Ladies' purse or day bag

Perhaps you need a messenger bag with a wider, padded strap on it. I wear a quite heavy bag all day long and have never had it bother my neck at all. In fact, I like the way it distributes the weight, as opposed to a backpack that can really drag on your shoulders. I even use it to go grocery shopping! Then - lighten your load. If it doesn't look like rain, or is hot, leave the umbrella and windbreaker in your hotel room. Or tie the windbreaker around your waist. All the usual ladies purse stuff can be lightened up too, if possible. Buy a small folding brush, and do you really need to bring makeup with you while you walk around?

GAil, assuming you are only worried about the camera then? Use whatever is more comfortable and just loop the camera strap around the purse strap. This way someone cannot lift the camera easily. Or if the camera itself is quite large you can just wear it around your neck separately.

I too have tried different bags including the healthy back one and didn't like the way it felt. I love my Le Sport Sac bags - they are large, very lightweight, multiple outside pockets for things like sunglasses & water bottle, zippered top to keep it closed while being held under my arm. I loop my separate wallet-with-a-strap around the purse strap.

I use a large healthy back bag when I travel and I love it! I've never had a problem with pickpockets, but I feel like I'm smart about it. I also think that since the main compartment zipper lies mostly against your back, you would feel it if someone tried to open the bag.

http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=12052&catalogId=10052&categoryId=211505&departmentCategoryId=30000&productId=22047621&N=0&PSID=SDXSRCHFSLB060107_MAINLINK

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemID=8903&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=8903&rel=C&relid=8904&path=1%2C2%2C292%2C327

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10716&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C292%2C327&iProductID=10716&sortBy=0

I carry something like these...small enough to be lightweight and comfortable and fit against my body, but with the pockets to carry small items and to hold my digital camera out of sight when it's not hooked to my wrist. Important items and passport secured in money belt, of course. Tried not to carry larger items much.

I purchased an OSPREY shoulder bag, model is the WARP bag, it has a well padded strap & also has an adjustable hip strap if you're bike riding to hold in in place. It has a waterbottle holder,cellphone or IPOD pocket, zippered pocket for an umbrella, pen holders, 2 small zippered compartments, 2 relatively large zippered compartments as well. My rain/windbreaker jacket (which folds up into one of its pockets), tour book, camera and multiple other things fit into this bag. Used this bag on my last trip to Europe & it worked very well. Check it out on the OSPREY website. Costs about $70.00 CAD

I used a zip-top tote bag, and DH had a messenger bag. If you think your bag is heavy now, then it would be prudent to lighten the load before you'll be carrying it around all day (and it gets heavier as the day goes on). What do you really need? For example, you could eliminate the umbrella if your windbreaker has a hood. If your camera is large, perhaps a smaller one would do (we left our pricey SLR at home and used less expensive pocket cameras with great results). Will you be away from civilization for so long that you'll need lots of water? Perhaps a much smaller bottle will do. As for purse stuff, I found that pocket money, tissue, and lip balm was all I really needed for the day.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

On my last trip to Italy I downsized my normal purse contents to fit into a realy small bag that had a short stap that fit snugly under my arm and since the weather required a lightweight jacket, I wore the purse under my coat. I wore my money belt with my credit/debit card, passport and larger amount of cash and only kept 20 Euros in my wallet. I shoot a Nikon D200 DSLR and I carried that in a diaper bag which didn't draw attention unnecessarily, was zippered (got it at Target) and I had easy access to the camera. I could easily tuck my water bottle and ziploc bags with the pages for the locations of the day into the other compartments. For the overseas flight, I packed the necessities from my purse into the diaper bag and tucked the purse into my carryon bag and did not check luggage.

I use a Derek Alexander woven canvas bag I got about 5 years ago.. it is wonderful. I wear it messenger bag style ( straps are thick and adjustable, so I can also wear it over the shoulder normally if I wish). It is just the right size for all my stuff. I do not cart around a water bottle all day,, they are heavy. I just buy water bottle as I need,, I have yet to die of thirst this way. LOL

I also just purchased a teardrop shaped mini pack that you can wear front or back. I figured it would be good for some of the biking I plan to do. This bag can be worn in the front( and the teardrop shape makes it alot less bulky or bulgey then a regular back pack) in crowded areas, and on the back when you wish, straps are thick and padded. It was less then 30 dollars.

I don't think one has to spend alot on expensive security bags, I do think one has to invest some time though,, shop around and try alot of bags. I prefer the woven canvas bags, so much lighter then leather. And thick straps are durable. No one has ever tried to "cut" a bag off me.

No matter what bag you take,, it is stealable,, its up to you to just be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

I take a small clutch purse for fancier dinners out,, it is the size of a novel so packs easily.

Check out the PacSafe products. They have something for individual needs/requirements.

http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=12