Help Me Find a Sexy Weekend Bag (For a Guy)

June 2, 2008 8:17 AM

I am the unproud owner of the world's most hideous weekend bag. I'd like to right the wrong by moving up to a really sexy-looking weekend bag (I'm a guy).

View this photo to experience the fugly, shiny, lumpy dismagnificence of hideous weekend bag (HWB). The bag measures 22" x 9".

The problem is that in terms of utility, i can't find anything as good as HWB. Its flaccid softness makes it easy to overstuff. And I like the zippered side pockets - also overstuffable - that can fit a shoe each, or separate dirty laundry. I like the flush-fitting velcroed outer pocket for documents and maps.

Is there anything out there that's also got lots and lots of space, with shoe/laundry-accommodating segregated pockets, but that's gaspingly masculine and sexy? Or shall I stick with function-over-form?

Oh, one thing: please, no conspicuously expensive leather that will get the thing stolen within the first month!

The Patagonia MLC isn't great looking, but its got the space, segregation, and overstuffability.

The Patagonia lightweight tote is perfect, but nearly as ugly as HWB

This banana republic pebbled leather duffle is awesome looking (though lacks segregated space for shoes/laundry)...but it seems oh-so-stealable.

This nylon weekend bag from banana republic seems like a decent compromise.

Is there anything perfect out there?

posted by jimmyjimjim to clothing, beauty, & fashion (26 comments total)

HWB - wow! You're right about that. :)

Do you want something that is approximately the same size, or is larger ok?
posted by Incognita at 8:30 AM on June 2, 2008

LeSportsac Stack Duffle
LeSportsac Amplitude Duffle
LeSportsac Large Weekender
Ghurka Killburn
Ghurka Cavalier II (21 inches long) - Cavalier III is 24 inches long, Cavalier IV is 30 inches long
posted by spec80 at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2008

I love my Skyway Doctor's bag for the weekend. The pictures do not show the bottom compartment, which I use for my laptop, phone charger, camera charger and other misc electronics. The inside is all one compartment, but it's a light, sleek bag and extremely well-designed. I find little design features which surprise me with their utility every single time I use it. It's only $25, too.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:43 AM on June 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'd seen this in another MeFi post about a gift for someone finishing school, but I bookmarked the bag because it was so highly recommended and looked pretty cool, here's the link to the AWOL bag.
posted by acorn1515 at 8:43 AM on June 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Man, I kind of like your ugly bag. I don't know about replacing it... it has personality. And personality goes a long way.
posted by fusinski at 8:46 AM on June 2, 2008

These two show up a lot if you search froogle for "duffel side pockets".
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:47 AM on June 2, 2008

I also like your bag. Plus, if you want something "sexy" you're going to have to buy something that somebody else might want to steal.
posted by fire&wings at 8:52 AM on June 2, 2008

Different totes for different folks, because I LOVE your HWB. I will buy it from you. It's "gaspingly masculine and sexy". I think I can smell your testosterone from all the way over here....

I second the Ghurka Killburn bag. Tumi makes pricey but gorgeous duffels and other stuff. Also, I thought the messenger bag that mathowie bought, which was made from a vintage repurposed London Fog trenchcoat, was devastatingly sexy, so check etsy for one-of-a-kind goodies.
posted by iconomy at 8:56 AM on June 2, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Red Oxx sells great stuff but then it depends on how much you want to spend on that sexiness.
posted by firstdrop at 9:08 AM on June 2, 2008

I say stick with the bag. A few reasons:

1. When men don't have the newest, shiniest, most expensive personal items, it makes them seem more rugged, and less concerned about bs stuff like "whats the best weekend bag?". I would think that you'd be the last guy to know what LiLo means.

2. The less you consume, the less you harm you do.

3. It actually looks pretty nice. If I saw that bag in line at the airport, I'd be thinking "This is not a guy who's going to Cleveland...this guy is going to Myanmar. I bet he's a well traveled photographer."

Instead spend your money on a fedora, a sidekick, world adventures, and change your name to "Indy".

