Wm. J. Mills & Co. Laptop Carryall

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on some fantastic bags from Wm. J. Mills & Co. Since each of these bags serves a different purpose I wanted to spend some time with them, using them for what they were made for before I posted about them. (I took the Jitney Cargo on a test run last fall and it did not disappoint.) I've been carrying the Laptop Carryall as a work bag daily since October. My recommendation? Get one. It is what it says it is. I normally carry my laptop (in a padded sleeve), notebooks, pens, a couple of books, and random mail. It doesn't hold as much as my last waxed messenger bag but I'm glad because that bag was constantly cluttered with stuff I shouldn't have been carrying around every day. Like the other Mills bags, it has hefty zippers and great details. I like the "sewn" look of the Mills line, and the contrast of the navy and natural on my particular bag gives it a casual feel that lends itself well to the dynamic of my workplace. The first month that I carried the Laptop Carryall there wasn't a day that went by during which someone did not comment on it. Fine with me. I like to tell stories.

Additional Note: Please check out Mister Mort's super cool stonewashed version here.

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Stonewashed Jitney Cargo Bag

The fine folks at Wm. J Mills & Co. were kind enough to send a few bags my way recently and one of them saw some action over the weekend so I thought I'd share. If you've done your homework you already know the history of Mills as a family business so I'm just going to jump right into the nuts and bolts. The Jitney is a great bag for a 3 or 4 day pack and carry solution. If you're like me you pack quickly and bulkily and you really don't need compartments in your luggage. That's why cargo bags are perfect for people like us. With the Jitney I packed easily for a weekend getaway (that included dressing for a wedding) and had no problem getting everything I needed in it. (Shirt x 2, jeans, chinos, socks x 3, chones x 3, belt, tie, sweater x 2, shoes, dopp kit.) The zipper on the "top flap" is super sturdy and the handles are a perfect length. I used the top zipper flap as an expanded section for more interior capacity but it also folds into the bag to allow the beefy snaps to close up the top. The model I have is a heavily stonewashed olive with washed navy straps. It's a really nice combination of colorways and the stonewashing gives the canvas a great distressed look and feel without a sense of being "pre-broken-in." (I don't know about you but I'm a grown up boy and I really prefer breaking my items in on my own.) Nothing precious here, just machine-washable cotton canvas, sturdy and usable. This bag was designed 20 years ago and, like all Mills bags, was sewn in Greenport, NY. Available February 2011.

I haven't taken photos with my "real" camera yet but here are a few iPhone shots taken on the go and in the hotel:

(Not pictured here is my dopp kit which also fit.)

Packed and ready to go.

 My wife took this photo because she's awesome.

Aerial view.

There are some fantastic photos of the Mills shop and factory here. The content is in Italian so if that's not your thing, enjoy the visuals.

Archival Steele Canvas Tote

I'll be honest:  I'm not into guys carrying tote bags.  Girls with totes?  Great.  But at the risk of being unpopular I have to admit that for guys, I think they're kind of....well....soft.  They're a little too much like a purse, maybe?  Don't get me wrong, if you're on a boat, or at the beach, or the flea market, or out shopping for locally grown produce at the neighborhood farmer's market, I get it.  You need a bag.  We have one of those extra large L.L. Bean numbers for family beach/pool trips and it's great.  That's a family bag.  But I don't see why a guy on the street needs a tote.  But I live in Tennessee.

That being said, if I was going to buy a tote bag for a guy who boats/goes to the beach/flea market/farmer's market I would probably get this one.

For one, I really believe in what those crazy kids at Archival Clothing are doing and I want to see them keep on doing it.  They haven't announced a product that I haven't thought was great.  Also, the "U.S." stenciled on this bag suddenly makes it much more than a tote.  It's a utility bag with a military feel.  It's a bag for an American guy who needs to accomplish some American things.  Great for running into Trader Joe's to pick up some gluten-free pasta on the way home from the office, but even better for building a country with your bare hands.  And lastly, this is a Steele bag.  If you've spent much time in an industrial/warehousing environment like I have, you are no doubt familiar with the durability of Steele canvas products.  They're tough.

Steele at work in my life.

Now if you're someone who is already familiar with the Steele family of products, you may be asking yourself, "What's the difference between this special edition Archival Clothing tote for $65 and the standard canvas tote available directly from Steele for prices ranging from about $30 to about $40?" (Pictured below.)

I asked the same question.  Only I asked Archival Clothing via twitter.  And here's the answer I received:

"Tweaked dimensions.  Longer handle.  Internal pocket. Super stout #4 duck.  Not stock #8 duck.  U.S. stencil logo."  

So there you go.  It's different.  Is it $25 different?  I don't know.  I'm sure it's tougher.  And I love that U.S. logo.

So guys, if you had one of these what would you fill it with and when would you carry it?

