Which is the best man-bag???

[ScottE22]

These are some outstanding tips for the man-bag phobics. Thanks for sharing!

[Zephyrnoid]

It's all in the carry attitude.
I just made the Large Cafe in BLACK/Steel my latest Man Bag.
I used to own a Maxpedition Fat Boy Jumbo, but got stopped too often wearing that and in truth the Cafe bag is the smartest Man Bag I've owned.

Secret to High Testosterone Carry Method
- Go with Black, OD or Grey exterior- and black or grey interior. Avoid the earthtones , pastels or primaries. Just go with Black.
- Wear it like a Man. Hand carry it by it's handstrap or run the Absolute Strap (not the stock strap) across your chest to the opposite shoulder unless unloading it in photo situation.
- be sure to clip a Manly ID of some sort to it. I use my iReport ID. Beat up airline paper tags are also excellent.
- Never clean it unless the splatter from passing cars really gets bad.
- Pick it up brusquely and throw it down casually.
- Never, ever, adorn it with anything like buttons, stickers or anything hanging from the outside
- Never use the wais tbelt unless you are on a bike, rappelling or can otherwise justify it.
- If anyone gives you funny looks tell them that real men carry their wives' purses while they're using the powder room or trying on lingerie at V.S.

ID bag is also excellent. smaller than that I dunno.

[ex machina]

...or maybe you could send a friend as check-in baggage in one of those?

Hmm, or maybe you could mail yourself and have a great deal on the cost!

Wait, I have another idea. Why not mail yourself to different countries with a letter asking that people mail you onward to the next place? I read of that happening with a box that was sent around the world. I guess once they got tired of feeding you it would be cheaper to mail you out.

I liked that it has wheels on it, that just put it over the top.

[MagicTiki]

...or maybe you could send a friend as check-in baggage in one of those?

[ozone]

Does it come in red? Ha!

[ex machina]

Extrago Sherpa Shirt

Move over Scottevest , the 'Extrago Sherpa Shirt can hold an entire trip’s worth of necessities, including the $20 bill you’ll save by not checking a bag.'




Too funny!

See the whole collection here.

[KarlJ]

Scottevest sent me an email yesterday saying that in today's climate of limited carry-ons, use a Scottevest as there is no limit on coats.

(This might be good for people traveling from Canada to the U.S. where no carry-ons are allowed at all. )

That was a crack up, wasn't it? Scott's no fool.

[Frank II]

Scottevest sent me an email yesterday saying that in today's climate of limited carry-ons, use a Scottevest as there is no limit on coats.

(This might be good for people traveling from Canada to the U.S. where no carry-ons are allowed at all. )

[crpeck]

Hi ex - thanks for the welcome. I agree completely. They are apples & oranges. I still have a few different bags, which I use on occasion (especially when it's warm out), and, I'm not going to carry my Macbook Air in my vest! I think I need a iPhone app to tell me where I put stuff in my scottevest.
I have to admit that I'm looking forward to my next flight, just to see the look on the TSA x-ray folks face when my vest goes through.

[ex machina]

Hi crpeck, welcome to the forum. That is an interesting product line, though I don't see it as competitive with the Tom Bihn lines. Apples or oranges will solve your hunger. It's a matter of preference. Very different approach to solving luggage needs. Years ago I used to use a vest with lots of pockets, and the new low profile pockets seem intriguing. But I don't see myself using them instead of my bags. I do see that such a garment could be useful at times, more as a compliment to my bags, not as a replacement. I guess everyone's mileage would vary on this. Thanks for posting the site.

[crpeck]

Up until recently I used to tote a bag, I'd carry my kindle, ipod, cell, water bottle and a few other items (small 1st aid kit, granola bars, etc). About a month ago I bought a ScottEVest jacket to try out for a few days - well - no more bag for me - it all fits in the jacket/vest now. You could even fit a laptop in it if you wanted to (that's a bit much though).
Sorry to post a competing product line, but, these things are pretty incredible. I still use & love my Bihn bags for traveling though.

[MagicTiki]

I've never seen one in person, and wouldn't judge any man carrying one, but the Imago looks feminine to me. That's a shame, because in a perfect world where I could walk around 100% judgment-free, I'd carry a cocoa or olive Imago most of the time. It seems like it would be the perfect bag for those computer-free days.

I have an ID, and I have been considering the Imago for this very reason: on days when you don't need a LOT of stuff, the Imago still has the same organization and form-function as the ID in a slightly smaller package.

I think color combinations really are a matter of personal style. I love my ID in the black/steel/cayenne combo. I'll have to go look at some of the Imago photos and see what color combos catch my eye...

[Ken]

I've never seen one in person, and wouldn't judge any man carrying one, but the Imago looks feminine to me. That's a shame, because in a perfect world where I could walk around 100% judgment-free, I'd carry a cocoa or olive Imago most of the time. It seems like it would be the perfect bag for those computer-free days.

This is one reason why I prefer my solid black Imago (it was a prototype without the accent panel) - it looks like a small messenger bag. While I do not know if I would call the Imago's design feminine, my preference is for a solid-color bag without lines. I guess I am just not a fan of the two-tone look and accent panel on the flap of the bag.

--Ken

[BJ Nemeth]

I use my Ristretto (olive/cayenne) as a daypack, and I've never felt like my masculinity was taking a hit. Of course, it's usually carrying a MacBook Air, but most people who see me don't know that. I think the fact that it looks taller and less square than the Large Cafe Bag makes it a bit more masculine. (I say this only based on the website; I've never seen any of the Cafe Bags in person.)

If the Ristretto isn't your thing, then I'd consider the ID messenger bag or the Zephyr briefcase -- I think both look pretty masculine. (I never had the ID, but I did have a Super Ego back when carried a lot more stuff.)

Another pack I'd consider (depending on your age) is the Buzz slingpack. I think it would look more appropriate on a young person, but I don't think anyone would find it feminine. Seems like it should hold everything you need.

To be honest, most days I go bagless. (Shocking, I know!) I keep my wallet in one back pocket, my Field Notes notebook in the other, keys and Fisher Space Pen in a front pocket, and iPhone in the other. If I have a drink bottle with me, I carry it in my hand. I'm not suggesting this for you, but keep in mind that if you have room in a bag, you'll be tempted to fill it. It might be worth a thought experiment to think in the other direction about the possibility of carrying less with you most days. Could you get by with less?

For example, your sketchbook might be able to fit in a large, zippered Trapper Keeper-like case. (I used to have something like this in my pre-Tom Bihn days.) You could put one or two Tom Bihn pouches inside to hold some of the smaller things you carry. There are two potential problems with this for you: No place for a water bottle, and it will need to be held in a hand rather than by a shoulder strap. Definitely looks masculine though -- you'll look like an artist or a writer. (Which you may already be.)

I've never seen one in person, and wouldn't judge any man carrying one, but the Imago looks feminine to me. That's a shame, because in a perfect world where I could walk around 100% judgment-free, I'd carry a cocoa or olive Imago most of the time. It seems like it would be the perfect bag for those computer-free days.

[Ken]

I have an Imago that is all black with no accent color that I like to use. Nobody has ever made any comments to me, but I always seem to have some kind of camera bag or brief with me. Although, when I travel to the midwest to see family, many family members always wonder why I have to carry any bag with me. Prior to my Imago, my grab bag was a small Domke satchel in light gray canvas. Its a great bag, especially for my camera gear, when I want to travel light, and I use it or my Imago, depending on my needs.


--Ken