
Our method
Welcome to our big men's shoulder bag test 2022. Here we present all the shoulder bags for men that we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
With this, we would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best snow chains for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a men's shoulder bag.
Contents
- 1 Weekly newsletter with the best personal finance tips
- 2 Summary
- 3 The Best Men's Shoulder Bag: Our Picks
- 4 Guide: Everything you need to know about a men's shoulder bag
- 4.1 Why buy a men's shoulder bag at all?
- 4.2 Who is a men's shoulder bag suitable for?
- 4.3 What should be considered when buying a men's shoulder bag?
- 4.4 What does a men's shoulder bag cost?
- 4.5 What is the difference between a shoulder bag, briefcase and messenger bag?
- 4.6 What is a men's handbag?
- 5 Decision: What types of shoulder bags are there and which is the right one for you?
- 6 Buying criteria: You should judge your men's shoulder bag by the following features
- 7 Everything else you should know about a shoulder bag
Summary
- A shoulder bag for men is the right choice for you if you prefer a great design and want to do without the boring backpack.
- Another strength of men's shoulder bags is that they are very flexible and can be used for a variety of purposes.
- Cheap men's shoulder bags are already available for under 100 euros. For top models made of leather, however, you have to spend more than 100 euros.
The Best Men's Shoulder Bag: Our Picks
Guide: Everything you need to know about a men's shoulder bag
You have read through our product presentations on the subject of "Men's shoulder bag"? But you still don't know which shoulder bag to choose and are unsure? You are not sure what to look for when buying such a men's bag? No problem! We will be happy to help you!
In this guide, we'll show you exactly what to look for when buying a men's shoulder bag and show you how to find the right model for you. We'll also give you some concrete features that will help you compare similar men's shoulder bags and allow you to work out the strengths and weaknesses of a men's shoulder bag.
Why buy a men's shoulder bag at all?
A shoulder bag for men can be of great use in a wide variety of cases and offers several advantages. One of these advantages of a men's shoulder bag is definitely the great design. Shoulder bags are simply trendy and go great with a variety of outfits.
Furthermore, this type of men's bag can be used extremely flexibly and for a wide variety of purposes.
Whether as a school shoulder bag, briefcase or modern messenger bag in retro look - a men's shoulder bag should not be missing in any man's household.
Who is a men's shoulder bag suitable for?
In principle, shoulder bags are not only suitable for men, but also for women. As already mentioned in the previous section, shoulder bags can be wonderfully versatile. Therefore, we believe that a men's shoulder bag should not be missing in any household and can be used wonderfully in summer as well as in winter.
Especially for business purposes or for school, a messenger bag can be ideal to carry a laptop or even a folder as well as some pens and pads. In a way, a messenger bag for men replaces a woman's classic handbag. For vegans, leather shoulder bags are logically out of the question. However, this should not be a big problem, as you can also buy great leather-look shoulder bags made of faux leather. These also have the advantage that they are much cheaper.
What should be considered when buying a men's shoulder bag?
When buying a men's shoulder bag, you should consider a few important criteria and not just grab the first model you see in a shop or on the internet. First of all, we would like to strongly emphasise that we recommend buying such a men's bag on the internet.
The purpose
You should already think about the purpose for which you want to use the men's shoulder bag. This is very important because it will help you determine the characteristics of your bag. As you probably know, there are different materials that men's bags or bags in general are made of.
Shoulder bags made of real leather
To sum up: A men's shoulder bag made of genuine leather offers the most beautiful look and is long-lasting if cared for properly.
The term "genuine leather" or "real leather" or simply "leather" may only be used to describe materials that are made from unsplit or split animal skin, preserving the fibres and their natural interweaving. Materials glued with binding agents are not included.
Leather is therefore a natural raw material and is produced in the order of 500,000 tonnes per year. Genuine leather is a hard-wearing material and has a large inner surface. This makes the leather very resistant to moisture and tearing. It is precisely because of its tear resistance that it is often used for men's shoulder bags. Buffalo leather is particularly popular for shoulder bags, whether for men or women.
It is particularly open-pored and very robust. Overall, this leather is considered durable, but can become shiny or even faded over time. Most men's leather bags should therefore be particularly well cared for and regularly impregnated.
Brown leather shoulder bags go with most outfits and occasions and almost always look good. Popular models are made of buffalo leather, which is relatively easy to care for and long-lasting. Bags made of genuine leather are timeless and will still be trendy in a few years.
