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Defend the Indefensible: Men With Bags

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What changed in the last ten years that made this suddenly okay? What are you fellas carrying in those things anyway?

― andy, Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

gum

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

pushpins

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

keys

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

camera

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

blutac

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

pens

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

pencils

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

gloves

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

dead women

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

cigarettes

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

notebook

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

book

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

water

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

All of the above and more.

I have a large, sturdy canvas bag that was given to me as a gift many years back which I still use to carry groceries, for the most part. It is however monogrammed, which is not really a problem except that following this particular monogram convention -- last initial in the middle, the others on either side -- it spells 'NRA.' This has led to some confusion on the part of others.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Interesting you should ask. I carry in my bag decongestant (not usually, it's just there now), my lunch, when I can be bothered to make it; anything I need to take too or from work; scripts (which I have to read daily as part of my job; and occasionally books that won't fit in whatever pockets. How's that?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

masking tape

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

cassettes

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

walkman

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

books

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

can of lynx "africa" deoderant

― matthew james (matthew james), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

this is of course classic. as my mom, living in Japan, assumed this was also quite common here, she bought a bag for my boyfriend. balking at the idea of having a *feminine* looking leather handbag, he promptly gave it to me. :-)

― jesus nathalie (nathalie), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

did they stop making "oriental"?

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I have heard man-bags referred to as 'Jeremy bags', as per the 1950's women's 'Dorothy bag'.

What sort of bag do you have?..
record bag, rucksack or satchels? Other? Record bags suck ass. Rucksacks can look like you are a French school child on trip to Rock Circus. Satchels, hmmm. It's a style dilemma boyz.

― badger Kitten (badger Kitten), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I love my manbag and I won't let you take that away from me.

― Magic City (ano ano), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

drumsticks

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

tambourine (seriously)

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

cell phone charger

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I love my bag.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Not wanting to carry a bag has dictated my reading choices - on the train I'll carry little bantam pocket books (Ring Lardner, for example). But I do end up carrying on the night I have class, or record/clothes buying Saturday junkets. I'm still not comfortable with it, however... I don't know why.

― andy, Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Awhile back I heard a lovely joke about this:
what's the difference between an indie rocker and my mom?
My mom doesn't call her purse a messenger bag...

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

ha

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

game boy advance

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Best alternate names for man-bag: gay attache, fruitcase

― andy, Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Did someone go and change the meaning of the term "manbag" without telling me or are you people intentionally trying to give me a laughter hernia?

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

o it has lots of meanings

― Magic City (ano ano), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dead women
-- Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (formerlypoopsmcge...), April 15th, 2004 12:11 PM. (Chris V) (later)

hahah. . .i don't dig the man-bag. i don't know any guys who carry them. or who wear make-up. when did i become such a traditionalist?

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

They really are like large purses, aren't they?

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah. and mine contains books and an eyeglass-repair kit. And an umbrella, completing the unmanly trifecta.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

What can be typically found in my ginormous MURSE: 1 or more notebooks, 1 or more books I'm reading, wallet, check book, cell phone, phone charger, eyedrops, lip balm, chewing gum, a microcassette recorder, discman, headphones, a CD or five, toothbrush & floss, dopesack, glass bowl, lighter, 1 or more harmonicas, and a partridge in a pair tree.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

What happened to 'murse'?

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

haha - goomh

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I want a Kompakt record bag.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

to gain coolness from the work of others.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, what about the dreaminess of dreamy highschool girls in angora sweaters clutching their books in front of them as they discuss who Johnny's taking to the dance? Now they all have dumpy backpacks with liquid paper Korn all over them... not very dreamy.

― andy, Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

What sort of bags are we talking about here? Just messenger bags?

