How to carry all this stuff?

The train tickets are proper paper tickets or just e-tickets? For the latter, I'd just make sure I still have email access should the worse happen. as for the stuff... go with a small backpack or shoulder bag/messenger bag. Is your stuff insured?

I learned another tip from a fellow traveler with a digital SLR. She said when she would leave her camera behind she would remove the memory card so if her camera was stolen at least she would still have the pictures.

We just returned from our first European trip, and I used a Pacsafe Metro 200 as my day bag. It carried a VERY similar load to yours: a Kodak Z712 camera (about the same size as your Canon), a GPS, an iPod Touch, plus my Rick Steves guidebook, map, tickets, sunglasses, etc. Plus it has some very good safety features to prevent pickpocketing. I learned about this bag from another person on this Helpline, and I definitely recommend it.

Is it just a style thing? Waist pack versus shoulder bag? Sounds like anything hanging off my back is bad. I always wore my waist pack in the front, so I can whip out the camera faster. And in crowds I could put my hand on it. I see pacsafe makes a small waist pack with the same security features of the larger backpack, and a smaller shoulder bag. The back pack looks rather large, 10 x 12 x 3.5 inches. THanks for the reference.

I also like the camera card idea. I am trying to thing of a time when I wouldn't want my camera with me though, and I can't think of one.

I saw plenty of small backpacks in Europe, but I agree with that it's more convenient to wear a bag in front. I wore my Pacsafe "messenger style", i.e. with the strap across my chest, and it basically hung down in front of my hips. Worked fine, and I felt very secure even in thick crowds.

And another idea with your camera is to stop in a photo store and ask them to copy your pictures onto a CD or DVD as a backup. I did this about halfway thru our trip, just to be safe. I think it cost me 5 euros.

The bag I just used was also the Pacsafe Metro pack 200. I loved it and unlike a purse, my hubby would carry it too.

I think it is a function of HOW you handle the bag. Personally I don't think it is a good idea to wear it on your back or in front. When I enter a crowd subway car or bus, I swing it off and carry it around my knees. If I am standing in a crowded car it is on the floor between my feet. Well out of reach of any prying hands.

now i'm getting paranoid. i have an REI flash UL pack (http://www.rei.com/product/747522). i am planning to carry a guidebook, jacket, treo800, ipod video and a small camera, ect. usually when i approach an area with many people, like a metro or a bus, i will swing it around front so that it is under my arm and in front of me. this bag only has one entry point, which is the cinch on top.

does this look like an easy bag to break into? i choose it because it is cheap, light and easy to pack.

That one looks pretty easy to stick your hand into. If you're really concerned, get a small backpack with lockable zippers and use a small lock on the compartments carrying the expensive stuff.

Or look at a couple of new bags from EAgle Creek--the Guide Pro and the new Vagabond. Both have large compartments that have a special zipper locking system.

You might check out Magellan's Travel Catalog for a travel vest. They have a couple of styles. There are several pockets with zippers/velcro and inside pockets. I have one and found it quite handy. There are speciafic pocets for GPS, phone, etc. One of my male friends introduced it to me . . . he hates carrying a bag around and wears a travel vest. They are nice looking and functional.

Here's a handy little piece of gear I have found very useful for peace of mind....

REI sells teeny, little metal "mini carabiner"-type locking rings. They make several different sizes, but here's an example:
http://www.rei.com/product/725639
(if the URL doesn't work, search for "Versalink").

They come in assorted colors and they're tiny, super-light-weight, and strong. Not terribly expensive, either. If you're going to an REI retail store, they're typically on a rack near the cash registers, along with a variety of other little gizmos. I think these are often sold as key-rings, but be sure to get the kind that have a screw-together closure (don't get a true carabiner-type variant, since those are designed to be opened quickly).

I always travel with a handful of these, they're very useful for attaching all sorts of stuff. My primary use for them is to hold together the zippers on my day-pack while I'm out amonst crowds. Screw the two halves of your pack's zipper together with these, and nobody is going to be able to stealthily detatch them and get into your pack. Of course, they're not as secure as a lock (don't go to sleep with this "securing" your camera to a seatframe on a train), but they weight next to nothing (locks are heavy -- even tiny ones), but they are secure enough for this purpose. Not even the most skillful pickpocket would be able to get into your pack -- while you're wearing it -- with these things holding the zippers closed.

This is one of my favorite little bits of specialized travel gear. They really work great for this.

Carry a courier or messenger bag. If you can find one that zips and then has the big flap going over it, you can rest assured that your stuff will be safe. Wear the strap over your chest. The bag rests at your side on your hip, you can keep your hand on top of it when you like. It holds everything and is comfortable. They are highly popular here in Germany, especially canvas ones, that look almost military, or cool looking ones made of vinyl (good for keeping stuff dry when it rains) This is what I have been using since ages.

david - interesting about the versalink. would you use the small or the large one for your backpack zippers?

i agree that the REI flash UL looks easy to get into but i really liked how light weight and packable it was. i was hoping for a day pack i could store in my backpack (carryon size) when i'm not using it.

i've also thought about this one: http://www.rei.com/product/762532 or this one:
http://www.rei.com/product/762540

the flash back, though it has a cinch at the top, has a smaller meshlike pocket that starts halfway down and goes down to the bottom. if i have my phone, camera and ipod in there, how can someone really open the cinch and stick their whole hand down without me realizing it?

I'm with Jo - I also use a messenger bag - in fact, I have three different messenger bags I use. All are worn over the shoulder and button/fasten securely. I've never had any issues and, as Jo says, you will see Europeans using these bags most often!

Ciao,
Ron

You'd need at least a medium-sized waist pack for your gadgets (plus four extra batteries for you S3). IMHO, waist packs scream both "tourist" and "I'm stuck in the 1980's". ;-) My BF is a "gadget guy", too. His "man bag" is a messenger-style bag. If you look for one, beware: many messenger bags do not have a zipper closure for the main compartment (underneath the flap), and are therefore easy to access/lose things. eBags.com is a good place to look for bags, as they show many views of the bags. They even have a category of "Men's Messenger Bags". I just took a look, and the "High Sierra Tank" doesn't look too bad (and has a zipper for the main compartment), and it's on sale today for $23.99. Anyway, have fun with your S3 12x zoom (I have one, too), and have a great trip!

Lisa - I use the smallest versalinks -- they're about about 1.25 inches long. They work PERFECTLY for securing zippers.