Taking an additional “day purse”

I always pack a smaller crossbody purse in my carryon backpack. I find it helpful when going out for dinner, for example, to not have a backpack with me. Plus some museums don't allow backpacks and this avoids having to check it. I like the versatility of having that smaller purse. Plus then you have some essentials in front of you without having to dive into the backpack. Enjoy Scotland!

I have the Canfield too, and I find it very comfortable to use as a backpack. The only disadvantage is that it’s tempting to put lots of stuff in it and then it gets heavier. I tend to alternate between it and my small, light crossbody depending on how much stuff I need to carry with me.

I also would bring a smaller bag. You might want something that will also fit under your rain jacket.

I always take along my small, light Baggalini cross body as my day purse! Mine is about 15 years old, but the current triple zip model is similar.

I like to have something small for going to dinner or other short outing (vs touring all day).
I have a very slim, lightweight crossbody pouch (it's barely a bag) from Mystery Ranch that I got off Sierra for next to nothing. Very slim, detachable strap. It's not the kind of thing Forum folks like (i.e., it's not anti-theft, etc.). It holds phone, small water bottle, etc., and transfers easily between bags. Looks nice enough to be considered a "purse." Found it! https://www.mysteryranch.com/street-market-bag
I also have a packable messenger-style bag (https://www.ebay.com/itm/365700852593?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOorwbmjF_rGmEpECGkA3WymFuVb7uhIf4UCKuIuEJlfbidnGHOvw6Do) that holds a lot more. This was my day bag for my long trip in 2018, and I used it again on my trip in March because it holds my rain jacket. It's decidedly sporty, so it doesn't really work with a dressier outfit.

I have a small Sherpani cross body that I take, but mine is smaller than yours since I don't carry a camera or umbrella. I keep my passport and other items in the bag when going thru security and then place it in my larger under the seat bag when boarding the airplane. On the plane, I pull it out again and wear it, keeping it with me when going to the bathroom etc. I also have a small belt bag that I take empty for when I am just walking around by my hotel to take the weight completely off of my shoulders. It can hold my phone, id, and some cash. I do carry-on only.

I have a cross body Bandolier phone lanyard for my iPhone. I take all my photos with my iPhone camera and use apple pay instead of credit cards. This way I am able to eliminate carrying a purse.

I still wear a money belt under my clothing.

I just purchased an anti-theft Sherpani crossbody/tote because I wanted something a little larger for carrying during the day. I'll also pack my small heritage Travelon bag for when I need to downsize (museums, dinner, etc.).

I love my Timbuk2 Flight Satchel. It's become my regular purse that easily tucks inside my personal-item backpack for flight. Because I journal and sketch on the go, I wanted something that gives me easy access to my art supplies, and this fits the bill. I love the way the compartments are designed to let me stash my phone, wallet, keys and sundries in completely separate compartments than my art supplies. I also like how the orientation is horizontal rather than vertical as I find it more comfortable to wear. The strap is sturdy and easy to adjust, though I wish it was a bit narrower. Also, my phone is a giant Samsung Galaxy and it's just a skosh too long to fit in the padded slot between the compartments, but my daughter's iPhone fits fine. I am taking a six week, 7 country trip this fall and plan to bring the backpack empty except for the Timbuk2 and my medications, with the intent to fill the backpack with purchases and art (I am taking a workshop for part of the trip) as I go. I don't plan to use the backpack as a daily carry except possibly on one planned longer beach hike early on in the trip. Thanks to this site, I bought a Nanobag string-style backpack that tucks inside my purse, and I'll use that to carry my jacket if don't want to wear it. Everything else fits in the Timbuk2. If I wasn't planning to fill the backpack along the way, I'd travel with just my daybag and carryon suitcase.

Seems like with all of the great feedback, a smaller day purse is going along for the ride. Thank you all. Great point Pam about having something for under a raincoat. I actually had forgotten I have a small Kipling bag, too, that I may give a try this trip instead of the Sherpani. I’m not taking the umbrella this go round and I could put my small digital camera in a pocket. These little Kipling purses are kind of cute. I found mine at TJMaxx for $24.99 (Just so you know, the keychain gorilla won’t be going to Scotland, though, lol)

