Tips: how to choose and wear a men's bag?

If carrying a bag has long been sacred among women, it has recently tended to become commonplace among men, thus breaking with a long tradition which roughly only tolerated the briefcase for men.

And for good reason, it is very practical and often proves to be stylistically interesting. We will therefore see, in this article, how to tame this accessory which has also become completely necessary for us.

Let's see together which models of men's bags are the easiest to carry and the mistakes to avoid. As usual, find our selection of good brands of bags for men at the end of the article!

CAN A MAN CARRY A BAG? (SPOILER: YES)

Its practical utilitarian nature and its accessorizing power make it a piece that every human being, man and woman, must consider. To those who would say that the bag is too feminine or would hesitate to take the plunge, I answer that everyone has the right to carry their personal belongings (wallet, papers, books, bottle of water, glasses, etc.) without distorting their pockets nor risk losing anything.

For all these reasons, it is obvious that the bag has its place in a modern man's outfit.

THE CRITERIA THAT BETRAY THE QUALITY OF A BAG

We don't change good habits: the first thing to observe is the material . Look for nice leather, quite thick, that takes light well. The same goes for canvas: poor quality fabric risks tearing with wear.

Also observe the supplies used : robustness of the zips and other closing systems, metal inserts linking the handles to the body of the bag, etc.

Finally, the finishes . For example, check that the slices are clean . Without forgetting the lining used, the care given to the interior pockets, the thickness of the thread or even the regularity of the stitches. In this case, the must remains the saddle stitch: the seam does not give way if the thread breaks, because each stitch is in fact a knot.

WHAT MATERIAL TO CHOOSE?

A bag must first of all be strong. The first thing you need to think about is: “Will it hold up when loaded?” If you are city dwellers, choose thick canvas or leather. The perfect example is the Filson: this bag is almost indestructible and develops a nice patina over the years.

For the canvas, choose it ideally water-repellent: it is always unpleasant to find your belongings soaked at the end of a rainy day. If you are into more formal styles, full grain leather will be perfect and time will enhance it.

Plastic materials should be avoided: they will not hold up and will deteriorate instead of improving over time. Leathers that are quite vulgar, too patinated or too ribbed too. Once again, it is important to choose a bag that will accompany you for a long time because this accessory is timeless.

For a leather bag, don't count on less than 300 euros for a quality model. Below, the skin will be of poor quality and it will be noticed right away.

WHAT TYPE OF BAG TO CHOOSE?

There are several types of bags to meet everyone's needs. As you will have understood, the size of a bag varies depending on your daily life and the use you wish to make of it. There is no magic formula that will allow you to carry a single bag for all your actions.

1. THE 24H BAG

It's the basic urban bag for everyday use: you'll put your computer, charger, wallet, a book, your toothbrush, in short, enough to get you through a day without logistical problems.

It's a very practical bag when you have clothes to carry, like your sports gear or a light jacket in case the weather gets colder.

2. THE 48H BAG (OR “WEEK-ENDER”)

Same concept as the 24-hour bag except that its volume will allow you to last two days instead of one! Logic. This bag for nomads must be practical: it can hold a lot of objects without taking up too much space, unlike a sports bag.

It can remain elegant if you take it sober and in beautiful materials 4. It's the ideal bag for a weekend with friends, as its name suggests.

This is therefore the format that we recommend by default. And that’s good, it’s the one we come across most often.

In the photo above, see how relevant the two-material bias is: a thick canvas with leather finishes ensures elegance without compromising on the robustness of the piece. A winning bet!

2. THE TOTE BAG (AKA THE TOTE)

Although its unstructured and light appearance has long been the subject of debate, the "tote" has largely established itself in our lives and has ended up becoming essential for daily use.

Worn well, it remains rather elegant, and above all very practical. It's the ideal bag for a casual outing in the city, when the briefcase is too formal and the 24h bag is too big for a few hours of walking.

We often see it worn in summer, because it is generally made of canvas, but the thick canvas models are perfectly usable in all four seasons.

Its very simple construction and its stripped-down, very sober lines made it a great challenge for some workwear brands like Filson or Thrux Lawrence. This is also the case for Carhartt which uses it in 12oz canvases.

The most curious will take a look at the selection of tote bags on the Heddels site . In France, we really like Bleu de Chaude tote bags .

3. THE BAG

Characteristic of more casual outfits, it will leave your hands free in transport or on a bike, while generally displaying a nice capacity. Pay attention to the material : avoid fabric or polyester if you are over 25 and choose a beautiful, rich and smooth dipped lambskin, which will have a much better effect.

However, I have a huge problem with wearing a shoulder bag with a blazer or coat with structured shoulders. Indeed, the friction of the strap and the weight of the bag tend to badly (and irreversibly) deform the shoulder padding .

On the other hand, in looks with pieces without shoulder padding (bomber, parka, denim jacket), it is an ideal bag!

4. THE BACKPACK

The backpack is often shunned by adults and adored by teenagers, which suggests its practicality. You can store all your belongings there, while making a phone call and enjoying a lemon sorbet. You simply have to make the right choice.

In recent years, it has made a strong comeback and become an object where technique and design blend harmoniously. The "backpack" section of the brilliant Carryology site is incredibly useful and well stocked, it's where I would go if I wanted to buy a backpack tomorrow.

