Do you carry a backpack?
 

Just curious to see what others do.

Do you carry a backpack/daypack in major European cities (i.e., Paris)?

I feel like it's a heavy, cumbersome, sweat-inducing annoyance that just looks touristy but hubby says it's essential for carrying a water bottle, maps, etc. Your thoughts?

My wife uses a backpack for her carry-on piece. Saves space in her checked luggage. She would take it anyhow.

While you don't carry it at your back..it's ok. I've carried a small leather backpack as a purse but never on my back, it is too easy to open it without you noticing :)

Odd question: I imagine you will learn that some folks do and some do not.

I generally take a backpack -- a small freebie I got as a participant in a half-marathon in Sweden.

I generally thrown in the papers and other bits I need for a day's sightseeing. Never a wallet or passport. I don't carry water -- dehydration being preferable to a burst bladder.

I wear it on one shoulder and generally grip the strap, as I would at home.

Two-strap backpacks worn on the back look VERY lame, except on schoolkids and hikers.

No woman should wear a back pack, IMO. Just a fashion prejudice of mine.

And I wouldn't carry it when going anywhere the least bit "special".

I hate them. I've gotten wacked by people who have them overstuffed & turn quickly. I can't imagine anyone would need to carry that much stuff around during the day that wouldn't fit over a shoulder.

You can get carabiners that hold a water bottle & it clips onto belt loops, camera cases or purses.

I would never wear a backpack:

It's just begging for someone to steal out if it - since it's BEHIND you and you can;t see it

They're too big, weigh too much and take up too much room

WHY?

(I carry a parachute nylon Sportsac that weighs nothing, can be worn on the shoulder or bandolier style - and easily holds everything you need for the day.)

I hate backpacks. I have never used one and never will.

People who wear them simply take up more space and get in the way. They are a curse in buses and on trains and in shops and in museums -- anywhere there is a crowd. [Note that "they" refers to the people, not the backpacks; backpacks are harmless in themselves.]

While touring in cities, I usually carry a lightweight bag over my shoulder or across my body It has my jacket, umbrella, map, etc. I also put my digital slr in there when I am carrying it (in its case, which can also be carried separately).

For the travel days I often do use a black day pack (and I am female) to carry my papers, camera, laptop (if I have it on the trip) etc. This frees my hands for dealing with a suitcase, tickets, etc. Plus I don't get as fatigued carrying that heavy stuff on my back through airports, etc., where I would if it were in a bag on one shoulder. There are times when I use a wheeled briefcase carry on bag instead of the pack, but I really don't enjoy having two wheeled pieces in airports and train stations.

I carry a bag similar to a Vera Bradley purse. It is good for a water bottle, umbrella, etc., and does not look so touristy.

I have a old bag (it's held up very well) by Eagle Creek that converts from a shoulder bag to a backpack; it's a little smaller than a regular backpack. It's big enough, though, to carry 1-2 small umbrellas, guide books, maps and usually an extra thin sweater for me (we don't usually carry water bottles).

In cities, I always carry it on my shoulder, strap across my body. When DH carries it (it's not a purse), he does the same. But when we're in the country or small towns, DH will wear it as a backpack - he has some back issues that get worse from carrying the bag on his shoulder all the time. It's the best of both worlds!

If i'm sightseeing, I'd probably only use a small one, but not for anything important. Might use one of those little free drawstring ones, though they aren't padded... hope one with a local tech college logo on it isn't too tacky for europe.

I tend to carry a messenger bag. It seems more secure and convenient than a backpack. It replaces my purse and also holds an umbrella, journal, novel, camera, maps and papers, small souveniers and often a water bottle. Depending on what's inside it and where I am, I either carry it across my body or just on one shoulder. It also works great for draping my jacket over to leave my hands free.

If you don't like backpacks, don't carry one. Some people swear by them, some swear at them. There are tons of options out there; find one that works best for you.

