This article was originally written in 2010 after Will Lisak, founder of ETWAS Bags first got in touch with OTC. It was in the form of a challenge. Will commented on a post about Jack Bauer’s bag, from the television show “24,” stating that his bag was tougher than Jack’s. After getting to know more…
Tag: Bags
OTC Recommends: The Leather Document Folio
Most of us regularly tote around briefcases, computer or messenger bags, rucksacks and even the odd updated map case. The bag, long a fixation of mine, is a staple in many guys’ lives. And bags seem to be everywhere – more so than in the past, really. We have more to carry around and and…
Truely Preppy Travel: True Wind Sailcloth Bags
I grew up sailing 420s on Long Island Sound and still have a real love of the water. Sailing, as with many physically challenging sports, makes you appreciate the quality and construction of your equipment and accessories. For example, Sperry topsiders are beloved by sailors because they actually work well and last. They look pretty…
A Classic: The Canvas Tote
I have a lifelong appreciation for designs that respect a product’s utilitarian roots. Classic and traditional styles have always done that. In fact, the hallmark of the true preppy aesthetic is the re-purposing of utilitarian items for everyday life: foul weather gear becomes a fashion statement, prep school ties and jackets appear in the office,…
Jack’s New Bag, Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
As most of OTC’s readers know, I am a bag guy. I commute to work by train, which of course necessitates a good bag, but I also have a thing about carrying too much stuff on my person. The search for the elusive perfect guy bag has been, and continues to be, a mission of…
J. Peterman’s Mailbag – The Best Bag Ever?
It’s funny how sometimes things just come together. I am a bag guy; I have lots of different bags, from elegant leather briefs to beat-up nylon messengers. One of my all-time favorites is the Counterfeit Mailbag, from the J. Peterman Company. In fact, it’s one of the first bags I ever wrote about and was…
Going Old School: Manhattan Portage Waxwear
This is the last installment of my Commuter and Dad Bag Test. I have had the chance to examine and test numerous bags from a number of brands spanning a variety of styles. From nylon messenger bags built for urban transport to a classic leather mailbag ready to handle a lifetime of aging. I have…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Timbuk2
If there is one company that’s the proverbial 800 pound gorilla of the messenger bag industry, it’s Timbuk2. The San Francisco based company’s three paneled bags have become somewhat iconic, just like its curly-cue logo. Though owners can customize those panels to almost any color combination, the bags are still instantly identifiable. BACKGROUNDFrom its founding…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Crumpler – Funny Name, Good Bag
Ever heard of Crumpler? Maybe not, but I suspect that most readers might recognize that little crazy-haired logo on the company’s distinctive messenger-inspired bags. You might not remember exactly where you saw him or on what, but chances are it will ring familiar. Crumpler is one of those brands; sort of everywhere but not necessarily…
Commuter & Dad Bag Test: Bag #1
Anyone who reads Off The Cuff regularly knows that I am always thinking about bags in one way or another because men today need them more than ever. And for those of us who commute by bus or rail, like me, we need good bags. This led to the idea of the Commuter and Dad…