The Elephant in the Room - Man Purse

[bn1966]

Got me a duck canvas man bag in camo handmade by an Etsy artisan. Will get a photo tomorrow & post.

 

[Leather_nube]

Got me a duck canvas man bag in camo handmade by an Etsy artisan. Will get a photo tomorrow & post.

Yeah, some of those Etsy makers look great!

 

[bn1966]

As promised

 

[Jon Crow]

Here in Spain, indeed Europe its pretty common to see guys with a ' man bag ' carrying anything and everything in including a small camera

 

[Edward]

As promised

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Nice! That's a serious shoulder pad there - did that come with it? (I always have half an eye on a new one of those for when I'm using a shoulderbag, as I've yet to find one that stays in place on me..... ). The camo is a great look - what era is that pattern from? I like how the greens all tone together, much nicer than the DPM which I first became familiar with and still think of as a default camo. I think the only camo thing I have at the minute is one of my Bronson Daisy Maes, which I rather enjoy. Consciously, I've always been amused by the juxtaposition of something that was originally designed with a lack of visibility as the aim being co-opted into fashion, which is of course all about visibility. I suspect also there's a subconscious element of my inner eight year old who desperately wanted "an Army jacket" like my Action Man, but growing up in the north of Ireland at a particular point in time, my parents quite understandably shut that down. I like the sturdy buckle too! I'm not a fan of cosmetic buckles that actually work via clips or magnets. One or the other!

Etsy is a great source of stuff like this, direct from the makers. My main work bag for the last fived years has been one of these https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/646...l-top-leather?ref=collection_page&frs=1&pro=1 from 79Street in Ukraine. Lovely piece - I opted for the large, in green (though the straps are black - if I was ordering again I'd see if they could be matched to the body). The airline-style buckle is a wonderful feature - a real, sold feel to it, without it being a pest to deal with at all. Highly recommended, great people to deal with. I would buy another if they made a size up again, as an overnight bag. The one I have isn't big enough for a change of shirt and undies, but it is ideal for a book, lunch, laptop, mp3 player and associated tech bits - everything I'd want tog carry to work or have to hand on a plane. Nice size too that if I do need an overflow, I can carry my Indy with it too.


I am tempted to go back to them for one of their messenger bags as well, just for those days when I want a one-shoulder thing. Can be nice to have the option sometimes (though over both shoulders, I've noticed, is definitely better when I want a lot, never have the shoulder pain I can get putting it all on one.) I keep having to resist buying one of their overnight back duffles. Beautiful.... but really one for those who drive. For me getting on and off trains, much as I hate my ugly modern suitcase, I can't deny its practicality because wheels. I also have learned over time that if you fly with it, there's no point having nice luggage you're going to check in....

Over on eBay, I've fallen in with a deal on a lightly used Saddleback briefcase, so we'll see what that turns up like. I've long admired their stuff (and owned a couple of wallets), but with the pound being what it has been against the dollar for the last decade or so, they've remained out of my reach. Lots of nice stuff in Etsy, though, once you filter through the mass-produced tat that has become somewhat ore common on there, even if not close to as bad as eBay.

Here in Spain, indeed Europe its pretty common to see guys with a ' man bag ' carrying anything and everything in including a small camera

It does seem to be a much more common concept across mainland Europe than in the UK. I've always put it down, in part, to the mainlanders being a lot more comfortable with their own masculinity than the sniggering at a man carrying a "handbag" as was sometimes perceived here. Of course, I'm sure a lot also has to do with climate: by habit, I'm much more likely to reach for a daybag when I'm just out and about (as opposed to carrying a laptop and necessary bits to and from work) in warmer weather when I'm not able to just throw on a jacket with all the convenient pockets. I think it's also something you see a lot more here in London than a lot of other places in the UK. The key factor being how many fewer of us in London bother with a car: London I believe stands as the city with the lowest per-capita car ownership of anywhere in Europe. Partly I'm sure that's impacted by how crazy expensive a car is to own and run here, but also with the public transport network we have, many of us just never felt the need. (I suspect the latter is a pattern you'll also find in places like Paris and Berlin.)

 

[bn1966]

Bag cost £55. Unsure of pattern origins but looks less ‘action man’ than some. Being out in the sticks with a working dog (doesn’t work actually), the ‘man-bag’ especially in camo comes across as a working game / dog bag & attracts zero negative comments. Even up the ‘Smoke’ it’s viewed as a dog bag when I’m out around London with the hound. Shoulder pad is off an old cheap work bag. Have a small biker bag when out on the scooter which is seen as a bike bag.

