Messenger bag vs Veloce Bag

I looked a the video and she's carrying a very full Veloce Bag for Ipad. In its expanded mode.

Rick Steves also has the Civita Shoulder Bag:

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=8&id=273

and the Veloce Shoulder Bag:

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=8&id=217

Does your messenger bag have to be a Rick Steves bag? There are dozens of others out there from great companies.

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I have a Civita Day Pack I got as a gift...but after reading all the posts about shoulder bags and pickpockets, I'm rethinking if I should bother to use it.

It doesn't have to be a RS bag. I'll check out other brands. Thanks.

Not sure if you saw my edited reply but in the video she's showing the Veloce Bag for Ipad in its expanded mode. It's stuffed to the max.

I recently bought a pacsafe cross shoulder bag which is the size of a purse. It's too small to hold my 10.5 inch tablet, but would hold a mini tablet. Its just the right size to hold my passport, money, a small camera and water bottle. I believe they do have bigger bags than mine if you need something more sizeable. Check out their website. They have purses, bags, backpacks, wallets- tons of stuff.
Lisa

I would never carry my passport anywhere but in a money belt. And I think Pacsafe products are overkill and overpriced. The crossbody bag my daughter got started fraying within months, with the little wires scratching and poking her.

I put my passport, driver license, credit card, debit cards and major cash in my money belt. It goes in front on me, under my pants, between my underwear and my shapewear. I find a money belt much easier to manage than a neck wallet.

I use a crossbody purse for almost everything else. My current favorites are Baggallinis: the Hobo Tote for trips where I think I might need to carry more stuff and the Highrise Crossbody for trips where I want to prevent myself from carrying more stuff.

I have found that the less I lug around on a daily basis, the more I enjoy the trip, and that I never really needed most of what I used to carry. The Highrise fits fine in the Baggallini Kindred tote I use as my "personal" carry-on item on the plane.

raven,

You could also have a look at something like the Tom Bihn Cafe Bag, which is something like a Messenger Bag.

Some might find pacsafe products overkill, but I mentioned it because I've been highly satisfied. My backpack has made three trips to Europe with three different people, including an archeologist on assignment. It was comfortable to carry, and everybody felt their things were very secure. With me wearing it, my things were safe in spite of being in the middle of a pickpocket mugging on the Paris metro. It was a group of girls and one of them was right behind me shoving me and another girl holding the doors and another girl in front of me. I can't say if they attempted to get in my bag, I don't know. But I do know that nothing was taken from me and the couple in front of me lost their wallets. Nobody who borrowed my backpack has complained and the backpack looks exactly like it did when I bought it 3 years ago. For my upcoming trip to Europe, I didn't need such a large bag and wanted something more like a purse. I LOVED the security of my backpack and I hope for the same from the purse. I strongly dislike the feel of a moneybelt and hated carrying a neck wallet.

That being said, you have to find what works for you.

The Pacsafe bag I no longer use started to fray within days, but I stopped using it because it was heavy and uncomfortable. I use a Mandarina Duck microfiber messenger bag, holds everything for the day and is super lightweight. I've had it for four years, still perfect.

I use a Patagonia Mini-mass messenger bag, fits lunch, my iPad, (my Macbook air if i need it) a jacket and other odds and ends just fine

I wear a money belt for my valuables and for my purse/ day bag I carry a LeSportSac cross-body messenger-style bag like this one: https://poshmark.com/listing/Leopard-LeSportsac-Messenger-bag-534f3757fab83670103cfbdd. They're lightweight and wear like iron, and are roomy enough for everything I use every day.

Looks like all this discussion about what to carry will be moot if you visit the Colosseum, Forum or Palatine Hill in Rome. Check out the discussion about that under Italy--New rule: No daypacks in the Colosseum?

Add me to the list of people who ended up with a pacsafe purse because I can't stand the feel of a money belt or neck pouch against my skin.

I'm with Selkie. I love my pacsafe for the peace of mind it gives me. It's probably over 5 years old and I used to wear it as my commuting city bag as well. It still looks like new. I just leave it on all day. I wear a money belt seldom. If I do, it is during transport only.

Thanks for all the information. So many different ones to choose from. I've been leaning towards Travelon Anti-Theft Signature Messenger Bag. I will check out all the ideas I've gotten here. Thanks to all for your replies.

here is a nice 30 dollar option. I just wandered across this on the ebag website.....it looks like a nice size
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/piazza-day-bag/94553?sourceid=ONLTELLPT1

I just purchased a pacsafe city bag yesterday off of Amazon. I researched a lot of the suggestions on these forums, and found Amazon can be cheaper-this bag was $25.00 less than brand's website (free shipping with Prime) I will use it for a test run in March during a trip to Utah before going to Scotland in September. I liked the organization of the bag-I hate having all my stuff jumbled in one compartment. Also, my shoulders cannot take lugging a heavy bag, so I am forced to stop dragging junk around as though it's the apocolypse!

An update to my 1/27/15 post. I have received my pac-safe bag; while I have not yet used it on a trip, I am very pleased with the construction, and organization! My Kindle Fire (along with protective sleeve) fits in the front pocket; and I will have plenty of room for wallet, passport, camera, etc. I'm not one to drag along water bottles or umbrellas, another reason I did not want a huge bag. It's a dark charcoal grey, and lightweight. I also like the fact you can secure the zippers and not worry about pick pockets!

ravenn51, I have used the Civita Day Pack for years, and will use it for many trips to come. You can't beat the light weight! I carry it on one shoulder. like a purse. FWIW, to help you picture the Velocé iPad Bag, it's about the size of an 8.5"x11" sheet of paper and you can make it either 1.5" or 3" deep. I really like mine. I occasionally use it as a regular ol' purse.

There aren't roving gangs of switchblade-knife-carrying thieves in Europe. You don't need slash-proof bags unless you are totally oblivious to your surroundings, or like to dangle your purse off the back of your café chair. There's no law that says you can't carry one, but it's not necessary. And they're really heavy.

I was unsure which bag to get as well and tried out the Veloce bag for iPad although I won't take an iPad. I liked it for its size and thought, this will work for my Kindle, as well as maps and phone and items I want to have handy. Also people say this bag is allowed to stay with you in museums. I've had it for a few weeks and really like it. It hangs nicely as a shoulder bag and can be flatter or fatter - depending on what's in it. I even use it for work; I have to carry a 6x9" pad with me in the field and it fit perfectly. So far I think I made the right choice, haven't done my trip yet.

I did see there are new rules about daypacks in some places in Rome. So the question remains, is the Veloce messenger bag for ipad considered a purse or a backpack. I am taking an Ipad. I just need something to carry about daily 'stuff' which is akin to a purse. If the Veloce bag is the size of a piece of paper, that may be too big to be considered a purse?