With the very fast growing diversity of items in the men’s fashion world, many men get confused and feel like they’re a little outcast because they don’t know what to choose from the wide range of choices.
A field in which men tend to have a lot of questions is bags. We’ve come a long way since bags were a women’s thing only, but the diverse palette of bags found today leaves many men wondering which bag might be the best choice.
The answer is actually very easy, and we’re going to give it to you right away: the right bag is the bag that suits your personality and moreover, your lifestyle!
A man carrying a lot of things, going from one place to another, has nothing to do with a small bag, while a man who only needs his wallet, tablet and some business cards has no need to carry a big bag.
So, up next, we want to write about the different types of men’s bags and who they might suit best.
Duffle bags
The duffle bag is the ultimate men’s bag. Duffle bags are great because they are large enough to fit the things you need when you go to the gym or on a week-end getaway, and are perfect for any man, as regardless of your lifestyle, there will be a time when you are going to need a bag that’s not to small but not too big to carry a few things. When you buy a duffle bag, you should look for one made out of a very good material, such as leather, canvas or waxed cotton.
A duffle bag by True Grit Leather
To give you an example, True Grit Leather is a great brand that offers fantastic bags (including duffle bags) made out of quality leather. What is amazing about them is that they process the leather out of which the bags are made in natural ways, and do not use chemicals. We recommend that you buy products that are as natural as possible, so avoiding too processed goods is something you should definitely add on the list when you go to buy a bag.
Backpacks
Backpacks are some men’s memories from their boyhood years. They might remind you of school, but they are still a great way to go when you go hiking, traveling outside urban areas or when you simply need to carry something and need your hands for something else than carrying a bag.
There are two types of backpacks: framed and frameless. Frameless backpacks are the ones we all know and used for school, while framed backpacks the ones used for hiking and carrying heavy things.
The problem with backpacks is that they are a utility bag only; they do not bring much fashion and elegance to your look. It’s rare that a backpack goes with an outfit that’s anything else but sporty, and you know what we say, sports clothes are only to be worn at the gym or in other sporting environments.
Messenger bags
Messenger bags are the perfect choice for commuters, students and other groups. They are resting on the lower back when slung over one shoulder, and are usually made out of materials that are very resistant to water and other elements. You might have heard of satchels, too. Satchels are very similar to messenger bags just that they are made out of lighter, not so rough materials.
A leather messenger bag from TGL
Briefcases
Briefcases are probably the staple of men’s bags. They care classic and go great with men who lead very business-oriented lifestyle. What you probably didn’t know is that modern briefcases are inspired by Italian bags from the 14th century in which people used to carry money and valuable goods.
Today, it is said that the boxier the briefcase, the more formal the look, so a folio case is what you might want for a more casual business meeting, while a really big, hard briefcase is best when you are making a rough statement.
However, we would not recommend a briefcase that is too large: you don’t want to impress through your briefcase, carry your life around or anything like that!
For casual business attire, we recommend totes. These are bags that do not make you look like a business man, but still give you a serious look and are mostly worn by artisans and people who carry portfolios around, among other things.
Camera Bags/ Tablet bags etc
With the rise of new technologies and their growing availability, today we have a new type of bags, specialized for different uses: there are camera bags (not the bag you receive when you buy a camera, but a more stylish version of it) or bags made of tablets. This is something really useful as today, for many; most things needed are to be found on a tablet, so being able to carry it around comfortably is a great thing!
The Newsboy bag
Newsboy bags are, to your surprise, the kind of bags a newsboy would wear. The thing about them is that they are extremely casual and do not go to a formal event of any kind. If you are the newsboy type, make sure you also have a dressier bag, made out of a more sophisticated material and in a more sophisticated color than bright green.
Additional information:
When you are buying a bag, don’t go on the very cheap. The bags we mentioned earlier (from TGL) for example, are in a very good price range, considering how much you will use the bag. It’s useless to buy something cheaper than that, that will go bad after a short while and you will have to buy a new one.
Getting a classic bag is an indicated thing, as a classic bag with last throughout time and never goes out of style!
It’s probably best that you have at least two bags to work with, as if one gets damaged or is full, you can always take the other one without having any problems.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. What type of bag do you like to use? How many bags do you own? Looking forward to reading your comments below!
