I need room for running shoes, shirt, socks, small towel, big lunch. i.e. I wouldn’t normally carry a laptop or tablet. Anyway, I checked out a few leather bags at lunch today but majority of them were either too computer-geeky or too Beckham metrosexual (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).
What kind of man bag are the trendy hipster dufus tri-geek professionals using these days?
Well I’m not trendy, hipster, and dufus is debatable, but I’m a licensed professional and a du-geek. I use a Timbuk2 messenger bag I got at from Autodesk at a convention years ago. It’s basically this: http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/commute-tsa-ipad-laptop-messenger-bag/2363402 but with repourposed advertising for the middle panel. Medium is a good size for me: clip board, tape measure, laptop, hardhat, and a tablet.
Never sticks out as out of place, but I never have to go to courtrooms or anything like that - when I leave the office, it’s usually to go to a construction site. But it’s still fine if I’m in a meeting with executives of a hospital system.
I am not a big fashion trendy guy so when it came to selecting a shoulder bag out of college I was lucky enough to have a very nice friend buy me the very basic, classic Tumi. Classic for all time look and indestructable. I think it was 200 bucks almost 25 years ago, but it works and nearly looks like it did the day it was given to me. Thing is a tank, looks great too.
forget leather. Go for a basic ballistic nylon or a canvas messenger bag, in a neutral colour. They look good and are suitable for just about anything.
I use this one from Tumi for my “office” workout bag … $79 at Nordstrom Rack. Holds my shoes, a water bottle, a change of clothes and a small towel and toiletries. Would be better with snap closure instead of mag, but for $79
Also, Chrome makes some sweet bags …
Military/Technical Urban: Technical Fabrics, Ergonomic, Biking, Tacticool
5.11 - $-$$Acronym - $$-$$$BLACKHAWK! - $$Burton - $-$$Chrome Industries - $$ Tread with caution - some styles are decent, while others are overdesigned.Côte&Ciel - $$-$$$ The Isar Rucksack is beautiful, but huge.Dakine - $-$$FjällrävenGORUCK* - $$ Tactical and pretty cool. Mudproof.IGNOBLE - $$-$$$Incase - $-$$Kelty - $-$$ Stick to their Military/Tactical and Vintage stuff.Manhattan Portage - $Maxpedition - $-$$Mission Workshop* - $$-$$$ Weatherproof gear, minimal designs.Osprey - $$Poler - $-$$The North Face - $-$$ The Hotshot is pretty cool.TimBuk2 - $-$$ Tread with caution - some styles are decent, while others are ugly/overdesigned.Tom Bihn - $-$$Topo Designs - $-$$
I second the duffel. I carry one to work twice a week: Monday bringing a week’s worth of gym clothes, Friday, schlepping them home. I stopped carrying my messenger bag and/or my leather satchel when I realized I’m not bringing my laptop or ipad to work any more, and I’m not a woman in need of a purse. If it can’t fit in my two front pockets (and without creating too much of ANOTHER bulge) I probably don’t need it with me.
I also agree with Nova. Man bags sounds… weird.
Check out Jack Spade, but they tend to be a bit of money and might be too metro for you. That Huckberry one looks nice and subtle, no clue on the cost.
ETA: I’ve noticed over the years the only guys (I see) in suits with backpacks are IT guys. They also love to wear their phone on their hip in one of those douchey holsters. Kudos to you for ditching the backpack.
