Carry on then

By Benjamen Judd

Carry On Then. We recently did an outstanding review of some bags available at an adorable little Etsy store and it seemed to have struck a chord with some of the guys here at the QT office. There was a bit of dissention in the ranks as to what was considered suitable baggage for the everyday male – are totes an acceptable option? What about a carry-all? Or the ubiquitous canvas and cotton book-bags that have popped up? They all have their place and frankly we couldn’t really come to an agreement so we decided just to list our top five favourites makes:

1. The Elk Jute and Leather Tote. Handwoven jute and German leather come together to make a bag that is not only practical and durable but incredibly stylish. The Elk tote also comes with a shoulder strap and all it takes is a quick wipe down to keep it looking good as new.

2. The Sanqvist Assar Backpack. Scandinavian design at its finest, this backpack is a god-send for those of us who need to carry random stuff without being given the space to over-pack things we don’t need (like three books, two magazines, several outfit changes and a pair of shoes. Not saying names.)

3. The Herschel Ravine Bag. The perfect gym and weekend away bag in a no-nonsense grey. Easy to clean canvas that won’t hold on to the residue stench of your gym shoes and a zip that is also waterproof. Comes with an additional shoulder strap. Lovely.

4. Emma Mulholland’s The Great White Backpack. Ok. So this one is clearly a love item and may not be the most practical on the list but who gives a fig! It’s bright and shiny and we like Emma and we’re putting it in. So there.

5. And last, but not least, that darned canvas/cotton/hemp book bag. Love them or hate them, they’re cheap, convenient and they can actually carry quite a bit should the occasion need. They’re washable, dye-able, bleachable and last forever. They’re also eco-friendly and can double as laundry bags, shopping bags, lunch-bags or shoe bags. We’ve been known to use them as laptop bags when we’ve had to race downstairs for a very necessary lunch in the park. You can grab these at most book stores but we like the ones at Berkelouw Books up in Paddington.