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"Man purse" suggestions?

My masculine hubby is not thrilled about carrying a purse, but I no longer want to be the pack mule on our next Italy trip - everything we need for all-day excursions go in MY travel shoulder bag and by day's end I need a neck and back replacement! So as a birthday or holiday gift I will surprise him with his first-ever purse. I've seen dozens of choices on line but I'm interested in some first-hand experience of you gentlemen travelers. The bag doesn't need to carry a ton of supplies as we'll split the stuff between the 2 of us: hand sanitizer, guidebook pages & maps for the day, tiny binoculars, sunscreen, picnic food, phones, kleenex, etc. Guys (especially older guys), if you have a favorite small to mid-size "purse/day bag" that is light weight and comfortable enough to wear all day I'd love to hear about it. Thanks! Susan

Posted by
3938 posts

Our son bought a Solo Urban on Amazon to carry his iPad and other things around in the U.S. My husband liked the ergonomics of the thing so much that he bought one for himself and he is currently using it with a lot of success and confidence on our European trip. He didn't bring his backpack with him on this trip and we are getting by just fine and his back feels so much better at the end of a long day of walking.

Posted by
4025 posts

So call it a shoulder bag, as I do. Look for thick straps, attached with strong snaps or rings that will stand up to being tossed about. Some have a large flap that covers the inner pocket and buckles shut, adding security. Some are designed with multiple pockets, like some sort of fishing reel bag. A few big pockets are more convenient than many small ones which have to be searched to find what you have stowed for safety and then forgotten. Having a large open pocket on one side is convenient for carrying a map or newspaper or other accessory that gets pulled in and out a lot. But picnic food? Snacks? It's more fun to graze the street stalls and taste something new.
P.S.: When no-one's looking, even he can stroll through the women's section to find something sturdy (i.e. masculine.)

Posted by
1840 posts

Susan, First of all approach this by using the term "Shoulder Bag" instead of Man Purse". I'm seventy-five and have been taking various shoulder bags on journeys to quite a bit of Europe, India, Philippines and Tibet. There are two sources of excellent studly bags: Duluth Pack and Filsons. For the last six years I've been carrying a Duluth Pack Portfolio bag. There is no mistaking it as sissy. What I like about it is it has zippers across the top so I don't have ti diddle with straps and snaps to get it opened or closed. Mine is a canvas model. Wash it a couple of times before using to take the brand new off it.

Both Filson and Duluth Pack items are expensive but they have a lifetime guarantee and they are made in U.S. The Portfolio I'm presently using has gone to Ukrain twice, across Europe from Istanbul to Amsterdam by train, Philippines, Scotland twice, and I can't remember where else. Let me know if I can help further.

Posted by
792 posts

I second Mona's suggestion for the Solo Urban. Great versatile bag that holds a lot of stuff, comes in several sizes too.

Posted by
23178 posts

You seem to be trying to set this up for failure. Don't know why you have to call it a man purse. Always have carried a small day bag - call it what you like. Now it is smaller since the boys don't travel with us any more. I now have a small leather bag about inch big all around than the ipad (which is often carried in it) and deep enough to hold a water bottle, guide book, etc. Can be carried on one shoulder, lengthen the strap a bit and carry it cross body on a hip. Type of bag frequently carried by many men. No brand associated with it. Just bought it at a leather shop.

Posted by
3938 posts

Here is a link to the one my son and husband bought. It is a small, lightweight, sling not a two strap backpack. It is meant to be worn cross body, front or back, on either shoulder. He sometimes carries it by its soft handle.

http://www.amazon.com/Solo-Active-Tablet-Sling-STM751/dp/B008Y8E25Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437944740&sr=8-1&keywords=solo+sling

My husband shattered a vertebrae in his back 1.5 years ago so he didn't need any convincing that this was the way to go to get weight distributed more comfortably on his body and help with carrying things when we are out sightseeing for the day!

