Kristina

yk, yes it's the depth which concerns me, but it does expand open another couple of inches with a zipper.

I like the bag I have now, but sometimes it's almost <i>too big</i> and I feel like it sticks out too far away from my body.
When I look a the few photos I have of me from my last trip (Vietnam), all I can think is, <i>"there I am and there's that HUGE bag."</i> And every photo has this big black strap going diagonally across my body!
I guess there's not much I can do about the strap thing though...

kfusto

I just bought a great Tumi medium size messenger bag for $50 on ebags in their clearance area. Saw it in a store on sale for $139.00 last week!

Not to big and lies flat yet has room for what I need to carry. I order the Tumi and a Baggalini but preferred the structure and quality of the Tumi.

galelstorm

Kristina-yes, I believe it would hold your DSLR camera. It expands to a good 6" and has a pocket on the outside (zippered) for a water bottle, two slide in pockets inside on the front side (cell, film, etc.) three slide in pockets on the back side (more flat than the front ones) for ID, and whatever, a deep zippered pocket inside, two other zippered pockets in the flap (one inside, one outside, and a zippered pocket on the back of the outside. I really like it and think it's going to be great to use in Italy. I too wanted something a little less bulky and more compact but with the expansion capabilities this bag has it is perfect!

lilaki

hey all,

for the canucks on the forum, i'm a big fan of the messenger bags from MEC (mountain equipment co-op -- kind of like REI in the US):

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1248873538896

i've had my bag for over 10 years and it doesn't look a day old. i like the 'safety' features - flap, clasp, extra zippers, hidden compartments, etc. i actually have all three sizes of messenger bags and they are all ridiculously well-priced and have amazing functionality ... i just wish it was a little more fashionable.

mec has a whole selection of messenger/side bags:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_l...=1248873537312

i just checked and MEC will ship to the US.

lilaki

a friend of mine swears by her derek alexander messenger bag ... i think DA is another canadian company (i'm not sure) ... you can find the bags at the bay (department store like macy's):

http://www.ebags.com/derek_alexander...cfm?N=20045291


and i saw this one profiled in a canadian travel magazine around christmastime:

http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=tm01

Kwoo

I'm leaving for Prague on Sat & after reading this post on travel bags, I decided my pocketbook wouldn't suffice. it is not comfortable to carry on my shoulder & could easily be slashed, pickpocketed, etc. So I did a lot of research last night & today & went to REI & bought the PacSafe purse. I don't remember exactly which one it is but I can let you know tonight when I get home (it's in my car right now). It is anti-theft - there is a wire mesh inner lining that thieves cannot cut through and you can lock the zipper to the shoulder strap (at the base) - I'm trying to describe the best way I can. It seems that the PacSafe brand is the only one that is anti-theft. The purse is made of nylon & is lightweight & the right size for me - not huge & heavy. It has compartments & should hold my guidebook, wallet, sunglasses, lipstick, pen, tissue, etc & maybe a travel size umbrella. I'm not worried about the umbrella because my husband is carrying a small daypack which has room for umbrellas. It cost $65.00. REI only has it in black - I might have preferred a lighter color but don't have a lot of time to shop.

In case anyone is interested, I also purchased a zippered tote by Haiku. It is black with a small Japanese inspired floral design in one corner & has several compartments as well. It also comes in brown with a green design. All of my other tote bags at home are open so I needed a zippered one. I don't want to carry a lot on the plane since we are changing terminals. It was $50 (I think). HOpe this helps. I'm not an expert on travel bags, though. I had to make a quick decision.

Kwoo

Bramsole,
I have a Vera Bradley tote bag & it is pretty but it doesn't have a zipper which is why i don't want to use it while traveling. I have also discovered that the fabric pocketbooks & totes don't hold up as well. And they are not waterproof.

Cries_Van_Notebook

http://tinyurl.com/n94tso

I just bought the Jerome Dreyfuss Franky in petrol blue. It is fabulous--the leather is like buttah!

Kirna Zabete has some really great Sang A bags.

Thin

jetsetj

$899.00 for one purse? Will you adopt me?

avalon

I always have a Le Sportsac everyday bag in reserve! Sometimes I can find them at Marshall's but I can always find them on eBay. No other bag works as well for me

suze

I don't think "anti-theft" has to do with the purse itself, I think it's more important what you do with it!

