Need day bag recommendations

Old Oct 8th, 2008, 08:17 AM
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Need day bag recommendations

What's your favorite day bag? I've ruled out backpack-only styles. I'm willing to consider something that converts from a backpack to a shoulder bag. Something with a carry handle would be nice, too.I prefer to carry my day bag across my chest.

Being lightweight is important.
I like organization and compartments. I plan to carry a water bottle, sunglasses, eyeglasses, lens solution, ipod, passport, money, small journal, credit card, snacks, mini umbrella, & thin jacket or sweater.

Advice, please.
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Old Oct 8th, 2008, 01:09 PM
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I will only use backpack styles, primarily because I carry too much crap -- all that you mentioned, plus a sketchbook and small paint set. I like to have my hands free, and a bag that rests across my chest means on one shoulder only, and that gets to be a sore neck or shoulder problem.

Since it is a backpack style, I do not carry anything that I couldn't afford to lose -- so out goes the passport, money, ipod and credit cards. These I carry on my body elsewhere. my camera is slung around my neck because I have to be able to shoot fast.

When style confronts function, no contest. Function first.
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Old Oct 8th, 2008, 01:31 PM
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I too only use a backpack - I take water along with guidebook, camera etc. and it weighs more than I want to carry on one shoulder. If I feel I'm in pickpocket central (metros, for instance) I carry it across my front instead of back. When I'm traveling I consider comfort and safety much more important than looks. (And the important stuff is in a money belt under my clothes.)
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Old Oct 8th, 2008, 03:01 PM
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Eagle Creek has a bag that is about 10" long by 8.5" wide with so many compartments it is amazing. I carry ALL that you say. Seperate compartment for sunglasses, change, passport, wallet, keys. Amazing!
The water bottle is on the smaller side but it fits in. I wear it across my chest and it has seen many countries.I got it online.
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Old Oct 8th, 2008, 07:17 PM
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I don't like backpacks as I have to take it off to get anything AND it's much easier for someone to access without my knowing (especially in crowded areas).

My usual routine is a small wallet-sized bag with a long thick strap (no spaghetti strap) that I can wear cross body. In this, I carry my passport, money, credit cards, mini address book, pen.

Then I carry a simple tote bag that can be carried over the shoulder or by hand. In that, I put my Zune & headphones, cell phone, "travel pocket" (coupon holder that holds all my receipts, travel info, pencil, small notebook for journal), mini umbrella, paperback, pashmina.

I find this works best because I don't have to go searching for my money or ID, and they are protected more by being kept close to my body (if it's cold, I'll often slip it on under the jacket or coat). The tote bag stays pretty lightweight and I can add some purchases into it as I go.
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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 06:43 AM
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I like this one best of any I've used thus far, and actually ordered a 2nd one to use every day (both black, which looks nicer than the blue image shown). The bag itself is very lightweight w/good combination of larger space plus pockets and slots, wide soft shoulder strap.

http://www.travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?...ID=77&sortBy=0
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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 07:08 AM
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A lightweight nylon tote bag works nicely. Like a LeSportSac or Bagallini.
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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 12:56 PM
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<I will only use backpack styles, primarily because I carry too much crap -- all that you mentioned, plus a sketchbook and small paint set. I like to have my hands free, and a bag that rests across my chest means on one shoulder only, and that gets to be a sore neck or shoulder problem.>

Jano3, I wonder if I'm going to discover that a shoulder bag will become too heavy. I'd like to find a bag that can be carried a multitude of ways.

<If I feel I'm in pickpocket central (metros, for instance) I carry it across my front instead of back. >

thursdaysd, doesn't this become a strain on your back? I picture myself walking around as if I were pregnant.

<Eagle Creek has a bag that is about 10" long by 8.5" wide>

lollylo25, which bag is it? Guide pro? Does it have a water bottle pocket on the outside?

<My usual routine is a small wallet-sized bag with a long thick strap (no spaghetti strap) that I can wear cross body. In this, I carry my passport, money, credit cards, mini address book, pen.>

toadtoes, I like this idea. The reason I don't like a backpack is the constant necessity to remove it to get to anything.


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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 01:23 PM
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hi fieldtrip... I have one like Toedtoes mentions. A brown leather one by Fossil that I like very much. But it's certainly not big enough to carry water bottle, lens solution, journal, umbrella, etc. etc. like you said you wanted to do.

It neatly fits my passport, ATM card and cash, kleenex, 3x5 spiral notebook, pen, sunglasses, paper map, lipstick... but no more than that.
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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 01:55 PM
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I use a Le Sport Sac bag, which I love. It's the "deluxe everday bag". http://www.lesportsac.com/store/7507_5205.html
It weighs nothing (empty) and one side is expandable, just in case! I carry pretty much everything you mention in it (a light sweater rolls up nicely in it) and you can carry it like a purse or across your shoulders, which for me is easier access than a backpack.
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Old Oct 9th, 2008, 06:54 PM
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Fieldtrip - that's one of the reasons I don't like backpacks either.

