# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/21 "2005-09-05T20:09:52Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > **J. Peterman** is real!?!? :eek: He sure is, but that wasn’t not the real J. Peterman on _Seinfeld_. If memory serves, the real Peterman went broke shortly after Seinfeld went off the air, or at any rate, declared bankruptcy. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/22 "2005-09-05T20:44:18Z")
I have something similar to a messenger bag. Looks better than a backpack if you’re past college age. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/23 "2005-09-05T21:09:26Z")
I just went to Target and got a nylon shoulder bag, like a large CD case, that didn’t scream LADY’S PURSE! It’s about 2/3 the size of the lower one on Kiminy’s linked page, not made out of leather, and didn’t cost $125, that’s for sure… ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/24 "2005-09-06T00:21:25Z")
If you have too much stuff for your pockets, you have too much stuff. I wear a leather jacket which has enough pockets for everything I need, and it’s strong and heavy enough not to be dragged down by portable electronics. Pockets: they’re what separates us from the women. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/25 "2005-09-06T09:21:30Z")
Whatever you decide to get the only acceptable way to carry it is on the opposite shoulder with the strap going down diagonally across your chest. ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/26 "2005-09-06T11:12:45Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I’d prefer something more mature and dignified than a backpack or messenger bag. I don’t want to look too young. > [@Rhiannon8404\[/QUOTE](#): > > Or maybe some of these 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. > [@scr4](#): > > Thanks, that seems like the best bet so far. That one looks good, **scr4**. IMO, “weathered” leather looks more manly, and I agree that it should be worn diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/27 "2005-09-06T11:15:51Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > If you have too much stuff for your pockets, you have too much stuff. I wear a leather jacket which has enough pockets for everything I need, and it’s strong and heavy enough not to be dragged down by portable electronics. Pockets: they’re what separates us from the women. Except when it is very hot outside and a jacket is not suitable… I use one of the Euro bags linked above. Like the previous poster, it hangs over my opposite shoulder with the strap diagonal across my chest. I got a canvas/nylon one at a sport shop. REI has one that also has a waist strap so you can wear it like a fanny pack if needed. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/28 "2005-09-06T13:23:20Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > If you buy a fanny pack I will hunt you down. > > And don’t be clipping any of that shit onto your belt, either. Yeah, what he said. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/29 "2005-09-06T13:44:33Z")
You need a man who needs a bag. Once you have it you will be [man’n’bag](http://www.manbag.com/). 😃 You might not want to carry it south of the ol’ Manson-Nixon though. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/30 "2005-09-06T14:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > You might not want to carry it south of the ol’ Manson-Nixon though. That’s the imaginary line where Charlie and Tricky Dick conspired to kill someone in the Watergate, right? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/31 "2005-09-06T15:45:19Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > If you buy a fanny pack I will hunt you down. Unless, of course, you’re not wearing anything else.\* > [@Otto](#): > > And don’t be clipping any of that shit onto your belt, either. Man…I’m so waiting for the day that utility belts become fashionable. \*Yes, I have done this, in public. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/32 "2005-09-06T15:49:44Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#): > > Unless, of course, you’re not wearing anything else.\* > Man…I’m so waiting for the day that utility belts become fashionable.[/SIZE] Ironically enough, military web belts, with all the holes in them for fastening clips onto them so you can hang hand grenades & stuff from your belt, are now fashionable. For women. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/33 "2005-09-06T16:26:44Z")
Cargo pants work well for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/34 "2005-09-06T16:42:38Z")
> [@MidnightRadio](#): > > [Timbuk2](http://www.timbuk2.com/) bags are pretty cool. Not purse-like at all. And you can customize them! I have a big one for all my books and stuff, but one of my guy friends has the smallest one and that seems to work pretty well for him. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158/35 "2005-09-06T20:28:52Z")
My husband carries a zipper bank deposit bag like a store owner would take his deposits to the bank in. It holds his stuff in the car, then he just removes what he needs to take with him to the store or where ever. Also, he’s a pocket guy. Lots of pockets. Pockets on his vest, on his camo shirt. Lots o’ pockets. He carries as much crap around as I do, but you’d never catch him carrying a man purse. It just ain’t his style. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-handbag/320158.md?page=1)