I have read from other posters that it is a pain to carry a knapsack because alot of churches and museums won't let you bring them in and you have to check them. I usually do carry a knapsack when I travel. What are easy-to-carry alternatives that anyone can suggest? thanks

If you take any thing larger than an ordinary brief case, you will end up checking it in many places. Even brief cases of the normal business size are sometimes barred. My wife uses a waist pouch, despite the negaitve admonitions of the Fodors fashion police. (She sort of thumbs her nose at the electronically local nay sayers with a wicked chuckle.) I don't recall if she had to check her waist equipment at the Louvre or not. Anything larger has to be checked at the Louvre, and many other places. <BR>Frankly I had just as soon not tote the thing all over the place. <BR>

I, too, use a waist pouch - despite the hysteria the thought of them usually causes on this Forum - they are very convenient - you can have your hand on them at any time, should you feel threatened and if you are wearing a coat they are out of sight.<BR>I did not have to check it at any museums etc. but the contents were inspected.

pockets

I use my regular pocketbook/purse. It's medium sized, leather, with a thick strap that goes over your shoulder or across your body. In my impression, I don't think a normal women's handbag faces the same scruitiny as a backpack or daypack does.

Hi<BR>this is a popular topic, do a search here on backpacks or tote bags or fanny packs and you'll see a full range of comments. What horrifies one person is the perfect solution for someone else.<BR>I do think that something carried behind you is less easy to look after, but that's up to you.<BR><BR>I carry a light weight black microfiber totebag, with handles long enough to go comfortably over my shoulder. It has a zipper across the top, and several internal zipped pockets where I keep my wallet and such. Aside from security, the pockets also keep everything from collecting into one heap at the bottom. It is large enough to contain the wallet and cc cards, plus my guidebook or notes, map, small water bottle, assorted normal purse contents like a couple of bandaids, tissues, and a lipstick, small camera. Sometimes I have had to check it, or have chosen to check it to be more free inside some museum. In that case I remove my wallet, camera, and guidebook, stash the first two in my pockets, carry the guidebook or notes, and check the rest.

Please excuse my ignorance, but is a knapsack also known as a backpack -- it rests on a person's back with straps to keep it on?<BR><BR>In Paris, I often use a purse with straps to carry on the back. An awfully lot of French women do. It isn't like a student backpack in the least. It's literally a nice purse with straps! I find it most convenient. It's much smaller than a traditional backpack, as well.<BR><BR>Jennifer

husbands...

As Bob said, it's not the design, it's the size of the bag. At the Jewish History Museum in Paris, I had to check my 9"x6" leather purse (they gave me a see-thru plastic bag to carry my wallet). My suggestion is to carry your money/cards/passport type stuff in a wallet that you can either fit into a pocket or can quickly remove from a backpack/totebag that you are required to check; or carry everything in your pockets and no bag of any sort.

Carried a smallish black microfiber purse with zippers. Had a shoulderstrap that was adjustible to carry by hand. I put "stuff" in it: sunglasses, makeup, brush, guidebook or pages from, camera, incidental small change/cash for the day etc. BUT I would never consider carrying my passport, important tickets, credit cards, major stash of cash/trav. checks anywhere but in my lightweight MONEYBELT!

1. Lots of differences in things carried on the back, I agree, and language probably varies. There are nice-ish backpack pocketbooks, then there are smallish daypacks, then bigger things, then true European student-style rucksacks, in which travellers carry all their stuff.<BR><BR>2. My usual solution: a small thing inside a bigger thing. I take a quite small shoulder bag with me--I have a lot of them, many all cloth, from places like Guatemala--in this I keep money, keys, credit card, passport if I'm carrying it. I also carry a totebag or wear a backpack, for thingslike book, sweater, shawl, camera, etc.<BR><BR> I put the little thing in the big thing sometimes, sometimes I wear the little thing across my chest so it's easy to take money out of and carry the bigger thing on my shoulder or back.<BR><BR> Then I can check the big thing when it's called for--I actually prefer to in museums etc., I like not to be burdened.<BR><BR>

Hmm. All responders women except for Bob. So I'll double the male response rate.<BR> I got this moderate-sized bag from Lewis N. Clark which is exceptionally well-organized, big enough to contain digital camera, small binoculars, guidebooks, etc... and doubles as either a shoulder bag or back pack. When used as shoulder bag, backpack straps tuck into back and disappear. It's just about perfect for me. A woman could put the contents of a moderate purse into it, still have plenty of room for other stuff, and not be carrying anything that looks like a conventional backpack.

I have two words for you all: Eagle Creek. They make the BEST bags ever: from wallet-size to luggage. Most have organizer sections and other well-thought out functions. Many backpacks that convert easily to shoulder bags. Oh yeah, lifetime guarantee as well. I think the people who design them actually USE them!!

Elle,<BR><BR>I carry a medium sized leather purse with thick shoulder straps. I carry in it only things I can afford to lose should I put it down, drop it in a river or have it ripped off. Valuable travel documents, cash, etc. are in a money belt. I have never had my purse checked at museums, churches, etc. It's big enough to hold film, guidebook, wallet, water bottle, small umbrella and various small cosmetic items.