The other reasons are:

You have to take it off to sit down (on a bus, at a restaurant, etc.). Everytime you remove it from your person, you increase the odds of it being grabbed.

I find it very hard to bend down to pick things up (and get back up again without falling) or to walk through a store with narrow aisles, etc. with it on.

My little bag is JUST tall and wide enough to hold my passport. It's about 1-2 inches thick. It really limits what I carry with me, but I find it helps keep me from carrying things "just in case". It is also small enough that I don't have to take it off to use the restroom, eat, etc. which keeps my important items safe. It has never been subject to a "bag check" requirement at a museum, etc., like backpacks often are.

For all that "extra" stuff, I just use a lightweight tote bag which I can leave in the car, hotel, etc. if I don't feel like carrying it around with me.
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Old Oct 10th, 2008, 07:04 AM
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Even though I don’t like to carry a backpack, for me I have no more choice…I have a shoulder pack but my SLR camera alone (2 pounds) occupies all the space not leaving room for other things (except the passport), and at the end of the day one of my shoulders is in pain I guess I can’t carry 4 pounds in one of my shoulders the whole day even though I alternate from one shoulder to the other, but maybe for other people a shoulder pack is fine. The most important thing for me in a trip is capturing moments with my camera so having a smaller camera is simply not a choice so I rather use a backpack.
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Old Oct 10th, 2008, 07:19 AM
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Silarem - I use an SLR also and take multiple lenses with me every trip.

In the beginning (I had 3 smaller lenses and not much else), I used a Lowepro Roadrunner beltpack. It worked great because I could access the camera without taking off the pack. I could also switch lenses easily.

Now that I have lots more gear, I found a nice softsided bag by Pelican that has one of those "pass through" slots to hook it on a suitcase handle. Then I found a heavy duty plastic folding cart (came with a softsided cooler) and I attached the bag to that. I just wheel my gear around now - no back pain. It's small enough to be carry-on and if need be, the bag converts to a shoulder bag or a backpack. The cart alone weighs under 3 lbs.
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Old Oct 10th, 2008, 07:24 AM
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This sounds like what you're looking for: http://tinyurl.com/3uksvl

I have it and am always amazed at what I can fit inside of it and yet it's not too big/bulky.

There's also a slightly smaller version: http://tinyurl.com/4xb7pm

I know there's other manufacturers who make similar bags.
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Old Oct 10th, 2008, 09:57 AM
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Thanks for all your replies! I'll be checking all those links.

I'd use a backpack, too, if I were carrying all that photographic gear!
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Old Oct 10th, 2008, 10:14 AM
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I've used the sling style kidney bags in the past. MEC, as shown in a link on a prev post, carries some of a nice size for all you want to carry in it. You can keep it lightweight, you can move it to the front in case of sitting on a bus or in a dangerous area, you can carry water on the side securely with some styles, and there's always a little messenger style pouch on the strap that will enable you to keep items immediately at the close.
Eddie Bauer also has some options, as well as REI...
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Old Oct 15th, 2008, 02:30 PM
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ShelliDawn, the bag you've recommended and used....how has it held up? It looks like something I could really like (the larger bag). I'm forever on the search for the Holy Grail of day bags.
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Old Oct 15th, 2008, 11:25 PM
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<Eagle Creek has a bag that is about 10" long by 8.5" wide>

lollylo25, which bag is it? Guide pro? Does it have a water bottle pocket on the outside?

lollylo25 is most likely talking about the Guide Pro (I have one here in front of me).

It has a zippered slip pocket on the front that will fit your plane ticket or maps. Inside the main pocket there's a fleece lined pocket for your sunglasses. The secure back pocket is where all the good stuff is. There is a secure zip toggle that prevents anyone from casually opening your bag. It has 2 dedicated electronics pockets, dedicated passport pocket, pen slots, zippered mesh pocket and a removable key fob. There is also a zippered pocket on the back. The pocket on the side is fleece lined, so it's not ideal for water bottles, but more for electronics/sunglasses.

http://www.eaglecreek.com/bags_lugga...ide-Pro-40481/
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Old Oct 16th, 2008, 04:12 AM
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My favorite bag is a Tumi messenger--very lightweight with compartments to keep things organized. Travel Smith once carried, and perhaps they still do, a messenger that converted to a backpack--didn't care for it, too bulky for me and the straps were not comfortable.
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Old Oct 16th, 2008, 01:46 PM
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I ordered and received the Rick Steves Veloce bag. I'm not sure if I'm going to like it. It is a little bulky and is bigger than I imagined.

Dh saw a kidney style sling bag at Target and thought it was cool. It didn't have much organization to it, though. It might work for him.

I went to an Eddie Bauer store, but they didn't have either of the Guide bags. It's hard to buy things like this online, in my opinion.

I'll do a search on Tumi, too.

Thanks, everyone! My search is not over yet.

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