WHICH 'MAN-BAG' TO SELECT | MESSENGER BAGS FOR MEN

[@Fush1234]

My wife bought me a small Boss black leather man bag. Over the shoulder or under the arm. Whichever you want. I scoffed at this concept. Now I wouldn’t be without it. Fantastic. Bugger the by-gone era.. I’m 67

[@scrambaba]

I have had a Fjallraeven cloth messenger bag which has received heavy daily use since 2017. No tears, no wear, and only a bit of wax periodically to keep the heavy canvas water-resistant. Two thumbs up!

[@walterfoyt5985]

When wearing a suit or sports jacket I love my Mark Cross brief case. I never wear a back pack. I think it makes you look like a schoolboy. When I’m dressed casual I use a message bag always in leather.

[@sitbone3]

Guys, if you’re looking for a bag that’s inexpensive and not feminine looking, try a military surplus store. The bags are going to be heavy canvas and will last two lifetimes. All sizes and shapes are usually available. I have a couple and get asked where I got them all the time.

[@thewolfman6854]

Thanks Ash - some great ideas there. Definitely looking at leather and rather like the CF Bowen. Looks really smart and is compact, which is what I am looking for. Also, Harber do a 'sling bag' but that may be a little too small. As I have got older, I seem to have accumulated a lot of every day 'stuff' and don't seem to be able to 'travel light' like those super cool guys with a pair of sunglasses perched on their head and little else to carry! A lot to do with my fading eyesight, but keys, wallet, glasses, phone, maybe earbuds, sunglasses all become bulky - especially in the summer when you may not be wearing a jacket. Thanks for the advice!

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

I have paired down what I carry with me so I really have no need for a carry-on bag but times that I do I would like to have another one. Right now I have a canvas and leather one that works out when I need it. Keep up the quick fire videos really enjoy them cheers Ron

[@StruanRobertson29]

Looking sharp today ash!...have a great day

[@martin701]

In my view and experience you can’t beat a “Nutsac” (yes you heard that right!). It’s made of heavy duty canvas in a couple of colours and in various sizes. It really is a quality product and if I remember rightly (I’ve had mine for some time), it’s Canadian. It’s colour has not faded and because of the way it’s made, it has completely retained its shape. A first rate product and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another.

[@paulietv2162]

It sounds like the donkey jacket of the bag world

[@martin701]

@@paulietv2162 absolutely not (unless you happen to be a vintage labour politician)

[@ianhindmarsh882]

I must admit I'm a bit of a fan of man bags and own two. The first is canvas and gets thrown in the topbox of my motorcycle and is the one I take to work. I also have a lovely leather one, made by my shoemaker of choice, Loake. That one actually gets complimented on, the latest being by a chap in a Loake shop who had never seen one and hadn't even realised that Loake make them...

[@markbroomhead7845]

Really enjoying these quick fire Q & A videos. Thank you and keep up the excellent content.

[@thematchbox55]

I've got a hidesign laptop bag in a very unusual tan colour which I got 20 years ago. Sadly I don't use it as much as I'd like but it's still as fresh as the day I bought it. For a few hundred pounds it's outlasted messenger and backpacks I've had over the same period of time 👍

[@lynn5447]

I have found that a little shoe cream is also good for bags, keeping the leather supple and the color in fine fettle. When my mother died in 1980, I looked for her college notebook which dated from the late 1930's. It was leather and zipped. It had a 3 ring binder built in. Unfortunately she had never done anything to maintain it, and the leather was crumbling into small bits and pieces. Pity, but it was fit only for the trash. However, I did learn that maintenance is needed for all leather goods.

[@thewanderer2410]

Hi Ash i enjoyed your video on man bags/messenger bags. Could you do one on affordable weekend bags for people on a budget. Regards

[@sitbone3]

Try military surplus stores.

[@ronnihansen7005]

Barbour has a kombination of lether and wax cotton, i really enjoy that one. Thank you for good advice and guidance.

[@victorhobson373]

Morning Ash,looking very stylish as always ,love the shades !!! yes I really want a flight bag to carry all my bit & bobs keys reading glasses etc !! but they are so popular in my city with young people in tracksuits etc 🙄 so they are really off putting to me!!! yes I do carry a bag were ever I go to work etc I like having something in my hand easy accessible for all my needs!!! BUT..... when going out with my wife for a meal or a drink etc it can get in the way !!! so one again lots to deliberate over for that perfect bag...superb video Ash and great advice for us chaps leather is the way for a great sartorial look.

[@e-remes7029]

Informative as always Ash. I always eschewed the carrying of a bag. I am a man, I have pockets! In green, I will always carry a Patrol sack/ day sack (Sac du Jour). I do now carry a bag quite often. I do not have a penchant for leather. I now have 2, a modified reproduction 1914 pattern canvas haversack (modified insomuch as I added internal organiser pockets) and a 1942 vintage MkVII gas mask bag with the original strap replaced by a leather shoulder strap (not a difficult job)-Yes like the one Henry Jones Junior favours. This also has the benefit of organiser pockets as standard, though not originally intended for Mobiles/ Notepads/ pens &c.

[@viclucyzia]

One used to wonder what woman have in their purses and why do they have to carry so much around with them now the time has come where men carry more and more such as cell phone, wallet , keys, eyeglasses or sunglasses or even both, possibly if needed medicine (for me eyedrops), cleaning tissues for glasses, and it goes on and on. So a man-bag becomes increasingly an item to think about wearing but it has to be manly enough.

