Is this rucksack suitable for men?
April 11, 2011 7:50 AM Subscribe
Is this rucksack (in "Optimus Grey") suitable for men?
I need a new rucksack, and Jansport's haven't let me down before. I love the colour and design of this one, and it's perfect for my needs. But having seen one in the flesh (or polyester/nylon hybrid, if you will) I couldn't help but feel that it looked a bit, well, girly. Are white or light-coloured rucksacks firmly in the female category? Excuse my luggage naivety.
I need a new rucksack, and Jansport's haven't let me down before. I love the colour and design of this one, and it's perfect for my needs. But having seen one in the flesh (or polyester/nylon hybrid, if you will) I couldn't help but feel that it looked a bit, well, girly. Are white or light-coloured rucksacks firmly in the female category? Excuse my luggage naivety.
Girly? What does that even mean? If you like it, get it.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:55 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:55 AM on April 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
The grey will probably reflect dirt and scuff marks easier than the black will, but if you're having problems with your sexuality and how colored items can influence your purchasing behavior, than I would go with overcompensation and get something really, really manly with lots of pockets and zippers and maybe even in a camouflage pattern that will easily dissuade any potential critic of even thinking that you're a girly-man.
Also, Jansport is made by North Face and vice versa.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [7 favorites]
Also, Jansport is made by North Face and vice versa.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [7 favorites]
It's a backpack. It's not pink. You're good.
posted by theichibun at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by theichibun at 7:56 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: In backpacks, "girly" is denoted by the shoulder straps. If they're cut to go around boobs, then it's a girly pack. If not, then it's intended for dudes (or unisex). This one appears to be a dude's pack. Go out and wear it with pride. (But not too much pride, ifyouknowwhatImean...)
posted by phunniemee at 8:08 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by phunniemee at 8:08 AM on April 11, 2011
What an odd question. It's fine.
posted by you're a kitty! at 8:09 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by you're a kitty! at 8:09 AM on April 11, 2011
It looks gender-neutral to me, as do all backpacks, at least once you get past elementary school with the G.I. Joes and the Hello Kittys.
If anyone accuses you of having a girly backpack, you can tell them that ALL backpacks are feminine -- in Spanish, that is (la mochila is the Spanish word for backpack/rucksack and it is gendered feminine).
posted by amyms at 8:12 AM on April 11, 2011
If anyone accuses you of having a girly backpack, you can tell them that ALL backpacks are feminine -- in Spanish, that is (la mochila is the Spanish word for backpack/rucksack and it is gendered feminine).
posted by amyms at 8:12 AM on April 11, 2011
It looks like something you would take on a run or hike. Not something for work.
posted by darkgroove at 8:14 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by darkgroove at 8:14 AM on April 11, 2011
I have one just like the one JJ86 linked to. And I have boobies.
"I love the colour and design of this one"
I think you should get it then.
posted by iconomy at 8:21 AM on April 11, 2011
"I love the colour and design of this one"
I think you should get it then.
posted by iconomy at 8:21 AM on April 11, 2011
Yeah, unless it's a pastel color* or has some feminine design signifier like ruffles or sequins, it's unisex.
Don't get a cammo backpack because you're afraid that if you don't, people might think you're gay. That's fucking ridiculous.
*And, no, light gray is not a pastel color for the purposes of this question.
posted by Sara C. at 8:23 AM on April 11, 2011
Don't get a cammo backpack because you're afraid that if you don't, people might think you're gay. That's fucking ridiculous.
*And, no, light gray is not a pastel color for the purposes of this question.
posted by Sara C. at 8:23 AM on April 11, 2011
It's fine. Backpacks are almost categorically non-girly, unless they're pink or those tiny Prada backpacks from the 90s. Most women carry shoulder bags or messenger bags unless they're doing some sort of journey or activity that requires a backpack, and if you're backpacking in the mountains it's hard to look girly regardless of your gender.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:34 AM on April 11, 2011
Mod note: Folks, do not make this an argument or extended riff about manliness or so on, please.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:10 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:10 AM on April 11, 2011
Only if you get the model that transforms into a large truck.
posted by artificialard at 11:07 AM on April 11, 2011
posted by artificialard at 11:07 AM on April 11, 2011
Best answer: I wonder whether the reason you suspect it's girly isn't the color, but the tapered shape. The old fashioned unisex backpack was always straight-sided when I was growing up. Nowadays there are tapered or even almost triangular shapes, often with a generously curved top. Poking around on sites like Toys R Us and Ebags shows that there is a slight tilt toward this in children's and women's bags, but not enough to make it definitive -- there are plenty of unisex bags or even explicitly male bags that have these characteristics.
posted by dhartung at 11:20 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dhartung at 11:20 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:53 AM on April 11, 2011 [1 favorite]