Bill Amberg Full Grain Leather Messenger Bag, $385 via Mr. Porter

Man bags are always one of the most controversial topics we tackle here. Some women don’t want their men wearing any kind of bag, and some men would never be caught dead carrying one either; usually, the arguments from both of those groups is that there’s something inherently feminine about having a bag with you. I don’t think that’s at all true, and one quick look around New York City (or any urban area where most people don’t have cars) will indicate that those hang-ups go away as soon as necessity dictates.

But what if your man is one of those dudes who’s always giving you stuff to put in your purse and you want him to carry a bag, or he wants to and doesn’t really know which way to go? Start him out with something like the Bill Amberg Full Grain Leather Messenger Bag. With a very reasonable price point (less than $400) and a masculine color and construction, there’s no way he’ll feel like he’s carrying a purse.

A friend of mine purchased this bag as a gift in the not-so-distant past, and although I’ve yet to see it in person, he’s of discerning taste and promised me that it’s a steal for the price. The leather is soft and thick, with a great whiskey-toned finish and slightly rough edges, and the bag is big enough to feel like an honest-to-goodness messenger bag instead of like a large women’s purse. If your husband, boyfriend or brother is in sore need of something to schlep his stuff, he could do a whole lot worse and spend a whole lot more money. Buy through Mr. Porter for $385.