What's your favourite Manbag?

[primus777]

I have a Hartmann leather belting bag that can carry laptop, several pens, and a ton of other useful toys for the person on the go. Of course, my prized MB146 is always inside along with what ever other pens strike my fancy at the time.

[vinper]

For quite a while now I've been using a Rickshaw messenger bag as my everyday and travel bag. It carries a LOT and is solid. Using a Maxpedition Versipack as a gymbag seem like overkill to me. Nice bags, but for really carrying stuff or having lots of things easily at hand while strapped on.

Versipack works so well as a gym bag precisely because of all the pockets which organize gym gear for an easy entry/exit from the gym. e.g. lock goes in the side pocket, toiletries in the front panel, shorts, underclothes, and a t shirt fit in the main compartment, while sneakers are tied together and carried draped over the bag. A membership I.D. clips to the handle, and a waterbottle rides in the other side compartment. It is also highly abrasion resistant and can be tossed into a locker or the trunk of your car without damage. But, to get back on topic the original parameters of this discussion were based on a manbag for the intellectual side of things. Short of using a full sized briefcase to carry some pens, a notebook, and a book or two the Saddleback Leather medium satchel is hard to beat (no affiliation)--virtually indestructable, and its relative lack of pockets/compartments make it easy to configure in a variety of ways. Its modest size gains it admitance to venues that frown on larger backpacks or messenger bags, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (BTW the Versipack works as a camera bag and I've gained admitance to the museum while carrying it as such). Orvis caried "The Perfect Pack" for a time which would also be a perfect fit for the stated purpose of this thread-- I'm not sure if it's still in their catalog. vinper

[Sketchy]

My current bag is a Rickshaw Bagworks iPad messenger bag. I made a canvas pocket for my Apple keyboard that affixes to the velcro strip inside. The keyboard pocket has a velcro strip on which my pen cases hang. Everything stays neat and in place.

[Pen Nut]

The Bridge bag is my favourite. Could withstand a thermo nuke blast and still look good !

[Caifanito]

May or may not be off topic...so to play it safe I made a separate post. Any suggestions on manly/trendy lunch bags?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/230119-suggestions-on-manlytrendy-lunch-bags/

[cellmatrix]

May or may not be off topic...so to play it safe I made a separate post. Any suggestions on manly/trendy lunch bags?

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/230119-suggestions-on-manlytrendy-lunch-bags/

 

This looks just like a regular brown paper bag but if you look closely you see it is reusable insulated brown cloth. Thermos makes them and I think I got mine in Target for around 8 dollars. They work great and are quite durable

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ur1rSnwaGyM/SBJ5BjdiikI/AAAAAAAAAjc/LKIQdRe9Cio/s400/L52000-Paper+Bag-IH.jpg

[Trivan]

I just purchased a Saddleback Medium Satchel based upon the reviews here. I love it, but I have to confess I have different everyday bags based upon what is going on that day, but this could be my favorite. I guess I collect bags like I do FPs.

 

Many people posted how they get compliments when out with the saddleback, and now I believe it's true. Yesterday was my first day out with it and 4 people commented on the looks of the bag.

[MKeith]

For quick light jaunts I carry a cheap Eddie Bauer sling bag. I just ordered a Red Rock Gambler shoulder bag for longer ones and traveling.

[chiaroscuro]

I've used a Filson waxed canvas briefcase (the larger one) almost daily for about 2.5 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything other than a newer Filson.

[dapv]

Here Here for Filson. Long time fan. Yes, it is costly, but if I buy what I need and want, then I tend to buy it once, and it lasts, and I remain satisfied and enthusiastic about it. But, I'm an old curmudgeon from a time long ago.

I've used a Filson waxed canvas briefcase (the larger one) almost daily for about 2.5 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything other than a newer Filson.

[MKeith]

As above mentioned I recently purchased a Red Rock Rambler sling bag. I have been using it for several days now during a trip I am on. If you are into sling bags, this one is worth a very serious look. It carries a lot or a little comfortably, including room for a laptop. The video shows how easy it is to bring the bag to a front position, which is convenient when more security is needed or while seated etc. It is very well constructed, extremely rugged, and has the ability to attach other Molle units. Fortunately I was able to handle the bag before purchase. Having a bad back I found this bag is by far the best I've found for even weight distribution.

 

http://www.theopsdeck.com/PACKS%20-%20TACTICAL/PROD%20-%20RR%2080201%20Rambler%20Sling%20Pack.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKkkLDh43eU

 

 

Standard Disclaimer

[C.W.]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/Christofski/MANBAGS.jpg

 

These are my most used manbags, with the least used being the Black Goruck GR2 in the rear left, most used being the Tan Goruck Radio Ruck in rear right(I have this in black as well) and then my Saddleback briefcase in Tobacco mid right, followed by my Billingham Hadly Pro in front.