Posted by
32173 posts

Susan,

I don't have any experience with the type of bags you're asking about, but you could check the Tom Bihn website as they have some models that should be suitable. I prefer to use my Travel Vest when touring about as I find it easier to use than a bag.

Posted by
66 posts

Susan,
My wife & I have been using the Rick Steves' ...Veloce Guide Bag for IPad...for a few years now. Have used it for three trips to Italy and use it locally for short hikes of a few hours duration. Check out the RS store. Believe it is about $40.

It can hole water bottle, suntan lotion, first aid stuff, guidebooks, maps. It's also expandable. When we first used it in Italy I did the lugging of "stuff" with it during the day & my wife used it as her evening purse at dinner, etc.

Works for us.
Gene

Posted by
10120 posts

My husband found a black leather messenger bag at DSW and carried it everywhere, even hiking in the Alps.

Posted by
4730 posts

First, call it a "Day Bag". Second, check out Eagle Creek bags. They have a good variety of day bags carried by many men.

Posted by
362 posts

WOW - these are great suggestions - will save me tons of searching time! Thank you all!!!

To Southam & Monte - I only called it "man purse" since I didn't know a proper name. Yes, we always get the picnic food from a local market but we still have to haul it until we find a nice location to eat it - fruit is heavy!

Again, many thanks!! Susan

Posted by
94 posts

check out this bag: Mountainsmith Rift Messenger Tablet Bag at ebags.com. It's small, but holds an amazing amount of stuff. DSLR camera, hooded rain jacket, water bottle, 7 inch pad, memory cards, chargers, and necessary parts of Rick Steve's manuals, with room to spare.

Posted by
7737 posts

Yeah, stop calling it anything with the word "purse" in it. I got the Metrosafe 250 for my recent five weeks in Italy. I chose it specifically because it's on the small side, so I couldn't fall into the trap of carrying too much with me due to back issues. Previously I've used a messenger bag which is a good bit larger.

Posted by
7981 posts

My husband and I have matching messenger bags that are our primary carry on for airplanes (we check a bag even a carry on size bag on direct flights). I always get a red one and he a black (just like my phone is red and his black, it helps keep things straight.) On a plane we each have our own computer, reader, and then personal stuff like cameras, toiletries, reading material, food etc. When we are traveling around town if we need a 'purse' (and we do try to make do with pockets) then ONE of us carries the messenger bag with the minimal things we need that day -- especially useful on a day trip out of town. Water bottle, umbrellas, guidebook and food.

We have one bag then and take turns carrying it. It sure makes my shoulder happier.
We had very very lightweight nylon bags. Now we have nicer REI computer bags, still pretty lightweight but more secure.

If we are going into a museum I carry since women are less likely to be required to c heck bags -- he tends to carry it on long walks and such.

Posted by
4138 posts

We don't carry a lot of stuff "just in case." We've been there and done that and found that we used almost none of it. My husband has gone from a Civita day pack, to a Patagonia messenger bag to nothing for daily excursions. I've gone from a Civita day pack to a small cross-body purse. As someone else mentioned, the bigger the bag, the more likely you are to fill it up with stuff you "might" need.

I have a couple of mesh shopping bags (similar to these or these) that fold into their own palm-size pockets and weigh nothing. If I think we might do any light shopping, I throw one or two into my purse. There are many more similar options at Reuseit.com that fold into something very small, weigh very little and can be put in a small purse or pocket when they are emptied out.

I will admit that our style of travel doesn't usually involve picnicking or carrying water bottles. We tend to stop and sit and rest in a cafe of some kind. The bags are mostly used to buy big bottles of water or snacks at the end of the day to take back to the room, or to do grocery shopping for the apartments we stay in.

Posted by
7981 posts

I really agree with this last post. My live was transformed when I stopped carrying enough stuff to survive in the wilderness for 3 nights. I would end up with a headache and shoulder pain from lugging all this stuff we really didn't need. Now I rarely carry a bag except on day trips where we do want to pack a light jacket or umbrella.

