I got into a discussion recently with someone (a female someone) who wanted to know why guys are so resistant to carrying a man purse. My argument, BECAUSE IT'S A PURSE, apparently wasn't convincing enough for her.
Her position was that guys need to carry as much stuff as women do -- keys, wallet, sunglasses, cell phone, blackberry, iPod, bail money -- and when traveling, you can add in things like passports, ID, boarding passes, etc. And since, 1- Guys only have so many pockets, 2- Carrying a briefcase or messenger bag around everywhere is not practical, and 3- Utility belts are to be worn by super heroes only, she feels that a man purse is the best everyday solution. And men should cowboy up, stop feeling this is a threat to their masculinity and embrace them.
Nice try. Never going to happen.
Not that she didn't have a pretty good argument. She did. But putting the word "Man" in front of it and making it out of black leather doesn't change the fact that it is still, at the very heart, a purse. And I'm not carrying one. Ever. Not even if they made an NFL signature version endorsed by Brian Urlacher.
But that still leaves us with the problem of how to carry all this stuff. If you have a good alternative, I want to hear about it. I found one solution that works well in fall and winter. The Xubaz scarf. Or as they call it, "functional neckwear".
Designed by a frequent traveler who wanted something to hold important items he needed close, the Xubaz has four pockets sewn into one side - two flapped and two zippered. There's even removable straps that clip to your belt loops to keep it from blowing away. Or being pulled off. Wear it with the pockets against your body and it looks like any other scarf. And I'm thinking it's a pretty good place to keep money and other important items hidden while traveling as well.
It comes in three lengths, a variety of colors and two different materials for varying degrees of warmth. Great with business or casual wear. Best of all, it's not a purse.
From around $50 www.xubaz.com