The term man purse聽is usually meant as a joke, and that鈥檚 a shame. Thanks to聽masculine insecurities, some聽guys聽don鈥檛 feel like they can carry something the size of purse, because it makes them seem weak or聽too feminine聽or for some other bullshit reason.
When men head out on the street, we鈥檙e supposed to carry a pack or just stuff our pockets. Backpacks are often too big, and our pockets don鈥檛 hold enough. But a purse, small bag, whatever you need to call it, is usually聽the perfect聽size for all the essentials, like your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, water bottle, camera, and maybe an extra layer. It should be an essential part of your kit.
My favorite in this category is the cross-body聽 ($99) At聽seven liters, it will carry all the gear listed above and organize it in a聽way that you鈥檒l quickly come to love. There鈥檚 a lined pocket just for your glasses, so you never need to worry about scratching them. A ring ensures your keys won鈥檛聽slip out when聽the main compartment is open. And thanks to a gusseted design, the Sling compresses when it鈥檚 not packed but expands when you need to stuff it full.
It聽carries well on my back if I鈥檓 wandering around a city or on a short trail. The nylon strap is slender聽but doesn鈥檛 dig聽into my shoulder. It can also be cinched down tightly to keep the bag from bouncing when I鈥檓 running to catch a plane. If I need to access something, I slide it around to my chest聽instead of taking it off like a backpack. When I do take it off, there鈥檚 a magnetic clasp on the strap that can be unclipped with one hand. The Sling isn鈥檛 waterproof, but it鈥檚 pretty damn water-resistant, thanks聽to a tight-weave polyester, so you don鈥檛 need to worry if you鈥檙e caught out in a storm.
Fashion-wise, man purses are starting to catch on. Stroll the streets of any major city, walk through a big outdoor concert, or ride public transportation, and you鈥檒l likely see a couple guys聽carrying them. 听补苍诲听 also make nice versions that can be worn as slings or fanny packs. I hope the trend continues. (Women have had the right idea all along.)聽But even if it doesn鈥檛, I鈥檒l still be rocking my bag.