In today's world I need to carry more than just a wallet and a set of keys. Even as a working professional I have to be able to get at a variety of items quickly and the excuse of, "That's in my car," just doesn't cut it. Over the past couple of years I have been experimenting with different bags to find ones that will fit everything I need, be of a certain size, and (of course) be comfortable to wear.
Yes, I'm quite familiar with the "murse" comment. Whatever. I know what I need to carry and I'm beyond such 'negative' shaming attempts. I believe a lot of men are, as there are an ever increasing number of men who wear an every day carry (EDC) pack of some sort.
"What exactly do you need to carry with you?"
Glad you asked. In a typical day I need the following items:
- Smart phone (Samsung Note II)
- Keys
- Wallet
- Phone charger
- Kindle Fire
- Headphones
- Moleskin notebook
- Pens
- Pencil
- Spare keys
- Glasses case
- Small pill case (for things like Tylenol or Ibuprofen)
- Floss
- Nail clippers
- Pack of gum or breath fresheners
- Hand sanitizer
That's just my typical day, and I haven't even touched on work items. I also like to carry my CCW .380 on me at times. This list can also change if I wear contacts instead of my glasses in which case I need:
- Contact lens case
- Extra contacts (if you wear contacts you know why)
- Eye drops
- Small contact solution
As you can see, my pockets can't carry it all. And yes, I do use just about all of these items every single day. However, this isn't everything that I may or may not need depending on the day and/or circumstances. As a doctoral student I also need access to things like:
- Laptop
- Laptop power cord
- Travel mouse
Originally I had this lofty dream that I could find a bag that could carry everything I needed. One that I would always carry. I went through several (and I do mean several) bags and I just couldn't find the right one that worked. Sure, some I really like (for various reasons) but every bag just doesn't do what I need it to do in all situations. It took me months to realize that my needs change from one minute to the next. What I needed wasn't a single miracle bag. I needed several different tiers of bags each for a different context.
Tier I bag:
This is a bag that carries just a few of the important things I might need at any given moment. For me this is a small bag. I've settled on the Bolstr Small Carry Bag. This is a great bag. The materials and craftsmanship are excellent. It's small and inconspicuous which I love. This bag allows me to carry the following:
- Smart phone
- Wallet
- Keys
- Kindle Fire
- Eye glasses hard case
- Headphones
There is a little bit of room left over for some gum, floss, and a small pill case if necessary. This bag is great if I'm grabbing some coffee and I want to sit and read for a bit or if I'm spending the afternoon getting some lunch and catching a movie. The one thing that I don't like about this bag is the chest strap; it's too narrow, being only about 3/4 of an inch wide. There's a shoulder pad that tends to get in the way more than it helps. The bag also tends to shift from your back to your front as you walk if you're not using the waist strap. However, the bag is truly excellent and for a few number of items it really does the trick.
Tier II bag:
I don't have this bag yet. I'm looking for one but I haven't found the right one for me just yet. I'm eyeing the Condor EDC Bag the Maxpedition Fatboy S-Type Versipack or the Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack. Either of these bags will allow me to carry my .380, all the items of my Tier I bag, and everything I listed as my everyday items at the beginning of this post. I like the fact that these bags can rest low on the hips, can still be worn while driving, and can be expanded by attaching smaller compartments via molle straps. I don't like the tactical design of these bags, however. I wish someone made a bag of a similar size without looking like I'm heading into a combat zone. I did find this messenger bag which looks kind of like the above bags but it a) isn't water resistant and b) makes concealed carry a bit problematic due to there not being a dedicated compartment for that purpose.
Tier III bag:
My tier III bag is the Targus Legend IQ Backpack. I love this backpack. I've owned numerous backpacks over the years and this is my favorite one. It easily holds my 17" laptop and every item I've mentioned here. I typically attach my Bolstr bag (Tier I bag) to my backpack allowing me to carry both at the same time yet still detach the Bolstr bag when needed.
Well that's it. I hope to have another post about a Tier II bag in the coming weeks as I continue my search for one that meets my requirements. I'm even thinking of writing a blog post going over some of the other bags I've used and why they didn't work for me.
Until next time....