Last week I did a post where I took a firm stand against the man purse. For those of you who missed it, and especially for those of you who might actually carry a man purse, you can read it
here. I will state again for the record: It doesn't matter how much stuff I have to carry, I will never, ever, carry a man purse. A briefcase or a messenger bag is the closest I will ever get.
Personally, when I have to haul work related stuff around, I like messenger bags better than traditional briefcases. Why? They are more casual. And I'm not an executive type. Nor do I want to feel, or look, like one. And since I spend my days tie-less and in jeans, a messenger bag fits my personal style better.
They are also very lightweight and are designed to be slung over your shoulder. So when you're all over town on sales calls, or walking the endless aisles of a trade show collecting useless swag, (and I am the king of collecting useless trade show swag) you can take the added weight for a longer period of time.
Most importantly, they are made to take on the elements and are built to withstand serious wear and tear. And I can dish out some serious wear and tear.
I have a Ruckus messenger bag from Pacific Design, and it's my favorite. The creative side of me likes things that are stylish and well designed. The business side of me likes things that are functional and well thought out. The Ruckus gives me both.
Lightweight, and made of an incredibly sturdy nylon that feels almost bulletproof, it's got a padded, velcro-flapped, laptop section that offers protection on all sides, (and seeing as how I've already dropped my laptop twice, I need it). It also has thick padding on the back, when it's loaded down I don't feel like I'm taking body shots from De La Hoya. And the front zippers are water-resistant, so when you are waiting in the rain for an hour for a cab, your stuff stays dry.
Being a gadget guy by nature, I like places for things. And every thing has a place in the Ruckus. There's a zippered pouch for your power cable. A padded, secure pocket with a rubber headphone port for your cell phone or MP3 player. It also has dedicated media storage for your CDs and DVDs, a clear ID pocket, a water bottle holder, pen holders, key clip, and a side access, velvet-lined pocket for things you don't want scratched, like your sunglasses. And an optional cell phone pouch that clips to the shoulder strap. There's a spot for everything. Except eyeliner. Because it's not a purse.
$59.95 www.pacificdesignstore.com