Favourite day bags?

PacSafe Metro 200.

I am a big fan of the Pacsafe bags too.

I have a Vaude messenger bag and a Civita pack. I like the Civita better because I can carry a fleece or rain jacket.

Tania, I normally use a Tilley Vest for carrying my "stuff" when out day touring. However, there are occasions when I use a Daypack, and that's usually the Rick Steves Civita Pack. It's very light, folds flat for packing and as long as the gear I'm placing in the pack isn't too heavy, it works well.

I love Rick's Veloce Guide Bag. Not too big, because the bigger it is the more I would fill it. It is a bit "pursey" but the hubby will agree to carry it for me from time to time (as I'm the packhorse day to day over there). Its seen me through three trips successfully. We also bought the Veloce Shoulder Bag but it was bigger than expected and haven't test driven it on a trip yet.

I have a bag from Ellington that I love. It is a convertible messenger bag/day pack called the "Annie." Stood up well to daily use and held a lot of stuff (although not big enough for a jacket.). I also like to take a very small Baggalini cross body purse that I can downsize to for evenings or anytime I don't need to carry all the accoutrement needed for a touring day.

eBags Pizza day bag (http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/piazza-day-bag/94553?productid=1318670). Plenty of pockets, can be worn cross body, and a return/warranty policy that can't be beat.

Good question! I guess I haven't been satisfied with any bag enough to use it on more than one trip. This year, for my September trip to Paris and London, I'm going to try the LeSportSac Classic Hobo (http://shopping.yahoo.com/729728316-classic-hobo-shoulder-bag/). My mom has used these bags before and she says they wear like iron. They're lightweight and the one in the picture has enough room for a water bottle, map, camera, and everything else I carry on a daily basis on a trip.

We still use a Civita daypack. The big selling feature for me is how small it gets when you don't need it and just want to pack it inside your carry-on.

Years ago I bought a tote from Appleseed's catalogue. It's canvas, lined, and has leather handles and a detatchable strap. It has a zippered opening. I wanted to try a tote rather than a back pack and found I much preferred it. Local women tend to carry a tote bag to carry about their daily purchases and I felt I looked more like that and less like a tourist, which, hopefully, made me look less like a target for theft. I also liked having my things in a bag which was in front of me all the time and easy to dip into. I found it irritating to have to sling my back pack around every time I wanted to look at my map or guidebook or whatever. A totebag is easier to access while walking, while, to me, a backpack always requires me to stop, unsling, set the thing on the ground, unzip, then dip in. The same or similar avantages apply to a messenger bag. Obviously a tote is not appropriate for "dining", but I also carry a very tiny purse slung around my body, which carries, cash, pen, notebook, comb, lipstick, etc., and that serves the purpose.

I bought an Overland Equipment Donner bag for my trip to Italy last summer. It worked really well. It has external pouches on both sides that work well for a water bottle and my rolled up hat. I wore it cross body most of the time and never worried about it. I used to take the civita bag but always found that my back got hot.

Don't laugh, but my favorite (and only day bag, which is more purse style) is a generic brand one that I picked up at Walmart several years ago. It is lightweight, black, shoulder strap (for wearing cross chest), sort of a nylon-ish material, and it has three main sections, plus a large outside pocket, that will hold a variety of things, such as airline tickets, receipts, guidebook, camera, cellphone, will fit a small water bottle, even a netbook PC (if it's not too stuffed w/ the other stuff mentioned above). ...........and on top of all that, it's compact. If it's raining, it sort of sheds water. My fellow tour members on a RS tour, giggled with me that I could produce just about anything from that small purse.....the kitchen sink?. I think I paid under $10 for it. So, check out Walmart, Target, etc. One of these days I'll probably purchase a brand-name one, just as a back-up to this ole favorite :), so I'm also interested in the answers you receive to your posting.

Do you think the Longchamp Le Pliage Zip-Top Backpack would suffice as a good day bag?