If you hang it over the back of your chair in a restaurant or otherwise leave it dangling unattended somehow, metal cable thru the straps won't really help.

bramsole

Yes, I finally purchased the bag. I know the name is Regina Italia and I found it in Florida at Marshalls. I had been shopping for about three days and finally had a couple of O.K. bags in my basket. When I saw this one, it was like the sun came out and the handbag just pulsed with energy. Mine, all mine!

Not anything I thought I would want, I usually want all the little pockets inside and out.
This bag is black leather as soft as a babies behind, with a cross-body strap and handles as well. It is about 11 x 11 and it has the neatest snaps on the sides. They snap and the bag is thin and unsnap and the bag is wider to allow for any extras that one might need.

There is a zipper closure, which I personally must have and two zippered pockets on the outside. There is one zippered pocket on the inside. The stitching on the outside is white.
I love it!


I also purchased a small Fossil wallet and a couple of zippered bags to drop in for incedentials.

Can't wait to carry it, can't wait to go!

I haven't even started carrying it yet. I just walk by and go, "Where have you been? I have been looking everywhere for you. You nearly got away."

That was the only bag in the store that was this brand. I came home and googled the name and found several of these on ebay, in different styles and color.

cheribob

Kwoo, GREAT product description! I have travelled all over Europe & never bothered with a special travel purse. But in a few weeks I am going to South America and I am getting a little paranoid. Especially after reading this post.

So after wasting much work time looking at tavel purses I just bought this on ebags

http://tinyurl.com/l8soaq

It has the same chain link construction & locking zippers as the Pacsafe. It can be attached to a chair and has a cut proof strap also.

flygirl

I bought this one days before the recent trip to France and absolutely love it. It's great for daytime use - if you want a nice purse to go out in the evenings just pack something light or buy one while traveling.

It isn't tiny, but it's not massive either. It is collapsible so it will lie fairly flat against your body. What I did like about the size is when I carried my SLR (with big lens) and had to find a place to put it during lunch. It fit inside the purse, zipped. I wouldn't carry it that way but it was useful to protect the lens when I had to set it down on the floor.

9"H x 10¾"W x 4¾"D are the dimensions.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...tn&cat4=504158

lbrawer

This is really funny from a timing standpoint because I have been agonizing this issue for my upcoming Italy trip. Love the Tumi Voyageur nylon cross-body bag- their newest one (about 10x9)but at 150$ its a drop small and a little expensive for 2 weeks. Very lightweight. Have to confess that I'm somewhat of a bag snob, but went on Le Sportsac site with a friend and found the "Madison" which is almost identical to the Tumi, but about 11.5-12" and a drop wider. Came in tons of cool prints, but bought black . Just picked it up at their retail store here in the city and at 62$ seems a perfect compromise. Has three or four front zippers, will definitely hold essentials and a light cardigan and/or leggings for unexpected church encounters. And of key importance, it looks very cool<g>.

Texastrips

I bought this Baggallini one for a recent month long trip to Europe and it was fantastic:

http://www.baggallini.com/product1.a...ct='CTY289'

More pockets than you can imagine, two separate compartments, each with many separate pockets etc. The security guy searched it at the airport on one occasion and admired its many pockets! My husband was impressed with how much stuff could be kept in there in very organized manner. Very comfortable worn across the body - important for security and in my case because I can't carrying anything hanging down on one shoulder anymore or I get a headache...

It held my camera but wouldn't hold a water bottle (I didn't want to because of the weight and headache issue), but baggallini make many other bigger bags if that's what you are looking for and I'm totally impressed with the quality and thoughtfulness of them.

yk

I'm looking at REI's website, and see that there's a NEW Donner bag:
http://www.rei.com/product/786598

My only complaint is I can't see the interior organization of this bag.

Does anyone have the REI <b>Boarding Bag</b>? http://www.rei.com/product/747932
I was taking a walking tour yesterday and someone was carrying this bag. I like the size & look of it, and from the website, I love the various pockets.

Mimar

I find I'm carrying lots of 8.5 by 11 printouts as I travel these days, printouts of emailed hotel reservations/car bookings/etickets/etc. So I need a bag that can carry documents this big. That last option almost makes it. It looks like a bag my husband bought years ago at REI, which we carry on every trip. But his switches to a backpack, makes a great day bag.

yk

Mimar - why can't you fold up the printouts? That's what I do. In any case, one of the comments I read regarding the REI Boarding Bag is that it can hold a mini laptop. That may be the winner. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than the Donner bag. I need to go to an REI store.

elberko

Minar,

I fold my print-outs business-envelope size and keep them in a clear-plastic envelope. Fit easily in the back pocket of my Eagle Creek bohemian bag.

~Liz