Carry All the Things
Right now I'm working between a couple different offices for my job, so I have to carry my laptop bag with a notebook and some files. I also carry my purse, which isn't tiny but is only about big enough to hold a small book, my phone and wallet, and that's about it. When I go to the gym, I carry a small backpack, that's big enough to fit my sneakers, gym clothes (Shorts,nike factory outlet, sports bra, and shirt) and gym lock, and that's ALL the bag will fit. If I don't go to the gym,cheap true religion, I sometimes still bring the backpack with my lunch in it and sometimes headphones.
I have to cart all this every day on the NYC subway. It's annoying. Also, re: "so many bags," I don't feel like I have good access to my money and phone and stuff if not in a purse,true religion, and the laptop bag is not big enough to carry all my stuff. I'm open to a big bag solution that can fit gym stuff, lunch, laptop, and notebooks but I don't want this to be a giant backpack, as those can be a total pain to get on and off on crowded subways.
help. I don't want a solution like "don't bring lunch" or "get a locker at the gym" because at least for now I feel like I have to carry all the stuff.
posted by sweetkid to Grab Bag (46 answers total) 46 users marked this as a favorite
I have this problem too; lots of bags for different purposes. I just bought this super cute "overnighter" bag from BlueQ. It's made from recycled feed bags and is big enough to fit my purse and a couple other miscellaneous bags. Here are their other overnighter bags (I want all of them). and it shipped at 4:30. (Not a paid shill for them, but would consider it if they'd pay me in bags.)
Another option that is $8.30 cheaper would be a big blue Ikea bag,jordan 5, the kind you get at check out.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 7:45 PM on September 27, 2012 [8 favorites]
Attractive bag large enough to fit everything. I can't really tell what your style is, but I fit 2 laptops, my notebook, kindle, phones,soccer jersey, wallet, umbrella, headphones, and lunch in it. If I needed to, I could fit in my gym clothes but the shoes wouldn't fit.
I think you'd get "so many bags!!" less if you only had two rather than three + bags with you. If you must have your little purse with you (which, forgive me, sounds tiny if you can only fit phone wallet and small book in it), stick it in another bag.
posted by arnicae at 7:47 PM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
I carry a large canvas tote from VS and my purse. I lug around everything in that tote laptop, textbook(s),mulberry outlet, folders, gym clothes, lunch, water bottle, etc. It zips at the top.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:49 PM on September 27,vans pas cher, 2012
No open bags. Those drive me crazy,hollister uk. And no shopping bags or plastic.
The purse is actually not THAT small. I'm trying to find a picture online. I could get like, another book in there and a bottle of water if I really wanted. But nothing like lunch or gym stuff or whatever.
posted by sweetkid at 7:52 PM on September 27, 2012
Scottevest! Coats and jackets and pants designed to carry hella stuff without showing it or feeling it.
I use the trenchcoat with a sweatshirt in winter and a travel jacket with sleeves removed all summer. I carry all my stuff with me all the time and never need a bag. No idea how I managed before I got a Scottevest coat, but definitely can't recommend them highly enough. The clothing is very good quality and lasts, definitely get your money's worth and more.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 7:53 PM on September 27,coach outlet store online, 2012 [11 favorites]
Maybe a small crossbody bag to hold your money and phone only? And then a big, bucket tote for your other things? Get the kind with a zipper. LL Bean totes are classic for this but there are lots of options out there. Have smaller bags within the big tote for discrete purposes so you aren't rummaging. So, all your private entertainment stuff books, headphones,nike air max, notebook in one bag, have a dedicated lunch bag (or maybe just wrap it with cloth and tie) and your laptop just holds your computer cords (maybe just a laptop sleeve),michael kors outlet, and your files are in a fastened folder, and your gym clothes are separate, too. But you can pile them all into the tote, and have your subway card and your wallet right on your hip.
posted by Mizu at 7:54 PM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Would you consider a large tote that zips at the top and replacing your purse with a small clutch? Then you can throw the clutch inside the larger bag when you want to carry less stuff and use the large bad for everything else. Clutches are in right now so there are a lot of options out there, and you might be able to find one with a an optional cross body strap or wrist strap for when you want to carry it by itself.
posted by MadamM at 7:54 PM on September 27,air max, 2012
I had the same problem when I was hauling stuff around campus. I ended up getting a large Wenger computer case at Staples as well as a very large wallet that I still use it basically holds every single thing I would put in a purse except for my phone. In my Wenger bag I had 2 3 textbooks,dr dre beats, a laptop,gucci belt, a Kindle, a couple of slim binders, my giant wallet, and I kept my phone tucked into an outer pocket. Since you wouldn't need to fit large science texts, I imagine you could fit your gym clothes in one half of the case as well as your gym lock. The shoes might need to be carried separately.
posted by xyzzy at 7:54 PM on September 27, 2012
After seeing these bags in another question, I covet them. I think they could hold all your stuff.
posted by mercredi at 7:55 PM on September 27, 2012 [21 favorites]
I'm a guy so I understand reaction to my accoutrements may be different, but I just take a backpack everywhere. I sometimes get shit for it (have a corporate office job). Ain't no one giving me shit when they need: a pen; a piece of paper; a band aid; waiting for ages and need a book; a snack etc though. Who's laughing then?? It's me!!
I find good backpacks by looking in adventurey stores like Patagonia,uggs boots, or other camping shops, army surplus supply shops etc, and online at shops that sell laptop backpacks (but with a lot of varieties. Some of them are quite big. Bags I have are usually around schoolbag size (at least here in AU).

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