But all black isn't that bad, kinda sporty even.

There's other reasons I'm not fond of those bags. I don't want something too flexible and bag-like. I also just don't want something as big as that. They seem pretty big to me.

*edit*
Actually, the Timbuk2 are more than twice as big as the Man-n-bag. 384 cubic inches vs 152.

They do a couple of smaller ones which should be pretty rigid

http://www.timbuk2.com/products/companionbags.html

But they large ones are quite floppy and anything in the main compartment has zero protection from crushing. Stuff in the front inner and outer pockets is unlikely to get bumped around a lot.

Personally I try and avoid anything small with a carry handle because of the serious risk of being given a nickname after this chap:

Oh sweet Jesus...

Yeah, that's a definite risk. So far I don't think anyone has suggested anything in this thread that has a carrying handle. All over the shoulder

Hey, I like the Go Postal II from Kenneth Cole:



It's pretty stylish, and still manly(ish). And it's leather.

- trs

And it would look great on my wife!

Seriously, I think the chances of finding a manly purse are about as good as balancing five uncooked eggs atop one another, but that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

-Zeke

Maybe you should just do what Patrick does and wear a fishing vest all the time. I witnessed him pull all kinds of crap out of that thing.

"Honey, can you hand me my man bag? I want to go out with the guys tonight."

If it were really detachable, don't you'd think she'd rather take it from you before you go out?

don't you'd think she'd rather take it from you before you go out?

Don't most wives do that, albeit metaphorically?

Which brings to mind http://www.scottevest.com/.

My personal "Man-Bag" is a messenger style black and silver bag with a large PS2 logo on the side. I use it to shuttle my gadgets and empeg to and from work... I know you want something smaller, but the messenger style has room for my sketch pads and the empeg and all the other weird little things I don't want in my pockets.

Plus the PS2 logo diverts any girlie comments into the dork arena... Wave your Geek-Flag!

True, I have no problems being a dork. I don't think the girlfriend would argue either. She's already embarassed by my dorkiness, so it would be nice to try not to attract the metrosexual vibe.

I object! It's not all crap!

All I generally have with me is:

LED flashlight with headband
Keyring with about 30 keys, and tritium glowstick
Wallet, containing credit cards, debit cards, both driving licenses, magnetic sensor card, IR sensor card, many old cards I don't use any more, stamps, business cards, and occasionally money
Inhaler just in case
Aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines (I get hayfever)
Camping set of salt and pepper
Several sets of disposable latex surgical gloves
Small multimeter
Bluetooth headset
Phone
Coins
Cheque book
Sometimes business cheque book
Toolkit containing gas soldering iron, solder, screwdrivers, small adjustable spanners, two tweezers, cable ties, wire cutters, wire, spare battery for the meter, heatshrink tubing, flux pen, self-adhesive velcro, rubber bands, scalpel, etc
Some strong paper towel
Lighter

That's not much, is it? It still leaves several pockets empty for job or situation specific items such as PDA, various cables, water purifier solution, glowsticks, batteries, memory cards, lenses, binoculars, sunglasses, camera, and so on.

My trouser pockets are usually empty though. I don't like weighing myself down

pca

I meant crap as in a lot of stuff. Not crap as in garbage. I think your vest is pretty awesome.

Just make sure you stay away from deep water, unless you're stashing a life preserver in there somewhere.

Kidding aside, at least when someone asks you: "Who are you?" you won't answer: "I'm Batman!".

Kidding aside, at least when someone asks you: "Who are you?" you won't answer: "I'm Batman!".

No, I can say, "I'm an engineer. Run."

It can be quite amusing at security check areas such as in airports. It gives them something to do, I guess, aside from being intrusive and impolite. My laptop bag gives them fits as well, it shows up as almost unintelligible noise under the Xray machine.

pca

My backpack is giving up the ghost, so I decided to dig up this old thread and I ended up buying myself a Timbuk2 "classic messenger" bag in all black so it doesn't stand out too much in more formal situations. I was torn between the messenger bag and the "commuter" bag, with laptop padding, but I decided I was more interested in having 1400 sq. ft. of internal space than the 1000 sq. ft. of the commuter bag (or 1200 sq. ft. for the commuter XL).

Now, as it turns out, my main travel bag is also failing on me and needs to be replaced. Does anybody here have advice on airport carry-on bags? I looked around several stores yesterday, and everybody's now including roller wheels and handles, which I'm not convinced I'll ever really want. (Even though I tend not to get too far off-road, I much prefer slinging something over my shoulder.) I suppose I could just get a largish backpack, which might jive well with the messenger bag, although I can imagine nightmarish scenarios with straps going every which way. The main criterion is that whatever I get absolutely must be carry-on luggage. While there appears to be no "standard" on this in the U.S., 22 inches long is sufficiently common that it's the defacto standard for the luggage industry.

Thoughts?

Oops! Replace "square feet" with "cubic inches" and you've got the actual dimensions.

Quote:

I decided I was more interested in having 1400 sq. ft. of internal space than the 1000 sq. ft. of the commuter bag (or 1200 sq. ft. for the commuter XL).



1400 Square feet? That sounds like the dimensions for a warehouse.

Ah yes. The new Pocket Continuum (tm) feature, fitted as standard to all high quality luggage. Fit everything you own including your house into one small backpack

pca

Hello? Portable hole, anyone?

No... I swear... that's an ET reference, not an "I'm a D&D geek" reference.

Um, actually as a D&D geek, I recognized it as a D&D reference...

For some reason, I had the exact same thought. Even the ET thing, despite being a D&D geek.

The portable hole was first, I think. It certainly existed in 1st Edition AD&D. I don't have my DM's Guide handy, though.

I think I should mention that I found a bag a bit of time after this thread died. I can't quite remember when but I know this thread wasn't active anymore.

My girlfriend even kinda picked it out. We were at some store that sells primarily planner stuff, and they had a sale on laptop bags and stuff. There was one that pretty much fit the bill. I'll have to take a pic of it sometime. Most importantly it got the girlfriend approval.

I also think the portable hole was bigger / more storage. Still... Rule #1: Do not open a portable hole inside another extradminsional space if you ever want to survive.

Portable holes are 6' diameter by 10' deep, and have no weight limit (for contents). The largest bag of holding, in comparison, is 250 cubic feet, with a content weight limit of 1500 lbs (and no sharp objects).

Not that I'd be the sort to have an (AD&D, 1st. ed.) DM guide handy for reference.

grammar edit

And either one of them is absolute hell in an airport X-ray machine....

<cleaning coffee from my monitor>

Okay. Taking this one step further into the surrealistic off topic area, what about the origin of the portable hole. I have seen it used in a few other places over time:

a) Bugs Bunny / Road Runner cartoons where "Liquid Hole" is used to create assorted mayhem...
b) The Beatles - Yellow Submarine and the Sea of Holes...

Any others?