Best vintage bag style for long commute on foot?

[lareine]

I have a dilemma. I commute about 5 miles a day on foot when I'm working, and usually have to carry a large heavy laptop along with a few other bits and pieces such as a lunchbox. It is too long a walk to carry something in my hand all that way, so I've resorted to a nylon backpack, but I hate the way it looks. Can anybody suggest a more classy looking vintage style that would do the job? I don't really know what women used to use in this situation - perhaps they didn't generally carry heavy things over a distance, or didn't mind holding a bag in their hand. I like to have both my hands free and unencumbered when I walk.

Vintage style walking shoes are easy, but I don't really know what to look for in a bag. I like early 1940s styles but anything, from the dawn of women carrying handbags up to the 1970s, would do. Please advise me

 

[Alice~]

How about a nice big leather satchel? The classic styles have a very vintage look, I think, and often you can customise them to suit your needs.

There are some beautiful pieces by The Leather Satchel Co., who I've had a good experience with in the past. But perhaps you can find somewhere more local.

 

[Edward]

I would second that suggestion. Specifically, I would suggest looking at one of the models which can be converted between a shoulder strap and two matching back straps. (I've seen the in that style; Saddleback leathers do them too, if you want to spend that much. Great bags that will last a lifetime, though they are a pricey initial outlay). Given the distance you walk, I would say that from experience you'll find it a lot more comfortable to be able to spread your load over two shoulders instead of just one. (I speak as one who wishes I'd been less concerned about looking daft when I was younger and had just worn the backpack over two shoulders. If I had, I wouldn't have the one dodgy one that gets stiff more easily....).

 

[Rudie]

How about a Swedish M39 rucksack? They are cheap, vintage, look great and do their job.

 

[cakesandcakes]

I second the recommendation for a leather satchel, mostly because I've been thinking about getting one for a while now myself. The Leather Satchel Company, which Alice recommended, has a few items on sale on asos.com (see here), and they do make a nice backpack style as well.
If you're like me and don't always have a lot of money to spend on new bags, you might look into a canvas backpack. Cheaper than a leather bag, more stylish a nylon backpack. I like this one, and modcloth has quite a few other nice offerings that are a bit vintage-y looking.

 

[lareine]

These are all great suggestions. I like everything that has been linked to so far! I had to google the M39 rucksack as I'd never heard of it, so that was educational too.

I saw a used satchel for sale on a local website so I've just snapped that up, but I can easily resell it if it doesn't quite work out for me or if I find a better option based on the suggestions here. I'll certainly keep looking into other options, particularly those with two straps to spread the load better.


I don't mind spending a bit of money on something that will last me for years, but I'd have to be very sure that it was right for me before buying online because, living in New Zealand, it's not easy to mail things back if they don't suit. I must tread carefully and take advice seriously

 

[lareine]

Just did some browsing and I think I am in love with everything sold by The Leather Satchel Co. My wish list is rapidly growing!

 

[CaramelSmoothie]

I don't suggest carrying it at all. Cart everything around in a small carry on suitcase would be my advice. That way there is no stress on your shoulders and you can just pull your load by the handle.

 

[lareine]

I don't suggest carrying it at all. Cart everything around in a small carry on suitcase would be my advice. That way there is no stress on your shoulders and you can just pull your load by the handle.

I live in Christchurch. We had a massive earthquake in 2011 that caused severe damage, and the city is still undergoing demolition/rebuild and a massive programme of roadworks. There is NO WAY a wheeled case would survive the commute even if my shoulders could handle pulling a suitcase for five miles a day (I always find it very awkward at airports) -- the road surface and the footpaths are extremely bumpy, broken, and/or riddled with holes and gaps where bits have been cut out and not yet repaired. I definitely need to carry whatever I'm moving from A to B... Even riding a bike is problematic in many places. I feel sorry for anybody with mobility issues or a wheelchair because it really isn't easy to get around.

 

[lareine]

My satchel arrived this week so I used it to carry my laptop today. It's a very tight fit but I managed to squeeze it in there! The bag is very heavy on its single strap, but not unmanageable.

(I did buy a larger leather satchel too, which fits the laptop better, but it's way too heavy for long walks as the thick leather makes it heavy even when empty. I'll have to keep that one for days when I take the bus, or else sell it on again - haven't quite decided yet.)

Anyway, thanks folks for the advice and suggestions. I'll keep my eye out for a satchel with backpack straps, but for now I have something that will do the job and looks a lot more stylish than my nylon backpack does

 

[sheeplady]

Filson makes some nice bags that have a vintage "feel" to them. They are expensive but really very tough. I bought my husband a laptop case from them a few years ago, and it has held up wonderfully.

 

[lareine]

I took a look at those Filson bags. You're right, they are lovely, but they certainly are expensive too! I probably won't buy one new, but I will know to look out for the name if I ever see a used one coming up for sale

 

[sheeplady]

I took a look at those Filson bags. You're right, they are lovely, but they certainly are expensive too! I probably won't buy one new, but I will know to look out for the name if I ever see a used one coming up for sale

Yes, they are hugely expensive. I think they are more of a "lifetime" purchase. My husband is very rough with his things, and we went through two other laptop cases before we got the Filson. It will take about 10 years of use to actually save money over buying the cheapo bags, but it looks better in the meantime than a ratty worn-out bag. I think they are also great for travel if you are frequently on the road (luggage takes a beating fast).

Meanwhile, I am too fickle for a Filson. In 10 years I'd probably want a new bag that looked different!

 

[lareine]

Just wanted to follow up on this thread again. I couldn't get the Leather Satchel Company bags out of my head, so I went ahead and ordered one. I asked for it to have a deeper gusset than standard, extra long strap, no front card window, and my initials blind embossed on the front. It was posted to New Zealand after only a couple of weeks despite being a customised order. I am so happy with it! The quality of materials and construction is second to none, and it fits all the things that I want to carry regularly when I'm not hauling the laptop around (it does fit the laptop too, technically, but I've got a docking station doohickey that sticks out quite a lot so I can't fasten the bag shut when that's in there).

This thread proved way more expensive for me than I expected, but I'm really glad to have got the responses that I did! I love, love, love my new satchel.

 

[Nora]

Leather satchels are awesome. I'm on the lookout for one.
But, growing up in Norway, with a dad who grew up at a farm, I must tell you. Don't carry stuff in a satchel. You need a backpack. honestly. You do need a backpack.
Your back and shoulders and all that. I've grown up with backpacks always, and well, I can carry a full 45litre pack with a tent and lots of things without any trouble, but if I go somewhere with my messenger bag I almost always end up with painful shoulders, even if I were just carrying my lunch.

I've been drooling over some of the Fjällräven backpacks for a while. I have a lovely one for shorter trips in the mountains and woods, and my messenger bag is from there too, but boy do I want one for school as well!
They're insanely sturdy, and I expect to keep using the ones I have at the moment for... well, forever.

The Fjällräven backpacks are really nice to carry too. If you adjust it correctly you can keep that weightless feeling for hours. Okay, maybe not with the Känken (which everyone around here seems to use these days), but it's still better than shoulder bags.

Don't use shoulder bags for heavy stuff. Don't.