What day bag do you carry?

Timbuk2 Metro Messenger: Stylish, eco-friendly construction and just large enough for a guidebook, camera, water-bottle, snack, hand sanitizer, and other small items I may need.

I carry a Pacsafe Metro 200 and wear it messenger-style. It's not a big bag, but it's enough to hold my camera, guidebook, iPod (for audio tours), maps, and other small necessities. Plus it's got great security features. I've been happy with it.

Dwayne -- some airports in Europe will not allow you a purse/messenger bag + a carry-on. You may end up like me, holding up a huge line while trying to repack your luggage. I use my day-pack as my carry-on.

That said, I found a messenger bag very convenient and comfortable. And for the women -- I have also used Tilley's "Pickpocket proof purse of many pockets" which really is pickpocket proof but not the most comfortable thing to carry.

My two favorites are Victoriknox and Kipling. Victoriknox is by Swiss Army so you get sturdy, well made products. I used a messenger style bag and a small backpack by them. Both served purpose but just wanted to try something new so on last trip bought a Kipling messenger bag. I liked that too. Kipling offers wide variety of colors and sizes. Both get thumbs up from me!

One of the nice things about winter travel is that you don't need a daypack. Unless you have a particularly large camera, you can fit everything inconspicuously in the pockets of winter coat.

Yes, I do carry a large Nikon DSLR with a couple extra lenses. Instead of carrying them in my photo shoulder bag I was hoping to carry them in a messenger bag or daypack. I'll check out the various bags you have all suggested. Thanks.

Dwayne! You have read my mind; I was getting ready to do a post about day bags. My husband and I are doing a combo city/country trip for this summer. This sounds like no one here uses the RS bag instead they use messenger bags. Also do couples share the day bags or do they each carry their own?

Four of us use Rick's Convertible Backpack (the one with the hip belt, not the Classic) and the Civita day pack. (Although actually for my 5-week trip this year I'll use an Eagle Creek....I have many gifts for a friend I'm visiting!)

I will use the RS Veloce Shoulder Bag this summer. We will spend a month teaching ESL as volunteers in Lithuania. The bag has a pocket for a laptop or file folders, etc. For traveling in Scandanavia it also opens large enough for a DSLR camera plus a guidebook and other paraphenalia. It can be worn as a shoulder/messenger bag or a backpack.

I'm on my second Civita daybag. They're tough enough and fold up very small. I pack my daybag in my carry on so I only have to keep track of one bag at a time. I do take it out on flights, though.

I also use a Civita day bag. I used two other daypacks for years but now go with the Civita because it's lightest, folds up smallest but still carries everything I need for day touring.

I purchased this bag for my Europe trip quite some time ago but now I'm thinking it might be too large. I do really like the bag though. I was going to use it as a purse/day bag.

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/gallery_shopper_tote/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=105238

As far as I know, couples carry their own bags. That way, if one gets lost/stolen, the other person still has their things. DH carries a small-but-still-manly messenger bag, and I carry a black, waterproof, zip-top tote (neither of us is a backpack person). Both have lots of pockets/compartments inside and out. Things we carry in our bags: pocket camera/battery/card, map, business card of our hotel, sunscreen or gloves (depends on weather), pin money (important stuff is in moneybelt), info. on that day's activities, train schedule/pass, waterproof/hooded shell (again, depending on weather), sunglasses, chapstick, tissue, maybe a snack. We didn't usually carry water, as it was too heavy. Plus, it was a good excuse to stop somewhere for a break.

I also have a Civita bag that I have used since 1996.My wife has a small shoulder bag from Steves. I recently purchased a 2nd one because my daughter and her family kept borrowing it for trips in the US.

I like the vertical style messenger shoulder bag by MEC Mountain Co-Op Equipment...it cost only $19 CAD and isn't bad quality for a cheapie.

Has anyone carried a namebrand/designer bag as a day bag? If so are you concerned for safety? I ask because my husband bought me a Coach tote as a wedding present with the idea I could use it as a day bag. It is the right size and lays out flat when empty. I just don't want someone grabbing it.

hhmmm. Just like in the US, the odds of someone grabbing it depends on where are you-- and that's usually rare. I think most people would say "Don't make yourself a target." It's probably good advice, but personally I wouldn't worry about that if it's a good bag to carry. Just don't put it down anywhere, you will lose it- whether or not it's Coach. Don't put anything in it that you can't afford to lose- regardless of the brand. A bag that you wear across your body is best, again, regardless of brand.

Gena - I always carry a Coach bag, usually small, but I do have a large tote that I've used. I don't think anyone's interested in the bag. However, someone might be interested in the wallet within. I had a nice Coach coin purse lifted (out of my closed larger purse) prior to getting on the tube in London. It was stupid of me to have used it since it cost more than the contents. Now, I use a small lightweight fabric type coin purse to hold money while traveling.

On my most recent trip I carried a small, unpadded hemp "backpack." It's this one:

http://www.hempmania.com/item_detail.jsp?item=93820

It's thin and easy to include in my one carry-on, yet big enough to hold my 10-inch netbook, a water bottle, a snack, my glasses, and sunscreen. I even stuffed my raincoat in it at one point. I didn't mind the lack of padding at all.

I added twist-ties to the zippers to keep them from being opened accidentally or intentionally.

