Rick Steeves day packs

He has a few styles. I have the back pack style Civita bag and I love it. It is a good size for a day pack and is comfortable to wear. It is made of a soft material and is very light. My favorite thing about it is that it folds up small and flat so is easy to pack in my carry on back pack. It is not waterproof.

We also have the Civita, and we spray it with waterproof spray (Cadillac brand) before we travel.

I have the Civita bag as well. It's very light, so it's not adding bulk or weight to your overall kit. It has 3 zipper pockets and a clip at the bottom of one pocket. I've used it on many overseas trips and will continue to do so.

I dont think any are rainproof, without additional treatment. These are not hardcore hiking/camping bags. I have and like the Civita as well. Note that in the photos the bags look like they are fairly stiff and heavy fabric. Whereas, in reality, the Civita empty can be wadded up and fit in a coat pocket. They're very lightweight, as intended.

I have both the Civita and Ravenna day bags. I prefer the Civita, but the Ravenna slips over my 20" rolly. So it depends on the type of trip.

I have the Civita which I used for my first few trips, but never really found it very comfortable. Even though it can condense to be very small when empty, I have found that I really prefer something with a bit of structure. I probably was putting too much in it. But I found with a guide book and water etc it just was not very comfortable. We now have bags with attachable daypacks which have some structure and can hold a bit more. If you are just doing basic sight seeing then it may work well. We do a lot of hiking and biking so need to carry water, snacks etc.

I have the Civita, and it works very well for me.

If you're planning on being in a place with possible rain/water and want to protect electronics, I always slip an empty plastic bag (like a gallon freezer bag that seals well) into my travel things. That way I can store anything that's not waterproof inside.

Door #3...a quality daypack is my choice as it easily holds all items, safely and is comfortable to wear. Typically, after breakfast, we’re off for the entire day so need a bag with enough capacity.

I think it depends on your needs. Both my husband & I have used our Civita bags on our tours. We've had our bags for 10 years. It's durable, packs flat & washes well on cool gentle cycle. You can even pack it with something soft & use it as a pillow on the bus. We've never had to spray our bags with repellent.
That being said good idea to place some items in zip lock bags.

We have both the Civita and Veloce day bags and neither is water proof. But that is easily solved with the Civita bag because of it's simple confirguration. Simply put a heavy duty waterproof trash bag in the main compartment. Freezer Zip Lock bags work also. Veloce bag is a little more complicated due to it's configuration. With it use various size freezer Zip Locks to protect contents of the different compartments.

I have both the Civita backpack and shoulder bags and find the shoulder bag much more convenient to get in and out of during the day. It's also easier to keep an eye on when you're wearing it.

I've had the Civita for about 2 1/2 years and have always been very happy with it. I've used it on multiple trips, international and domestic, as well as at home anytime I need to carry a bag for a hike or other event. It's very light and soft and, as others point out, takes up almost no room when packed empty inside a suitcase. I almost always sling it over one shoulder, though I'll occasionally wear it as a backpack over both shoulders. Over one shoulder, it's easy to swing it around in front of me when I'm in close quarters on a bus or metro, anywhere I either want to protect against theft or just stay out of other people's way.

Last week, while on a trip to Florida, I noticed that one of the cords that cinches up at the top of one of the water bottle pockets is starting to fray, kind of like the outer fabric covering has separated from the inner cord. It wasn't a huge problem at this time, but it won't fix itself, so I plan to contact the RS office this week and see what solution they might offer. Other than this issue, I've been entirely happy with the bag.

Update to my earlier post: Just got a reply from RS customer service. They're sending me a new Civita pack. The cinch cord problem is covered under warranty. Told me to keep the defective bag, saying I could attempt to repair it myself, donate it or what have you. Excellent service!

I also own the 20" rolling carry-on. One of the plastic buckles on an interior compression strap snapped recently while I was packing the bag. They sent me a couple of new, sturdier buckles. It involved a bit of sewing, for which I have no skills, but I was able to get the job done. It was a good solution to an issue with a bag that is in otherwise perfect condition. I conclude that RS stands behind the products they sell.