I've happily used a bar bag for some time, and It has never occurred to me that they might been seen as feminine. And even if they are, who cares. Quite frankly you are going to get far more dubious looks from wandering around in tight fitting shorts or longs than you are from carrying a bar bag.
Bar bags are very useful if you have valuables that you want to easily be able to take off the bike and carry round with you. They are also more accessible than a saddle bag when you are on the bike so it is possible to easily reach in to get out a map or a snack while you on the move.
However if all you want to do is carry round a few tools I'd go for a simple saddle bag of some sort.