I am looking for a good travel purse to take to Italy. Last time, I took a black nylon canvas Eagle Creek shoulder bag that was very light and efficient, but the texture of the canvas made wear spots on my clothes that were so bad I had to throw some of them away when I got home. I need a purse that won't strain my back or shoulders. I was thinking backpack, but they aren't convenient for carrying a camera that you want to use frequently. Has anyone found a really great travel purse you can recommend?

I just use a plain rectangular black leather bag that I got years ago in a luggage store. I sling it across my body and keep my camera in the middle section. It's pretty small but holds what I need.

You might check out Travelsmith.com and Magellan.com. The specialize in travel supplies and have a good selection of purses.

Have you ever looked at the back bag purse? I bought one several months ago and really like it. It is a leather shoulder bag but the way it is carried is supposedly better for your back. It is very roomy. I bought mine at a gift and jewelry market, but I think I have seen them at several online stores. Be prepared, they are rather expensive.

I use a smallish sportsac with a shoulder strap. It weighs nothing, has several zipper pockets for wallet, sunglasses, etc., and is expandable to hold everything you need for the day - guidebook, camera, sweater, folding umbrella.

mdotsie, I actually use a black Eagle Creek small backpack. Any weight at all over only one shoulder gives me a big ache by the end of the day. I've been using this for years and have never had the clothing problem you describe. It is very easy to slip one arm out of the backpack strap so it hangs on my opposite shoulder for easy access to my camera.

It has a couple of features that I really like for holding my camera. First, the back (the part that rests against my back) is slightly padded which prevents my camera from jabbing me in the back. Second, there is a divider in the main compartment that creates a sort of small "pouch" which is perfect for putting my camera in lens-side down. This makes it really easy to take in and out.

The bag is lightly padded on the bottom as well, so it feels a bit more protective for the gear. And there is a built-in organizer that is handy for extra lenses, film, filters, etc.

Lastly, this particular bag has the option of tucking away the backpack straps and using a shoulder strap instead, if you want a less casual look.

I recommend the healthy back bag which you can get from LLBean: http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...&feat=dp50

They are also available other places including the manufacturer: http://www.ameribag.com/

I recommend the small size (it's roomer than you think) in microfiber which is lighter weight than the leather ones. Also, the LLBean one is made by Ameribag but actually has a nicer shoulder strap than the standard ones.

I carry the healthy back bag as my everyday purse (decided I'd rather be comfortable than fashionable) and empty my normal stuff (regular wallet, checkbook, etc.) out to use it as my day bag when I travel. It's comfortable and fits close to your body for safety.

When I travel I trade in my small purse for something a little bigger but not that much. I don't need to cart around a lot of stuff like water bottles.
I prefer something that zips up tight and with a couple of pockets. It needs have a strap that goes across my body and I like the option of being able to adjust the strap so I can tighten it up when I'm going to be in a crowd, then it can be tucked under my arm but looser for comfort when in rural areas.
My old trusty bag bit the dust recently so I went to favorite department store and brought home a selection of bags. Then I put my maps and camera and phrase book in each one and walked around the house. For me buying a purse is as personal as shoes it's hard to know what another woman needs in a bag.

Yes, buying a purse is a very personal thing. I'd almost rather shop for a new vehicle than a purse. I have so many requirements. And it seems like no one purse has all my requirements making it necessary to choose the lesser of two evils - LOL!

nytraveler - Would you describe this expandable sportsac a little more? I'm not quite sure what you're talking about, but it sounds like something I might want to look for. What is the material? Dimensions (roughly)? Where do you buy it?

They're made of nylon with heavy duty fabric straps and trim, and come in a bunch of colors. Sportsac is the trade name. I got mine in Bloomies - but I think Macy's etc also has them. The one I use as a purse is sort of tubular and is about 14" long. It has four zipper pockets of different sizes and weighs nothing/folds down to nothing if you're not carrying much. The strap is adjustable and long enough you can wear as a shoulder bag or bandolier style. It can hold your regular purse stuff as well as camera/film, guidebook, umbrella, sweater or light jacket rolled up etc. I have been using the one I have for at least 10 years and they're practically indestructible - but if you buy a light color one they will get dirty. I just wipe clean with soap and water.

