Riddle me this corporate cubicle gents.

ec9

ec9

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So I recently accepted a new position which is going to put me in front of the customer. I have been working from home in my underwear for the last 2 years. I'm an IT consultant. I usually roam around in jeans or cargos when not in my underwear. Now I'm looking for more biz casual EDC clothing that will fit my junk (my pocket junk) or at least most of it. I also will need a new pack for my laptop that isn't tacticool.

So what do you use? Or what do you recommend?
 
I carry a Eddie Bauer Backpack, with is close to Tacticool, but more Outdoorsy, and very low profile. Pants are the hardest part, I like Columbia ROC pants, they have a few extra pockets, that are also low profile.
 
I carry a Brenthaven laptop messenger bag (the Fusion, but I believe it's been disco'd). I've been using it for something like 5 years, and it could be brand new. It's comfortable, water resistant, durable, bigger inside than out, has a very comfortable strap pad (strap itself is seatbelt material), and is fairly low profile.

A good small messenger bag will always be lower profile than a full-blown backpack. Timbuk2 is another brand you could look at, but they're pretty pricy. OTOH, they will last for years.

Actually, a nice duck canvas messenger bag (a la Domke, only not for cameras) would work nicely as well. Durable, and canvas conforms nicely. My non-laptop man-bag (:rolleyes:) is a canvas... thing. I found it in the depths of Amazon (a replica WWII Medic bag maybe?), and it works amazingly well.
 
For clothing I wear Columbia ROC pants at work. They're a cross of cargos and slacks. They have a veritcal zippered pocket on the right side that has an internal pocket as well. They can be dressed up or down pretty easy and are very comfy.
 
I tend to go against the grain. I use a Coyote brown Maratac large BOB from CountyComm as my laptop bag. Even when flying. I've only had a TSA goon ask to look inside it once and I was flying 8 to 10 legs per month.

As far as clothes go, I like the St. John's Bay khakis from JC Penny. They have the usual front pockets but they have another pocket inside it to separate stuff and keep your cell phone from rattling against your knife, lighter, keys, whatever. Also reduces the "print" of whatever you keep in your pockets.

Shirts: again, St. Johns Bay Oxfords or Vintage Oxfords. Single or dual breast pockets. They're inexpensive but surprisingly tough.

Coat: US Navy style Pea coats seem to be all the rage this year. My teen age daughter even wears one now. They have deep front pockets and usually have two inside pockets. They work well in an office environment and with dressier stuff if need be. For spring/fall I use a Cutter and Buck WindTech golf style jacket. Typical lightweight jacket with huge inside pockets.

I work in a cubicle farm/office so this is usually my daily wear.

If you were looking for a laptop bag that is less tactical than the BOB style shoulder bag, the one that I see more than any other when traveling (besides the typical Kensington or Fellows shoulder bags) is the Wenger Swiss Army brand laptop back packs.

For what its worth, most of us cubicle dwellers know that IT guys are a bit off center. Our IT guy uses an ugly yellow and brown Burton Snowboard backpack.

HTH,
 
Thanks and keep them coming guys. I will be trying out some different bags and the Columbia pants :)
 
Duluth trading every day work pants. they have those rear leg pockets for tools and such along with a loop like painters pants. but they are basically like regular chinos otherwise. i can spread my EDC out to the pockets pretty easily and they are business casual.

as for a bag i have a 5.11 tactical rush 24. i got the black version so aside from the molle/pals webbing it's not very tactical looking. my laptop fits in the hydration pocket and i can hold more than enough stuff in ther est of the bag with room to spare.
 
I carry a large Saddleback Leather briefcase (dark tobacco) and nothing fancy on the clothes, most days gap chinos, clark chukkas and various button down or polo type shirts.
 
Let me add

Duluth No-polo's
LL Bean Polo's
Lands End Polo's

Columbia ROC Pants
LL Bean Chino's

Tons of 'Life is Good' t-shirts, with a positive message on the front, helps me keep my head up, and they are all outdoor themed.

I am almost ordering 100% of my clothing online...
 
I am on the sales side - dress slacks, dress shoes, dress shirt, tie. From my side, I understand the relaxed nature of the IT dept - however, if you can work with customers and assist in sales calls and dress the part, you are way more valuable.

You just have to adapt your EDC - I can't carry a BK2 to work.

My daily carry is a KT P3AT, Delica4, BHK neck knife, blackberry and thumb drive - all on my person.

Anything else goes in the GHB in the car.
 
My Timbuk2 messenger bag has been through hell and back (Iraq, the Stans, Kuwait, Singapore, DG BIOT)... drop my laptop in a "Built" sleeve and away I go.

Ski
 
Eddie Bauer slacks, "dress" cargos, button front shirts
Duluth Trading FOM shirts
Duluth Trading laptop/messenger bag - although mine may be a discontinued pattern.
Dunham dress/casual shoes. (because they come in 4E width)

and yes, I work in a cube farm - and used to be in IT. Now I deal with contractors & management types.
 
It's tough to say. I recommend fitting into whatever the attire is around the workplace. When I first showed up to my present assignment (protective services) I was told the uniform was business casual. So I showed up in pressed slacks and a tie, only to find everybody else wearing 5.11 pants with american eagle polo's and buttonups.

If you are allowed to wear whatever you want, and you just want something a bit more formal, maybe try something like this:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/StainRes...A&CM_MERCH=IDX_00001__0000000025&origin=index

or similar; this

http://www.landsend.com/pp/WashedTw...Z&CM_MERCH=IDX_00001__0000000025&origin=index

I dont have any experience with either of these products in particular, but lands end is a solid company with a good warranty.
 
I'm a big fan of the lands end egyptian cotton polo shirts as well. Smooth finish and a little stretchy, but super comfortable. Also a big fan of Izod button up shirts. They're not tactical but they can be dressed up easy with a coat and tie, or worn with jeans. As far as bags go I have a Victorinox laptop bag that I wish was still made.
 
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I use these 511 cover tactical cargo pants, they have a lot of storage space.

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Saddleback messenger bags are the best. Get one!!!!
 
Hey I think a bag is a bag. Obviously no digi-cam, but everything else would be ok. Just cause you work for the man doesn't mean you can't have a personality. Unless your into Hello Kitty or something.

And, if ya gots the scratch, a Saddleback Leather pouch will let them know you got everything covered.
 
+1 on 5.11. Their tactical covert series does not scream too tacticool, and has a lot of practicool (see what I did there? :P) pockets for EDC MT or pocket knives.

Have you thought about wearing a belt pouch, such as a Maxpedition waistpack for your EDC tools?
 
well first go to JC Penny and go to the mens department and start trying on pants you like. When you find some at a decent price that look good buy those. Than go to a office depot kind of place and look for a bag to carry a computer in. When you find one you like at a decent price buy it.
 
true, true... I like to buy things that last for awhile, I hate shopping. I think I may be leaning twords a new maxpedition pack. It's tecticool but not too bad (kodiak). otherwise I'm going to spend a small fortune on a saddleback and I'm not sure I can afford it lol. But on the otherhand I'd never need to buy another bag I guess. I did try on some of the ROC pants I like those. They match my tevas well.
 
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