I used to carry all my and DH's "stuff" for the day (water, guidebooks/maps, light jacket, etc.) but now I have back problems that yes even that small amount of stuff will aggravate. Now I make DH carry a SMALL backpack--again only for book, water, etc. (Important things go in the money belt.) I carry the camera in a small across the shoulder bag. I don't care if he looks silly, haha. I have a small backpack I would use for hiking but generally don't need in cities.
I use a sling-type over the shoulder bag for airport travel. As I travel with a large backpack as a carry-on, this is where I keep my plane comfort essentials.

If I am out on a days sightseeing then yes I use a very light weight, floppy material backpack. In it I put water, maps, tissues, lip gloss and small camera. I sling it over one shoulder and hang on to the straps. I know, it looks touristy but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I also have a lightweight Tumi handbag with a front pocket that I use if I am not going for miles and miles.

Schnauzer

always!!!

Except when I'm traveling on business, then I use carry on

My husband does on one shoulder. I hate it and tell him often and he had to check it twice for museums. You see many with them, tourist as well as those on motorbikes. He needs a murse.

I have a old bag
_______
So do I and I have a backpack.

I carry my backpack wherever I go, including home and have been using one in Europe and other places for over 40 years.

I have never had a problem. Watch, today I will get mugged.

While traveling I have a camera, books, pens, and whatever my wife needs. When in large cities we love to buy different foods to have back in the room for dinner and we just throw it in the backpack.

Is it fashionable, who cares?

DH wears a laptop backback when we travel to and from a place (example: our upcoming trip to Milan). It lets him keep a hand free for boarding/getting off the train. Once we get to the hotel, however, he doesn't use it again until we leave.

We don't carry bottles of water around or bulky cameras or guidebooks. Pretty much everything we need fits into my normal size handbag.

When our English cocker Raisin was still alive, he wore a daypack when out and about with her, as it held her water bottle, small plastic water bowl, hand towel, poop bags, and a ziploc bag with a few treats. That left his hands free to pick her up if needed.

Ugly, ugly, ugly and just asking for robbery. I wouldn't even speak to anyone wearing one.

This post is from 2008 but I'll add my answer. I just spent three weeks in Europe and two on a cruise with just a carryon bag and a Baggallini backpack purse. I got tired of hassling the suitcase, a tote and a purse, so I decided to see if I could streamline it to just one personal item on the plane. Worked perfectly and held everything I needed for the entire trip including all day trips. My hands were free (important for getting suitcases on and off trains) and the weight was distributed evenly on my back rather than offside like the usual tote and/or messenger bag.

My purse has a zipper on the backside (against the body) where I kept money and credit cards. To get into the top of the bag would not have been easy because it had a cinch strap which would have taken two hands to open. Just for extra safety, I have a small string shopping bag that I sometimes put in on top of the wallet. Anyone who stuck his/her hand in there would just get tangled in a bunch of net.

http://www.overstock.com/Luggage-Bag...1/product.html

http://www.amazon.com/Cotton-String-.../dp/B004C4ZH9O

when we travel together, I have a travel handbag that has lots of pockets that I use for different things, like our passports and main money, and DH uses his backpack for bottled water, sandwiches, books, a jumper each, etc.

if he didn't, i know that I'd end up having to use a bigger bag and carrying everything so I'm grateful he does. Nothing valuable goes into it anyway.

I'll let him know that you won't be talking to him, Bedar - I'm sure he'll be gutted.

I do, but it's a small-ish one with a cross-strap - enough compartments for a camera, maps, and something to read, notebook and pen, and so on. It can also unzip to spread out as a full scale holdall. It came as a promotional freebie with something or other.

Most backpacks strike me as too big for this sort of purpose - my usual one I use for hiking, when I need to be carrying waterproofs and food and stuff. I used to have a small two-strap backpack, but carrying it on one shoulder caused me no end of problems because, to stop it slipping off, I was unconsciously hoicking up that shoulder which set off muscle pains.