Shoulder bags made of imitation leather
Imitation leather is the term used for all materials that look like leather but cannot be called "real leather" because of their processing or ingredients. Imitation leather is the cheaper alternative to real leather, as it is already much cheaper to produce and process than real leather.
Imitation leather usually consists of a textile carrier, e.g. woven fabric, and a special plastic layer. In order to adapt the artificial leather to the softness of real leather, it is provided with a special foam structure.
Visually, the artificial leather looks like genuine leather, but it does not have its properties, i.e. breathability or water vapour permeability.
Synthetic shoulder bags
In short: Men's shoulder bags made of synthetics have their justification and, in addition to a favourable price, are also very suitable for bad weather or for sport.
An alternative is offered by shoulder bags made of synthetic materials. These include, for example, the well-known polyester or nylon, as used by Eastpak.
These bags are characterised by their robustness and can be used for a long time if used carefully. The price of these bags is also convincing.
Shoulder bags made of tarpaulin material
In a nutshell: Men's shoulder bags made of tarpaulin look particularly cool and protect items wonderfully against moisture and wetness.
The so-called tarpaulin bags are special shoulder bags that are made from a truck tarpaulin, for example. Such men's shoulder bags are particularly suitable for bad weather and hardly let any water through. A well-known brand is the company Vaude, which produces shoulder bags made of tarpaulin.
When buying such a tarpaulin bag, you should be aware that even these are not always completely waterproof. Many have a larger gap in the flap through which water can penetrate in heavy rain. In principle, men's bags made of tarpaulin are also made of a synthetic material, which is why these shoulder bags can theoretically also be listed under synthetic bags.
Canvas shoulder bags
In one sentence: shoulder bags made of canvas go wonderfully with casual occasions and are particularly light and elastic.
Furthermore, there are men's shoulder bags made of canvas. This fabric is made from natural fibres such as cotton. In most cases, these fabric bags are not quite as stable and robust as a shoulder bag made of artificial or genuine leather.
However, the inner lining of many bags is made of canvas fabric.
What does a men's shoulder bag cost?
The prices of all models are very different. High-quality men's bags made of genuine leather usually cost between 80 and 200 euros. For bags made of natural leather, which is obtained from traditional tanning processes, you often have to pay much more than 200 euros.
Bags made of synthetic fabrics are priced much lower and fabric bags are also much more affordable. In general, you should pay a lot of attention to the quality of the men's bag when making your purchase decision.
Since you usually want to use such a bag for a long time, the purchase price should be somewhat higher in order to actually get good quality. This way, the bag will not tear even after intensive use and the seams will not come loose.
Model | Price |
---|---|
Bags made of real leather | approx. 80-200€ |
Bags made of natural leather | approx. from 200€ |
Bags made of synthetic fabrics | from approx. 20€ |
What is the difference between a shoulder bag, briefcase and messenger bag?
The main difference in most of the shoulder bags presented on this page is the look and design. Messenger bags usually have buckles and can be closed by "flipping over" part of the bag.
In most cases, a briefcase can also be used as a shoulder bag, but it offers enough storage space for folders and is also adapted in appearance to everyday office use.
Often, however, the models are only designed for smaller sheets and folders and can be carried over the shoulder as well as in the hand.
What is a men's handbag?
Nevertheless, it happens from time to time that a backpack or a men's shoulder bag is simply too big and does not fit the occasion. In this case, it can make a lot of sense for men to have a smaller bag as well.
This can be a special shoulder bag that differs from conventional models especially in its size. It is also possible that a men's handbag is the miniature of a messenger bag. Generally, a men's handbag is a small bag for men that is also worn over the shoulder.
Decision: What types of shoulder bags are there and which is the right one for you?
Basically, you can distinguish between five different types of men's shoulder bags:
- Shoulder bag (shoulder bag)
- Messenger bag
- Briefcase
- Men's handbag
- School Shoulder Bag
Depending on what you want to use your men's shoulder bag for, a different type is best suited. Furthermore, the individual types can be subdivided according to the material they are made of. You can find out more about this in our guide.
What is a men's shoulder bag anyway?
A men's shoulder bag is essentially a type of bag that is made of different materials and is worn over the shoulder with a strap. Based on its design, the bag can be divided into different categories as explained in the section above.
First, we would like to tell you more about the advantages of men's shoulder bags and why a shoulder bag can be perfect for you. The advantages and disadvantages refer to the comparison with other types of men's bags such as a backpack.
These advantages and disadvantages are only very general and vary from model to model. A men's shoulder bag made of leather, for example, has other advantages and disadvantages than a shoulder bag made of synthetic material. You can find out more about this in our guide.