[@rogerr.8507]

400$+ for leather man bags? Makes my Dr Martens leather bags look cheap! You should do a video on how to waterproof them, that being the advantage over canvas.

[@johnreep5798]

I used a leather Hartmann briefcase for 30 years before it started to come apart. I’d added a shoulder strap, which added flexibility to its mission. I still have it but use a laptop bag now.

[@cv97035]

I have the CF Bowen in black. Unbelievable quality. An item that you can easily give to your son, it will surely outlast me!

[@RaoulKunz1]

Now here's an interesting field for sure! I commute ~1h forth and another back every day, more in the morning mostly to be certain to be on-time with some spares (...Germany... this psychosis is in our blood😆 - blame the Prussians...oh wait... I descend from those people in a direct line...😅) and I personally use a rather substantial, well it's not really a messenger bag, it's more of an "attaché bag" or a "satchel-like" option instead of a case, and I have it on a strap over the shoulder when I'm sitting in a train, not when walking from A to B chiefly not as to damage my jacket/sports coat/blazer/overcoat/greatcoat/whatnot so I carry the (sometimes quite heavy with - as the Wolfman said - "every day stuff" ) bag like a briefcase. It's a rather expensive leather item but this is both the most economical as well as ecologically sound option because of repairability... and as it is with all leather I have the hardware right at work to repair it if there are any damages (and there've been a couple) - lucky me😅 - but we also sometimes repair bags for our customers so, as Mr. Jones said, get it to the local cobbler, or maybe Orthopaedic Shoe Technician, they can deal with it. I'm currently looking into going a bit away from the "satchel-esque" bag and supplementing it with a more "briefcase-ish" option - still have to look into this. Thanks for another short video on an interesting topic which is present all around us every day but one rarely thinks about. Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

[@canadafree2087]

Still using a daily backpack in casual clothes. However I have been looking at leather bags for when a nylon backpack does not fit a dress up look. For myself, I am looking at more rustic leather ones with things like pockets on the outside as I find smooth line bags are hard to differ in style from woman's bags.

[@Gr33nsurfer]

I prefer backpacks and messenger bags but I realised that they cause pilling on jackets and therefore I'm hoping to find some good leather ones which do not cause as much pilling as other materials do.

[@Rick-fz7tt]

Would you tell me who made that nice small dark brown bag you first showed.

[@TheChapsGuide]

It's from John Lewis (department store), although I picked it up from eBay for £8 several years ago.

[@jeffreylamont8111]

Hi Ash love your channel.my question is which type of weekender leather bag would you go for?

[@TheChapsGuide]

My favourite weekend bag is my Carl Friedrik leather weekend bag: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpy4kGOHd8qHqc0

[@guitarplayer5611]

Nice advice!

[@paulbest6556]

Ash, I just purchased a used pebble leather Barbour satchel on eBay to be shipped from the UK to Indiana in the US. What Saphir products do you recommend to use to nourish and freshen it? From the photos, it looks to be in very good shape.

[@TheChapsGuide]

I use a brand called Renpur on my man-portable leather goods. It is a balm and works a treat on leather without any risk of discolouration. My wife has been using it on her horse riding saddles for many years and it is superb (and cheap).

[@patrickday5238]

I agree that leather goods is no place to skimp. However, I have seen some no name Chinese made leather bags that are of surprisingly good quality. What would you recommend for a top opening briefcase, like a doctor or lawyer would carry?

[@kyakfsh]

Wested and USWings make leather versions of the canvas satchel carried by Indiana Jones.

[@parky5329]

Question - I am looking for some high quality plain white trainers, the type that can be worn with chinos etc. I also want them to be british made. Any recommendations please? P.s thanks for the fantastic content. From a former Guardsman and current Constable 👍

[@TheChapsGuide]

Well, it is possible but not cheap (as with all GB products. Crown Northampton make superb white trainers but the price stings (crownnorthampton.com) a cheaper alternative is my favourite brand Cheaney (www.cheaney.co.uk/cheaney-x-goral-kelham-unisex-trainer-in-white-off-white-leather-p1307). All British made!

[@rezaulmiah6438]

Check out the Mulberry Antony in NVT Oak leather

[@zhongxina6116]

Hello! May I know what’s the model of the small laptop style bag you took out in the video?

[@TheChapsGuide]

It is an old model from John Lewis. Now discontinued I’m afraid

[@verykeen2please]

i have a a few A small leather one for when i just need an iPad, a pen etc

[@archie2archie]

Pre covid workwear- suit. Post covid workwear - jogging pants hoody.

[@gabrielgallawa8205]

They don’t really fit the chaps aesthetic but Saddleback Leather Company is my source of all my bags/luggage.

[@toobalkain]

what's with the super narrow lapels and tie, though, not exactly classic style.

[@Chinosandbrouges]

Briefcase all the way

[@sitbone3]

A month ago I purchased an amazing, new leather briefcase for under $50 US from a place online I’m not allowed to mention or recommend or this comment will be deleted.

[@phmwu7368]

a modern day laptop bag is far more practical and costs a fraction of those leather man-bags !

[@maskedavenger2578]

I wouldn’t be seen dead carrying one of those effeminate looking so called man bags . If I need to carry penpushers swag , I would use my old faithful Antler attaché case ,Bond style. Tut tut man bags indeed ,just don’t know what the worlds coming to old chap