BlogCadre users see no ads!  Popular topics: humor, video, links, cool, wtf.  Go create an account!




Geeks, get girly!

travel_bag.jpg
This subject may be taboo, but since I've been diagnosed as being 47% gay (care of some random internet test), I figure it's an appropriate subject. The item in question is: The Man Purse. Seinfeld tried it, should you?

My friend Todd, who oddly enough seems slightly metro-sexual also, has a man purse. In fact he was the one who inspired me. For the modern hacker or geek accessorizing is a must: digital camera, audio gear, GPS, smart phone, PDA, lock-pick set, USB memory, laser pen -- you name it, we have it. So how do you lug all of this stuff around? I used to carry all of my PDA accessories in a hefty ziploc bag. Just to insure a standard level of gay-ness it had a christmas pattern printed on the bag... way ghetto. So I finally splurged. I went to Wilson's Leather and found the "Travel Bag" section. These things aren't unfamiliar to guys. Many have something like this for a toiletry bag or dop kit (as my dad would call it). But we're looking for one that has more purse-like qualities: pockets for credit cards, I mean, flash memory and loops for laser pens.

Before, in my ziploc I carried a pen/stylus/led/laser, an SD card, two CF memory cards, a CF wifi card, a CF camera, a spare battery, the screen cover, and a spare stylus. I'd trudge that along with my PDA in it's nuclear bomb-proof case, and my portable keyboard. I found a travel bag that could accommodate all of that stuff and wrap it in a great looking piece of cow-ass.

So the next time your pockets seem to be getting too heavy, give into the taboo temptation. Check out your local leather and travel stores and tell them you're looking for a man purs... ahem, men's travel bag.

Images
All images courtesy of CVS <hacked> PV2 - One Time Use Digital Camera

Trackback URL for this post:

http://www.blogcadre.com/trackback/438

J needs one!

Jason Striegel's picture

Justin, I wouldn't say you are turning "girly"... I think you are just getting organized. I wish J had a "men's travel bag" to store all of his gadgets in. He currently has microphones and microphone accessories strewn across our bedroom floor. Heaven forbid I touch the stuff and organize it because he'll say, "Stop moving my stuff. I had it all organized." His pants pockets need a little bit of cleaning out too. There is so much weight in his pockets he has to wear a belt to keep his pants up.

I say there is nothing wrong with a guy carrying a bag around just as long as it isn't pink with polka-dots.

Corrections

Jason Striegel's picture

First of all... Stella, you snuck in on my account and posted comments in my name. People think I am nuts now.

I am, of course, but I don't think people need to know this.

Second, my pants don't fall down just because I have some extra change in my pockets. They fall down because I have no ass.

OOPS!

Stella's picture

Sorry about that! I have a tendency to hack into other peoples' accounts. You know me, J...

I would have to agree with (1) J, you are nuts and (2) you have no ass. I still love ya anyway : )

for better or worse

Could be worse:

He could be an ass and have no nuts!

zeke

Purse...just say purse

Justin insists on calling it a "man purse" whereas I eleminated the unnecessary syllables years ago and just call it my purse. There's nothing funnier than getting up to go to lunch with the group and uttering the words "One sec, I gotta grab my purse" and watching the reactions. Man purse and man bag always makes me think of scrotum so I tend to eschew their usage.

Missing photos..

Where are the pictures with you carrying this new gadget?

I always just wear a backpack, but it can get annoying when you have to stand on the bus or train. Also, my laptop fits in my backpack just fine, along with my video camera, still camera and all the required cables, memory and tapes.

-Ryan

Backpacks work, but where do you put your credit cards?

Stella's picture

Backpacks work great, but sometimes the pockets are just way too big. It's nice to have a purse that has little pockets meant specifically for your credit cards, pens, money, cell phone, etc. Backpacks are a big black hole where you have to rummage around looking for exactly what you need. I have found backpacks that do have separate pockets for the things I've mentioned above, but the backpacks can still be too big for my needs. Purses are great when you want something compact.

**This is where J comments on how I carry around purses half my size and I might as well carry around a backpack.**

Where the purse ends and the backpack begins

Ok, this line may become further blurred as technology gets smaller... but here it is. If your purse is big enough to hold a laptop, you need to upgrade to (or add) a backpack. Otherwise you have achieved "Granny Purse" status. So if your everyday geek accessory list includes your laptop, then you need a backpack -- hopefully one that safely accommodates your laptop and has plenty of smaller pockets to keep your other stuff seperate and organized (less like a black hole). I don't know if the targus laptop backpacks are any good, but they offer quite a selection.

Purse + laptop bag

"If your purse is big enough to hold a laptop, you need to upgrade to (or add) a backpack."

I beg to differ. STM here in Australia offer an excellent purse+bag combo for us girl geeks that masquerades as a largish purse but can happily hold a 15" laptop (see http://www.standardtm.com.au/diva).

In addition, they've just released a second model that is similar but brown and apparently a 12" purse/bag is on the way due to popular demand.

NB: I'm not affiliated with STM. Just a fan and long-time user of their products.

I'm in love...

Stella's picture

I shouldn't have look at the STM website because now I'm eyeing the "diva" bag. hmmm... I wonder if they ship to the States???

Justin, check out the STM website... you'll get some ideas on more "manly" bags to use for toting around all your gadgets. After seeing your man purse in person a few weeks ago, I'm afraid it does look more like a girly purse. hee hee.

You can still be manly...

Stella's picture

Backpacks and messenger bags can still keep you looking masculine. Have you considered getting a messenger bag? You could still be manly yet stylish...

Not the point

For a while Justin was carrying around his PDA equipment in a ziplock bag! So he doesn't really care what is manly or stylish as long as it does the function. I think he'd look good in a messenger bag (hope he's reading!).

Too familiar

Stella's picture

This sounds all too familiar... Someone I know used to use a ziploc bag as a toiletry bag. I guess he wanted to keep his toothbrush and deodorant fresh. The ziploc bag did the job though...it just wasn't stylish enough for me.

Main Entry:

kelly's picture

Main Entry: murse
Pronunciation: 'm&rs
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English murs, from Old English, modification of Medieval Latin mursa, from Late Latin, ox hide, from Greek myrsa
(1) : a man's bag for carrying keys, a wallet, USB memory, and other personal items (2) : a male nurse