― Sengai, Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

compact and lipstick, duh

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

The contents of my ergonomical PANTONE MESSENGER BAG (midnight blue) include my glasses case, my minidisc player, my cell phone, a half-full bottle of water, a sandy koufax biography, a pen, a journal, laptop accessories and my HP12C.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish i had enough going on in my life to necessitate a manbag

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

on second thought, I don't.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 15 April 2004 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Ronan, I have a Kompakt record bag. It looks grebt but it is a little impractically large for use as anything other than a record bag.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Thursday, 15 April 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

butt plug

― ..., Thursday, 15 April 2004 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

this is totally a pressing concern tho, a good satchel (obv an old one i mean duh) is a bitch to find, i was a bit taken with the marc jacobsy ones gap had but the gap, come on man. eventually i found an ok one in a skip but still. i've never liked any i've seen on other guys. it's stupid being a man, there's like 4 different clothestuffs to make and no one can manage it

― prima fassy (mwah), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

girls are all like "oh so easy, t-shirt and jeans" yeah solve the universe too

― prima fassy (mwah), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

i just bought one of these, in olive drab:

http://a1480.g.akamaitech.net/f/1480/124/60m/images.ebags.com/images/products/11508_xlrg.jpg

i can't fkn wait for it to get here

― g--ff (gcannon), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a kenneth cole one, it rocks so much.

― todd swiss (eliti), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

hey that's the one i want!!

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:53 (twenty-two years ago)

what brand is it?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 16 April 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I have the best bag, sorry y'all. It is a wee Pantone bag which is black and it has been discussed on the C/D - Being called a poofter by a ned while walking in to work this morning. thread already. I love it.

It contains: Wallet, Glasses case, contact lens case, notebook, diary, pen, CD player and my phone.

― hmmm (hmmm), Friday, 16 April 2004 07:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Man-purses are utter classic. Almost every boy I know carries one. Though usually they try to say it's a "record bag" or something like that. (Do you carry records in it? No, you carry your keys and your wallet and other pursey type stuff in it.) But I like the men who are secure enough to admit it's a manpurse.

(I like the term "manpurse" - our old drummer used to use it. He had a very good army surplus looking manpurse that I was envious of.)

The funniest thing was when Ed and HSA both turned up with matching edgey Sonar manpurses. That was great.

― Super-Kate (kate), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:02 (twenty-two years ago)

zemko otm.

anyway i have a satchel, it tends to contain 750ml water, lunch (if before lunchtime obv), maths (a4 printouts of academic papers generally), a book, discman, cds, tissues, pens, vaseline (for chapped lips), ibuprofen, earplugs, a-z, diary, batteries etc etc...

― toby (tsg20), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Today my black and grey with carmine strip Fila light sports shoulder bag contains:

USB lead for Archos multimedia Jukebox
Cakes
a used tissue

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Ewww, Steve.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

No blokes carry their keys/wallet etc in a bag. That's what pockets are for.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I've seen HSA do it. And then he claims he "can't find his wallet" when it's time for him to go to the bar. Of course.

― Super-Kate (kate), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:09 (twenty-two years ago)

my little blue rucksack (I have loads of manbags that I rotate) contains:
painkillers, throat sweets, pda, game boy advance (featuring sonic2 which is amazing), loads of old credit card bills and chequebooks, Clerkenwell tales by Peter Ackroyd, batteries and a Shimano pole catalogue.

Wallet and keys go in pockets

― chris (chris), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

In my ancient, minging and badly-in-need-of-replacement Puma rucksack right now: one jumper in case it gets cold later on, minidisc player, a few CDs (Mayer, Fiery Furnaces, Wiley, Felix) a copy of The Lady In The Lake by Raymond Chandler, an A-Z. I tend to keep far too much stuff in my pockets as well.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:13 (twenty-two years ago)

God g--ff that bag is beautiful.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

And why does google turn up nothing about Pantone bags other than them being mentioned here on ILX? Is "pantone" a secret code word for the bag's real name?

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

pantone bags have been discontinued, you can't buy them from LGC or anywhere else in the uk apparently. i want one as well!

― zappi (joni), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

pantone is a trademarked colour system, but you probably already knew that.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

discontinued!

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

No blokes carry their keys/wallet etc in a bag. That's what pockets are for.

oh dear. i put my wallet in my bag cos otherwise it spoils the line of my trousers. (i know, i know.)

― toby (tsg20), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw one in the London Graphic Centre just last week! They only had black ones, which seemed a little self-defeating.

Where can I get a nice old-fashioned leather satchel in London, ILx?

