Men's Shoulder Bag: How to Choose the Right Size, Material and Strap

Choose a men's shoulder bag by what you carry every day: for a phone, wallet and keys a small bag or sling is enough, for a tablet you need a medium bag, and for a laptop you need a bag with a padded compartment in the right size. After size, decide on the material (light, water-repellent canvas, Oxford or nylon, or more distinguished but heavier leather) and check that the strap is wide and adjustable and that there's a hidden zip pocket.

We've gathered all our men's models on the men's shoulder bag page. Here we'll go over what helps you choose among them.

Three sizes for three kinds of day

A simple tip: lay out on the table what you really take every morning, and add room for one more thing. A bag that's too big fills up with unnecessary things, and one that's too small ends with your phone in your pocket. By size: small shoulder bags, large shoulder bags and shoulder bags for laptops and tablets.

Sling, crossbody or messenger bag

• Sling: a narrow bag on a single strap, worn on the back or the chest. You swing it to the front and take things out without taking it off. The Eclipse, for example, weighs 290 grams, and its strap can be switched between the right and left side.
• Crossbody: a small or medium bag worn diagonally across the body, close and comfortable in the city and abroad.
• Messenger bag: wide and flat, it sits on your hip and holds a laptop and documents. Suits work and study.

Material: canvas, Oxford and nylon vs leather

High-density canvas, Oxford fabric and nylon are the light materials. On most of our models they've been treated to repel water, which protects the contents in light rain but not if submerged. Clean them with a damp cloth. Leather gives a more distinguished look for meetings and the office and ages beautifully, but it's heavier: the Tundra Business bag in genuine leather weighs about 1,080 grams, compared with about 290 grams for an Oxford sling. There's also a middle way, like the Pulsarzx Xtreme, which combines genuine leather and microfiber synthetic leather and weighs 350 grams. To choose by material: canvas shoulder bags or leather shoulder bags.

Strap, zippers and a hidden pocket

A shoulder bag puts all the weight on one shoulder, so the strap matters more than any other detail: wide, padded and adjustable, so the bag sits high and doesn't swing. After that come the zippers: the BONANZA Pro 2.0, for example, has Camel Mountain No. 8 and No. 10 zippers, and a hidden inner zip pocket for valuables. If you travel a lot on public transport or abroad, you'll find models with hidden pockets and anti-theft features on the anti-theft shoulder bag page.

A shoulder bag for cycling, scooters and trips

If you ride in the city, you need a bag that doesn't move. The Lycranor Turbo, for example, has a chest clip that stabilizes the bag while you move, a padded, breathable back, and an external MOLLE attachment system for accessories. A small sling bag like the Eclipse suits a trip or a flight, when you want your phone, passport and earbuds close to your body and your hands free.

Three questions before you buy

1. What's the biggest thing you'll put in the bag? A phone, a tablet or a laptop. That decides the size and whether you need a padded compartment.
2. Where will you use it most? At the office, in the city or when traveling. That decides the material and the carrying style.
3. How long will you carry it each day? An hour on the way to work or a whole day abroad. The longer it is, the more the strap and the weight matter.

When a business bag or backpack is better

If you leave every day with a laptop, a charger and a folder, a large shoulder bag can be enough, but it's also worth considering a business bag with a handle and a detachable strap, or a backpack that spreads the weight across both shoulders. We go into this in our guide to choosing a men's business bag and our general guide to choosing a men's bag. And if you're looking for a small bag as a gift too, you might find what you need in our guide to the men's card wallet.

Warranty

Shoulder bags come with a 12 month warranty on all components, including zipper pulls, handles, buckles and stitching, unless the product page says otherwise.