I use this. It’s as sturdy as they come and military issue.
I’ve tried those. Too big for my tastes and I had a boss chastise me one time for wearing a camo fatigue jacket. People in charge. :rolleyes:
If you’re looking for something that will be decidedly nonfeminine, Army surplus is the way to go. You could get a US Army gas mask bag/ammo pouch (ends in 5 hours), or a rather more sophisticated-looking classic messenger bag, or any of a zillion other options on-line. Google “army surplus” and be amazed.
Or, of course, you could check your local army surplus store, though a lot of them have closed in recent years; guess there’s not much surplus these days.
ETA: After I hit “Submit,” I realized the OP is in the UK. I have no idea if they have army surplus stores over there.
If it’s butch enough for Jack…
For what its worth, my store has a lot of pedestrian traffic and its common to see men carrying backpacks and messenger bags. We have never hasseled a guy just for carrying a bag.
I carry a backpack, but when I first arrived here x decades ago, I took to carrying what is known as a *yam * (pronounced "yahm, the “a” as in “father”). It’s a sort of handbag and would be identified as a purse in the West, but men routinely carried them, maybe mainly men. They’re pretty large. Alas! You rarely ever see them in Bangkok anymore. Thais who do still carry them are considered hicks these days by the suave, urbane Bangkokians, and farangs (Westerners) who do are looked upon as making a comically inept attempt to “go native.” The bags are still seen upcountry but not nearly as much as before. Too bad, because there were some nice designs, especially among the hill tribes.
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Hey, that’s just about the right size and shape for a gig bag for my curved soprano sax! It would need padding, but that’s easy to put in. (This is a 1937 model, so the neck doesn’t come off, so most gig bags don’t work.)
That’s good to know… hopefully as businesses get used to more pedestrians, this will become a relic of the past. I do see positive changes even now, mind you-- ten years ago, I wasn’t even allowed by my own employers to enter the building with a bag. (I still have issues with my employers; it’s current company policy that women get lockers to safeguard their purses, but men don’t, but at least I’m allowed past the front door with my backpack now.)
Handbags are practical. Therefore, Stupid Homophobic Macho Rules dictate that they will never be socially acceptable for men.
Many of the Stupid Homophobic Macho Rules are especially enforced in rural areas. This is unfortunate, because the countryside is so pretty. Ahem, I mean…uh, there’s a lot of…critters…in the woods…to shoot at.