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/kipling-new-eldorado-crossbody-bag?ID=12873693&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&gclsrc=aw.ds&&trackingid=477x1057537993&m_sc=sem&m_sb=Google&m_tp=PLA&m_ac=Google_Handbags_PLA&m_ag=GGL_PLA_Handbags_Kipling&m_cn=GGL_PLA_Handbags&m_pi=go_cmp-20587141109_adg-159648286531_ad-675105022482_aud-2290550053867:pla-2204521863291_dev-c_ext-_prd-882256423440USA&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20587141109&gbraid=0AAAAAD-Tw4JZyd0RkgarP557IDdisZ7fP&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeDsQYOtIou7Pw05qiW9xegc2roG_pGWyQ0OM7a_4N9KvvWzt1IsDDQaAtvMEALw_wcB

Sounds like many of us take a second, smaller item for casual times when we don’t need a backpack. I thought I was the only person who did this?! HA. Mine is a small, 30 year-old leather waist pack that turns to quite a nice a leather shoulder purse I thought I’d overpaid for at Nordstrom, but it has lasted and lasted!

I bring my ORI Kennington crossbody purse as my personal item (no backpack for me as a personal item), but I wanted to mention that ORI also has the small Chelsea pocket sling that goes well under a coat.

I always bring a small cross body bag. For the plane ride, I use it to hold all my airplane essentials: chapstick, eyedrops, tissues, hand wipes, snacks, etc. I’ve seen packing videos where a woman uses useful bags, like purses or tote bags, instead of packing cubes to organize what she packs.

I have a much larger Kipling Zelenka bag (7 L capacity) that holds a 500 mL water bottle and a small book along with the other usual travel items for my city A to city B travel days and a much smaller flat LeSportSac Kylie bag for in-city days - that one holds my phone, passport, tissues, lip balm, a small snack. It is small and flat enough to fit under my rain jacket. I shorten the strap so that it is under my armpit.

A week in Scotland sounds so good. Hope you have a great time!

I try to travel pretty light. For daily carry I always use a money belt , carry a small amount of cash/coin, bandaid , etc in a Chums wallet, try to pay for nearly everything with Apple Pay & carry things along the lines of what you mention in a Nanobag Pack. It’s been talked about here Nanopack Hopefully I created that link right.
I have a friend who travels with a small dry bag to use whenever expecting any weather.

Good luck finding what works best for you.

Oh, that size of the Kipling bag looks great!

FWIW I saw a bunch of the Ori/Roka bags Jean mentions in a store earlier in the week in Shetland. Couldn’t decide on color so decided to wait, then the store was closed the next time I was in town. I do not have room to pack it anyway, lol.

I’ve seen the Canfield ALL over Orkney and Shetland.

BTW, closely monitor the weather. It’s been very warm. Currently back in Edinburgh for 2 nights and it was over 70 this afternoon. Shetland was quite hot and sunny for there and I sorely wished for a sunhat and capris.

Some museums prohibit large bags. You are asked to put it in a locker. This can be very inconvenient, because you will be left carrying your essentials in your hands.

I use a small, fit under my jacket, Tom Bihn everyday cubelet. It carries my passport & boarding pass in the airport, phone, tissues, wallet, a few other essentials, pops into my under seat bag when boarding.

https://www.tombihn.com/products/travel-cubelet?variant=45304691261629

On Fri 15 August it is being released in 2 new amazing colors Kelpie & Skelkie. Yes, I have a lovely dark green cubelet but the new gorgeous TEAL Kelpie cubelet has my name on it. May as well order extras in both colors as these would make terrific gifts for friends in Scotland who are always out & about.

Special thanks to Mardee the Enabler who guided me to Tom Bihn products in the first place :)

I usually take a small nylon messenger bag, that has good organizational pockets inside, and a zippered pocket on the back, for nicer daytime excursions, and in the evening. It's lightweight and easy to pack.
For jaunts or hikes that don't require a lot of extra stuff (e.g. rain wear, and extra layer, snacks, etc) I've gotten used to a belt bag/crossbody pack. For more 'stuff', I recently bought a lightweight sling-style pack that is surprisingly versatile and looks more streamlined than a hiking daypack. Both of these also pack down flat.
And, finally, I recently fell for the hype of Bandolier phone cases with attached card case, when a friend had one on a recent trip. We were sightseeing and doing walks, etc. from a tour vehicle where we could leave our other bags and it seemed pretty handy.......so when I saw there was a 50% off sale I ordered a phone case, airpod pouch and extended pouch, which will be able to hold sunglasses, lip balm, small digital camera.

Now I have all the bases covered, depending on what the day's itinerary looks like.........also gives me flexibility if I pick up some treasures while traveling.