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Your local primary school? (Actually, I somewhat doubt this is the case)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

(Also: do kids still have big leather holdalls emblazoned with their favourite football team, with magic marker inscriptions of their favourite bands all over? I suspect not, and this saddens me.)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I certainly hope that they have not discontinued the pantone stuff aas I was planning on trying to get as much of it as possible. I will be sad without my overly expensive accessories. :(

― hmmm (hmmm), Friday, 16 April 2004 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

my old employer would occasionally give satchels away for free. The only problem was they were always leftover freebies from conferences so there weren't many takers - going around with a bag with ADDICTION '98 or UROLOGY '99 might be many things, but cool is not one of them.

― MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 16 April 2004 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

addiction 98 = cool, surely?

― toby (tsg20), Friday, 16 April 2004 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a marvellous manbag - it's a green Dickies one (I've looked for a pic and can't find it anywhere) - it's decorated with lots of badges (a genuine Panthro badge from my 5th birthday is the highlight) and its is used to carry my CD wallet, my book, my shiny new CD player, smell-nice spray, and whatever other nonsense I need to cart around.

I mean, come on, pockets only get us so far. Quite frankly, I would be lost without mine.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Friday, 16 April 2004 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I carry: i) a bottle of water ii) a book iii) my raingear iv) crap.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

iv) is it in plastic bags?

(argh)

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I haven't carried records in my manpurse in a long time, though that was the original reason I switched from a backpack to a slightly larger manpurse-type bag in the first place back in the mid 90s.

On any given day mine contains:

The book I'm reading, 8.5 x 11 sketchbook, one or more notebook/journal, 3 or 4 magazines (usually gaming or recording related), several pens and pencils, eraser, lip balm, PDA, ipod, headphones (of the large ear-goggle variety) and a little book I got a long time ago which has several exercises to get one started writing when one has nothing to write about.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 16 April 2004 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a kenneth cole one that I've had for 12 years. It's falling apart and looking extremeley sad. I used to carry my discman and cds and a book in it (and cell phone and extra house key) but since getting an ipod and realizing I can't read on the train, it's becoming useless. So I carry it around with a book I don't read.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I wonder if anyone can actually answer the first question in this thread. Everyone has supplied what they are carrying in their bag, but nobody has posited what has changed in the last ten years to make manpurses okay.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Indie.

― Super-Kate (kate), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I am excited because I think I will make my official change from messenger bag to manpurse this weekend. It's a season thing. My manpurse is a simple canvas tote with a leaf and the word Aspen in green. I inherited it from my grandmother and it makes me feel like a more effeminate (but not unmanly) George Plimpton. I hate carrying wallet and keys in my pockets, so in the manpurse they go.

― Magic City (ano ano), Friday, 16 April 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

those pantone bags are crazy expensive.

― cozen (Cozen), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

ford prefect had a satchel, so i'll have one too if i feel like it.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I still cannot view this thread without giggling/wincing.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 16 April 2004 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

For one thing, this is (I think) a largely urban phenomenon -- not just for the usual urban-trendsetting reasons, but because if you live in a city you're a lot more likely to use public transit and therefore when you leave the house you have to carry everything with you that you might need in the next many hours, and/or everything you might acquire in the interim. I've always had bags or briefcases of one kind or another, but I only started carrying one regularly when I moved to a city with a good public transportation system. When I was living out there in Car Country, I just carried all my extra shit in the truck. My passenger seat was like my auxiliary office: notebooks, CDs, books, newspapers, bottles of water, etc. Now if I want to have any of that stuff with me -- and I often do -- I have to actually carry it. Hence the bag.

Of course, urban men have traditionally carried briefcases for some of these purposes. The evolution toward greater acceptance of the shoulder-strap bag seems in line with a general loosening of the business climate (casual dress, etc.). It also seems like a very good evolutionary step. Briefcases are big pain in the ass compared to shoulder bags -- less flexible, you actually have to occupy one of your hands to carry them, and they're easier to rip off.

― spittle (spittle), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Country men be carrying their things in a hankerchief on a stick!

