Mom's purse has everything - change, snacks, wipes, toys, coupons, bus schedule, book, safety pins...Its the original EDC bag!!

Mine certainly is, but it also has an LED, multitool, fire, rain poncho, Mylar blanket, bandana and a Ritter AMK PSK. I was inspired by my Grandmother's purses, which always seemed to have everything - including a small fishing kit in one of them.

One advantage women have is that nobody questions it if we carry a bag. In fact, we're often questioned if we don't. on the other hand, you guys get way more practical clothes and footwear. (Then again, I'm sure I'm not the only woman who disregards those fashion guidelines.)

Hey, its not a purse! ... its a European Carryall!!

Its European!!!!

Guys have perfectly acceptable "man bags" these days, from bike messenger type shoulder bags to laptop bags.

And still benefit from more and better pockets in clothing.

But women did get a head start (and pinched nerves) with purses.

Watch out for purse/man bag snatchers!

I think the proper retort is: "It's not a purse. It's a satchel."

My satchel is black Pantac Mission Go Bag. Deal with it.

It's easy to get a free pass on the man-bag if it looks work related.

I just noticed that ebags.com has a category called "Man Bags" ... cool!

I used to carry a smallish Eagle Creek shoulder bag (I don't see it on their current web site) when I did daily train commuting ... and before laptops. I still use it when traveling to Europe. Its my on-plane bag. For commuting it was just big enough to carry what I needed. Most of what I'm seeing now is too purse-like or has flaps that are too big (flaps get in the way), or has buckles.

I have a very good idea of what I like and what I don't. For example, it needs a full flap on top - to be rainproof, but the flap shouldn't be too long, otherwise it flops into the way when you're trying to look into the bag. The top of any compartment needs a zipper - so contents can't come out when the bag is inadvertently inverted. It needs a few different compartments - to organize the smaller items, but still have a main compartment large enough for small books ... I'm thinking about the size of an 8-1/2x11 sheet of paper folded in half. Oh, and no buckles - they are just obnoxious.

I just found something similar to what I like. Its L.L. Bean's Carryall Guide Bag ... though I wish the front zipper had some kind of small flap for rain protection, and I wish the strap was more than just narrowish webbing - for comfort.

Have you looked at the two versions of LL Bean's "Continental Field Bag?" For some reason they have those in the backpack section.

Recycled Poly ($39)
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/68599?feat=1098-GN2

Waxed Cotton ($85)
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/60317?feat=1098-GN2


I love waxed cotton and have a couple of them (yeah, sort of like I have multiple Ritter MK1s) but the recycled poly is less than half the price and is nearly half the weight. I also have a couple of those and gave one to my sister for Christmas.

Apparently they fit i-Pads nicely.