Good luck!
posted by hal_c_on at 9:16 AM on June 2, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

incognita, I'd like about the same size. I can fit this under an airline seat. Couuld probably fit something slightly larger, if it were equally soft and flaccid as HWB

fusinski and fire&wings, I'll surf the recommendations (a little later), but I have a feeling you're right, and I'll wind up sticking with HWB. I get some nasty looks from doormen and porters, but frak 'em...

iconomy, that ain't my testosterone you're smelling....

hal_c_on, I'm not capable of "rugged". Two day beards and ugly bags make me look shleppy, not manly. Blame my genome. If you saw me in an airport, you'd think I just stumbled out of an asylum with this bag. it's not a "good" kind of broken in. Problem is I'm a pretty good photographer, and made the thing look somewhat noble. Which, really, it is, but just to me...

Others: I'll surf later, and thank you much!
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:35 AM on June 2, 2008

I like your HWB. It makes me think you'd smell like aftershave and know how to chop wood and build a fire.
For a professional weekend trip though, I like the SkyWay Doctor's bag that crush-onastick linked to. I might even get one myself. They hold up well, crush? I seem to have zipper problems with the cheaper bags...
posted by rmless at 9:38 AM on June 2, 2008

rmless, I'd love to be that studly brutish devil-may-car Marlboro Man for you, I really would. But while I hate to puncture that image, you've likely already read my disclosure, just above, re: my abject shloomphiness. I'll come back as That Guy next life, though, and sweep you right off your feet (with my bulging non-weekend-bag-holding arm).
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:45 AM on June 2, 2008

Stick with the HWB. Maybe give it a bit of TLC with some leather treatment to bring back some of the colour and grain, but that's a bag with character and history.
posted by holgate at 10:07 AM on June 2, 2008

It never had color or grain. It was like eleven bucks at some cheap chain. The photo makes it look like rugged worn quality. It's not. It's shiny orange cheapy lumpyness. Applying leather treatment to HWB would be akin to applying hair mousse to a kewpie doll's locks.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 10:15 AM on June 2, 2008

rmless: I've had no trouble with the zippers on that bag and I use it roughly every other weekend. It is a little tall to go under the seat on some aircraft, but not most of them. I store it folded almost in half and it still looks good.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:24 AM on June 2, 2008

Go for this. It's sporty.
posted by cior at 11:21 AM on June 2, 2008

I think you're nuts. You have the greatest bag in the world already! That old world-weary thing screams sexy and experience. If you dont want it, send it to me and I'll gladly pay you the cost of some genderless, synthetic, personality-vacant travel bag in return.
posted by elendil71 at 11:29 AM on June 2, 2008

I bought a duffel from SportChalet for $10 or similar. Black, nylon, frickin' amazing. One pocket.

I'd imagine the trick is to have stuff-bags inside - different colours for different things, with a washbag as well.
posted by djgh at 12:24 PM on June 2, 2008

I agree with all of those people. It's a great bag.

But if you insist of replacing it, consider one of these Territory Ahead bags. My mom, despite not being a guy, packs mountains of stuff in the pictured Guy Stuff Mail Bag.
posted by tangerine at 3:47 PM on June 2, 2008

All-Leather Duffel Bags, Two-Compartment Bag, Filson Duffles, $$$
posted by Bigfoot Mandala at 5:19 PM on June 2, 2008

Oh, one thing: please, no conspicuously expensive leather that will get the thing stolen within the first month!

Sorry, just saw that part.
posted by Bigfoot Mandala at 5:21 PM on June 2, 2008

I think that eBags might be a good source. (Not a Pepsi Blue, just a happy customer.) I bought a black messenger bag (their own brand, although they sell everyone else) that continues (IMO) to look rather okay style-wise.
posted by WCityMike at 4:56 AM on June 3, 2008

Lose the bag. That bag is bent on vengeance. It will have one more stab at life and leap up at an inappropriate moment and ask you whether you remembered to pack the Walther or whether you returned the call to the STD clinic. That bag is mean; it will betray you.
posted by firstdrop at 8:03 AM on June 3, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Maybe I'll save you some time-- a big NO to cior's "sporty" option (too gaudy) and a heart recommendations for several of tangerine's "Territory Ahead Bags." The latter ones aren't conspicuous but still classy and interesting, with character and ample compartments.
posted by potatopeople at 12:07 PM on June 3, 2008

Oh my! I'm a bag connoisseur and I have to have one of those Territory Ahead bags. And I'm a girl. Thanks for the tip tangerine! That aside, I've been trying to talk my boyfriend into buying this Paul Frank Weekender bag. I think it's pretty stylish and roomy enough, but it doesn't have all the pockets you want.
posted by wherever, whatever at 9:54 PM on June 3, 2008