Tough…yet just a little bit girlie

As I sit here trying to think what cool new hardware item to tell you folks about, I keep coming back to this Klein Tools bag that’s actually kind of old. I even wrote about it already for a Mother’s Day story on woman-friendly fix-it gear. But back when I wrote that, I only thought the bag was cool. Now, I know it is. Here’s why.

It’s small but not too small. The wide steel-framed mouth and soft canvas sides let me jam all my essential hand tools inside. But best of all, it’s low profile. When I walk home from our office through Times Square, the wiseacres don’t heckle me—like they did last night when I carried home a pair of saw horses (two guys asked me where my "man" was and what horrible thing had I done to him to earn the punishment of having to lug around his "man tools").

And, it looks like a purse. Now I know that’s an odd thing to say, especially after my little girl power story, and it’s not very Rosie the Riveter of me either, but it’s true. I’m just a sucker for those soft leather handles and cute little buckles.