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I got tired of wearing a backpack all the time, so I picked up a shoulder bag style soft briefcase about 5 years ago. It's from Banana Republic, black nylon weave with a grey cover that velcros over it. There is a cell pocket, space for 4 pens, a zippered pocket, two small pockets in the next layer, a big main pocket with a divider that is expandable, a big zippered inside pocket, and an outside pocket on the back. The back has some sort of stiff foam padding in it. I used it initially for carrying random things around town with me as I traveled on roller blades or walked around a lot. I used it for school (and still do), carrying schoolbooks and school supplies - that is its primary purpose. I take it with me when flying as a carryon, or when I go to a different city just to carry things around like magazines, notebook, pens, etc. I never put my wallet or keys in it, they go in my pockets. It's quite comfortable to carry as it slings around behind you, and is great as I tend to bike a lot now. It's getting a little beat up, but still quite functional, so I have no reason to replace it.

― webcrack (music=crack), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Bags for people on bikes?

HELP

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Friday, 16 April 2004 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I am a bag wearing SOB. I was a messenger for awhile so I have that for an excuse. People used make fun of girls for all the useless shit they hauled around, but here I amm with 3 (not 1 but 3) Jesus air fresheners and a rebuild kit for a 2001 cane creek rear shock. I don't just happen to have them in ther now, I CARRY THESES THINGS ALL THE TIME, WITH NO GOOD REASON!
An Jon, you gotta check out those Chrome bags. They are the only thing worth having that I have found. They are even PVC lined (to make them weather -proof) which means that you can empty the bag of all valuables and fill it with ice and beer! They leak a little but still transport a icy brace of Moets to the polo grounds, for you and your Stalker-of-the-week.

― Speedy (Speedy Gonzalas), Saturday, 17 April 2004 08:47 (twenty-two years ago)

please those pantones are disgusting. u don't wanna look nu-italian man, the closest that look got to being acceptable was when mandarina duck kinda had the right idea but always ended up using just too much rubber/mesh synthetic eurofabric

prima's tips #1: antiques dealers
#2: carmex not vaseline

― prima fassy (mwah), Saturday, 17 April 2004 09:48 (twenty-two years ago)

prima in yr first para. you are otm.

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 17 April 2004 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

For one thing, this is (I think) a largely urban phenomenon -- not just for the usual urban-trendsetting reasons, but because if you live in a city you're a lot more likely to use public transit and therefore when you leave the house you have to carry everything with you that you might need in the next many hours, and/or everything you might acquire in the interim.

i think this is key. I never see any guys walking around with manbags (maybe this is also b/c i don't go to "indie" shows, dunno.) My men carry a wallet in their backpocket, one has a knife in the other backpocket the other one carries a flask in his non-wallet one, keys in front jean pockets, and phone is carried in hand or in shirt pocket if available (same with sunglasses). What else does a man need?

(but yes it is a public transit thing. everyone keeps cds and the like in cars.)

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't understand the world of fashion.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 17 April 2004 22:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok here's another very probable factor - with the advent of laptop computers, we were given perfectly manly laptop carrying cases that were essentially just canvas shoulder bags. It's only one very small leap from there to the messenger bag, record bag, etc.

Yay and stuff btw.

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

People against bags are all capitalist yuppie asshat motherfuckers.

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Jon, I rue the day I ever suggested you take the name of the King of Crunk. Obv. you are not worthy.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Why don't you just call me a hippie faggot and tell me to carry all my stuff in an SUV?

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

??

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

SHOCKA!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 17 April 2004 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

and phone is carried in hand or in shirt pocket if available (same with sunglasses).

perhaps it isn't 'manly' to not want one or both of my hands taken up with cellphones and sunglasses, but I like to use my hands for other things too, like opening doors and such.

― webcrack (music=crack), Sunday, 18 April 2004 01:49 (twenty-two years ago)

can you not hold two things in one hand?

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Sunday, 18 April 2004 01:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess, but why bother? Especially if I'm going to be out and about for a while? Though I usually keep my phone in my pocket and my glasses on my eyes, head, or in another pocket. I guess I'm not as bag dependent as some, I don't usually carry it around unless I actually have something like books, magazines, or whatnot that I want to bring with me somewhere.

― webcrack (music=crack), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

What if you get cold?

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

from now on i'm going to be on constant look out for 'men with bags'. i'll see if the club has any tonight.

Books, mags, cds may also be carried by hand. As I must do since I refuse to carry a purse big enough to hold any of these items.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:04 (twenty-two years ago)

you must life the easy life all decadent like? do you have nymphs who feed you grapes freshly picked from the trees?

