The "Healthy Bag" option
 

Hello All!

I'll be headed back to Italy this Fall, and I have a variety of bags that I use for different trips. While in Europe (mindful of thieves), my husband fashioned what I call my "Early Warning System" :) onto a soft sided type "briefcase" nylon bag that I have...it's got two clips to undo to get into it, and he's added Velcro, so it makes that "riipppp" sound if anyone were to get past the two clips!

Now, I'm sure all the Fodorites who read this board probably get the Travel Smith catalog, yes? They advertise the "Healthy Bag" which is touted as "nestling against your body and distributing the weight evenly".

I know I can't be the only woman on this Board who has the task of carrying Who Knows WHAT in her bag! (in my case, it's the water bottle, maps, videocamera, regular camera, granola bars, confirmations, a hat, etc. I don't even know, or WANT to, how much this may weigh each day when we set out! And I'm sure my on/off again chiropractor would be horrified if she knew!

My question is: does anyone have first hand knowledge of these "healthy bags" and did you find it to be a relief to your back/neck?

The bottom line is that I've had a series of injuries to my neck over the years, and I KNOW this can't be good for it,and yet trip after trip, I'm lugging this stuff around!

Please don't respond about carrying a backpack in front -- yes, I know about that, but feel it's ungainly, uncomfortable and unattractive! :) I just need to know if anyone's used this bag and what they thought of it.

Thanks for your imput!

Regards,

Melodie

My sister has an old neck injury. She bought a Healthy Back Bag but returned it because it made her back hurt. She hated it.

(I know other posters here like them, but the above is my only first hand true story for you.)

Why don't you get a small daypack (backpack) one that could be carried by other members of your group? I'm assuming you aren't traveling solo toting all that stuff!

HI,

My travel buddy uses a healthy bag when we travel and she's always losing stuff out of the exterior pockets and had it pickpocketed it Paris. It always makes me nervous when she uses it.

I use a small messenger bag worn bandolier style across my body, which I love because my hands are free, stuff is easily accessible and I can keep an eye on it. And it seems to not do too much of a number on my back and shoulders, although I try to start out with it relatively empty (it does mysteriously fill up though.):-)

Patti

I have one of the "healthy bags"..the medium size I think. It's leather and it's all I use, not so much for comfort but because it holds everything. It can get heavy sometimes and when it is really heavy, it can pull on my shoulder. I don't think its the "end all" that they say it is, but it is better than a standard shoulder bag. It is very well made and I have used it constantly for about three years now and I've had to clean it but it's not even begun to show wear.

The healthy back bag is very organized, with many interior and exterior pockets...so I use it around town. And I've used it on my last two European trips, but it doesn't seem to be much of a help with the back or shoulders. It you pack it full and heavy, the shoulder you carry it on will be sore. Wearing it across your body helps, but then you can't get to the interior contents very easily. And you do need to be sure the exterior pockets don't have anything of value in them just in case.

Do what I did. Buy your husband a "purse". I got sick of carrying everything, so I bought him am Eagle Creek day bag. He carries the camera, his junk, his GPS, an umbrella and a guidebook. He was initially reluctant to carry a "purse", but got over it.

I own 2 healthy back bags. Sometimes I take them to Europe and sometime I don't. They have their pluses and minuses. Last trip I didn't take mine and wish I had. I have the medium sized leather one and it is pretty big and heavy even without anything in it. However, you can get a lot of stuff in it. I also have the small microfiber one. It can't carry as much, but it is lighter. They don't seem to cut into my shoulder the way other loaded bags do. I do like the way they distribute the weight. There is a nice external pocket that just fits a travel umbrella. There are lots of compartments inside, but I still use organizer bags because I don't like some of the pockets. I also like the fact that I can throw a magazine or guidebook right into the bag. AS far as security, I like it because it has a main zipper that I can pull up right into my armpit.

I don't like a bunch of pockets and zippers like are provided by a "travel bag"... they do anything BUT keep me organized. I just forget where everything is tucked away. And outside pockets just lead to trouble, as one poster mentions above.

I prefer a messenger bag, a briefcase style like the OP mentioned, or a large plain tote with long shoulder strap, zipper top, and one big space inside.

