# Men's handbag? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158 "2005-09-05T03:36:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/1 "2005-09-05T03:36:43Z")
There are several items I want to have at all times, more than can fit in my pockets: PDA/phone, iPod, compact digital camera, etc. Is there a good way for a man to carry all this stuff? Something that’s reasonably fashionable (i.e. acceptable to take to restaurants, concerts, etc.)? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/2 "2005-09-05T04:13:24Z")
A small(ish) backpack is probably the least if you don’t want to be to unmanly. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/3 "2005-09-05T04:23:28Z")
Or you could just buy an all in one. I second a small backpack though. Whatever size manpurse, backpack, hippocket you get you will find a way to fill it up. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/4 "2005-09-05T04:27:55Z")
If you buy a fanny pack I will hunt you down. And don’t be clipping any of that shit onto your belt, either. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/5 "2005-09-05T04:28:54Z")
What about a messenger bag? Or would that be too bulky? [Coach Messenger](http://www.coach.com/shop/product_nobefree.asp?product_no=7530&category_id=74) Or maybe some of [these](http://www.leathertree.com/shopproducts.asp?categoryid=22&categoryname=Mens+handbags+) would work for you? I really like the first one. It seems designed for travel, but I know a guy who carries one like it everyday. ---
**Author:** ![MidnightRadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@MidnightRadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MidnightRadio)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/6 "2005-09-05T04:29:05Z")
[Timbuk2](http://www.timbuk2.com/) bags are pretty cool. Not purse-like at all. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/7 "2005-09-05T04:36:02Z")
I’d prefer something more mature and dignified than a backpack or messenger bag. I don’t want to look too young. > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Or maybe some of [these](http://www.leathertree.com/shopproducts.asp?categoryid=22&categoryname=Mens+handbags+) would work for you? I really like the first one. It seems designed for travel, but I know a guy who carries one like it everyday. Thanks, that seems like the best bet so far. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/8 "2005-09-05T04:39:10Z")
There’a always the real man’s [solution](http://usera.imagecave.com/Tapioca/sporran.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/9 "2005-09-05T04:52:48Z")
A leather satchel like Indiana Jones had. Cause if Indiana Jones had it, it’s auto-cool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/10 "2005-09-05T05:47:37Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > A leather satchel like Indiana Jones had. Cause if Indiana Jones had it, it’s auto-cool. 😃 Like [This](http://www.jpeterman.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?UID=2720090501524106&HTNAME=%5Chtml%5Cjp-products/OM%5C1005.html) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/11 "2005-09-05T05:50:38Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > There’a always the real man’s [solution](http://usera.imagecave.com/Tapioca/sporran.jpg) 😃 A dead squirrel on a tablecloth? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/12 "2005-09-05T06:00:01Z")
How 'bout a briefcase. It could also make you look important. You can go up to people and say, “Look how important I am. I have a briefcase.” ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/13 "2005-09-05T06:13:21Z")
> [@fifty-six](#): > > Like [This](http://www.jpeterman.com/cgi-bin/sgdynamo.exe?UID=2720090501524106&HTNAME=%5Chtml%5Cjp-products/OM%5C1005.html) **J. Peterman** is real!?!? :eek: $295!?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/14 "2005-09-05T08:34:42Z")
Cheapass solution: expandable file (aka accordion file). Available at any office supply. They even make nifty [plastic](http://nationwidetrading.com/itemImages/NST251.jpg) ones. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/15 "2005-09-05T09:09:07Z")
Clearly, no one here has seen the Seinfeld episode, “It’s a European carry-all!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/16 "2005-09-05T17:49:03Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Clearly, no one here has seen the Seinfeld episode, “It’s a European carry-all!” > > 😃 You mean, a purse? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/17 "2005-09-05T17:53:07Z")
Actually, he said, “It’s not a purse! It’s European!” ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/18 "2005-09-05T18:59:12Z")
I’ll second the messenger bag idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/19 "2005-09-05T19:30:35Z")
I think either the Gap or Dockers was selling men’s pants last year or the year before with additional hidden pockets for things like PDAs, cell phones, etc., although I couldn’t find these on the Dockers website and the Gap website is down now. ---
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/20 "2005-09-05T19:38:46Z")
Mr. Kiminy actually carries a man’s purse like [this](http://www.wilsonsleather.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1832657&cp=1855604.1848339.1831989&page=2&doVSearch=no&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family) for pretty much the reasons you are looking for one. His first one actually did come from Europe, when we were living France, but he has to replace it every few years as they wear out. The only problem he has had with it is that, especially when he first started using it, he sometimes forgot to pick it up and take it with him. What’s funny is that I constantly grumble about women’s clothing not having enough pockets, since I HATE to carry a purse. Whenever I can get away with it, my wallet and keys go in my pockets, so I don’t have to carry a purse with me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158.md?page=2)