I have a black waterproof fabric bag made by Kenneth Cole Reaction. It has a long/wide adjustable strap so it can be carried over the shoulder and across the chest.

It is ligher weight than leather and has great compartments. I don't feel comfortable with a backpack style because it is too easy for pick pockets. Also, use a money belt for valuables and only carry camera, maps, cosmetics in the purse.

I also use the healthy back bag (most are made by "ameribag" but recently I've seen other companies making something real similiar.) The small size is bigger than you'd think but for travel I use the medium which can hold a ton of stuff. The large is so big it's more like an overnight bag. There are lots of compartments. There's also a double zipper which means you can hook the two zippers together if you are worried about pickpockets (I use a tiny combination luggage lock - almost looks like a zipper pull it's so small but you can lock it in places where you'd be really worried about theft).

But I make one serious adjstment to the healthy back bag. It's designed to go over one shoulder but even though it's suppossed to be better for your back than a standard shoulder bag, after a day of walking and lugging heavy stuff in it my back still hurts so I've made mine into a back pack by adding another strap. Works great and I can wear it either way. Not ultra high fashion but more "dressy" than the kind of backpacks students/hikers use.

Le Sportsac it the brand name of the nylon bags. They have an extensive line of shapes and various sizes, from cosmetic cases. they are available at almost every department store (main floor) across the USA Bloomingdales, Macys, Burdines, etc.
Empty, they can be folded up to a very small size and packed in a suitcase for any purchases that you may need additional room for.
They are very light weight and are great for an umbrella, camera, purchases, etc.
Plus, they don't have that "I am a tourist" look about them.

I'm a big fan of Lesportsac bags, I have a number of them esp. since I found them on the web. Here's a link to MY favorite "travel" bag, but I'm sure other styles will suit others:

http://www.lesportsac.com/store/7507_5205.html

Add me as a big fan of le SportSac. I like the choice of sizes and the very light-weight fabric that is washable. My only problem is that the shoulder strap slips off too easily, but I solved that problem by having a shoemaker sew a leather strip in the appropriate area.

I just bought a Healthy Back Bag, similiar to the Ameribag (I've used the medium before and loved it) but the Healthy back bag can be used as a sling over your shoulder or the handle zips to make a back bag. The bag is padded where it hits your back, sturdy on the bottom. I use a small one for day-to-day and bought a medium for our trip. They can be purchased from Norm Thompson and they slightly redisgned it with a gussetted organizer area. The old style w/o the gussetted organizer area were on sale (both sizes for under $30.00) at NormThompson.com. After comfortable shoes, my bag which organizes our trip, is the most important thing. Have fun!

Julie

Also for the small fold up extra totes for increased luggage needs at the end of your trip, try www.baggallini.com. (under 20 bucks).they also have a small purse that you can wear around your waist as a fanny pack or you can use the straps differently and you have a small evening bag, come in small and large size...wonderful for traveling! These bags are designed by flight attendants and they are rugged, practical and stylish!

Thanks for all the comments on Le Sportsac. I went out and bought one today, and I think it'll work just fine.

Any other folks prefer the LL Bean Healthy Back Bag over the Healthy Back Bags made by other companies. LL Beans bag is a bit more expensive. Some say that the LL Bean bay has a more comfortable strap. What do you think?

Baggalinis are fabulous. I bought a couple after reading about them here. Great totes to tuck away in your suitcase for those extra purchases. We also used one for a weekend trip when we left most of our things at our base hotel. Very sturdy and fantastic colors!

I love my travel purse from Orvis. It is leather, light, and has a nice long strap. Very easy to carry on your shoulder (I hate heavy bags!)- and can be carried easily across your chest if in tight quarters, like the Paris Metro.It has several compartments, 2 that zip, one with a snap, and an open one. It's a neutral brownish color with a black strap. I liked it so much I ordered another one in navy from Orvis. You can use either the Orvis catalog, or Orvis.com. They also had in black. I really love them!!