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Grapes come from vines sweetheart.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you live on CRETE?

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:10 (twenty-two years ago)

do you live with your momma? (it's ok, you'll still get laid. someday.)

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:12 (twenty-two years ago)

As a former one-shoulder backpacker turned murser, I have to say that years of having a backpack on one shoulder forces one to tip the other shoulder down to balance the weight. "Why not wear it on both shoulders like your supposed to?"you ask. Because that's not much more comfortable either, the weight is now centered but forces one to lean forward. Thanks, but my posture is horrible enough as it is. The messenger bag/manpurse/etc. pretty much eliminates this problem by crossing from one shoulder to the other side and towards the back (doesn't make sense reading that back, does it? oh well)

As far as what exactly is weighing me down: books, cds, laptop sometimes, newspapers. Yes I have two arms that can carry things but I'd feel like an ass juggling this shit on a city street. Nor do I want any of this stuff rained on while walking from a train station to a job that sucks the life out of me.

Why someone would wear one to a club is beyond me..

― Cy Twombly, Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I am a proud owner of a slightly older version of the Kensington Saddle Bag, which has a pocket for a notebook computer, plenty of room for books, a large digital camera, batteries, and more, with the ability to jam it full of CDs while out shopping, and it can even handle 12-inch vinyl.

My keys and wallet say in da pants at all time unless I'm using them.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

A slightly newer (and I think uglier) version here:
http://www.kensington.com/html/2513.html

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

dan i & electric jim: thx! it's a JACK SPADE field bag (i'm told he is the brother of KATE.) it's comfy, well built, looks good, the whole bit.

my old bag was a target cheapie that was falling to ribbons and was secured with many safety pins. i had to take those out to get it on the plane recently and the stress was too much for it.

there was a pretty sweet one by mundi in my univ.'s student union, but of course it had a big plastic button thing w/ goldie gopher on it. so i googled the brand, hoping to find a non-lame version of it --> ebags --> something better.

― g--ff (gcannon), Sunday, 18 April 2004 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

ok as long as we're talking abt indie (and when aren't we really), what is the deeeal with the tinkerer/survivalist type guy, usually v. scrawny but with an enormous bag, maybe army surplus at all times? i mean, whaaat has he got in there?

― g--ff (gcannon), Sunday, 18 April 2004 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

his trucker hat

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 18 April 2004 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

they don't sell jack spade in australia

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 18 April 2004 03:39 (twenty-two years ago)

G--ff: C4 nigga!

― Dan I., Sunday, 18 April 2004 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a bag guy but I don't really identify as such. I too have a Kensington Saddlebag, almost always. It's got a laptop, stapler, a digi voice recorder, a tiny transistor radio, assorted hiliters, binder clips, paper clips, pens out the ass, razor, xacto, pantleg protector strap and a broken profile mtb stem I've been meaning to send back to them for 2 months.

― Hunter (Hunter), Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

A lot of people are students, and this whole thing isn't nearly as controversial or whatever if you just take the bag as an alternative to a backpack.
Anyway, I don't think hipness comes into it too much cause messenger bags went mainstream (like serious "my grandma has one" mainstream) about four years ago or something, right?

― Dan I, Sunday, 18 April 2004 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I don't think you're a bag guy until you go to a bar or restaurant with one and you're not coming home from work.

― Hunter (Hunter), Sunday, 18 April 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

No bags at Ye Olde Double Wide last night. Except for my friend (female) she had a messenger bag.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Sunday, 18 April 2004 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

all the way down here and no one's quoted seinf3ld? you know the one. "look at jerry. he's a real dandy!"
"It's European!"

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Sunday, 18 April 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.csug.rochester.edu/~williamj/emo.jpg

THINGS YOU WANT TO HIDE FROM PEOPLES!

― Lil' Fancy Kpants (The K is Silent) (ex machina), Sunday, 18 April 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the carrier bag man
I love the carrier bag man
Carrier bags strewn all around the room
Ah, the carrier bag man-- I am him
Cause I am the carrier bag man -- I am the carrier bag man

I’ve no time to sit comfortable down
But I still need armchairs round my home
To put carrier bags on

I am the carrier bag man
Carry a bag man!

