# Which side do you carry a shoulder bag on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357 "2010-05-05T01:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/1 "2010-05-05T01:08:44Z")
This is almost mundane and pointless enough to be in MPSIMS … if only we could do polls there. 😉 When I notice someone wearing a shoulder bag on their right shoulder (or, if it’s a long-strapped bag worn crossing the torso, with the strap over the left shoulder and the bag on the right hip), I always think, “that’s backwards.” I always wear the bag so it’s by my left hip. My hypothesis is that people want the bag on their non-dominant side (because that’s what I do and it’s obviously the right way to do things), and that “right-side” people are mostly left-handed. Time to test the hypothesis! So – which side do you carry the bag on, your dominant side or your non-dominant side? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/2 "2010-05-05T01:19:04Z")
Ambidex, and I sling my bag from right shoulder to the front of the left hip. If I don’t sling it across it falls off my shoulder when I use crutches. If I am in my wheelchair, it is still slung for security, but it sits on my lap. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/3 "2010-05-05T01:26:59Z")
I fit your hypothesis. A few people I work with have figured out that I’m left-handed, despite using the mouse with the same hand they do, because I carry my bag on my right and wear my ID badge on my right hip too. (most of them don’t see me write) Since I don’t have kids yet and seldom hold them, I’m curious: do bags and babies go on the same side? I assume they do go on the other hip so you can still grab other things with your dominent hand. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/4 "2010-05-05T01:46:01Z")
I just carry it on whichever shoulder isn’t tired from carrying the bag. ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/5 "2010-05-05T01:48:00Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Since I don’t have kids yet and seldom hold them, I’m curious: do bags and babies go on the same side? I assume they do go on the other hip so you can still grab other things with your dominent hand. I’m right handed. My shoulder bag always goes on my right side. Babies go on the left hip, whether or not I’m doing something with my right hand. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/6 "2010-05-05T01:52:51Z")
I don’t carry shoulder bags but when I’m using a backpack I never have the straps around both shoulders. I have it over my right shoulder. I’m right-handed. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/7 "2010-05-05T02:02:33Z")
Wow, wasn’t expecting my hypothesis to be shot down so quickly. For those who have the bag on their dominant side: Doesn’t the bag get in your way? And isn’t it awkward to get into it? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/8 "2010-05-05T02:27:08Z")
No, whichever side the bag is on, it gets pushed back behind my hip when I’m just carrying it (or behind my arm with a short-strapped bag.) When I need to get into it for something, it gets pulled around in front of me. And I put my bag on whichever shoulder is handy/whichever hand I have the purse in when it goes on the shoulder. Right is more common, because I’m right handed and thus am most likely to pick up the purse with that hand. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/9 "2010-05-05T02:32:11Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > For those who have the bag on their dominant side: Doesn’t the bag get in your way? And isn’t it awkward to get into it? No. Not only do I have my right arm through the strap but I’m _holding_ the strap with that hand. Like the people in [this](http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/6540658/2/istockphoto_6540658-students-wearing-backpacks-vertical.jpg) picture except with only one arm/hand. When I need to use my right hand I just temporarily let go of the strap. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/10 "2010-05-05T03:25:10Z")
Right handed. Babies and bags go on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/11 "2010-05-05T03:33:22Z")
Right handed and left bagged/babied. I had to pick up all my junk real quick to make sure! ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/12 "2010-05-05T03:49:41Z")
I didn’t know this off the top of my head, but I ran a few trials and: If I’m carrying a backpack on one shoulder, it’s always on my left shoulder. If I’m carrying a messenger bag across my torso, it’s always on my right shoulder. If I’m carrying a messenger bag on one shoulder, it’s 50/50. I’m right hand dominant, but it’s less a matter of keeping my dominant hand free than always picking up the bag with my right hand. I pick up backpacks with my right hand throw my left through, and there it rests. I pick up messenger bags with my right hand, throw my left arm and head through and there it rests. If I put a messenger bag over one shoulder, it depends on how I pick up the strap. If I grab the strap palm down, I swing it to my left hand and throw it over my left shoulder. If I pick it up with my palm up, I just swing it back over my right shoulder. I don’t have a baby present, but I’m pretty sure I hold them on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/13 "2010-05-05T07:05:24Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Wow, wasn’t expecting my hypothesis to be shot down so quickly. > > For those who have the bag on their dominant side: Doesn’t the bag get in your way? And isn’t it awkward to get into it? It doesn’t get in my way any more than it would on the other side, but it’s easier to get into because it’s my “smart” hand doing the work. I carry my bags across my body so both hands are free. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/14 "2010-05-05T07:23:37Z")
I don’t. I hate shoulder bags and always buy bags with cross body straps. I absolutely HATE the “almost slipping off my shoulders at the slightest move” feeling of shoulder bags. Whoops, forgot to add which way I cross the bag. Both sides, it depends upon which shoulder is least sore (I really need to put fewer things in my purse :D). ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/15 "2010-05-05T08:50:16Z")
I start with the right, until it gets tired then switch. But I seem to find on the right more comfortable. I’m right-handed. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/16 "2010-05-05T08:53:18Z")
Whichever shoulder is convenient or not tired. I’m RH and favor the laptop bag strap across the torso so the bag is on my left side, but I often switch. I have to carry it a half-mile so one shoulder frequently gets a little tired. I don’t stop to switch halfway, but coming and going might be different. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/17 "2010-05-05T09:08:00Z")
Whether it’s cross shoulder or same shoulder, I prefer the bag part on my right side (I’m right handed.) ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/18 "2010-05-05T09:43:26Z")
There’s no option for “Around the neck like a dray horse” :mad: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/19 "2010-05-05T11:32:41Z")
I wear my bags messenger style across my chest. Usually the bag rests on my left side, and I’m right handed. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357/20 "2010-05-05T11:43:44Z")
I try to switch bags from my right to my left and back frequently. Balance in all things? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-side-do-you-carry-a-shoulder-bag-on/538357.md?page=2)