Why does Rick Steves...

My Rick Steves Guide used a cross body messenger bag, so it's not a ETBD rule. :)

" takes the right arm out of commission as well as causing arm cramps"

Do you think possibly you are taking too much in your day bag? My day bag contains mostly my netbook (~2#), and I use a shoulder strap (usually over my left shoulder, with the bag on my right). I never get cramps. In fact, I hardly know it's there.

Probably because it is easier to take on and off when doing repeated takes during filming.

My husband insists on doing the same -but with his convertible carry-on stuffed to the gills. I'm always nagging him to carry it properly.

As for day bags, I'm the pack horse. I try to carry something masculine enough so he'll take a turn now and then but ever since he left a bag in a restaurant in Nice (fortunately recovered) I haven't fully trusted him with the bags. How convenient for him! I'm also the photographer so have a heavy camera around my neck.

Rick only attempts to be a Travel Guru, not a Style Icon. He likes his Civita day bag because it's light and at some times when not on camera, I suspect he wears it on both shoulders. I also prefer a cross-body style for convenient access and security, although it's not the most ergonomic option for heavy loads, such as bottles of champagne. Also, if you are going to wear a backpack on both of your shoulders, then I will ask you not to stop in the middle of the path while your travel partner retrieves things from it. Thanks!

Thank goodness someone thinks RS is "so 1990" and not caught up in todays advertising for everything new. I carry the same day bag every day, both in Europe and here in the US and alternate shoulders and have never gotten any cramps. But then again, mine only holds the absolute necessities for the day and not everything I own.

Starting next season you can keep your daily necessities in a personal drone that hovers nearby. And it will record, distribute, and enforce your copyrights in everything you are doing in real time. Cross-body messenger bags are so '00s !

I am soooo glad to hear of the Rick Steves Civita Drone!! I am really look forward to the release day. Do you think that it will be crowd sourced?

I wonder if the drone will be properly armed, so that if a pickpocket approaches it will laser them? With a decent software implementation it should be able to zap a whole cluster of kid pickpockets, even if they try to distract it with cardboard.....

The healthkit apps in your watch will tell your RS Civita Drone when you need your water bottle or sweater, and the GPS will see when you are finished in a cathedral and museum so the drone will be waiting to take your postcards and gift shop purchases off your hands at the door. Pickpocketing will be pointless when all your financial transactions are done by shaking hands with a shop worker who is wearing her own watch with pay-point app installed.

And the RS Civita Drone will make a comfortable travel pillow when stuffed with a jacket.

I remember seeing an episode of the show years ago where they "went behind the scenes" and talked about filming it. I remember at that time one of the issues was trying to get Steve to do something that was not distracting with his hands. I always thought the bag over one shoulder was part of the solution.

And bring back the Rick Steves 1990's haircut. I liked it better. Love the "intellectual nerd" look!

Who cares if the bag is reminiscent of the 1990's. If it works, use it. I have a great carry-on bag that I sometimes use that is from the 1960's. Blue "Pan Am" bag my parents bought. It's still a great travel bag.