HAC 40 vs B40

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T

The.M

Decade Club
Dec 31, 2013
162
361
#1
Good evening :)

I'm planning to get a pre-owned HAC 40 as a travel/weekend bag. However, I still haven't found one with the right combo/price.
I would like to hear your thoughts regarding the two options, do you think the B40 would serve the same purpose or should I keep looking for a HAC40.
I'm also 5'3 so I don't know if the HAC40 would look to big/masculine on me or not..

Thanks :flowers:
 
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#2
The.M said:
Good evening :smile:

I'm planning to get a pre-owned HAC 40 as a travel/weekend bag. However, I still haven't found one with the right combo/price.
I would like to hear your thoughts regarding the two options, do you think the B40 would serve the same purpose or should I keep looking for a HAC40.
I'm also 5'3 so I don't know if the HAC40 would look to big/masculine on me or not..

Thanks :flowers:
Click to expand...
I have both a B40 in Fjord and an HAC40 in Toile de Camp and Evercolor. I love both bags: you can’t go wrong. However, the HAC feels significantly bigger compared to the Birkin.
 
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#6
The HAC is quite a bit bigger and heavier - it depends what you need to carry. DH carries a HAC40 because he needs to fit a packing cube in it for short trips. You would have a hard time doing this with a B40. But personally for me with its short handles the HAC is harder to carry. I can easily put B35 and B40 over my shoulder if needed.
I'm a little shorter than you and would choose a Kelly 35 or 40 over either of those bags for travel - there's a strap, and easier closure, and the bags look a bit smaller.
 
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#7
As others have said the HAC40 is significantly bigger than a Birkin40, I think the HAC36 compares more to a B40 , although one is N/S and the other E/W. I think a HAC40 for a petite lady like you is huge. Having both I personally prefer the HAC to the Birkin also as a handbag. I find the HAC more elegant and less cumbersome tha the Birkin, but that's just me.
 
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#9
Hi, I would think about your current bags and what dimensions you are comfortable with. I am 5’2 and used a HAC once; the dimensions and weight when full didn’t work for me. However I can do a b40, I think the E/W shape helps me balance a little better - but my husband is not a fan and To be fair he carries it for me often, and finds it bulky on planes. Look at your existing bags or go to a general dept store and try a whole lot of bags with similar dimensions - but do put a few things inside as this makes a massive difference. Take some photo’s if you can as this will help. If it is a weekend bag that will be in a car most of the time/little carrying versus a weekend bag that will have to be carried around airports etc makes a massive difference also so think about how/when you will use it (including if you tend to overpack like I do!). If you are buying pre loved I am guessing you may need to buy it online/without seeing it first, in this case it may be worth using sites that allow returns such as Fashionphile. Good luck, a lovely item to pursue!
 
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#11
Given your stature and options, I think you probably went with the B40. For the very reason that you should get the B40, I want the HAC40. Mind you, I just got my first B40 last month in Paris and I still want/prefer the HAC40 for myself.
 
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#12
This is a thread from over three years ago, but the dilemma is always relevant.
Compared with a Birkin, size for size, an HAC has a much larger volume.
This does make it more suitable as a weekend holdall. If you are one of those people who have to carry everything all the time, it will become very heavy - so do not blame the bag.

Once you get to the 40cm size it does become very tall and might be a bit uncomfortable hanging around your knees unless you are tall too.
The consideration when it comes to choice of size, and this seems relevant every time when size is in question, is for what do you want to use the bag?
That is more important than how proportional it looks against your body.
Regardless of your frame/size the bag has to be suitable for carrying what you want.

If you are short and want to carry a lot, unless it is big enough no bag will work for you.
It appears that the trend for smaller bags is passing, but it is not over yet.
This does make the more traditional 28/30/32/35 sizes more appealing again.
 
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#13
Wow, I can't believe it's been more than 3 years!!
Considering this was a few months before COVID, my hunt for the perfect travel bag stopped very soon after that.

I did however consider a third option which I think should be more useful as it was intended for travel which is the Victoria bag.
I'm yet to find the 43 size available in the boutique to try out but I think it should be perfect!
 
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