My post will probably be more for the girls - but I typically buy my day bag for trips from Urban Outfitters. Most of my traveling is in cities, and I like for it to look good as well as be functional. I just bought this one for my upcoming trip this September:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=10&startValue=11&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=14399000&parentid=W_ACC_BAGS&sortProperties=+product.marketingPriority,-product.startDate&navCount=18&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=W_ACC_BAGS&popId=WOMENS_ACCESSORIES&prepushId=

The criteria I have is that it have a long strap to go around my body (so it doesn't get snatched off me!), extra little handles that I keep hold of, is cute, and is big enough to hold what I carry each day (camera, RS book, water bottle, make-up). I also usually buy a soft bag like the one I provided a link for, as I can take the contents out and stuff them into my carry on when flying.

Dwayne -
I saw that you're planning on taking a Nikon DSLR with multiple lenses. I don't know how many photos you might take, but if it helps, I went to Dublin and Amsterdam last year with my Nikon DLSR and 2 lenses (18-55mm and 55-200mm) with the thoughts that I would use the telephoto for architecture, etc.
I never changed lenses once. I found I used the shorter lens for most of my needs - including the several hundred pictures of tulips and flowers in Holland. I didn't take my camera bag out with me - I just use an inconspicuous large black bag (think over the shoulder gigantic purse-like bag) with my camera at the bottom. For all other people knew, I was out running errands - until I brought out the camera.

Hope that helps! If you need the telephoto, would you consider an all-in-one lens? For example - an 18-200mm lens - that way you don't have to travel with multiple lenses?

I carry a backpack because it's more comfortable for me than a messenger bag for the kind of stuff I carry with me. I keep a guidebook, jacket, bottle of water, my camera, snacks, and sometimes lunch in there. With the water bottle, it tends to get a bit heavy, so carrying a messenger bag would make me lopsided. I put locking carabiners on the zippers and don't put anything in the little outside pocket. I also find that backpacks can go anywhere, like hiking or other outdoor stuff.

I'm looking for a new messenger bag.....I've got it narrowed down to the Pacsafe Metrosafe 200 and the Tom Bihn Medium Cafe bag.

Both bags are about the same size and price. My main concern is pickpocketing.

The TB bag has a big flap with a buckle closure that goes over the entire bag, a smaller zipped pocket, but an open main pocket (covered by the flap). The main pocket has two "D" rings inside to which I would clip a zippered pouch for my cellphone and ipod-the only two things I'm concerned about since everyhthing else is in my moneybelt.

My other choice is the Metrosafe 200. It has lots of security features but I'm wondering if it's overkill. I've also heard the strap can get uncomfortable after hours of wearing it because of the steel wire inside.

Has anyone tried both bags? I'd like to hear a comparison.

(FYI--I currently have the RS Civita shoulder bag. It's okay, not the most comfortable thing, but I feel perhaps flimsy for roving hands in Italy and Spain.)

For me, the Tom Bihn medium cafe bag is a perfect size. I use the o-ring clips to attach the clear wallet and a padded bag for my camera. I usually don't have my cellphone or Ipod with me during the day while sightseeing, but my cellphone is small enough to join my small digital camera in my padded bag if I wanted it. In the main compartment are things that a pickpocket would be unlikely to want--a guidebook, a small water bottle, tissues, lipstick, pens, a small notebook.

I've taken the Cafe bag to three particularly pickpocket-ridden places: Rome, Prague, and Barcelona. No problems. I wear it across my chest, with the clip facing towards me.

Sorry--no comparative experience with the Packsafe bag.

I have a great messenger bag from REI. It holds everything I need securely and distributes the weight to keep it comfortable all day. You also don't run into the backpack issue of becoming a wide load when you enter a store with narrow aisles.

I've had a lot of different ones- from school bag-type backpacks and "full" sized camera equipment bags to almost purse sized ones. I also am one of those "freaks" who tend to use a large waist pouch. I have an Egale Creek waist pouch that converts to a sholder "purse", but haven't used it in a few trips. Right now I tend to alternate between 2 different ones- a 1/2 sized messenger-type by Baggalini. My husband also carries one like this for camera etc. Other times- when I want a bit more room- i use a one-strap sling back by AmeriBag. It looks more like a large purse than a bag. I tend to use it on long weekend type trips when I don't even need a real carry-on.

Frank - The Tom Bihn bag is really well designed and comfortable to carry. I like the vertical style because it's so much less bulky (even though I have the large size). Although there's an open main compartment under the flap, I think it would be really hard for a pickpocket to get past the big buckle. Also, there's a fairly large front zippered pocket under the flap, where I keep my wallet (a Tom Bihn clear organizer pouch).

This may seem foolish to all you "well-heel'd" travellers and OverPriced RS tour veterans,,, but my "day bag" in Europe are a dozen or so plastic grocery bags !! They are FREE. They fold up neatly so you can carry many. You can put 3 or 4 in your pocket until needed. I usually "double-bag" and have only had a problem carrying 4 packs or 6 packs of beer.

I use a Jansport mini backpack that I originally bought for cycling. It carries everything I need comfortably, and when I hit crowded tourist areas I swing it around to ride in front where no one can get their hands inside it!

chrome mini metro

My husband bought a Tumi messenger-style "man bag" just before our last trip to Europe. Worn across the chest with hidden zippers close to his body, it was very secure. It was large enough for our small cameras and some snacks - and it blended in well with the style of bag that many European men carry. Now we wonder, "why don't more American men go this route?"