# Men: would you carry a purse- like bag if you had stuff you needed to carry? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629 "2011-08-14T00:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/61 "2011-08-16T20:19:55Z")
Leather is better. And no, a map case is not a messenger bag - it’s got a smaller size, usually. And a more vertical shape than most messengers. And the pencil loops are characteristic - I’ve seen messengers with them, but without them, it’s not a map case. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/62 "2011-08-16T21:06:33Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Leather is better. And no, a map case is not a messenger bag - it’s got a smaller size, usually. And a more vertical shape than most messengers. And the pencil loops are characteristic - I’ve seen messengers with them, but without them, it’s not a map case. I hate to bring this up, but those map cases look _more_ like purses than the messenger bags do. If you liberated one from your days in service, great, it comes with a story. Otherwise, I’m not sure it’s going to project the image you want. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/63 "2011-08-16T23:21:12Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I hate to bring this up, but those map cases look _more_ like purses than the messenger bags do. If you liberated one from your days in service, great, it comes with a story. Otherwise, I’m not sure it’s going to project the image you want. Oh, it projects exactly the image some people want - see what I said about Real Hipsters. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/64 "2011-08-17T06:15:01Z")
My law office has messenger bags specially made with our name and logo on them as promotional items, so I got one for free! ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/65 "2011-08-17T12:02:56Z")
Yep. I carry a satchel all the time that looks a lot like the [gas-mask bag](http://www.theraider.net/information/indy_gear/shoulderbag.php) that Indiana Jones used. I commute by bike, so I use a backpack every day, but a satchel is what I use when I’m only carrying a few things out and about. Of course, considering that Japan has metrosexuals so androgynous that even I have to do a double take to figure out what it is, your average gay-pride twink in the US would look like a raging he-man stud in comparison, so to most Japanese I look more manly than Groundskeeper Willy even with the satchel. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/66 "2011-08-17T16:57:17Z")
I wouldn’t, but not because I think it’s too girly. I just hate carrying things. I either go with pockets (I so loved it when cargo pants were in), or, if I have to, a backpack. Heck, my laptop bag was a backpack. When I actually have carry things for a long period of time, I always feel like I’ve done a lot more work than when I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/67 "2011-08-17T17:22:54Z")
Oh hell yes. I have the full range of carrying devices. Most days I take a backpack to work. It’s big enough to hold a passel of books, and since I work in a library I am often toting those to and from work. I have a nice discreet little fanny pack that tucks under my shirt and is good for a few small items that are too big to fit in my pockets comfortably (the fanny pack is so discreet that when I was frisked in the airport in Asuncion they never saw it). I have a slightly larger satchel type bag with a shoulder strap. I often wear that under my jacket so it’s virtually invisible too, not that I’m ashamed at carrying it. I have a larger satchel with both handle and shoulder strap that is perfect for a few books or magazines and a few articles of clothing. I often take that as a travel bag if I’m only going to be gone a few days. I bought it in Japan years ago, and in small letters on the leather strap reinforcement it says “SURVIVAL This product’s to be used comfortably and freely.” None of these bags look feminine, and if anyone thinks I look girly for carrying a bag I just don’t give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![ASanders](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asanders/32/3367_2.png) [@ASanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASanders)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/68 "2011-08-17T17:50:26Z")
Mr. Sanders now carries a sort of messenger-bag-lite. It’s shaped like a messenger bag, but a little smaller so he can stash it in his locker at work. I didn’t realize he needed one until I asked him about the plastic grocery bag that had taken up residence on his car’s passenger seat. He said “don’t throw that out, it’s my purse.” :dubious: BTW, my first post here at SD. Looking forward to participating! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/69 "2011-08-18T14:54:48Z")
I already have one-an old canvas paratrooper’s bag my dad picked up somewhere. I use it whenever I can. Love it! It’s my utility belt! ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629/70 "2011-08-20T01:49:04Z")
When I was stationed in Germany, I picked up this great leather man-purse. Big enough to hold a large-print paperback or small novel, wallet, knick-knacks, pen-holders and long strap that you could wear it across like a woman wears a purse. When I got back to the states, it did come in handy during college. Stored tape recorder, batteries, extra tapes, unusual school supplies and what not. Later on, my girlfriend claimed it to be hers and I never saw it again. I have a map case from my army days. I swear I used to sleep with that thing because there was always some emergency in the field where people needed info now now now. I don’t get much chance to use it nowadays. These days I use my backpack for everything. I keep an umbrella, grocery bags, a bottle of water, housekeys on a carbiner, pens, snack bars (just in case), usually an extra T-shirt and whatever else I’ll need for the day out on the bus. On the way home, it doubles as a grocery bag. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-would-you-carry-a-purse-like-bag-if-you-had-stuff-you-needed-to-carry/592629.md?page=3)