Purses

[blackcat]

(I think I am the resident vainglorious FTM.)

Did any of you use purses before transition? I'm asking this as a lifestyle/practicality question.

I always hated girl purses and never ever had one (though I thought the take-out carton purses were cute). I have a gender-neutral hippie bag with a shoulder strap that serves all of my purposes BUT it is shredded TO DEATH and it needs to be replaced sooner than later.

I lose my car keys like a lunatic. The ONLY WAY to keep me from losing them has been with a giant stuffy (evil looking kitten with fangs) on the keychain, and keeping it in my purse. I never ever kept a purse until it kept me from losing my keys.

Shoving my keys, wallet, and phone into my pants (like a lot of guys do) just does not appeal to me. I like having a bag. And that's all I ever keep in my bag - keys, wallet, phone.

Has anyone kept some kind of bag into transition?

I suppose I could find another hippie bag. One of my favorite websites just sold out of UFO-shaped bags, which would have been gender-neutral and unusual. Or I could just find a Lisa Frank backpack and own it.

Man purses?? Personal comforts? Thoughts?

[Virginia]

My wife got me a camera case. Big enough to hold my wallet, keys, a chapstick, comb and change. It has a wrist strap but I usually chuck it on the dashboard of my truck. She also got me one of those beeper things for my keys and the camera case so I can find them when I lose them.

[Kylo]

No, never.

I'm also not a fan of carrying a bag everywhere.

I usually carry everything I need in the inside pockets of a coat or jacket, or in my trouser pockets. Practically impossible to be pickpocketed or leave anything behind by accident. Lifelong habit.

[blackcat]

I would lose my head if it wasn't attached. I became the master at breaking into my own car (my old car, anyway) because I would have to call AAA to get my keys out like once a week. I have wasted many nights until 3am trying to find my wallet in my own house. The last time I carried my keys in my pocket, they somehow fell out... in the snow... and I had to backtrack on my walk from my car to work during a blizzard. Fortunately, because of my giant orange cat on the keychain, I found them.

Hot mess needs a bag.

The camera case idea is interesting and I'll have to investigate it. I do know lots of guys who rock small backpacks, especially if they are the hippie/surfer types.

I don't want something womanly, so my options are either cleverly masculine/neutral or righteously flaming gay.

I found a tote back that says "F*** IT" in big pink letters. Couldn't take it to work, though.

If anyone finds a giant alligator head covered with green sequins where you have to open the jaws to reach inside the bag, please let me know.

[Kylo]

Tote bags have always struck me as too much like a handbag or shopping bag that women use for my taste, and since carried in the hands are easy for someone to swipe off you. I do have bags, but hardly ever use them unless I have to. One would be a small backpack designed for biking with and the other a laptop bag that looks like this:

https://www.eastpak.com/media/catalog/product/cache/0/image/720x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/import/item/1/EK07613H.jpg

Backpacks or bags that can be slung over the body are better imo since they leave your hands free, and can't easily be stolen off you.

[Ryuichi13]

Honestly, I used a randoseru/Japanese elementary school kid backpack.  I just loosen the straps and put it on.  I've gotten compliments for it from both men and women.  I found mine used on ebay for $50, but because they're made of leather and made to last, brand new ones can be quite pricey.  After all, they're made to last an elementary school kid from kindergarten to sixth grade!  And from what I understand, many Japanese teens continue to use them all the way to college. 

If you've never seen one, this is what they look like: 



They also seem to be pretty theft-proof, since the leather and the straps are made of thick leather.  Also, they actually open underneath, where you would otherwise set it down to open up a regular backpack.  And the opening gizmo is metal and magnetic...or at least mine is.


Traditionally, black was for boys (mine is black) and red was for girls, but nowadays, pretty much any color goes for any gender.  I plan on getting a decorative cover for mine, since mine has some wear and tear...and to protect it from the weather.

Before I got mine, I used backpacks for everything.  They're great, but I often wear through them after a while.  They rip, wear through or the straps break, like it did on my last backpack.