I don’t make waves, I hide bags in graves
No cash is earned straight nowadays anyways
Please all you onlookers understand
So make gangway for carrier bag man

I am carrier bag man

When in town I keep head down
Kneel on the croft when the mariah comes round
Fat-assed workmen, I scurry around
There’s few good places to hide bags behind

Cause I am carrier bag man.
Carry a bag man!

― sexyDancer, Sunday, 18 April 2004 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

I now have an empty Goya sack of rice (with a zipper) and I wanna use it as a bag but it is totally purse sized! :((((

― NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS REMIND YOU THAT ZERO IS ALSO A NUMBER (ex machina), Saturday, 15 May 2004 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.oafe.net/yo/art/mmmspid5.jpg

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 16 May 2004 00:31 (twenty-two years ago)

my metal steve messenger bag ihas been despatched!

― the surface noise of psychotic badassery (electricsound), Sunday, 16 May 2004 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I would really like a metal messenger bag.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 16 May 2004 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Would it be ok to make a backpack out of my Goya bag?

― 24 hours with the King of Snake. (SNAKE!) (ex machina), Sunday, 16 May 2004 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

MORE than ok, Jon.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Sunday, 16 May 2004 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

in my bag(s), invariably -- sun batteries.
for they are indispensable.

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Sunday, 16 May 2004 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

In my manbag is:

pack of Marlboros
lighter
Sony MP3CD discman
pair of Sony W.E.A.R. headphones
CD carrier
Aqua Di Gio
wedding invitation (which I must get round to RSVPing to)
condoms
bus timetable
emergency tenner

― Johnney B, Sunday, 16 May 2004 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

that jack spade bag costs $90.00 USD. you lot are the biggest consumer whores i've ever (not quite) met!

― Dave M. (rotten03), Monday, 17 May 2004 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Wa-hey I went bag-crazy after viewing this thread back then and went on Ebay (usually a land of despair, but...) and found this really awesome bag that I got for $10 cause nobody bid against me!
It only took me a few days to get over the self-consciousness of carrying it around, too, mostly because I prefer the satisfying slap on the ass it gives me with each step to the awkward top-heaviness of the backpack.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Monday, 17 May 2004 05:54 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

so listen, i want one of those bags that's not a backpack, note a tote bag, but you sling over your shoulder. are those *called* anything in particular? and where can i get a nice, not-too-trendy one, maybe one with some canvas??? i mean where can i get one online. or maybe in chicago.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:11 (twenty years ago)

if i were really fashion-forward, or gay, or both, i'd just get a tote bag, but well.... i don't really like the "messenger bags" that look all sporty with a zillion velcro pockets and stuff. that's just not "me."

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

maybe there is one for an ibook that doubles as a bag to carry other shit??? or is that too much to ask?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.yakpak.com/catalog/partlist.aspx?CategoryID=62&serverid=all

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

how Nagel-ish is the far left of that header gif!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

do you mean those backpacks with only one strap? DON'T.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

why??? i am tired of my backpack.

this looks neat: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63852&item=6776692750&rd=1

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

yeah, they're called "shoulder bags" or "over-the-shoulder bags" or "messenger bags" (which need not refer specifically to those worn by bike messengers or their groupies).

gay people wear/are allowed to wear tote bags? i have a few, but I look pretty silly wearing them. helps to be rail-thin.

anyway, this stuff should be right up your alley. I have an earlier model that i spent 3 years carrying a powerbook in and nearly 4 subsequent years using as an all-purpose bag.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:27 (twenty years ago)

the men i see wearing tote bags are either really skinny hipsters with too-short jeans and chuck taylor's, or really skinny gay guys.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:29 (twenty years ago)

so maybe not being skinny is the problem here.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:29 (twenty years ago)

What are "tote bags"?

I have a Yak Pak bag, with one strap over the shoulder! But I'm Adam so it's okay!

― the D Double signal (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

I have a messenger bag that's like a saddlebag, for my notebook. It has lasted several years now, though the metal clasp holding it to the metal ring nearly wore through and I had to replace the strap. But the bag itself is still holding together! F the haters.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

see also REI. You might like this one.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Haha, just noticed I already answered this but it was hidden because of my settings. Dammit.