A Week In The Lowcountry

Tomorrow, the family and I will wrap up a week of vacation on Folly Beach, SC and head back to Music City.  I've always had a thing for the Atlantic Coast and our second trip to Folly Beach has only deepened the mystique for me.  Maybe I'll post more on that this summer.

For now, I have a few recommendations for any of you who might be planning summer trips to beach locales:

I've made it a whole week on the beach in a pair of Quoddy boat shoes and these Vans Authentics.  Right.  No flip-flops.  Just practicing what I preach.  The Vans are my beach shoes (and bike riding shoes, because we spent some time cruising the shore) and the boat shoes are for the evenings when we step out.  If I can do it, anyone can.

Don't go to the beach without an L.L. Bean Boat and Tote.  These are classic canvas, still made in Maine, USA, and come in a variety of sizes and colors.  (Our family of five requires an XL...)  This is the one bag we took to the beach every day.  It fits snacks, water, towels, toys, sunscreen, and hats.  Pretty much perfect.

I can honestly say that these Birdwell Beach Britches are the best trunks I've ever owned.  For starters, there is no elastic.  They come in actual waist sizes with a velcro/lace-up front.  (Order your size plus two for a spot-on fit.)  There are plenty of colors and length options to choose from.  These are made in Santa Ana, CA (since 1961) and I ordered mine directly from the fine Family Birdwell.  The website even includes a sizing guide for women so the ladies can get in on the cool.

For this trip, I loaded up (and taped up) a Holga medium format camera.  I like to think that Holgas are cameras for people of faith because you just kind of have to trust that you're getting something good.  I'll post the good ones once I have them developed.  Obviously, we carried a digital SLR just about everywhere we went but I threw the Holga into my bike bag for some evening rides on the beach and I'm keeping my fingers crossed....

Cheerwine.  Enough said.

Enjoy being lazy on the beach but try to incorporate some scenery (and maybe a little history) into your trip.  The Morris Island Lighthouse is one of my favorite things about this area.  (And it doesn't hurt that nearby Charleston boasts the largest historic district in the nation.)  

There are other things I should probably include in this post (I could do a post on good values in shorts alone) but I'm being told we're about to walk over to the beach for one last day of fun in the Atlantic so I'll have to wrap it up.  See you back in Nashtown.

Inspired Goods: Archival Clothing Rucksack

Archival Clothing recently set about the task of improving the classic rucksack and if the below pictures are any indication I think they've done it.  I've been following the process for a bit (actually, the musette bags they introduced earlier this year, though a bit "pursey" for me, are what stopped my hunt for a used Filson bag because I knew they would eventually do something like the waxed rucksack) and they have officially released the finished product on a limited basis. Check them out here or just email info@archivalclothing.com to reserve yours before they're all gone.  (I'm probably going to miss this run so I hope they produce more...)

Wm. J. Mills & Co. Canvas Duffels

When I travel (which is rarer than I would prefer these days) I tend to be a "throw it all into a bag with a zipper" kind of guy.  I don't do garment bags and I really don't care to roll a suitcase or fiddle with hard plastic handles that go up and down.  Truth is, I really hate those things.  I like something that I can strap over my shoulder and walk with (or run if I'm late.)  I also like stuff that looks traditional.  I'm not into swooshes and stripes and sporty logos.  I don't care for a bag that looks like it should contain aluminum bats for the little leaguers.  I need something basic and manly.  Behold, the Classic Duck Duffel from Wm. J. Mills Co. of Greenport, NY.

Apparently, these hand-crafted bags are made by a company that used to be in the business of making canvas sails.  I find this comforting for a few reasons:

1.  Boats are cool and those who man them are tough.  I wouldn't mind feeling like a seafaring sailor while I'm packing for a weekend in the Chicago suburbs to visit the in-laws.

2.  Sails are strong.  This bag will probably not be ruined by baggage handlers.  When was the last time you saw the America's Cup Challenge postponed due to sails being mishandled by airport personnel?

3.  This bag is a ticket to survival in an airplane crash over water.  I simply fashion a crude skiff from a piece of debris and hoist my makeshift sail-bag until I sight land.

There are several models and sizes in many colors on their website.  I chose "teak tan" because it looks like the chore coat my late grandpa always wore.  I do kind of wish those straps weren't white but I'm willing to overlook them if this bag is as tough as boat sails from the 1880s.

Filson Medium Wool Field Bag

Buy this amazing bag here.

Belstaff® Colonial shoulder bag 556 for J.Crew

If you are a guy who has not yet come up with a good excuse to carry a man-bag, you'd better get with the program.  These days, having a satchel full of something useful on hand has become an essential part of being a well-prepared and well-heeled fellow about town.  This canvas shoulder bag made by Belstaff® of England will get your "stuff" to wherever you're going and then some.  It's a little adventurous for commuting to the office but the exterior cargo pockets make it a great carry-on option for travel. Heck, we'd even respect you if you biked to the local coffee shop with this thing to work on that screenplay you keep talking about.  If those leather straps get you like they get us you can buy it here .