Talk:Satchel

Discussion of differences
What is the differnce between a satchle and a messenger bag? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.193.129.99 (talk) 01:56, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The classic form of a satchel is a leather, soft-sided, flat bottomed bag with a single undivided storage space for books, with a large leather flap that folds over to cover the inside, usually closed by one or two buckled leather straps. It may have an "accordion" design to allow it to expand to hold more books.  The satchel may be carried by a leather handle, or slung across the body with a strap.  It is quite similar to a briefcase, but a briefcase is squared off with hard sides; and in some senses the modern satchel is an informal version of the briefcase.  A satchel is not very similar to a messenger bag which has a much wider variety of designs and may have a more sports-oriented look and construction.  It is hard to locate sources for this precise definition.Rakerman (talk) 15:01, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Might also want to try to clarify the "man purse" terminology Purse (is every satchel a "man purse" or what are the characteristics that define a "man purse"?) and "shoulder bag" terminology. Rakerman (talk) 16:20, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

I would just like to note that the picture accompanying the article actually violates the second sentence of the article - "The strap is often worn so that it diagonally crosses the body, with the bag hanging on the opposite hip, rather than hanging directly down from the shoulder." He is clearly carrying the satchel like a purse, which is an important distinction to make, especially for most men, who would not want to be seen wearing a purse. This might seem silly, but the ephemerally quantifiable "pursiness" of a bag is often the deciding factor when it comes to making a purchase. We tread a fine line wearing a satchel, and it only takes a few "man purse" jokes to relegate the bag to the back of the closet. I feel that the picture ought to reflect this better. Just my two cents. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.71.217.163 (talk) 04:44, 19 December 2010 (UTC)
 * It says "often", not "always". I was unable to find a Creative Commons licensed photo that showed a good exemplar of a satchel, which is why this image was taken and added to the commons. Rakerman (talk) 17:59, 20 December 2010 (UTC)

Untitled

 * A photo has been added. Rakerman (talk) 14:56, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

specific kind of satchel?
I've seen satchels that people wear across the small of their backs, Notable references include Renton Thurston, and Leon Kennedy. Any chance theres a specific name for this bag? Murakumo-Elite (talk) 01:42, 30 October 2009 (UTC)

handle
If it doesn't have a handle, is it still a satchel? Rakerman (talk) 19:28, 28 November 2009 (UTC)

satchel vs. briefcase vs. attache case
In common usage, a briefcase is a large flat rectangular hard-framed case, often covered in black leather, and an attache case is a slim flat rectangular hard-framed case. A satchel is a soft-sided case usually the size of a briefcase. A traditional satchel is brown leather with two straps, but there are many different styles of satchel. All three bags were traditionally more associated with men than with women. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rakerman (talk • contribs) 01:18, 8 June 2011‎

historical satchel with very different design
Although not common in modern usage, I believe a satchel could also refer to a medium-sized cloth or leather bag that closed at the top, sometimes with a clasp, and with short handles for carrying by hand at the top. However the online evidence for this usage is very thin, I could only find two examples from the Kansas Historical Society - Perkins Satchel and Census Taker's Satchel. It would be good to document this alternative usage. Rakerman (talk) 20:04, 26 February 2016 (UTC)

"Popularity" of a specific type is limited to a specific locale
Under the heading "In fashion", it states "Much of the popularity of the satchel as a fashion accessory since 2008 is driven by the Cambridge Satchel Company, whose product was on a Guardian gift guide in 2009, and was described as a cross-body bag in a 2010 article." This needs to be rewritten to reflect the fact that the "popularity" they're referring to is limited to the UK, which covers just 0.01% of the earth's surface. The Guardian's influence is limited to a small subset of the world's English speakers, and it's safe to say that outside of the UK, the Cambridge Satchel Company is almost entirely unknown and irrelevant. Bricology (talk) 01:41, 3 December 2017 (UTC)