It's in the bag (Part II)

Last time I talked a bit about bags in general. Today, let's talk about specific categories of bags. There are many different types of bags out there, but not all of them are created equally. I don't mean to say that one is better than another, but, rather, that sometimes one kind more appropriate than another.

The Backpack
Pros: great for students who like to keep it casual; adequate for an overnight trip somewhere; appropriate for the great outdoors.
Cons: Don't wear a backpack with a suit. Don't ever wear a backpack with a suit. When men do this it brings the casualness of the backpack and the formal nature of the suit colliding together in a massive explosion causing at least two of the Muses to weep bitter and fashion saturated tears. Plus it just screams "classless intern."
Here's a nice, rugged rucksack from H&M:


The Shoulder bag
Pros: great for a student with a relatively light payload; a stylish and less touristy place to keep your essentials while traveling; nice for the day to day wanderings of the urban man.
Cons: not the best when riding a bike, hiking, or running.
Here's a nice, sporty one from Gola:


The Briefcase
Pros: a little more on the formal/traditional end of the spectrum; in education or business, it can distinguish a more serious man of a certain level of class.
Cons: not so good when accompanying a more casual look; it looks a little out of place when outside of the academic or professional sphere.
A classy, modern look from Kenneth Cole:


The Tote/Weekend Bag
Pros: for when you have more style than your trousers have pockets for and you need a bag to carry the surplus.
Cons: some men aren't comfortable with these because they remind them too much of a woman's bag.
A discrete option from Zara:


The Mini-Messenger (a.k.a. The Man Bag, Man Purse, European Leather Carryall, etc)
Pros: the perfect size for getting the normal stuff out of your pockets; not overly bulky and in-the-way.
Cons: just as is often the case with the Tote (above), some men aren't comfortable sporting one of these; a little small for some things.
A simple brown option from Zara:


Whichever strikes your fancy and meets your needs, be confident in your choice and enjoy the extra space in your pockets.
Wear it well.
Adam
(Images from www.golastoreusa.com, www.hm.com, www.zara.com, www.kennethcole.com)