Again, avoid the teen style by sporting brightly colored polyester bags - unless you have a decidedly streetwear style and know what you're doing. Besides, vintage designs work very well and ensure you stand out from classic Eastpak bags.

5. THE BRIEFCASE

Businessmen 's favorite bag. Today we produce it in all kinds of ways, but too often bad ones. Like the costume, this accessory has become part of the codes and is therefore too often chosen by default. “ I need one anyway, I have no choice.”

Break these codes! By searching minimally, you can easily find a tasteful alternative. So avoid huge flaps and hook clasps, which will make you fall into the cliché of the 1930s math teacher. The Filson model 256 has become cult, it is a good example of sober, robust and timeless design. .

6. THE PORTFOLIO

The most distinguished, but also the most bulky form of the bag family. Having no handles, it can be carried with both hands.

The choice of material is essential: plastic would not hold up and would make the piece lose all its appearance. It is a type that has become very trendy, which we have seen a lot at Pitti, but the total absence of the slightest handle can make it difficult or even annoying to wear. Even more so if you plan to walk a lot in a day, like during a trade show for example.

Note that this type of "brief" bag is very rare among women, which has led certain brands of tactical equipment such as Magpul to have fun offering them in various formats.

MEN’S BAG MODELS TO AVOID

1. THE ATTACHMENT

For the reasons mentioned above (briefcase), it is forbidden to carry a bag like this, especially if you are barely 20 years old and going to your first job.

2. THE SHOULDER BAG

We see a lot of them on the street, that's obviously not why we should imitate this style. Of course, it is very practical for storing your mobile phone and your wallet, but it will generally not do your look any favors. It is also not the height of elegance due to its disproportion.

Think about the clothing option with pockets, such as cargo pants or safari jacket!

3. THE SPORTS BAG

Why is it forbidden to carry a sports bag away from the training route? Precisely because it is a sports bag... and of course because it generally smells (very) bad! It's a bad reflex that men are adopting more and more and which must be eradicated.

WHAT COLOR TO CHOOSE YOUR BAG?

Surprisingly, this is the question that continues to bother many people. Yet it’s simple: any one! Brown leather is the most versatile , but you can also go completely wild with the color if the leather is beautiful. However, certain shades will suit certain styles better.

Colors that we sometimes think about the least can turn out to be excellent choices (for example: sand, gray, petrol blue).

• City dweller/adventurer style: choose rather simple, soft colors that blend into the crowd without being sad. Sand, khaki, cream, gray, blue and brown tones are safe values.
• Street/student style: you can let loose on the bright colors, that's what makes this style come alive. For backpacks, avoid brands that are too mainstream , there are young designers who offer bright colors on very good quality bags.
• Dressy style: at BonneGueule, we prefer brown to black, but you shouldn't put it aside if it's a color that you know well and you have many formal shoes in this color.

WHERE TO FIND A GOOD MEN’S BAG AND FOR WHAT PRICE?

Avoid bags like Zara or Mango Homme which will only last you one season. Dare to spend more on a piece that will last you 15 years (the average life of a good bag) rather than buying a low-end bag every year. If you don't have the budget to buy a beautiful leather bag right away, take canvas, even if it means saving for later.

As with all products, you will find bags for all budgets.

1. AT ENTRY-LEVEL, PREFER BACKPACKS

It's a risk to take if you don't have a lot of budget. But you can find canvas backpacks that are pretty well constructed, it's the only effective piece for a relatively low price. For the rest, move on.

The 48h have an increasingly sophisticated design in major brands, but as far as solidity is concerned, it's a different story. Shoulder straps often break under the weight of your belongings (I speak with knowledge of the facts).

Our selection of good entry-level bag brands:

• Faguo : we find all models, also in canvas, and always for less than 100 euros. The bag won't last you 10 years but it's a good compromise for entry-level.
• Qwstion : different models of canvas bags around 100/200 euros. For the price, the quality is more than adequate and they are solid.

2. MANY MID-RANGE BAG MODELS

Here is the right solution, you will find more refined, better crafted bags, with noble materials, for an affordable price. Beware of large, over-marketed brands such as Sandro, The Kooples and others, who will offer you very expensive products for poor quality.

Turn to young designers, or specialists like Meilleur Ami , you are guaranteed to never be disappointed. It's a market in which we see very pretty French brands flourishing, with a fair and honest approach: the designs are interesting, the quality follows. Might as well support them 🙂

Our selection of good brands of mid-range bags:

• Léo et Violette : one of the best quality/price ratios on the market for sober and elegant leather bags. Count around 250 euros.
• Almaré : very good brand for travel bags with a clean and elegant design. The canvas is high quality (cotton canvas). Around 300 euros.
• Léon Flam : bags inspired by the great era of aviation, quite a choice of colors and quality manufacturing. From 165 to 450 euros.

• Atelier de l'Armée : the brand reinterprets the military universe through its bags. From 300 euros.
• Calabrese 1924 : very beautiful leather travel bags. Around 500 euros.

• Raccagni are for example galvanized). Expect more than 600 euros, but you won't get better at that price.
• Dajczman : excellent quality bags designed to last a lifetime. Also, a tailor-made tailoring service. Count on more than 1,500 euros.