I also just found a more purse-sized bag at www.sfbags.com that's designed to hold a Mac Mini. Good protection for the Mini inside the other bag, when I take it to the office.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 22:49 (twenty years ago)

look at these too

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 16 June 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Dud dud dud.

People who claim they need them are just carrying too much crap around.

Wallet, keys, (maybe) book. All these can fit in your pockets. You do wear jackets, right?

Anything else (grog to a party for example) can fit into a placky bag. And they're free.

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 16 June 2005 01:16 (twenty years ago)

Oh yes, when I do need to carry odds n ends for gigs (sticks, gaffer tape, setlists, CDs etc., I do so is a 7.62mm ammunition case.

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 16 June 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

Manbags are all the rage in Japan and they drive me absolutely crazy. I sincerely hope that this trend is not catching on back home. Bags you can sling across your chest / back are fine, but who told these guys that it's okay to walk around with a purse? Because it's not.

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Thursday, 16 June 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

i can't really put my finger on why it's not ok. i'm a girl, and i never carried anything around, not even a wallet, until like 2 years ago. then i started carrying a bag all the time and it's great! now i've got a place to keep wallets, free religious literature, photocopies of things, books, knives, pencils, feminine hygiene products, and memories! everyone should carry a bag, i think. but still whenever i see a guy with a bag i automatically think he's homo.

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Thursday, 16 June 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

Shoulder bags = wrinkled shirts, crooked shoulders, achey backs and general added sweatiness. Plus, you always want to stuff more in there and wind up with a bulging, ugly monstrosity that holds your books, lunch, ipod, pda, notepad, pens and a bunch of papers you keep forgetting to look at but you know it's something you wanted to keep and also the occasional food wrapper when you're on the subway and don't want to look like a slob.

― Bagless Way of Future, Thursday, 16 June 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

i think i've decided that i want a vintage leather briefcase, but a large-ish one, sort of like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=37902&item=6538931024&rd=1

i'm hoping i can find one offline for cheaper than that, though.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:06 (twenty years ago)

cheaper?!

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

try adding like $200

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

really??

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:20 (twenty years ago)

easily. i saw one for around $1500. i admit i nearly choked. but cheaper than $35 for vintage leather? youre dreamin'.

― sunny successor (katharine), Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:27 (twenty years ago)

You vintage leather guys need to get with it and realize that 90% of people who see that are A.) not EVEN going to notice it because it is so very hum-drum or B.) think it is ugly, old, cheap and unfashionable.

There are much better things to blow $1500 on. Like a used car or something. Or at the very least, something NEW that will be in style for a while. That thing looks like something Jerry Seinfeld's father (with the big unfashionable glasses) would be carrying around. Or some other old man with tweed pants.

― Vintage Leather Chaps, Saturday, 18 June 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

And you can find something like that cheap at a garage sale or the salvation army or as a gift from your uncle or grandpa. Look around before you blow your wad.

― Vintage Leather Chaps, Saturday, 18 June 2005 04:01 (twenty years ago)

pssh. vintage bags are hot and you know it.

― sunny successor (katharine), Saturday, 18 June 2005 04:09 (twenty years ago)

I prefer something like this. It has quality written all over it and it is basically timeless.

http://jackspade.com/warrenst/messenger01/images/product.jpg

― Vintage Leather Chaps, Saturday, 18 June 2005 04:21 (twenty years ago)

― youn, Saturday, 18 June 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

amateurist do NOT get a one-strap backpack. so bad.

i've been lugging around shoulder bags* for like 15 years now. i'd advise you to maybe get a dickies one? they're pretty nice.

*which incidentally contain: reading glasses, asthma inhaler, digicam, flyers to hand out, migraine pills, writing book, pen, ipod

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 18 June 2005 04:59 (twenty years ago)

i have to say, i believe my shoulder bag has contributed to my shoulders being fucked up. that and working at desks for the last five years. but i hate the idea of wearing a fucking backpack.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:02 (twenty years ago)

how heavy is your shoulder bag?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:05 (twenty years ago)

the bag itself isn't that heavy. but i carry things in it.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

you know what i mean... what do you carry in it? barbells?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:07 (twenty years ago)

usually just a couple of notebooks, a book, and an ipod. maybe a magazine.

