Satchel vs. Shoulder

[Silversun]

I think in the US, satchels refer to anything that has a top handle (smaller ones that can only be carried by the crook of your arms). A tote generally doesn't have a flap over it and can be worn on shoulder or just on arm, depending on the size of the top handle...

Thank you for clarifying! I think it's one of those cases where the terms mean different things across the pond.

 

[tiggycat]

I was always a shoulder bag person until a few years ago when I started getting very bad shoulder pain.At one point it hurt to bend my arm back enough to put on a coat! I prefer coated canvas satchels (LV Speedy or LAMB Walderston) and if I need my hand free I push it up to the crook of my arm. Like someone else here said, I hunch up my shoulder to keep the bag on and I think that's what causes the pain, more than the actual weight of the bag. The pain went away within a few days or switching to a handheld/satchel style.

 

[platinum_babie]

Thank you for clarifying! I think it's one of those cases where the terms mean different things across the pond.

Haha yeah, takes a lot of getting used to! I spent an hour in waitrose looking for baking soda last week, and it turned out that not only is it packaged differently (in the US it's in a paper carton and in london it's in a shaker), but it's called "Bicarbonate of Sodium", by a twist of its chemical name, and placed next to something called baking powder, which has flour in it. The guy helping me insisted that baking powder is the same as baking soda too. It would be such a mess to clean with flour!

 

[LocksAndKeys]

For those that carry satchels, do you notice that you carry your bag in your hand or in the crook of your arm most of the time?

I have back problems so I'm wondering if it might be better for me to not wear shoulder bags. Then again, I heard that people who constantly wear satchels in the crook of their arm tend to get pain and numbness in that area...

 

[Bayou Minou]

For those that carry satchels, do you notice that you carry your bag in your hand or in the crook of your arm most of the time?

I have back problems so I'm wondering if it might be better for me to not wear shoulder bags. Then again, I heard that people who constantly wear satchels in the crook of their arm tend to get pain and numbness in that area...

That's a good question. I never thought about pain or numbness in the arm from carrying a satchel. I have wondered about it having any effect on lymphadema, since I've had a mastectomy.

I've been using very small shoulder bags and even as small and lightweight as they are, I still occasionally find my shoulder hurting.

I think my biggest concern about a satchel would be the wear and tear on the handles. Especially since I use hand cream.

 

[Designerhbgirl]

That's a good question. I never thought about pain or numbness in the arm from carrying a satchel. I have wondered about it having any effect on lymphadema, since I've had a mastectomy.

I've been using very small shoulder bags and even as small and lightweight as they are, I still occasionally find my shoulder hurting.

I think my biggest concern about a satchel would be the wear and tear on the handles. Especially since I use hand cream.

Hi! I almost always carry a satchel, a big satchel, in the crook of my arm and have never had pain or numbness. Not once, and my bags are not exactly light. Shoulder bags always cause me pain, even when I empty out my bag and carry next to nothing. They slip, pull my long hair and kill my shoulder by the end of the day. I wear hand cream too, and have also never had any issue with the handles of my bags. Hope this helps!

 

[allyloupuppy]

Why do you buy a satchel instead of a shoulder bag? Is it more so because you prefer the look of it?

I love the look of a satchel and even though most come with a removable long strap, I find most of those straps are too thin to carry the bag comfortably.

For me a satchel is very girly (me). So I love them. I do love how bags now come with both so I will buy those because there is always going to be a time when you need a strap

 

[Antonia]

I love satchels more than any other style but it also has to have the extra shoulder strap option for the times when it's needed. Mostly I carry it in the crook of the arm. If you look on my handbag shelf, most of my bags are satchels-I'm just drawn to them!

 

[Trudysmom]

For those that carry satchels, do you notice that you carry your bag in your hand or in the crook of your arm most of the time?

I have back problems so I'm wondering if it might be better for me to not wear shoulder bags. Then again, I heard that people who constantly wear satchels in the crook of their arm tend to get pain and numbness in that area...

I use the crook of my arm for my satchels. Easy on the back for sure holding it that way. I love the way it looks.

I don't overload bags either.

 

[gobears]

I have back problems so I'm wondering if it might be better for me to not wear shoulder bags. Then again, I heard that people who constantly wear satchels in the crook of their arm tend to get pain and numbness in that area...

I don't know about pain and numbness, but if I'm carrying something heavy, I'll get broken capillaries/bruises! That's only if I'm shopping and have a ton of stuff on my arm though lol.

I think wearing purses crossbody is better for comfort, but I rarely do it because it feels kind of awkward with anything other than mini purses. Unless your purse is super heavy, I think carrying it on your arm is fine.

 

[babysunshine]

For me a satchel is very girly (me). So I love them. I do love how bags now come with both so I will buy those because there is always going to be a time when you need a strap

I now tend to buy bags that come with both options or just the shoulder. But I always use the shoulder option. The handheld option is a just in case.