The difference between wearing a back-pack and a messenger bag is that every single time you want something out of your back-pack, you will have to take it off, get the item out, let's say it is your camera, and either put the back-pack back on, take your photo and repeat with the taking it off and putting it on again, or you have to set the back-pack down somewhere while you take your photo. If you want to sit down on the train, or in a cafe, you will need to take the back-pack off again. Thus, you risk losing it or forgetting it or having it stolen. Because a back-pack is not secure, you can use twist-ties, etc. on the zippers, but then you can add that step of removing those every single time you want something out of it too. A messenger bag on the other hand, you can always wear, you don't have to take it off to get anything out of it, and you don't have to remove it while eating or sitting on a train. My own personal dislike of back-packs it that people wearing them seldom realize how often they hit others with them on the buses, trains or in stores.

I purchased a Scottevest, but since temps were in the upper 80's+, it was too warm to wear. So I also purchased a Victronix "convertable bag". Can be worn as a small day pack or over the shoulder/across chest as a messenger bag. Big enough to carry camera, maps, guide book, most anything else you'd need to a day of sightseeing, has an outer pocket for a waterbottle. So if we were doing a lot of walking/hiking the daypack version worked great (and it's unisex so my husband would take his turn). But if in crowds, on a train, wore it across my chest. Sometimes in museums they force you to check a packpack, but purses are OK. So I could quickly change the clips from one mode to the other.

I have used this Lesportsac in black, for years on all our trips to Europe as well as on other US-based trips. It's very lightweight, has multiple zippered pocket sections and is expandable. It's a little pricey but mine has lasted for years (as long as you don't overload it which could break a zipper). It has an adjustable shoulder strap and I wear it cross-body. I have even purchased these as gifts for my 2 (30-ish) daughters-in-law last year when we all went to Italy for 3 weeks. They loved it. I still also "wear" my neck-wallet when required (for passport, money, credit cards, etc). But this holds so much... even a small rolled up sweater, digital camera, water bottle, map, my trusty RS guidebook, and a few other necessities. http://www.lesportsac.com/store/7507_5922.html

I like the sling style Ameribags. They are shaped like bota bags and can be worn either with the strap across the chest and the bag on your back or with the strap on one shoulder and the bag at your hip like a messenger bag. They feel more comfortable on my back than a conventional backpacks. But the main advantage for me is that you can swing them around to the front without taking them off. That's both handy, and when bordering buses and trains, more secure. Small ones tend to look like purses, and that is advantages in museums as I'm less likely to be asked to check it. They come in everything from small purse to large day pack size. I have a small leather purse size one I use around town at home. The one I'm taking to Europe this summer is the extra small backpack. It's about 8 by 11 inches and made of distressed nylon. I use a larger one at home for long hikes.

Timbuk2 Metro Messenger...small messenger bag...big enough for a netbook or iPad but not a laptop, phone, iPod, camera, one guidebook, small hand sanitizer, travel Kleenex, documents, keys, pens, bottle of water, and whatever other small thing you may have (that sounds like a lot, but it's not really). Lots of pockets and zippered pouches inside...flap closes with Velcro and a buckle...shoulder strap...weather-proof...I've literally been in the pouring rain and was soaked from head to toe...everything in the bag stayed dry as a bone. And if you're a guy, you get the added benefit of having your travel partners make fun of your man bag (a tad too small to be a true, full-size messenger bag...thus, the grief)! It's okay...I'm pretty secure.

After breakfast, we are typically gone all day returning to our accommodations after dinner. Thus I need a larger bag. For years and currently, my favorite bag is small backpack by Patagonia. It's plenty large enough to carry all essentials such as maps. guidebook, water bottle, DSLR camera and clothing/accessories (including some for my spouse) to handle variable weather. Also, given lengthy hikes and bike rides, a comfortable backpack works best for me. It is small enough to be ignored by crew when boarding a plane and fits beneath the seat in front of me, with the main bag overhead. jo offers her opinion regarding issues with backpacks. Travelers must always be aware of surroundings whether utilizing a messenger bag or backpack. In many trips to Europe and elsewhere, I have not suffered nor inflicted the problems she mentioned. Just my opinion and experience.

Well Jan, thanks a lot. I think. I like that bag, its at Macy's online and there is 10% off til midnight tonight for Mother's day. Looks like Le Sportsac Everyday bag is mine! I can take it back locally if I don't like it when it gets here.

