Man up with a bag

It was so easy once. All you needed was set of keys and bulging wallet and a man was ready to go. Now, not so much.

There’s keys, wallet, money clip, smartphone, loonies and toonies, tablet and assorted accessories. Fobs, pens, pads and glass cases take up a little bit of room. Stuffing the pockets to bursting is a poor option, as no one looks good with odd bulges in odd places and stuff is easily lost.

So, yes, this is the moment to defend the man bag or the murse or whatever slangy phrase is used to denigrate this vital need for today’s modern man. No, not defend; praise the practicality of this creation.

For years, there were two choices: briefcase or gym bag. Think of the man bag as the elegant love child of those two, versatile and refined.

A good attaché case, still has a place. But the lack of a strap means any type of commute becomes burdensome. Hey, if you are fortunate to have a car and driver, power to the attaché. But most of us don’t, there’s walking involved, standing on transportation or in lines. Being able to sling the case over your shoulder (or cross-body) is a welcome convenience.

Gym bags, obviously, have a place. Each Sunday, the black nylon one used to transport the clean workout clothes is outfitted with the appropriate material and transported to work. After the daily workout is complete the clothes used are transported home in a tote along with that day’s lunch containers. Literally, rinse and repeat every week. (Even have separate one lined up for yoga excursions.)

But when moving between offices, the man bag is supreme. Everything neatly organized, instantly available – no fuss, no muss and no digging through some conveyance looking for what’s needed. No need to empty the bag to find the one thing you need, usually which has found its way to the bottom of the bag.

Which brings us to backpacks, a utilitarian device with a specific purpose. If you’re about to scale a summit or something similar, backpacks are great. Nothing beats them. Comfortable, good weight distribution and the ability to pack a lot into one make them essential. But, at least for me, not proper for day-to-day use. Think of digging out one the item needed, from the bottom. That’s strike one. Then there’s the incongruity of wearing a good suit, nice overcoat and having a backpack strung in place. That’s strike two. Plus there’s something about the backpack that screams college student, which is appropriate if you are one; just like you outgrow your college clothes, however, there is a time to restore the backpack to its natural purpose. So strike three. And you’re out.

(Quick side note, we’re talking about men here. Many leather manufacturers make small, stylish backpacks for women which make perfect sense for the daily demands they face.)

This commitment to the man bag has built over time, the form and function becoming clearer over the years. My first one was a gift, close to 15 years ago. It has served well. It has also aged well, another advantage to investing in quality. Now, a new addition has joined it and proven useful not only for work but on getaways. When walking the streets of new places it so easy to store a paper map, brochures, charger or your partner’s essentials (lipstick, lip gloss, etcetera), along with your phone and keys.

The gym bag, the back pack and the man bag, each designed with a specific purpose and that is how they should be used. Invest in good ones and know the man bag has progressed from jokey oddity to everyday necessity if you’re carrying around the accoutrements of daily life. You’ll be organized, look smart and life will be easy again.