I’ve a wallet (billfold?), chapstick, USB memory stick, and 2 keys. When I add anything else to my inventory, such as a cell phone or a pen, then it’s really too much to fit into jeans pockets. At that point, I have the option of either sitting uncomfortably, taking everything out when I’m at my desk, or overflowing it all into a backpack.
I’m sure some of you have come up with better solutions than this. So, what do you all use, guys and I guess gals who don’t carry a purse: Bigger pockets, fanny pack, man-purse, shoulder bag, what?
Left front pocket: Leatherman Squirt, lucky piece
Right front pocket: Gerber folding knife, keys, change
Left hip pocket: wallet
Left hip (belt clip): Leatherman Juice S2
Right hip (belt clip): cell phone
Right hip – Wallet with drivers license couple of credit cards and cash
Left hip – Check book
Right front – Pocket knife (about a 2 inch blade), change
Left front – Keys (12)
My cell phone clips on the opening of my left front pocket.
I’ve done this (‘cept the cell phone) for about 20 years or so. I’ll take the wallet out if on a long drive. Doesn’t bother me at work.
Left front - Wallet, any loose change
Right front - keys
Any other miscellany generally gets shoved in the left front or my shirt pocket, if that’s available. On the rare occasion that I carry a checkbook, it will go in my left rear pocket, but I try to avoid that.
<mild hijack>Frankly, I’ve never understood why other guys want to sit on their wallet. Not only did it strike me as being very uncomfortable when I first tried it as a kid, but it would seem to leave a person much more vunerable to being pick-pocketed. I don’t get it.</hijack>
Whoops…I forgot…both my cell phone and Blackberry are clipped to my right hip, except when I’m bowling (they go on the opposite hip to avoid interfering with my arm swing).
Then you can carry more crap too and keep it all organized. There are also lots of different styles, sizes, etc. I have a Puma one for my school stuff.
But NO NO NO on the fanny pack. Dude, please no. Everyone, please no. They may be convenient but shudder they are fugly, IMO.
Left front: Keys (with USB key and pocketknife), PDA
Right front: Wallet
Belt clip: cell phone
Admittedly, if I bring anything else (such as a camera), my pockets get full. Can’t seem to get into the groove of using a fanny pack or somesuch, though.
Thanks for all the great replies - most of the consensus seems to be, “suck it up, and use your damn pockets.” (A quote from scr4’s thread said that it’s what separates us from the women. )
I’m trying to avoid the whole “man-bag” thing - either a clutch or an over-the-shoulder bag doesn’t suit me - maybe you’ve got to be reeeeaaallly confident in your masculinity to pull those off. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I have my keys-&-stuff on the desk now, and only my smallish wallet in my front pocket, and even that bugs me. I’m pretty much a jeans-all-the-time person, and both the front and back pockets tend to be uncomfortable for stuff, at least for me. My other option is to dispense with the wallet entirely and use a mini binder clip, since that seems usually to be tolerable.
Thanks again for the input, I really appreciate all your thoughts on this.
I only have one pair of jeans, so all my other pants have loose enough pockets for my stuff. My standard mode is wallet in back right, keys and change in front right, money and other pieces of paper (receipts, notes, etc…) in front left, and cell phone also in front left. That’s usually all I carry. i don’t lioke belt clips, i think they look stupid. No offense if you use onem just not my thing, is all.
I would love an ‘Indiana Jones’ style leather satchel/messenger bag, but have never been able to find one. I want ot be able to carry my PDA, possible a small notebook, digital camera (which, since it is five years old, is HUGE), and a nice pocke knife with me easily.
Now there is an idea. Carry handcuffs on your belt. I doubt anyone would mess with you.
I’m just always very aware of my surroundings. I never leave my car, a store or just about anywhere with out the old 4 pocket pat. Just to check that I have everything.
I know lots of guys that carry messenger bags and field bags (like the first thing that shows up on the page scr4 posted from Leathertree). Nowadays people have so much crap (usual wallets, keys, then add phones, PDAs, iPods, digital cameras, etc.) that it makes sense for guys to carry a bag too.
Messenger bags have always seemed guyish to me. A lot out there seem designed with men in mind (colors and such).
But I’m a chick and I carry one, because I hate bookbags. A messenger works better because I can use it as a bookbag + purse during the day, all my stuff is right there by my side instead of on my back).
Left front pocket: Pocket change, keys (including USB device and keychain flashlight), pen.
Right front pocket: Wallet, swiss army knife.
Right watch pocket: Badge for work.
Right hip pocket: Packet of Kleenex. (Yeah, I know I lose machismo points for this, but every so often it comes in real handy.)
Clipped on belt: Cell phone.
Are you looking for one that’s all leather, or one more like this?
Left pocket: Swiss Army knife, hotel key-card.
Right pocket: Cigarette lighter, car keys, spare change.
Shirt pocket: Cigarettes, pen, boarding passes(Fridays and Sundays only)
Right hip pocket: Wallet
Left hip pocket: Nothing.
On the belt, to the left: Cell phone.
)