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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)

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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)

Bree!

― 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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