I have the Ori Chelsea bag that Jean mentioned and love it! It's small but will hold a phone and a few credit cards easily. I usually take it when i'm going out for the evening for dinner or something similar, but for day time when I'm sightseeing, I prefer something a bit bigger.

Special thanks to Mardee the Enabler who guided me to Tom Bihn products in the first place.

Ha ha ha!!! You're quite welcome!!

Some museums prohibit large bags. You are asked to put it in a locker.

I've carried the Canfield all over and have never been asked to put it in a locker. It doesn't really scream "big backpack" so it usually is fine.

"Some museums prohibit large bags. You are asked to put it in a locker. This can be very inconvenient, because you will be left carrying your essentials in your hands."

"I've carried the Canfield all over and have never been asked to put it in a locker. It doesn't really scream "big backpack" so it usually is fine."

I had to check my purse at the archeology museum in Trier and had the security guard hold up a piece of A4 paper against my purse in a Munich Museum. My purse (was using a LeSportsac Everyday bag then) was slightly bigger than the paper...really it was the seam binding that was bigger and he let me enter the museum but glared at me, lol. I have also had a measurement experience at the Fine Arts Museum in Brussels. With the Galleria Borghese I knew ahead of time that they had a very small allowable purse size within the galleries so went prepared with my small "wear it on the plane" cross body which is about 7x5. I think their measurement might be 8x6 but would have to look it up to be sure.

The time I had to check it in Trier, it was totally unexpected but was nearly 10 years ago so just didn't have the experience I have now. I DID have to shove things in my pockets as I was not prepared. After that I usually have some kind of toiletry pouch in my day purse so I can shove my small change purse and credit card case in there and it's not too inconvenient to carry around.

In other news....I have now been obsessing over the new colors of the Tom Bihn cubelet. I LOVE the blue purple of the Selkie that Diane posted about! Oh my word. I also had no idea that when you put your name down to be notified, and then get notified of a new color drop, they sell out quickly! Now on the notification list for the next run of this gorgeous fabric because I dithered. Good Grief!

In no way do I need another bag of any kind. That apparently is not stopping me, hahaha!!

I have a purse I picked up for a few euro in Portugal earlier this year. It meets all my needs as far as functionality. It is smallish, has an inside zip pocket, a front zip pocket and a back zip pocket. It is cross body and has a wide comfortable strap. The problem is it's not pretty, at least not to me, so I continue to be on the hunt. There was a bag someone suggested here a while back that I wanted, but it was no longer in stock. My luck finding the perfect purse for me has not been great so far.

As an aside regarding Tom Bihn products, a while back they had a small bedside organizer in bright pink. I resisted at the time, but finally decided I really wanted it. Well, my luck, they no longer offer the pink, so my advice is if you're thinking of getting a Tom Bihn cubelet bag, get the color you want as soon as you can in case they discontinue it.

Sounds like many of us take a second, smaller item for casual times when we don’t need a backpack.

Oh I always take a smaller crossbody item and use it in addition to my daypack backpack. I can't stand not having my essentials there in front of me. Both more easily accessible to me, and less accessible than they would be for pickpockets were I to keep those items in my backpack.

And then yes at dinner, it's nice just to take the small bag.

I have a few small ones from Hedgren that I really like. I usually have a pretty mini one like that Ori Chelsea that Mardee linked above.. and then one a tiny bit bigger. I always have a tough yoke deciding which one. And I did sew an additional slip pocket on the back of the smallest one.

"if you're thinking of getting a Tom Bihn cubelet bag, get the color you want as soon as you can in case they discontinue it."

@KRS....I did figure this out but glad you said it! I've been on their forum and it's all lists of what items came in which colors previously. Well, that's no help, lol! I've settled for having a TB webpage open on my computer and I click to update every few hours hoping I'll catch the new batch, lol. The other day it was released at 10A so I am going to update around that time for sure, lol. I hate it when they have pictures on the website of items in colors that no longer are available. I love some of the pinks they have! I've also looked on Ebay for some items in colors no longer available and some of the prices there are even more ridiculous than the ones on the website, lol!!

I call this small, flat bag my dinner bag.
https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/bags-gear/backpacks-bags/travel-bags/vardag-pocket/?v=F27248::7323451062032
Easy to wear at dinner, breakfast, and on the plane.

At Aldi this week for anyone looking for an inexpensive sling bag option! (At least it's available at the Aldi near me.)
https://www.aldireviewer.com/live-in-style-sling-bag/