I always travel with a backpack.
inside are :

-my laptop
-some papers
-receipts for my expenses
-clothes : clean inside, dirty in the outside pockets
-in inside pockets : passport, reserve credit cards
-a power supply for the laptop, a spare battery to recharge my iphone
-a book - always have a book !!!
-toothbrush
-flashlamp (small)
-a flamethrower of course.
-a battleaxe to take the subway

Not exactly a backpack, but could be worn as one . . For years I carried a neat bag that Singapore Airlines gave me . . it was just the right size for things that I would otherwise have carried in the briefcase. It was small enough to stuff in the briefcase when I did not use it, and very light.

I usually carried it over one shoulder with the pockets to the inside. After 15 or so years, it finally gave up the ghost and I have not seen another one as versatile to replace it.

Can't imagine using choice of luggage as a factor in discussion with strangers . . weird!

The thread is almost eight years old and was topped by an advertiser . . .

But the info is still valid . . . Carry on :)

I don't, but my wife often uses a small backpack which she more usually wears slung over a shoulder. She loves it and would not be without it.

I have always felt that a backpack invites problems just because it would be on my back where I am not able to protect my belongings. I feel much safer with a fanny pack or crossbody bag. I have both that cannot be cut (lightweight steel cable running through the straps and mesh in the body of the bags). This may be overkill, but I have not been robbed or pickpocketed since using them, and I prefer to be safe than sorry. If using a backpack, I would certainly never put anything of value in it, and would be particularly conscious of people around me. I have been nearly knocked over by young people who seemed completely oblivious to the additional bulk on their bodies as they navigate through and around people.

No. I used to, when I was traveling alone with two small children because I needed my hands free. But these days I just wear a cross-body purse. I've been knocked over more times than I carae to remember on planes and trains by thoughtless folks with overstuffed backpacks. Plus, they're an invitation to robbery.

OK, people claim backpacks are invitation to robbery.

Highly unscientific survey:

How many people have been robbed or pickpocketed while wearing a Backpack and how many without?

As noted above, I have never been robbed while wearing a backpack but have been pickpocketed when I did not have one AND put my wallet in front pockets for safe keeping.

Funny, I was just in a crowded museum where people were essentially shoulder-to-shoulder, and there were people wearing bulky backpacks that kept bumping into other attendees.

I wanted to say to the backpackers, "You have got to be effin kidding me."

Other than the inconsideration of those who wear them in crowds, I have a neutral feeling about them. I (a male) carry a should bag for travel. It's easy to get into, and I can lodge it between my body and elbow.

Topped by an advertiser? What are you talking about?

No, I carry a large tapestry-looking purse most of the time. I can put quite a lot in there--camera, odds and ends--and I don't feel so vulnerable.

happytourist - this thread was from 2008. If you look at the first post from 2015 it's been removed by the mods and was apparently an advertisement...maybe for a backpack? :)

I wear both a backpack and a fa__y pack. If the backpack is full it sinks down and sits on the fa__y pack, which looks funny. So I swing one of them around to the front.

I like to look good when I travel.

Happytourist: >>Topped by an advertiser? What are you talking about?<<

Pretty obvious since the moderators posted >>Comment has been removed by Fodor's moderators<<

No I don't carry a backpack (but yes this thread is really OLD!)

Yes always, you want a light, small North Face day bag. You'll be grateful when you make those impulse purchases and don't have to carry them around in some crappy plastic bag))

Funny, I was just in a crowded museum where people were essentially shoulder-to-shoulder, and there were people wearing bulky backpacks that kept bumping into other attendees>>

shame that they didn't put them in the cloakroom - IMO museums should insist on that.

I often use one as an airplane carry-on. I rarely carry one around any of the locations in which we are visiting. I understand the concern about it being theft-prone and I suppose that is why some people "wear" them on their chest rather than on their back.

I know folks like to carry cameras and equipment in them when walking about. Some carry bottles of water, maps, guidebooks, etc.

Now for the part you aren't going to like: I think anybody who is concerned about "looking touristy" is somebody I do NOT ever want to know.

Dukey: >>Now for the part you aren't going to like: I think anybody who is concerned about "looking touristy" is somebody I do NOT ever want to know.<<

Not totally sure who you are lecturing but the OP asked about them being too touristy . . . nearly EIGHT years ago and hasn't been on the forums in years.