Shoulder bags?

**way2fractious** · 8th April 08, 09:20 AM

Since starting to wear kilts a number of years ago, I now hate to carry things in my pants pockets. So I just use my sporran as a shoulder bag or "man purse" when not kilted. I have received just as many favorable comments or amused inquiries about my over the shoulder accessory as I do when wearing it as a sporran.

The red fox pelt here is attached to a simple shooting bag made of relatively inexpensive upholstery leather (actually free, from a "recycled" leather couch.

) A wide top usually requires some sort of stiffener to keep the straps from collapsing the top opening.

I've also made and carried raccoon and skunk sporrans, which tend to be larger than most sporrans (but maybe not big enough for munchkin stuff.)

Cover a bag with a pelt and no one questions the bag wearers gender.

w2f

**starbkjrus** · 8th April 08, 09:56 AM

I've carried one of the healthy back bags from LL Bean for years. http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...Id=1&langId=-1 (See top row).

If this is not big enough for what you are looking for then I'd try the Guys Stuff line of bags and backpacks from The Territory Ahead. No one is going to call one of these a "girly bag"
http://www.territoryahead.com/jump.j...%2C2%2C4%2C192

**JerseyLawyer** · 8th April 08, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

You know what would look kinda cool? Something like a Thorfinn or Freelander sporran, but bigger and with a strap that you could sling over your shoulder...

I think /that/ would look like a man purse.

I carry a briefcase every day, so I try to minimize what I have to carry around at other times.

**fluter** · 8th April 08, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

You know what would look kinda cool? Something like a Thorfinn or Freelander sporran, but bigger and with a strap that you could sling over your shoulder...

Something like one of these?

I have carried a briefcase or other bag for 40 years, and as a result I'm addicted to photographer's vests with 20+ pockets. They look a little funky with the kilt, but down-sizing to a sporran is a real challenge.

Those are some great looking bags to which everyone has linked. The canvas and leather look is classic, but the Peterman mailbag takes the cake!

**beloitpiper** · 9th April 08, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

Something like one of these?

I have carried a briefcase or other bag for 40 years, and as a result I'm addicted to photographer's vests with 20+ pockets. They look a little funky with the kilt, but down-sizing to a sporran is a real challenge.

Those are some great looking bags to which everyone has linked. The canvas and leather look is classic, but the Peterman mailbag takes the cake!

Kinda, but bigger. Like, the size of a backpack. Also, with two straps instead of one.

**RadioKen** · 9th April 08, 04:43 PM

I'll throw in my two cents here. I've carried bags of one kind or another for probably 20 years, at least. The one I like the best and the one I carry the most is my courier bag from Courier Ware. Check them out at www.courierwareusa.com. I have their size small and I'm constantly amazed by the amount of stuff I'm able to carry in it. In fact, I've been able to put so much stuff in it that I could barely lift it! We have a diaper bag that we use for the kids, but it usually stays in the car. When we get out and walk around somewhere I usually stuff a couple of diapers - bulky cloth diapers - in there with the rest of my things and we're good to go.

As for Indy bags (the Mk VII gas mask bag), I've had a couple that I bought years ago at Colonel Bubbies in Galveston for about $12 each. (When I saw what originals are going for now my eyes bugged out of my head!) They're good for small day bags. I still use the one I have left for when I want to carry my wallet, my small day planner, a few pens and pencils, a steno pad, a small rangefinder camera, and my reading glasses. Probably wouldn't work very well as a diaper bag, though. At least not for me.

Leather bags look really cool. BUT...leather is heavy, and a large leather bag is going to be fairly hefty even empty. That's something to consider if you're going to be hauling it around on your shoulder all day. My wife bought a great leather purse from a custom bootmaker, hand crafted to her specifications. It's maybe a couple of inches bigger than an Indy bag. After carrying it for a year she hates it. It's too heavy for her, even with only a little bit of stuff in it.

~Ken

**Erisianmonkey** · 8th April 08, 02:02 AM

I've carried a "purse" or "man-purse" or what have you for years-if I didn't have enough to carry to justify pulling out the old Alice pack (You military types will know what I'm talking about. Mine was surplus, got it for xmas 17 years ago, and through all the abuse it still looks the same as the day I got it.) or my briefcase, I still almost always want to have a notebook, portable cup (me and my beard have this thing against water fountains...I hate the spray catching in the beard and making me look like a shaggy dog just come out of the water, or alternatively just a guy drooling on himself), lighter, cigarettes, wallet, cell phone, pen, mp3 player, headphones, keys...you get the point. So about 15 years ago I grew a pair and decided anyone who wanted to make fun of me for wearing a bag to carry what I considered essential didn't count.

OK, got off track there. Kevin, It may seem strange, but a softsided laptop briefcase might actually be what you are looking for. I know that Walmart used to carry a laptop briefcase that had a large middle section where a laptop could go, and another for documents, and then various and sundry other pockets. Just leave the laptop out of the mix and you have a nice roomy bag for everything you need to carry and possibly one or two things that you just want to have with you. I personally have managed to carry books for three classes, a change of clothes and my lunch in mine-looks masculine without a doubt and holds everything but the kitchen sink.

**JRB** · 8th April 08, 05:40 AM

Filson also offers several good options for field bags...

http://www.filson.com/category/index...av_Luggage_txt

Here's one of their items; a tin cloth medium field bag...

**EBlackall** · 8th April 08, 11:34 AM

Try maxpedition stuff. You can see them at Maxpedition's web site or all over the web for better pricing. Got a Jumbo and Fatboy and think they are great!