I love my Prada Messenger Bag, it is light and perfect for loading up with stuff you "need" for the day, also with the buckle it is a little harder for unwanted hands to get into. The straps are wide for comfort too and you can sling it across your chest. I use mine as a second "day" bag to my real smaller purse.

I found one similar or maybe the same as mine here for you to see:

http://store.yahoo.com/citymoda/pb8994ne.html

<i>&quot;Do what I did. Buy your husband a &quot;purse&quot;. I got sick of carrying everything, so I bought him am Eagle Creek day bag.&quot;</i>

LOL - I often travel with my parents and notice the same thing with them. Dad carries a small camera bag, but Mom has to carry everything else.

So for Father's Day, I bought Dad a larger camera bag that's kind of like a messenger-style bag. It's still small enough that it lays flat against him, but it's large enough for his camera, his additional lenses and still has room for an umbrella and his sunglasses. And we call it his camera bag - not his purse. :D

I have used my healthy bag for several years now - I only use it for travel because I do like to be a bit more stylish at home. Mine is the microfiber so that it weighs nothing empty. I especially like the hook inside to which I attach my small money purse; I can remove cash without the purse ever leaving the inside of the healthy bag. And, I stuff it to the gills for the flight home; I don't even want to know what it weighs then.

Whatever you choose for yourself, you should defiteily get another bag and make your husband or other companions carry some of the load. It's not fair for you to be toting for everyone (although I do understand exactly how that comes about!).

We have a rule--you want it; you carry it. When we are in civilization; i.e., a town or city, I carry my billfold, passport, map, digital camera, and whatever pages we need for the day ripped out of our guidebook. It all fits in my pockets. I wear my hat.

If hiking about in the countryside, I add a small bottle of water.

Mrs. Fly doesn't carry as much.

wiz: I hated my HealthyBack Bag. From this forum I found out about LeSportSac Messenger bags. I love it. I can get so much in it and the strap goes across my body and is not a strain on anything. I used it for my carry-on. I'm an older woman and it was wonderful on my last trip. I like backpacks also, but this was even better. I found it on ebay. I'm really hooked on these bags. I've bought 3 others of a smaller size.

I bought a healthy bag and don't like it. The weight still rests on one shoulder, and I have a badly ruptured disk in my lower neck. I've been searching for a small wheeled carry on, but they're all too big. I'd like one about the size of a tote bag or large purse. The suggestion of a backpack is worth looking into. I bought one from Victronix (sp?) and it works great. It does make my breasts look bigger which I don't like, but it doesn't hurt my shoulder &amp; neck.

by far the coolest bag on the streets of europe...

www.freitag.ch/

Wow -- better not let DH read this thread. He does most of the pack mule duties when we go on vacation and I don't want him to get any bright ideas about changing that set-up ;-) He typically wears a day pack and I wear a very small, lightweight purse across the front of my body. DH carries the camera, cell phone, water, maps, books, etc. in there and I carry the money. If anything needs to come out of the pack while we're on the move he keeps the pack on and I retrieve things.

On those rare vacations when I need to carry things too (it happens :-) ) I wear a comfortable, well-fitting day pack (with padded straps and hip belt) that I got at REI. It's not as stylish-looking as other options I've seen but having the hip belt helps take the pressure off my neck and shoulders and distributes the weight more evenly. I'm a much happier traveler when my neck, shoulders and back don't hurt

walkinaround, that is one amazing concept! Did you buy one?

I have several healthy back bags - small, medium, and large. For travel I usually use the medium. I love the way it organizes things. And before I got one I tended to agree with those who say they don't like lots of pockets because it doesn't really help organize. But this one does. However, I don't think for long distances it is that comfortable as it is sold. So I &quot;retrofitted&quot; mine to be used as a backback. If I'm going in and out of stores and things I use it on my shoulder, if I'm walking any distance I slip my other arm through the other strap I added and wear it as a backback. The company (Ameriabag) has even come out with a backpack version (the strap zips apart into two). The fact that the main compartment has a double zipper allows me to put a tiny combination luggage lock on it to deter pickpockets.

My only complaint is that I really don't like the look that much. So for my upcoming trip I'm trying something else but I'm already worried that I won't like it as much.

Hi,
I am so lucky as my DH has a small back pack where we put the camera, water bottle, maps etc. He also has on a money belt with passports, cc etc. and I carry NOTHING. It always take me a day or two to get use to being so free, but I love it.