Velocé Guide Bag for iPad

You might find what you are looking for at: duluthpack.com.

I have several of their products and find the quality and usefulness can't be beat.

Monte: Thanks, I'll keep those in mind. They look really nice, but more expensive than I was thinking.

stout,

You could also have a look at some of the Tom Bihn Messenger Bags. The quality is exceptional and also many of their bags are specifically designed for Apple products. They also have accessory sleeves for protecting iPads and Apple Laptops.

Hi There:

I am hoping I can help you decide which RS bag to purchase for your upcoming trip. I took the Veloce bag for iPad on the two week RS tour two years ago and really liked it. I expanded it to full size and used it that way for the entire trip. I do not have a large camera, so I can't compare on that, but just to give you an idea of its' size i fit: my camera, cell phone (small euro phone) iPod Touch, Kindle, RS plastic silverware set, Italy guidebook and phrasebook, Travel smith travel blanket (in pouch), travel pillow(rolled, plus odds and ends like maps, small notebook, etc. I chose not to take my brand new ipad on the trip, but have since taken it on other adventures, along with the items mentioned above in this bag. It is well designed so that you can fit all the small things in multiple organized pockets, like pens, chap stick, sunglasses, etc.

Rick Steves provided the Civita day bag to travelers that year on his tours at no extra charge, and I took that with me as well. It was very light and useful for carrying laundry to the laundromat, shopping for groceries, etc. It is light weight and can scrunch up in your bag when you don't need it. Finally, I put the Veloce bag inside it on several occasions when I wanted to carry everything together...train in Rome, long walk in Tuscany followed by a picnic lunch..

Several tour members had the bigger Veloce bag and it is large, but very compact. Our tour leader stored a three ring binder in it and it fit perfectly...just to give you an idea of the dimensions. Most carried it on their backs.

I hope this information helps you with your decision!

Annegran

Ken: The Tom Bihn bags look really nice. Most of them are pricier than I had in mind, but the medium Cafe Bag is definitely a contender, though at the moment I might be leaning toward one of the Rick Steves bags. Thanks!

Annegran: Thanks so much. This is exactly the kind of input I was hoping to get. I'm leaning pretty strongly toward the Veloce iPad bag, especially after your comments. It sounds like just the sort of light, slim bag I had in mind, as long as I can get everything I need into it for the plane. I don't anticipate carrying the iPad around with me all the time, but want it available on the plane and in hotel rooms. But I will expect to have the camera -- a Nikon Coolpix that's about 2/3 the size and half the weight of my larger DSLR --- with me at all times.

I looked at bags at the camera store yesterday and found one in particular -- the Tamrack Rally 6, a messenger style camera bag -- that looked good and would probably hold my stuff if I removed all the dividers. But it just felt bigger and bulkier than I wanted, plus I figure if I'm just going to remove all the dividers anyway, why buy them in the first place.

At any rate, I think my decision is between the Veloce iPad bag and the Civita Day Pack.

Thanks again to everyone for all the helpful information. Cheers!

i have the Veloce bag. and while i do use it a lot, a main complaint is that it cuts into my shoulder when carrying it. I use it more for work. for my travels. I got a light sleeve for my ipad and put it in my civita daypack for an extra carryon.

My Civita Day bag works great for me throughout the trip…….although I use a little larger tote as a carry on for the plane (my empty civita bag is stowed in the checked bag).

Throughout the tour my Civita Day bag carries my DSLR, usually 2 extra lens (in a sock), iPad, iPhone, the ripped out pages from the RS book that I need that day, a map, sunscreen (as needed), bottle of water (needed), small P&S (back up), germicide, pain killers (as needed), and an extra flash disk. I have ample room….including room for a purchase or two if necessary.

A camera bag is too obvious for those who want to share your "wealth"

Hope this helps. It has been my routine for 9 trips.

Update: I ended up buying the Civita Day Pack on sale and first impressions are positive. I carried it for a campus visit with my son and found it perfectly comfortable. All I had in it were some papers and a Nikon Coolpix SLR. As the afternoon warmed up, I stuffed my windbreaker into the pack. I think this bag will work out just fine for me.

John: That's quite the impressive load you've stuffed into yours! I hope not to lug around quite so much, but it's good to know it's spacious enough to handle it.

Cheers!

stoutfella: Actually it all fits quite easily. It sounds like a lot…..but not so much. The lens are optional depending on the day's sites. My DSLR is usually hanging around my neck…..it's a "sickness" :-) So…..the bag is not so heavy or bulging. Just have to leave room for priority daily purchases such as a bottle of the local wine, chocolates, pastries……aka post walking tour/sight-seeing day necessities.

I have the Civita day pack which I know you've found is lightweight with plenty of space for in my case the dslr in a holster case and other stuff. The straps are wide and comfy on the shoulder. Mine is inconspicuous dark blue.

I bought a PacSafe bag a few years ago and like it: http://www.pacsafe.com/metrosafe-250-gii-shoulder-bag.html

Pros: holds tablet computer, has RFID shielding, has slash-guard for anti-theft (PacSafe!), plenty of room for my under-seat bag.
Negative: The flap that covers the front portion of the bag is a pain to flip up to get at the stuff inside, I wish it were a 2" flap rather than a 10" flap. But, then, they are concerned with theft and I've experienced it!

By now you have probably gone on your trip or purchased your bag.
However, last night I was at The Container Store web site and saw a shoulder bag that is the slash proof style, in bright blue, for about $45. If I didn't have a bag already, I'd buy that one (except the blue may be too bold for a 60 year old guy like me).