I put emergency meds in my watch pocket (I always wear black jeans that are styled like slacks except in hot weather when I do use a small cross body purse), tissues, lip gloss etc in the pockets, map in back pocket and a couple of bandaids in the other back pocket as well as a bug repellant towelette if it is the season where that might be an issue and then in the hidden zip pocket of a travel shirt worn as a light top over a cotton T I have money, ID and credit card. My small camera will go in a pocket of the shirt -- if I am carrying my DSLR then I will carry a lightweight messenger bag or camera case and the camera case can double as a purse.

In cold weather I have a scottevest.com trench coat which has 18 hidden pockets -- the trick is to still only carry the minimum but it does handle a guidebook or camera well.

If it rains unexpectedly umbrella sales people pop up or you can duck into a shop for a small umbrella. If you get thirsty, stop and get a drink. We almost always find we get by just fine without carrying a lot of stuff.

Posted by
16893 posts

I prefer a shoulder bag, since my hand is always on it. That feels more secure, as well as it's easier access for me to the things I use frequently. Some men prefer a back pack with two straps and it can be an ergonomic choice for heavier loads. If that solves his issue, then everyone is happy. (However, I ask you to avoid my pet peeve of man standing/waiting/blocking traffic while wife accesses stuff from his backpack.)

Posted by
930 posts

Tom Bihn - either the Medium Cafe Bag or the Co-Pilot. Tom Bihn is our favorite bag company- we learned about it on these Rick Steves Forums - hand-made in Seattle. Each bag also has a video section, so you can see how to best use each bag.

Posted by
3719 posts

I bought this Field Canvas Tote Bag for myself (in tan), but it would work for him.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/81519?feat=canvas%20bag-SR0&page=field-canvas-tote-bag

Also bought this bag--Field Canvas Messenger Bag in tan--as a gift for the man in my life:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/81524?feat=81519-pprrright

The Continental Briefcase would also be perfect for your hubby--I like the army green better than the red:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/86912?feat=88629-pprrright

Posted by
1362 posts

Satchel. I use a light weight canvas satchel. Indiana Jones had a satchel. :)

Posted by
3940 posts

Funny a few times when I'd hand my hubby our bag and call it a purse, I'd get a look...now I call it a sling bag, and things are better.

;)

Our first trip I had a Buxton bag (one of those organizer bags) and he wouldn't carry it at all. Then I picked up a PacSafe metrosafe sling bag. He has no problem at all slinging that (since I now carry camera stuff). Ours is black...I know I know...some people think PacSafe are overkill, but it is a great bag for organizing...daily money is in the back zipper, misc stuff is in the main compartment (maps, confirmations for tours, Kleenex, gum, wet wipes, iPad mini) and the passports and extra money are in the back of the zippered compartment under the main flap (which is velcroed) behind another organization section. We don't do money belts...and I know pickpockets are good, but this is behind 3 layers of protection...I always figure they will just move on to an easier mark. Short of pulling it off him over his head, we feel about as secure as we can. We can also secure the zipper under the Velcro flap with twist ties or cable ties if we wanted. And room on the sides of the bag for a small water bottle or small travel umbrella.

http://www.pacsafe.com/metrosafe-200-gii-shoulder-bag.html

I picked mine up on ebay for about half the price of a new one.

Posted by
786 posts

My husband also carries a Pacsafe Metrosafe bag and loves it. Holds everything we need and he wears it as a crossbody.

Posted by
5697 posts

Just got a funding solicitation from Sierra Club -- for a donation (can't remember how much) you can get a very manly-looking canvas satchel.

Posted by
2455 posts

Susan, for several trips now I have used the Rick Steves Civita Day Pack as a daily shoulder bag. Made of microfiber, so it weighs almost nothing, very soft, quite strong, roomy, perfect for the incidentals to get you through a day, can fit a sweater too, plus folding umbrella, etc. if you want to carry those. Choice of colors including black. Full price is just $24.95 but is periodically on sale for 20% off that.