Men and their BAGGAGE

The urban man needs more than just a good gait and suave sense of style to go about their daily lives. Bags are a great way to make sure one is never ill-equipped for any situation.

- MAGANDEER SINGH

Men today are not entirely uncomplicated. While our ancestors could roam the earth with no more than - a sickle by their side-and Douglas Adams said that a towel was the go-to travel accessory for everyone saddling around the universe-today we all have our little parcels of knick-knacks that we desperately need to bring with us everywhere we go.

I remember taking a flight about two decades ago and almost never having anything by way of hand luggage, maybe a book. Today, I need separate trays for my electronics, my hand creams and sunscreens, and other paraphernalia that make up the compilation also known as the insides of my bag.

So what kind of bag is the best to carry? Are there brands one must consider first? Is there a flaunt-to-functionality ratio that one must be cognisant of while homing in on their soon-to-be favourite pet accessory? Well, here are five things to look for in any quotidian backpack: Space; Protection for electronics; A certain degree of water resistance; Lots of small pockets and spaces to segregate and store things, and finally, a sense of aesthetics that makes it look sleek without adding bulk.

Many brands will tick all those boxes above, and, depending on your budget, you can go from something simple costing a few thousand rupees to the price of a small car! Lastly, and practically, there will never be one bag that does it all. I have a range of backpacks and each has its defined USP set. Here are the types one may need and also some brands which do some very covetable versions of them.

Day backpack