I've used many different day bags and my favorite one is: http://www.baggallini.com/the-collections/classic/big-zipper-bagg/ It's similar to a messenger bag and I am loving it. We also use the Civita daypack and like it a lot.

Another vote for Ameribags. The best thing about them is that you can carry them places where backpacks and backpack-purses (even tiny ones) have to be checked (museums, etc). In at least a dozen trips, I've never been asked to check on of those bags (and I carry a big one), and I've watched guards require that backpack-purses that are half the size be checked.

Just bought the Rick Steves Civita Tote - on sale, in a deep pumpkin color (they call it copper). It is more neutral than I thought it would be and really goes well w/everything except pink and red. A really great bag - holds a lot more than you would think by just looking at it and has lots of pockets. Good base so you could carry heavy items, too. Excellent quality bag.

I'm a first time poster and thought I'd throw in my two cents, only because it's a bit different. Last summer my family spent 15 days in England/Scotland. On days when I wanted more gear, the RS Civita worked beautifully though it got soaked through in a rainstorm at Urquhart Castle ; ). For days when I didn't want a backpack, my Fossil Key-per cross body bag was a surprise winner. It comes in an array of fairly wild prints that work better than you'd imagine with your travel wardrobe. As in, it looks cute with everything. The body of the bag is a coated canvas that shed water like a duck and the webbing strap was comfortable. The bag has a fairly slim look (not like a messenger-type bag) it's definitely a purse, but, like Mary Poppins' carpet bag, this little doozy held all my "stuff" and then some. Maps. Camera (pocket digital). Guide book pages. Snacks. Things my kids handed me. Other stuff my husband handed me. Okay, that might have been an exaggeration. It's fairly lightweight for its size and is still one of my favorite bags at home. It looks like you've already made a choice, but this may be handy for others who come after! Have a great trip!

I find the PacSafes uncomfortable and badly designed. I have used a Longchamp Pilage with great sucess. This trip I am tyring a small leather backpack, but....I am also packing the pilage. (You can get an entire picnic in that thing including the wine :) )

Update on the LeSportsac Classic Hobo - I took this bag to Toronto last weekend and LOVED it!!! Plenty of room for my camera, maps, water bottle, iPod Touch, cell phone, wallet, plus more. It's lightweight and I wear it cross-body. I'm going to give away my other daybags because this one is it! I'm really looking forward to taking it to Europe.

My RS's Civita Day Pack or Veloce Guide Bag or my Eagle Creek packable day pack. Depends on the trip and which one I figure will work out better. My wife says "Quit buying every bag you see!!!".

Sarah, thanks for the update on your purse. I don't like the hobo style, but have my eye on another LeSportsac so I appreciate your comments on it. Just have to spend the money!! I keep hoping they will go on sale at Macy's online...did not buy it before and really should have.

I hear you, Pam - they're expensive! I got mine at 50% off at Nordstrom Rack ($35 as opposed to $68). If there's a store near you, check it out. The bag wasn't the color I wanted but it was the style, and the store was selling out of them so I bought it. I'm really happy with it - I don't even mind the color.

About the LeSportSac items - check Ross Stores. I often find these bags there at a greatly reduced price. Happy travels!

We use messenger bags. My husband has a Timbuk2 brand one (the full size one and not the man-purse one) and I have a Vera Bradley one. Works well for us.

Thanks Sarah and BettyClaire. Funnily enough I headed to Nordstrom Rack about a week ago but it's not there anymore and is now a Marshall's. I've been haunting the local Ross and now we've got a TJ Maxx nearby (well, 40 miles, but in Idaho that's near! lol) so will keep an eye on them. Sale at Macy's this weekend excludes them.

I've used a few different ones over the year. I really like REI's Stuff Travel Pack, which is a small backpack that folds into the top pocket for compressing it. It's comfortable, versatile and moderately water proof. More recently, I used the Timbuk2 Scrunchie Tote in black which is also super nice. It has much more organization and is larger (or at least feels like it holds more) for holding more things that I buy while out and about!

Also found the Rick Steves Civita Tote on Travelsmith.com in 4 basic colors. This really is a great bag. You can use an insert if you want more inside pockets, and to make it stand up a bit.

I have been using a messinger bag from Focus for the past couple of years. It works well. You can find them online for around $100.