How the strap is worn, more than how the bag is built. A shoulder bag hangs from one shoulder on a shorter strap; a crossbody sits diagonally across the body on a longer one. Plenty of our styles do both by adjusting the strap, which is why you will see the same bag described either way depending on who is carrying it.

Work backwards from a normal day. If the list is a phone, cards and keys, one of the compact styles is enough and stays out of the way. If you add a water bottle, sunglasses and a paperback, look at the everyday sizes. If a lunch and a jumper are involved, go for one of the larger canvas shapes.

Up to a point, and the fix is free. One shoulder is fine for a light load, but as weight goes up the strap starts to bite, so wear it across the body instead to spread the pressure. If you regularly carry a laptop or a full day's kit, a backpack is the more comfortable answer and we would rather say so.

Better than most canvas bags. Our matte recycled canvas is durable and weather-resistant, so light rain runs off rather than soaking in, and the cotton canvas styles are water-resistant. Neither is a waterproof bag, so in a genuine downpour keep anything precious in an inner pocket, but neither will let you down on an ordinary damp day.

Yes. Nothing in the range is cut for one gender, and the strap adjusts, which is where fit usually falls down. If you want something that reads more neutral, the Black, Graphite and camo colourways are the ones most often bought by men. The brighter colourways are simply a different choice, not a different bag.