School shoulder bag for men
Up to a certain age, ordinary backpacks are certainly the best choice for children. With the heavy weight children have to carry in the first years of primary and secondary school, the backpack is the best option for both boys and girls and prevents children from getting back or shoulder pain.
However, by puberty at the latest, these conventional backpacks are slowly becoming a bit old-fashioned and many schoolchildren want a shoulder bag that is not only more modern but also seems to make them more attractive. In fact, there are some great models that allow school children to carry all their school documents comfortably - whether on a bike, bus or on foot.
What distinguishes school shoulder bags from ordinary shoulder bags?
In principle, the school shoulder bag is the same as an ordinary shoulder bag. Such a shoulder bag does not only have to be designed for school, but can also be used for the office or for university.
The school shoulder bag differs from other shoulder bags mainly in its functionality. With such a bag, it should be possible to accommodate a DIN A4 pad or even a filled folder without any problems.
So if you want to buy a shoulder bag for the office, school or university, you should make sure it has enough storage space. The school shoulder bag category is perfect for this.
Buying criteria: You should judge your men's shoulder bag by the following features
In our opinion, you should take a closer look at the following features when buying a men's shoulder bag and consider them when making your purchase decision.
Workmanship
In a nutshell: it is difficult to judge the workmanship of a men's shoulder bag. Go for branded products and pay special attention to the seams and the quality of the closure when you receive the goods.
As already mentioned in the previous section, the material used influences the quality of the product to a large extent. Each material has certain strengths and weaknesses and should be chosen according to your personal preferences.
You should also pay attention to the other components of the men's shoulder bag, such as the zip or possible buckles. Especially with cheap men's bags, it often happens that these parts break very quickly and the bag becomes unusable.
The closure of the bag
There are different types of fasteners for shoulder bags. Most genuine leather bags are equipped with zips and/or buckles, because they match the look of the bag better and leave a higher quality impression.
Many envelope bags from Eastpak or Vaude, on the other hand, are only equipped with a Velcro fastener. This is easier to handle and hardly stands out visually.
Dimensions and capacity
In summary: The size of a men's shoulder bag is one of the most important buying criteria. In addition, you should definitely pay attention to the layout of the bag and think about what items you want to transport.
Another factor you should consider when buying a men's shoulder bag is the dimensions of the new bag. If you have already thought about what the shoulder bag or messenger bag will be used for, you will also be aware of which items should fit into the bag.
Especially with larger laptops or file folders, such products often reach their limits. When buying, also consider the length of the shoulder strap and whether it is adjustable or not. With some types of bags, the shoulder strap may be detachable and the bag is only carried by a handle. If this is important to you, you will have to choose such a special bag.
Price
In a nutshell: You should definitely budget 100 euros for a men's bag made of genuine leather. Synthetic or fabric models are much cheaper.
Depending on the type of shoulder bag and the material you choose, the price can vary greatly. For all models, however, the price increases with the quality of the bag. A men's shoulder bag or messenger bag made of genuine leather costs around 100 euros.
A sports bag can cost 20 to 80 euros. For men's backpacks, the price depends on the size and the intended use. You will have to pay considerably more for a sports backpack than for a normal backpack for everyday use.
Customer reviews and testimonials
Summary: The customer reviews and testimonials will help you when buying a men's shoulder bag and give you valuable information.
As you have probably noticed, not all of the above criteria are easy to judge when shopping online. From a distance, little can be said about the workmanship of a men's shoulder bag. A remedy for this is to look at the customer reviews and experience reports that you can find on our partner shop Amazon.
There, numerous customers give you very informative tips about the respective men's bag and show you whether the bag is suitable or not. In addition, you will learn a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of the product and can thus make your purchase decision better.
Everything else you should know about a shoulder bag
How should a shoulder bag be carried properly?
If you load your shoulder bag with heavy weight and then carry it incorrectly for a longer period of time, you may well develop back or shoulder problems. Therefore, it is very important that you pay attention to a few things and possibly point them out to your child.
When buying a shoulder bag for school, university or the office, you should make sure that the men's bag has a padded shoulder strap. This distributes the weight much better on the shoulder of the person carrying the bag and thus relieves it. It is also important that the bag does not hang too low or too high on the way to school or university.
If the bag is too low, it will sway a lot when you move it. This can also lead to shoulder or back problems. However, the school bag should not hang too high either, because then you have to balance the weight more with the other side of your body and you might get used to an incorrect posture.
Ideally, the school bag should hang at hip level.
Image source: unsplash.com / Harsh Jadav