I have 2 bags that I need to pick from to bring. I wanted to bring this one more: http://www.oakley.com/women/a/79/de/BAh7CWkKIgo2MDB4MGkLbCsHtAfKUGkHaQtpCGkDYiYD.jpg It holds more things in it, and in order to get into the main compartment, you need to unbuckle 3 buckles and a zipper. I felt that security wise, it's pretty good. However, I've been reading things against bringing a backpack. This one is on the small side. I also have this, it can fit my camera, and it's a purse type cross body bag that may be more suitable to Paris 'conditions' - http://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Portage-Urban-Bag-Black/dp/B001AM4OWC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top However its much smaller and I can basically fit my camera and thats about it. Thoughts? I'm pretty vigilant and not oblivious to things around me. I definitely prefer the backpack but if it's a bigger chance for theft, I don't want to risk it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8938 posts
Why not find a messenger bag that fits your camera and other items rather than one that is too small. If you want to take a lot of photos, keeping your camera in a back pack is going to be a pain, plus, yes, you risk having it taken out of your back-pack. There are those that will tell you to fasten the zipper, etc. but imagine the procedure you have to go through, every time you want your camera. Take the back-pack off, remove the fastener, get the camera out, take your photo, put camera back in bag, fasten zipper, put back-pack on. While you take your photo, what do you do with the back pack? Put it at your feet, or put it back on? Do you leave it open while you take your photo or do you fasten it again. More time wasted, as this is a ton of putting on and taking off. If you leave it at your feet, this is when people get distracted and lose their possessions. With a messenger bag, you don't have to do any of that. You leave it on the whole time, just open it and get your camera out. Frankly, if you take a lot of photos, consider just wearing your camera with a good camera strap.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Jo is so right! I carried a camera in a backpack (daybag) for years, now I use a messenger bag and it's so much easier. Mine is a Mandarina Duck bag that I bought in Italy after spending days looking at the types of cross-body bags I saw women carrying.
Posted by
Tucson
4151 posts
I know you want to pick between the 2 you listed, but you might consider a Baggallini Hobo Tote as an native. It's bigger than the Portage and weighs half as much. They come in lots of color combinations that you can see here. You can buy them from Amazon, Zappos, eBags or maybe at a store near you. One odd thing is that each place you look may list them differently as a purse, a tote, a cross-body bag, a messenger bag, a shoulder bag. The strap is long enough to be a very comfortable cross-body bag. Zappos has a picture of it on a person's body. I'm tall and it doesn't look nearly that big on me.
Posted by
Tucson
4151 posts
After 3 attempts, I couldn't get the edit to stick! I meant as an alternative.
Posted by
OP
Buffalo, NY, United States
2 posts
Thanks for the suggestions, but i leave in 3 days, there's no time for me to purchase yet another bag...i merely need to decide on 1 out of the 2.
Posted by
England
375 posts
If you had the time and inclination to get another bag, I'd have a different answer for you. But since you need to choose between these two only, I'd say go with the urban bag and not the backpack. The inconvenience of a backpack that Jo mentioned, even if it's a small bag, will increase over your trip and will really get to be a pain in the neck.