervals is alright though. I can plan to be out of the room then.

[FyreFiend]

Other then a laptop I carry all my needed tech-toys (Palm, Nomad, headphones. The phone stays in my pocket), a few large books, cables, and what ever else I need in a basic backpack. I have a Jan Sport that I've been using for years and years and it's still kicking. Your back will break before the leather reinforced bottom will

[sycorob]

I second FyreFiend with the backpack idea. I usually have a book, an umbrella, a notebook, pens, my work badge and some other miscellaneous crap. I still keep my walet, keys and cell phone in my pockets, though. And I never take my bag with me when I go out to a bar or something, so it's not quite the same as a woman's purse.

[UrbanChic]

A backpack, however, is just not as...polished, I guess. I get the feeling the OP is looking for something a little more professional and mature.

Of course, I could be way off base here.

[Quartz]

Why not just carry a briefcase?

[UrbanChic]

From the OP:Right now, I use an American Tourister shoulder bag that’s large enough for a laptop (one of the reasons I like it is it doesn’t scream “I’m a laptop, steal me”), but I don’t always carry my laptop, so most of the space is unused, and the bag tends to get in the way. I’m thinking something that’s about half as large will do nicely.

[wolfman]

Originally posted by 3waygeek
This bag (http://www.disturbingauctions.com/view.php?item=11) is about as masculine as you're likely to get.

That's cool. I have already been considering faking a limp so I could get one of those Bull prick canes.

[BadBaby]

I remember seeing a bunch of different sorts of bags at LL Bean and some at Land's End. They're mostly casual-professional style for the most part. Prices aren't super cheap but they last forever-- I'm wicked mean to my luggage from Land's End and it still looks new after nearly ten years now.

[Cleophus]

While at a local bike shop looking into the Timbuk2 bags, the clerk recommended the x-small version of a courier bag (https://www.baileyworks.com/products/C253.php) by Bailey Works. It's very nice, and I'm leaning toward that one or one of the smaller Greene Street bags JuanitaTech posted. I'll probably decide after this week, when I get paid. I appreciate all of your input. Thanks again!

JuanitaTech:
I didn't really think about professionalism when I wrote the OP, but now that I think about it, it was in the back of my mind. Kudos for picking up on it.

FyreFiend,sycorob:
I have a Jansport backpack, but most of the time it's overkill. It's got way more space than I usually require, and the added attention I get when I go into a store is annoying. Recently, I had to make a rush for my bike (locked up across the street at a mall) when I ran late for a train. Quickly dropping my bag to remove my bike seat, anyone watching (like the nearby employee) probably thought I was going to swipe some books from the Barnes and Noble vestibule.

Emperor:
My American Tourister bag is very well-constructed. I "inherited" it from my father when he bought a larger bag, and have found it to be very versitaile. One feature I like is an expandable main compartment. A zipper runs around the middle of the bag. Unzipping it enlarges the main compartment and allows access to a "hidden" compartment. I've used it as a laptop bag, a weekend bag (where the expanding compartment allowed me to carry extra socks and a few other items), a school bag, and a few other things that escape me. Alas, it's badly worn (clips are broken, the lining and some pockets are torn, etc.), which is another reason why I need a new bag.

[Riboflavin]

Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory
What men require when out of the house:\
Wallet, Keys, Cell phone [/B]

Wus-Men, maybe. Real Men ditch the 'Cell phone' and add in the all-important pocketknife.

[dantheman]

And don't forget to grunt a like. Real Men grunt all the time, I hear. Although maybe they're just constipated.

[dantheman]

A lot, that is.

Besides, when out of the house I need to bring stuff to and fro work! How'm I gonna do that in my pockets, eh? My lunch won't fit there!

[Flamsterette_X]

Originally posted by dantheman
That must be some man-purse, if they both have to carry it. Does it have four handles?

Ha, no.. what I meant was that Daniel and Nathan each carry a man-purse.

F_X

[UrbanChic]

Well, since this thread has been (oddly) resurrected, what did you ultimately decide on, Cleophus?

[Casey1505]

This is a man bag. (http://www.newsearching.com/camping_cooler/Igloo_56_Quart_Roller_Cooler.html)

Everything else is a purse.

[Susanann]

Whatever you end up getting, remember the basic rule of handbags: that a bad should match your shoes.

This means you may have to get more than one bag, brown with brown shoes, white with white shoes, black with black shoes, etc.

There are also casual handbags, and dress up ones. You dont want to be carrying a casual handbag if you are all dressed up in your suit, and vice versa.

[UrbanChic]

I think the bag-matching-shoes rule is for women, not men.

I would never expect a man to match his messenger back with his shoes.