 

[Jon Crow]

Nice! That's a serious shoulder pad there - did that come with it? (I always have half an eye on a new one of those for when I'm using a shoulderbag, as I've yet to find one that stays in place on me..... ). The camo is a great look - what era is that pattern from? I like how the greens all tone together, much nicer than the DPM which I first became familiar with and still think of as a default camo. I think the only camo thing I have at the minute is one of my Bronson Daisy Maes, which I rather enjoy. Consciously, I've always been amused by the juxtaposition of something that was originally designed with a lack of visibility as the aim being co-opted into fashion, which is of course all about visibility. I suspect also there's a subconscious element of my inner eight year old who desperately wanted "an Army jacket" like my Action Man, but growing up in the north of Ireland at a particular point in time, my parents quite understandably shut that down. I like the sturdy buckle too! I'm not a fan of cosmetic buckles that actually work via clips or magnets. One or the other!

Etsy is a great source of stuff like this, direct from the makers. My main work bag for the last fived years has been one of these https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/646...l-top-leather?ref=collection_page&frs=1&pro=1 from 79Street in Ukraine. Lovely piece - I opted for the large, in green (though the straps are black - if I was ordering again I'd see if they could be matched to the body). The airline-style buckle is a wonderful feature - a real, sold feel to it, without it being a pest to deal with at all. Highly recommended, great people to deal with. I would buy another if they made a size up again, as an overnight bag. The one I have isn't big enough for a change of shirt and undies, but it is ideal for a book, lunch, laptop, mp3 player and associated tech bits - everything I'd want tog carry to work or have to hand on a plane. Nice size too that if I do need an overflow, I can carry my Indy with it too.


I am tempted to go back to them for one of their messenger bags as well, just for those days when I want a one-shoulder thing. Can be nice to have the option sometimes (though over both shoulders, I've noticed, is definitely better when I want a lot, never have the shoulder pain I can get putting it all on one.) I keep having to resist buying one of their overnight back duffles. Beautiful.... but really one for those who drive. For me getting on and off trains, much as I hate my ugly modern suitcase, I can't deny its practicality because wheels. I also have learned over time that if you fly with it, there's no point having nice luggage you're going to check in....

Over on eBay, I've fallen in with a deal on a lightly used Saddleback briefcase, so we'll see what that turns up like. I've long admired their stuff (and owned a couple of wallets), but with the pound being what it has been against the dollar for the last decade or so, they've remained out of my reach. Lots of nice stuff in Etsy, though, once you filter through the mass-produced tat that has become somewhat ore common on there, even if not close to as bad as eBay.




It does seem to be a much more common concept across mainland Europe than in the UK. I've always put it down, in part, to the mainlanders being a lot more comfortable with their own masculinity than the sniggering at a man carrying a "handbag" as was sometimes perceived here. Of course, I'm sure a lot also has to do with climate: by habit, I'm much more likely to reach for a daybag when I'm just out and about (as opposed to carrying a laptop and necessary bits to and from work) in warmer weather when I'm not able to just throw on a jacket with all the convenient pockets. I think it's also something you see a lot more here in London than a lot of other places in the UK. The key factor being how many fewer of us in London bother with a car: London I believe stands as the city with the lowest per-capita car ownership of anywhere in Europe. Partly I'm sure that's impacted by how crazy expensive a car is to own and run here, but also with the public transport network we have, many of us just never felt the need. (I suspect the latter is a pattern you'll also find in places like Paris and Berlin.)

You hit it on the head Edward, here in Madrid we do the metro and public transport a lot, plus 300 days of sunshine, wearing less and light clothing, the bag helps as a large pocket

 

[bn1966]

Another man bag of mine: 5* helmet bag with paint by Joeby of Glastonbury (Bike custom painter)

 

[Edward]

Another man bag of mine: 5* helmet bag with paint by Joeby of Glastonbury (Bike custom painter)

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Very cool! Where'd you pick that up? I've idly looked at repops of those USAF helmet bags on and off, but I've not yet jumped on one because they seem to all either look a bit flimsy, or be mahoosively priced. Not seen one in (looks like) leather before. Looks sharp.