My wallet I keep in my jeans pocket, my keys on a ring clipped onto my belt, and my phone on a holster clipped to my jeans pocket.

Ryuichi

[Allsorts]

I'd second the options of backback or laptop bag.
I'm also a fan of crossover style (even when in full-on female mode) for it not being possible for a mugger to simply slip it off your shoulder in a crowd etc.


I picked up this one in a charity shop. It'll do for now.






Happy hunting!

[Magnus]

No. Closest I have is a small black tote strictly for my car (stereo faceplate and remote, ipod, registration, insurance etc).

I wouldn't be opposed to a small messenger bag (e.g. for laptop/tablet etc), but haven't any need of one yet.

Solved my keys issue years and years ago with a couple carabiners (house keys then car keys daisy chained off that). Since, the only time I have forgotten/misplaced them was when I was wearing sport's shorts without belt loops and locked them in my car (TGF AAA). So I don't wear any pants without belt loops lol. Before that, I slip-knotted lanyards through my belt loop but that didn't work out quite so well.

Wallet's in back pocket; chest pocket when available (bad on your spine to sit lopsided on a wallet).

IMO, a pouch or two on your belt is better (more socially palatable, if you GAF) than a "man purse". Surplus stores have a ton of these in all sorts of sizes and styles, and no annoying logo's as with camera pouches etc. Surplus stores also have SMALL backpacks/shoulder bags (not all just huge rucksacks). I wouldn't mind one of those either, if I needed a bag. Used a ruck from middle school on and it was the best 'backpack' I ever had, still have it (mill spec canvas doesn't seem to disintegrate lol).

Personally, it would annoy the hell out of me having to safeguard and deal with a "man purse" every day... I much prefer pockets or belt pouches I don't have to mind/find places to set them down and whatnot. Only exception for me would be if I ever finally got a motorcycle (then I'd be dusting off the ruck).

[SeptagonScars]

I've never been a fan of purses, cause of then having a hand/arm occupied just to carry the damn thing, and the high risk of getting it snatched, or simply forgetting it somewhere. However shoulder bags I do use frequently, especially cause I need to carry around more stuff than I can reasonably fit into all pockets available on both my pants and jacket together... I've also lost things I've carried in pants pockets cause of them falling out, so that's something I've learned to not do anymore.

For me I don't just carry wallet, keys and cell phone. But also cigarettes, lighter, extra lighter, headphones, handkerchiefs in masses, somewhere to put used handkerchiefs, glasses, sunglasses, cases for both of those, a pen of some sort, a writing pad, painkillers, bottle of water, etc... So I need a big bag!

I don't know if shoulder bags are all that masculine, but they do give me the impression of being generally gender neutral. I also like being able to have my bag wrapped securely around me and have it in full sight at the same time. Mine is entirely black and I've sewn on a couple of patches. One says "goth as f***" with a white print of a skull and the other is a small "pride" patch in rainbow colours. And I attached a bat (the animal) shaped reflector to it as well, and a keyring depicting a miniature whiskey bottle. So it's not overdone, but it's a little out there.

[AquaWhatever]

I tried purses a long dark time ago and It was uncomfortable.
Not because it was a purse, but I'm not fond of carrying something that's not a backpack around my shoulders.

At least a backpack has two straps.
A purse is one and despite my shoulders being wider than the typical cis girl, I was also skinny.
Always having to adjust it and put it back on my shoulder.
No thanks.

[AlexanderDS]

Years ago, I used a purse but it never felt comfortable.

After that, I went with shoulder bags, but they're often too big.

In April, I came across this half price at Manchester Airport. Basically a man bag: https://www.travelbags.be/samsonite-xbr-tablet-crossover-7-9-black.html

I use it for my phone, keys, wallet, glasses/sunglasses and maybe a snack if needed. It's perfect for me since it has the advantages of a purse, but doesn't feel like one. Last week, my parents had friends over (who don't know that I'm a guy) and one of the women asked where I'd got that, because her partner (male) had been looking for something like it to put his wallet etc away. Felt very validating!