Thread: Man Enough to Wear a Purse?

First, let me preface this by saying that I spend a lot of time in France, where men do not necessarily walk the streets with their pants' pockets stuffed with coins, keys, and billfolds. Instead, they will often carry a small side bag, or purse, of sorts that holds all this stuff in one place. What causes me to mention this is that summer being here, I have recently hauled out my summer shorts and started wearing them; but these being of light fabric, the pockets quickly wear out leaving holes. Not noticing this with one pair in question, last week I was walking across town and suddenly realized that my set of keys had gone missing, having fallen through a new hole that had opened up there. In seeking a remedy to this, I searched for some sort of small side bag that would allow me to store everything in one place, along with my reading glasses, a small notebook, and so forth. Here, I sought out Duluth Trading as I have ordered from them before, thinking that they might have something. In the men's department, the bags were all far too large for this, but in the women's department, there seemed to be something that looked like it would fit the bill: https://women.duluthtrading.com/stor...cessor=content. Really, it did not look overly-feminine, and in reading a few of the reviews, I noted that a couple of guys had chimed in to say it worked well for them as well. So I took the plunge and ordered it and have to say that it is serving my needs quite well. Perhaps Duluth might be better-served to market such an item for both sexes, rather than just to the ladies like they are, thereby increasing sales.

Here are a couple of shots of mine. Color balance is a little bit off, as it's more towards an old-school, military olive drab. Really a great small side bag. (My wife tells me it's the rounded corners that make it feminine, whereas for men, the corners would be more square. Such a distinction, if that's how the marketing works, strikes me as being fairly ridiculous.)

I would like to have a Maxpedition backpack or waist pack, but I couldn't carry a bag over my shoulder. I grew up in rural Alabama. A shoulder bag would have drawn too much attention lol.

Nice looking bag. That should come in handy during your trips. Just carry it so that it will not be easy for someone to snatch!

Lottsa rounded corners on my 511 Moab 6. Not too girly I think.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Lottsa rounded corners on my 511 Moab 6. Not too girly I think.

How's it work for a day bag?

I've thought about a carry bag, but I try not to carry much with me. It would either be small or empty.

I don't see anything wrong with it. Only problem I would have is probably forgetting it somewhere haha.

It's not a purse, it's a Messenger Bag!

Wear the strap over your head (cross body), not off the shoulder,
and no one could snatch it.

If a little girl shoves flowers "for sale" in your face, her older brother
is already into your bag.

Put a buckle on the flap to secure it.

Or you could get a wicker basket, like a fishing creel. Who would want
a smelly old catfish?

Thanks for the comments all.

Originally Posted by JP5

Just carry it so that it will not be easy for someone to snatch!

Originally Posted by PaulKidd

It's not a purse, it's a Messenger Bag!

Wear the strap over your head (cross body), not off the shoulder,
and no one could snatch it.

If a little girl shoves flowers "for sale" in your face, her older brother
is already into your bag.

Cross-body it is for me indeed. I've seen/experienced everything you all mention here, directly or indirectly. Hand on the bag as a safeguard as needed.

Originally Posted by Christian1

I don't see anything wrong with it. Only problem I would have is probably forgetting it somewhere haha.

Forgetting it somewhere is a definite concern. I'm sort of practicing with it right now, so as to make things habitual before taking it abroad.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Lottsa rounded corners on my 511 Moab 6. Not too girly I think.

Had to laugh over this one. Thanks.

Make it pink with a sparkling heart embroidered on the flap and I'll wear it all the way to France and back, rounded corners or not

Looks decent and makes sense to me! And, never knew about rounded vs straight corners.....

I've used smaller day packs usually slung over a shoulder for years. As I've gotten older, more bling has come with age besides a wallet (phone, glasses, sunglasses, and so on). Trying to carry all that crap in pockets is a pain.

Originally Posted by cau

How's it work for a day bag?

I only use it for trips to the PO on my bike etc but I reckon it would be great as a day bag.
It even splits down the middle with velcro for the CCW types.

Originally Posted by gugi

Make it pink with a sparkling heart embroidered on the flap and I'll wear it all the way to France and back, rounded corners or not

What no unicorns ?