 

I have a few others, like one I use specifically for the darkroom, but that doesn't really qualify here. Most of my decision making comes from what I am doing that day, as well as what I will be carrying. If it is a lot, the GR2 is king, if it is a heavy yet small amount type setup, the Radio Ruck works(which is my usual day bag right now) and then the Saddleback comes in when I've only got a few things to drag around. It was my main bag for about 3 years, but lately it's been sitting idol for a little while. The Billingham is strictly a camera bag, I don't use it otherwise.

 

I'd suggest all of them.

Edited October 6, 2012 by C.W.

[tommyss4l]

Hey guys, my everywhere bag is the Maxpedition Monsoon with the Admin Pouchon the side.

 

I do kind of want to get a bigger admin pouch, ink vials are a little too big for the little one!

[chiaroscuro]

Here Here for Filson. Long time fan. Yes, it is costly, but if I buy what I need and want, then I tend to buy it once, and it lasts, and I remain satisfied and enthusiastic about it. But, I'm an old curmudgeon from a time long ago.

I've used a Filson waxed canvas briefcase (the larger one) almost daily for about 2.5 years and I wouldn't trade it for anything other than a newer Filson.

I agree 100%. Not only do well-made things last, but they tend to age in a way that adds character and appeal (you know, the whole wabi sabi thing).

In fact, I said a newer Filson because, even after 2+ years of near-daily use, mine is still functionally perfect and has only the kind of cosmetic "damage" that gives it a look perfect for travel or casual settings (the canvas is thick, so it can be roomy or slim, as needed); I'm only considering a new one to use at work again.

[pgBnax]

Good resource: http://edcforums.com/forums/edc-bags.86/

Picture heavy sub-forum, focused on assorted EDC (every day carry) bags. I especially appreciate the pro/con discussions.

[tenney]

That Red Rock Rambler sling looks a lot like a Maxpedition, but at about 1/2 or 1/3 the price. Very nice.

[NedC]

For the past two years it's been a Manhattan Portage Deluxe Computer bag 13" size in dark brown, for travel, as my carry-on bag, I have a medium sized Manhattan Portage Pro Messenger bag also in dark brown with bright yellow reflecting stripes. They're holding up pretty well and were reasonably priced and are fairly simple designs.

[Mags]

My man bag is made by Samsonite and a massive and durable satchel. The bag was a Grand and Toy purchase in 2004 and cost me $229 dollars delivered to my office at the corner of Yonge and St. Clair Ave in Toronto. It holds my sand container, subway tokens, my daytimer, 4 daily use fountain pens, my blackberry playbook in a moleskine case with moleskine reporter notepads, plus about a half dozen file folders filled with my daily commuter reading files for the GO Train and my 35 min each way train ride to the big smoke.

[BamaPen]

I've been looking for a manbag that did not look like a purse, was not as large as a messenger bag, and did not cost an arm and a leg. I did not want a backpack or a cross-body bag, and I don't cary an iPad or a laptop, so a smaller size would work fine for me. I followed this thread, looked at every bag suggested here on line, checked out stores when I had the chance, and finally found the right one for me...at Target!

 

The bag is a Wenger Swiss Gear Vertical Travel Bag, which sells at Target for $24.95. It measures 15.0 " H x 10.0 " W x 3.1 " D The front compartment holds all my office supplies: pens, checkbook, business cards, keychain, etc. It has an outside front pocket that my smartphone drops into easily, and a roomy back compartment that holds my Rhodia journal, sunglasses, and anything up to the size of my Nikon D300 if I need to take it along.

 

About the only negative I've found on this bag is that it has single zippers on each compartment, where double zippers like a backpack would be a little easier to use. They compensated by adding gussets on the sides of the compartments so stuff doesn't fall out when the zipper is completely open.

 

And, it's just enough "Swiss Gear" looking that it doesn't get called a purse (much). Here's a picture:

 

http://img3.targetimg3.com/wcsstore/TargetSAS//img/p/11/14/11149392.jpg

[NewPenMan]

my bag is like the Traveler Bag at this link: http://www.stickmanleather.com

 

My actual bag isn't there; a model I don't think he makes any more, but you can see it's about 6" x 9" or so...large enough to carry some sort of pad, or sheaf of paper and there's an outer pouch under that front flap that could probably holster 10 fountain pens.

 

It's not my 100% optimum design, but it does have a lot going for it..good craftsmanship, treated with neet's foot oil, so waterproof, and a nice deployment of pockets and flaps. Pretty simple. I think it may have been called an "art bag," great for carrying pens, pencils paints...all the tools of art, minus the canvas...or for writing.

 

It's a small size that stowing it isn't a problem. I don't have an issue of whether it looks like a purse or not (that's others' problem) but in slinging it round my shoulder, sometimes it's an issue of managing it as it might slip around, but no big whoop.

 

It's a bag. either you carry it on your back, your shoulder, or in your gripping hand. not too many possibilities with h. sapien anatomy.

 

Also, my wife picked it out for me, so that alone makes it a special thing to me...not really in the market for another or new bag.

 

penman.