Daypacks - I have no idea; can you help?
 

http://www.ebags.com/jansport/kingpi...?modelid=55508

http://www.ebags.com/jansport/madiso...?modelid=58477

These are two bags I am looking at. I normally carry a camera, notebook for writing, a travel book, and some other smaller travel stuff. What kind of day packs do you folks use? I leave for Rome in 11 days so I will need to pick one up quickly. I've looked at all the local stores and it looks like one of these two is the way to go, but I can't decide if they will hold all of my stuff.

Any recommendations?

I didn't look at your links, but I normally use an LLBean book pack. It is lighter, less complicated, and much cheaper than the backpacks designed for hiking, that are considered more "technical." I don't think we need "technical" packs just to carry a camera, water bottle, sweater, book, squashed hat, and little things like that.

I only checked out the madison. It looks like it might be big enough, depending on what size camera you are carrying. Is it an SLR, or a P&S? How big is the notebook, 8.5 x 11? Smaller? A guidebook will certainly fit.

One thing I've learned is to get the SMALLEST bag you can get by with, as it never fails, you get a bigger bag, you tend to fill it up. And you end up carrying more weight all day, everyday.

One last sad consideration, the smaller the bag, the less likely anyone will think "explosives." Maybe and hopefully I'm wrong.

We're off RTW on Wednesday and I wanted a camera/pda/phone/air tickets/guidebook etc. day bag, and just brought this one home from our local friendly REI Co-op global HQ, but also available online: http://www.rei.com/product/47814909.htm?

Perfect for us. I've stopped carrying water-bottle enabled bags as they get real heavy, and you can buy water or stronger stuff most everywhere. This one is a shoulder bag with hidden storage for waist straps, so you can go that way instead (or use both for lots of security.)

How big's your camera? Do you really need to carry the guidebook around all day? And when you say 'notebook', how big is that? My thought is only that you could lighten your load ahead of time, rather than buying a bigger (i.e., heavier) bag. I would use a very simple, small one. I've seen them on sale at Lands End mail order for $12, for instance. Myself, I just carry a medium size tote bag/pocketbook.