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i think i'll keep the backpack for trips and such, and use a briefcase for classes and teaching and such.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:35 (twenty years ago)

also the BREE briefcase is nice.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:36 (twenty years ago)

teaching!! professorteurist!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 18 June 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

I wear a classless rope/nylon backpack, myself. The rope is too small to create wrinkles on shirts, the back itself is totally not bulky unlike real backpacks and it's not the kind of thing anyone stops and analyzes if it's a cool bag.

http://my.alibaba.com/img/product/10/83/64/10836471.jpg

But black. No logo.

― Stoner Guy, Saturday, 18 June 2005 11:22 (twenty years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/chachuuung/bag.jpg

― gabe (gabe), Saturday, 18 June 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

some of those Jack Spade things are beautiful; I just wish they didn't have the damn logo on them

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 18 June 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

is there a reason I can't wear something that says "kate spade"?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 18 June 2005 12:43 (twenty years ago)

You'd wear "Kate Spade" but don't want "Jack Spade?" How does that make any sense?

― Stoner Guy, Saturday, 18 June 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

this is not a bag, but if you are looking for a professorial-type attache am'st, I got this for my husband when he graduated law school:

http://www.classicluggage.com/AtlasBriefBeltingTrans.gif

It is not cheap but will last forever and wear beautifully. It is made by Atlas.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 18 June 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

You'd wear "Kate Spade" but don't want "Jack Spade?" How does that make any sense?

well, clearly my objection isn't (just) to the fact of the logo. so there must be some other reason. like maybe the one i already suggested (i.e. the only reason the bags are called "Jack Spade" is because they think guys won't wear something called "kate spade." I'd feel silly wearing something that is so explicitly self-conscious about itself. Also, I don't like the name "Jack," but I do like the name "kate.").

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 18 June 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

teeny where do i get one of those?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 18 June 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

is jack spade a real person? or did andy and kate spade just decide they needed a male name to attach to their men's line?

― jaymc (jaymc), Saturday, 18 June 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

. the only reason the bags are called "Jack Spade" is because they think guys won't wear something called "kate spade."
that's weird because all along I thought that jack spade was either her brother or husband but I just looked it up and her husband is Andy (david's brother). (xpost)

yeah I think there is no jack spade

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 June 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

but the store and line is apparently run by Andy Spade.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 June 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

I got my Atlas bag here: http://www.classicluggage.com/ --they're about $400 give or take $50 depending on what options you get. The website is crappy but they have really great service if you call them.

― teeny (teeny), Saturday, 18 June 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

Gabbnebb, did you notice that half the Jack Spade bags are clearly something only women would wear? I did. Also, it is not the consumer that must be self-conscious, it is simply the way the company chose to operate. This makes the company self-conscious, not the consumer. So, wearing a Kate Spade bag would just be like walking over to the women's department and shopping at this point.

― Stoner Guy, Saturday, 18 June 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

And, if the company can be called self-conscious at all, which I don't agree with, I think the name choice is smart and good humored.

― Stoner Guy, Saturday, 18 June 2005 19:46 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280021709032&fromMakeTrack=true

Yea or nay?

― milo z (mlp), Sunday, 27 August 2006 21:08 (nineteen years ago)

I spent a few weeks wearing a free roc-a-wear string bookbag. My girlfriend kept telling me that I looked like a fourteen year old, but I found it a great alternative to murses bags, while still able to hold a book, headphones, smokes, gum, etc.

Unfortunately I left it in a cab, so it's back to shoulder bags (I can't bring myself to plunk down cash for another string bag). Although I'm trying to go without the bag. I like the freedom. Once winter comes, you can easily jam a novel, ipod and other goods in a big coat.

― one six oh (one six oh), Monday, 28 August 2006 04:48 (nineteen years ago)

I misread this as "Men with Blogs"

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 28 August 2006 05:44 (nineteen years ago)

lol

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 28 August 2006 06:15 (nineteen years ago)

Manbags are really just the 21st century equivalent of briefcases, so they're not indefensible. And yes, I keep my keys in it, because pocket-bulge distracts from actual bulge.

― naus (Robert T), Monday, 28 August 2006 07:38 (nineteen years ago)

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