I carry a man bag just about whenever I have clothes on. A bug out backpack is not going to be always with me, no matter how light it is. My man bag is intentionally NOT complete because lightness is paramount.

Contents of my man bag, not in order of importance:
-cell phone
-knife (usually goes into pocket instead of man bag)
-small mirror (daytime visual signal)
-whistle (audio signal)
-flashlight (nighttime visual signal and many other uses)
-extra AA battery for flashlight
-money clip with card holder
-Bluetooth earpiece
-72" boot lace and/or other small rope
-medicine case
-pen
-piece of scratch paper

Optional items:
-another small self-defense tool
-water purification tablets
-lip balm
-multi-tool instead of knife

Aren't purses wonderful?

Yes! In real life, I call it a purse actually.

What's with the MJ gloves?

Indiana Jones style I have a similar (perhaps a bit more dignified, or less obvious) bag too but prefer a waistpack to it when possible (you can use it as a sling bag too) just because it's more convenient to run and less disturbing when walking overall.

It's a satchel!!



(if you haven't seen "The Hangover" you may not get the reference)

Every now and then, I go to a storage room in our house to get something, and there is a shelf full of my wife's ex-bags. They look womanly and "pursy" off course !! So I - a man - just can't pick one and fill with my EDC and take it to work. I just stare at them in envy. All those pockets and more pockets. What is available for us guys is nothing in comparison !!!

Only once, I picked one - the least womanly looking - and buried it in the car trunk for a "support kit" which conatins ... among other things, a sewing kit !!

Hey, irecon

You could add a few extras at little (space) cost

In my "purse" , I carry alcohol wipes and bandaids, a few wire ties, and few Q-tips.

Remember that alcohol wipes can be used at firestarter if you have a spark source.

However, depending on where you live, fire may not be that important, especially in a city. I haven't NEEDED to start a fire for many years. Last time I started a fire in my backyard to make tea 'cause it was weekend and I had nothing to do.

Male purse-envy. We have come a long way, baby. ;-)

But us chicks are still jealous of all the great pockets in guys' clothes.

Bicycle messenger-style bags work well for guys -- manly men as well as metrosexuals. Leather for work or dress casual, lighter fabric for dressing down.

Jettison those ex-wife bags on e-Bay and fill that shelf with MAN-Bags.

LL Bean has a uni-sex shoulder bag ("Continental Field Bag") that I love so much I have two. I adore waxed cotton/oil cloth for the rustic look and sturdiness. It's also a nice fit for an i-Pad.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/60317?parentCategory=9197&feat=9197-tn&cat4=1098

LL Bean has a number of reasonably priced, good quality shoulder bags-messenger bags. Here's a black leather one I've been considering which judging from the customer reviews is popular with men. They also have a brown leather version.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/42872?parentCategory=504159&feat=504159-tn&cat4=504158

Here's their "Expedition Messenger Bag" -- comes in outdoorsy olive, tactical carbon and hunter orange.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63245?parentCategory=504159&feat=504159-tn&cat4=504158

Not forgetting of course the Genuine WWII Mark 7 Wartime gas mask bag as worn by Indiana Jones.

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/a...gas-685593.html

I used to have a nice leather satchel when I was about 7 years old at primary school back in the 70s which looked like this;



Do manbag owners also have their names written in Biro on little fabric patches sewn in just below the hanging loops of their jackets as well?