What sort of bag for a mature student?

[SlightlyMadSpook]

OK, I go back to Uni in Jan. I am just pondering what sort of bag I will need...do I go for a:

Rucksack/messenger bag big enough for my course materials

My handbag + Rucksack/messenger bag

Handbag plus carry course materials in arms

big "trendy" bag which will fit all my stuff in....

I've just got a Lonchamp LePliage which is fab for fitting loads of stuff in and looks stylish.

I recently graduated and would just use a normal good sized handbag. I studied English and would generally have an A4 notebook and a couple of paperbacks to take in with me. Occasionally I'd take in a textbook. On days when I had to take in the complete works of Shakespeare I'd use a canvas shopper bag to put that it.

I hate using rucksacks because I had to use London public transport and was paranoid about pickpockets. Plus they make me feel frumpy. I found that people were very fashion conscious and would turn up to lectures looking very stylish - though this was a uni right in the centre of London. Friends at campus based unis would turn up to lectures in jeans and hoodies with rucksacks or messenger bags. If you're doing a course which involves lots of textbooks then I'd go for a rucksack.

not a handbag.

i use a massive leather messenger bag/ satchel which holds a huge lever arch a4 plus about 6 or 7 text books, plus notebooks etc. it can fit a laptop as well, but it takes persuasion...

that said, i don't think anyone gives a monkeys what sort of bag i, or anyone else has. uni students range from goth to princess, to hippy, to middle aged mum, to nerd, to preppy, to... whatever, you name it, really.

go for practicality. there is nothing worse than having to scrounge a carrier bag because you can't fit your library books in your regular bag. honestly.

unless you are studying fashion or something, in which case, isn't it more about your own personal style?

how much have you got to carry? do you need to fit in a laptop or any bulky things? is there anywhere you can leave things during the day, or do you have to carry stuff round all day? how are you travelling?

Dunno how much to carry until I get there....but I will almost certainly want A4 pad and folder....and gcse/A level text books (its a pre-pgce course).

Am thinking a leather messenger bag could be the way to go then....and will see me thru pgce too....

And travelling by car which will be parked 3 min walk from majority of lectures etc.

I had the Boden satchel. It's actually to small and therefore use a jute bag as well

I do actually like the scaramanga one.....but being a student a bit out of my budget

I'm a PhD student who commutes into central London about 3 days a week,and keep coming back to the formula of a handbag - preferably cross body for the tube, etc and small - and a Longchamp pliage - tend to get a limited edition one every year to ring the changes on that. There are other solutions that would work, I'm sure - in fact have always had an ambition to use just one large bag for everything - but this is the one that seems to suit me best.
The pliage is so light and has room for a bit of shopping on way home as well as books, laptop, etc.

oo, seven, that's quite like the one i've got, but mine looks a bit bigger and isn't as soft/ pliable. i paid about £80 for it, which was a bit of a bargain, and it's been it's constant use for 3 years.

but i do keep googling longchamp pliage now

I am the biggest designer handbag addict BUT I think you should buy a simple, inexpensive rucksack. Don't spend a lot of money. My student years were spent CARTING volumes of books around and my cheapo rucksack was always full to bursting and always slung around in lecture hall/library floors. The unbridled joy will be in the learning and the mental progression, not the bag and that is a VERY rare situation! Grasp it with both hands whilst you can