Hi! I am going to be going to Italy for a summer travel program with my university. I will be gone for about a month, so I have been researching bags for daily use. I found this bag that I think would work well for my needs -

http://www.amazon.com/Timbuk2-Harrie...imbuk2+harriet

I guess my main concern is does this bag seem secure and provide enough room for what I may need while out and about?
Please let me know your comments and suggestions!
Also, if you have any other tips for my time in Rome I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks.

That bag looks plenty big enough. The bag I use is 11 x 6 (high). I'm sure it's as secure as anything else would be. I only carry enough cash for a day or two as there are ATM machines all over.

Never take it off your body, even when in restaurants or shops or museums. I know many women hang their purses on a restaurant chair but don't do this.

I personally don't like that bag much - the zipper opening seems inconvenient - doesn't open up wide enough for easy access. I like a travel bag that also does double duty as my personal item on the flight.

I do like that the strap is fully adjustable so you can go from over the shoulder to cross body w/o fiddling w/ buckles/holes.

From the photo it seems like the zipper opens up 8" or 9" so that would be wide enough to get your hand in and pull out what you need.

Look at Baggolini for many good choices, secure, well designed.

I just personally like a bag that zips open the full width . . . I agree - baggalini's are well designed for travel. Like this one

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/baggalli...FROVfgodwB0A1A

LeSportsSac has some good designs.

I use a SportSac all the time and love them. They last forever.

https://www.lesportsac.com/Deluxe_Sh..._wCharm?color=

I don't care for the velcro closing on outside pockets. WAY too easy to get in there.

I like PacSafe bags, personally. I like the closures, and all the other security features.

http://pacsafe.com/citysafe-100-anti-theft-handbag

I like the bag. I have something similar that I bought at the Madrid Flea Market years ago and wish I had bought two. The differences between the one you posted and the one I bought, is yours has a bigger shoulder strap, side pocket and not a fold over. Mine has two additional zippers. One inside the fold over and two under the fold over so 3 total compartments that zip. I never travel without my purse and it fits a lot of my stuff so works for me. I say buy it and if you don't like once you get it, return it. Amazon has a fast and easy return policy.

Personally, I wouldn't want to haul something that big around all day in the heat of summer. The bag I use is a flat nylon cross-body purse that is about 12" square and it works great for carrying cash/cards/cellphone/camera/tissues/chapstick, etc.

On my way over, I have a much larger "personal item" that I carry on the plane and my flat cross-body purse lies flat (empty) on the bottom of my carryon.

If you like the style of that bag, I think it would be great for what you need. I've had three Timbuk2 bags (two messengers - I got the second just because I got bored with the first after eight years! - and one Eula). They're all super functional and I love them. Agree with the others to carry it cross body and not hang it on a chair or set it on the floor - just use common sense.

You might also check out their Eula bag. Mine has a velcro closure, which is either incredibly annoying (in a play or something) or a great theft deterrent!

<< Personally, I wouldn't want to haul something that big around all day in the heat of summer. The bag I use is a flat nylon cross-body purse that is about 12" square >>

12" square is larger than the bag the OP is thinking about. Her bag is 11.2 x 9.45.

I have a baggalini that crosses over my shoulder. I bought mine from a local AAA tourist/car place. Check around some more-I think you would find something better than the posted one. It pays to be a little more secure than just a regular bag like that and you want LIGHT weight as possible. Good luck

I would suggest a Sportsac - parachute nylon, the medium barrel type. It weight nothing, has a bunch of different zipper compartments and expands to hold everything you will need for the day. The strap is very heavy weight woven that can work on your shoulder and bandoliere style. I've gotten dozens of trips out of mine.

It looks much more secure and sturdy than the one you showed.

I don't like the outside zipper on that bag. Makes it too vulnerable to theft.

I like a nylon bag (for weight purposes) with several zippered compartments (with a flap over if you can find one). Needs to have a long cross-body strap.

i like the kipling bags better than baggolini because i think they are slightly lighter weight, but still lined. also, most have a small coin purse that hooks onto the bag's interior. i LOVE to have my wallet/coin purse hooked in... not because i feat it will be stolen so much as i fear i will leave it sitting on the counter and walk away during a quick or confusing transaction. when the wallet is hooked in, it's one less thing to worry about for me.