It's a BAG, not a PURSE.

[brainiac]

My (frivolous) dilemma:

I want a bag to carry around my everyday things in-- like my wallet, phone, DS, etc. I still own mostly girl jeans so this stuff simply will not fit in my pockets. Right now, I have something that is most definitely a purse, and I am sick of it sticking out like a sore thumb every time I try to present as male or more masculine.

But most guys don't carry around bags with them all the time, so I'm at a loss for what to get. Purses tend to be smaller and more girly-looking, and I've mostly only seen guys carrying around laptop bags, backpacks, or tote bags. I've considered these things but they're usually kind of big to be carrying around every time you go out with you.

Anyone have any suggestions "besides buy more guy pants?"

[Silver]

Sharpie "MAN BAG" on it.

Use a fanny pack (lol.)

[Jeatyn]

I carry a bag everywhere, skinny jeans have no room I have a few different messenger bags, nothin' girly about a messenger bag if you ask me. Well...unless it's a girly messenger bag but I think you know what I mean

[brainiac]

Sharpie "MAN BAG" on it.

Use a fanny pack (lol.)

I laughed out loud at that. Last resort for both of those.

That was my first thought. But they're sold out. And funnily enough, MB are my initials too.

I carry a bag everywhere, skinny jeans have no room I have a few different messenger bags, nothin' girly about a messenger bag if you ask me. Well...unless it's a girly messenger bag but I think you know what I mean

I do, I do. Where did you get yours?

[Osiris]

I'll second the suggestion to get a messenger bag. Those are usually very unisex and I've seen guys carry them around.

[notyouraverageguy]

I carry a bag everywhere, skinny jeans have no room

Same here.
I have a small backpack I carry everywhere, it has everything in it. Keys, wallet, change, gum, phone charger, inhaler lol, pocket knife, flashlight, stp, etc... I know I carry some things I hardly use but u never know when ull need em...

Its actually a over the chest bag lol idk what they're called.

[Devin87]

Jeeze.  Here I was thinking the fact that I never could get into the whole "purse" thing was a symptom of being a man and now I think it may just be because I'm a loser who has nothing to carry.     I think I'm the only 23-year-old on the planet who doesn't own a cell phone, I've got no DS, don't chew gum, never used a wallet...  Even with my girl jeans I just stick my license and debit card (or cash, on the rare occassion I have some) in one pocket and my keys in the other...  I must be a loser.

[kyle_lawrence]

I have a small-ish messenger type bag that I use when its warm out. its black canvas that I got from an Army-Navy surplus store years ago.  When its cold out though, everything goes in my coat pockets.

[confused]

a laptop bag or a messenger bag are good suggestions , also there are small backpacks and theyr not that unpractical

[Byren]

Some travel stores sell smaller messenger-bag type things. They're usually leather and only have one or two pockets. I've seen a lot of men with them at airports as carryons, particularly with Europeans. They're very popular with artists and photographers too. Wish I knew where you could get one, though....I just use my backpack because it hides my laptop.

And don't feel bad Devin...all I carry around is my laptop and my wallet, and occasionally my knife, Dragnipur. (four stars if you catch that reference!)

[brainiac]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'll start looking for a messenger bag, and I know I've seen a whole bunch of travel stores around Montreal that hopefully have something.

And Devin, I think that means you also probably don't compulsively do any of the related things (checking for texts, chewing gum, playing games), either, which has gotta be more peaceful.

[kyril]

Buy men's jeans. Use the pockets. It's liberating, I promise, and a pair of good jeans costs about as much as a good bag (less if you shop at Goodwill/Salvation Army).

I think I was about six or seven when I declared that I would never, ever, ever, ever carry a purse. I think the catalyst was my mom asking me to hold hers while she did something...I was totally mortified. Early-onset femmephobia, I guess. But really, it's just so bloody annoying to be tied down to a bag.

A backpack or a messenger bag will work just fine when you actually have something substantial to carry. But if you're presenting as male/more masculine, your valuable-items-that-must-not-be-separated-from-your-person would still belong in your pockets even when carrying a bag, unless you're wearing skinny jeans (and even then, stuff like ID/credit cards still go in the pockets). Guys just don't have a bag that they treat as a purse.

[wams]

Shoulderbags are pretty unisex, if you get one without frillies do-hickies and butterflies sewn onto it.

[M.Grimm]

I concur about messenger bags. I have a couple of them depending on what I need to haul around. A camera bag or newsboy bag can also work well for guys. A lot of designers make and market these styles for men. I see guys wearing these pretty commonly, generally with the strap across the chest and the bag behind the hip.

[xTwoOfHeartsx]

Messenger bag.. especially a plain black one.
That's what I use to carry my stuff when I need to bring things that won't fit into my pockets.
No one has ever referred to my man-bag as a purse.. lol.. so it works.

EDIT: I just realized you mentioned you live in Montreal.. if there is a Bentley store in Montreal.. (and there probably is.. there are locations throughout Canada I think..), check it out. That's where I get my messenger bags.

[pebbles]

I wear a backpack.

[Donnie]

I wear a black messenger bag everywhere, though a backpack works as well.

[VampyreAri]

Definitely either a messenger bag or a backpack. Personally I tend to rotate between a Death Note messenger bag and a laptop backpack.
Or, if you have too much stuff for jeans, but not enough for a backpack? Cargo pants are your friend.

[xTwoOfHeartsx]

Or, if you have too much stuff for jeans, but not enough for a backpack? Cargo pants are your friend.

.. just remember to wear a belt! .. because if you have no butt, you will LOSE your pants. XD

[tekla]

I use the Timbuck2 messenger bags, almost everyone I know who rides has one or more.  I hate having stuff crammed into pockets, and on a day to day level I have too much stuff I need to have with me, just a bit more than pockets can accommodate.