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The Best Messenger Bags for Men to Lug Around Your Stuff in Style

By The Manual Updated August 10, 2021

The best messenger bags are more than just a way to schlep your gear from point A to point B — they can act as a major style statement in addition to serving a critical purpose for the guy on the go. Messenger bags, at first, bring to mind just that — fast-paced cyclists zipping through cities — but it’s 2019, and this new crop of messenger bags are designed to carry work essentials and travel gear with ease.

WP Standard Vintage Leather Messenger Bag

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The right way to upgrade your messenger bag? Reaching for a richly crafted leather version that’ll work nicely with business casual ensembles, and cal also be brought along on a weekend retreat upstate. It’s got plenty of room for your laptop as a daily work bag, too.

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Filson Dryden Ballistic Briefcase

Filson Dryden Ballistic Briefcase — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Hunting for a rugged take on the messenger bag? Naturally, Filson has you covered — the abrasion-resistant nylon fabric is tough as nails, and the construction is iconic and instantly recognizable. There’s no finer way to haul your everyday carry for your next outdoor adventure.

Shinola Slim Navigator Leather Messenger Bag

Shinola Slim Messenger Bag in Navigator Leather — Image used with permission by copyright holder

There aren’t many brands that excel at making both stylish, sleek leather watches and corresponding accessories — Shinola is one of the brands that is known for its ability to do both. This messenger bag is premium, refined, and still fit to be taken on any trip you can imagine.

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag

Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Messenger bags, true to form, were originally crafted to be used by on-the-go couriers — Timbuk2 knows this all too well, and the Classic Messenger Bag that it created is perhaps the finest example of that commitment to quality, durability & most importantly, functionality that doesn’t quit.

Jack + Mulligan Winston Briefcase

Jack + Mulligan Winston Briefcase — Image used with permission by copyright holder

We mentioned above that it can be tough to find a messenger bag that is sleek and refined, but the Jack + Mulligan Winston Briefcase is one that happens to buck that trend (even if the name happens to be ever-so-slightly different, we’re calling this one a messenger bag through and through).

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Fashion & Style

The best men’s swim trunks to wear (for both style and comfort)

This is what to wear in the water this summer

Man wearing swim trunks in the water

Imagine yourself kicking back with a margarita as you chill out by the pool, blue sky up above, Ray Ban's perched on your nose and the best men's swim trunks money can buy sitting on your hips; literal paradise. Of course, the winter months can take a toll on us all, so you'll need to find a pair that fits your current physique, and if you like water sports or swimming, you'll want some swim shorts that dry quickly. Well, we're bringing you the best of the best to help you make one of the most crucial decisions of the season: Which men's swim trunks should you purchase?

From the beach to the dive bar up the road, these shorts have design, function, fit, price point, and style in mind. Quality shorts come in all shapes and sizes, but they share a few core characteristics: maximum life span, moisture-wicking tech, and performance functionality for water sports — because getting active in the water is one of life's greatest enjoyments. Get ready for the hottest season of the year with these best men's swim trunks to wear on your next trip to the beach or as you lounge around poolside.

Fashion & Style

Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

The best smartwatches of the year don't look much like smartwatches at all

Biker wearing Apple watch

If our grandfathers lived in an era of analog and our fathers in a time of digital, we’ve landed squarely in the future of smart — smartwatches, that is. These whirring electronic gems have been kicking around for years now. While they seemed at first like little more than Jetson-esque playthings, they’ve come a long way in terms of durability, affordability, accessibility, and practicality. Even better: They're a helluva lot more affordable now, too. All of which is why they're replacing "dumb" on the wrists of most active people these days.

Smartwatches have become incredibly popular in recent years, and while they were only made for convenience in the past, they're now aesthetically pleasing to look at too. Two birds with one stone, right? These days it's hard to tell if you're even looking at a smartwatch, with brands like Diesel and Citizen coming out with stainless steel bracelets and hybrid models. Of course, that doesn't take away from the reason men actually buy smartwatches, which is for things like heart rate monitoring, fitness tracking, built-in GPS, etc. and these all have exactly that.

Fashion & Style

Protect your skin in style this summer with the best sun shirts of 2024

Better than sunscreen and chemical-free, these tops are purpose-built to fend off those "endless summer" rays.

Man fishing on a boat while wearing an Orvis DriCast sun protection hoodie.

When it comes to dressing for the summer heat, "less is more" seems to make the most sense. Less clothing means less trapped body heat, and that makes for a more comfortable you. For the most part, that works. But this equation doesn't account for protecting your skin against the sun's harmful UV rays.

For outdoorsy types – we’re talking the most adventurous kind, like trail runners, hikers, kayakers, mountain climbers, and so on – wearing less clothing while spending a significant amount of time in the sun can actually do more harm than good. Sure, sunscreen is a thing, and you should definitely keep using it. But that’s also where another problem arises: In order to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, sunscreen — even the best natural, reef-safe sunscreen — needs to be slathered on regularly. And, if you’re spending more time outdoors than in, that gets expensive, too. That's where good sun-protective shirts (a.k.a. "sun shirts") come in.