Suggestions for a decent day travel pack?

August 10, 2006 4:39 PM

Can anyone suggest a decent smallish day bag to lug around while visiting a big city? We'll base ourselves at the hotel and would just need one to lug around for the day--something big enough for a couple guide books, maybe a light jacket, etc. Something that is relatively inexpensive, comfortable, and okay for both a man and woman to carry around would be ideal.
posted by printchick to Travel & Transportation (12 answers total)

Timbuk2!
posted by rossination at 4:44 PM on August 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

i was gonna jump in to say timbuk2, but then i remembered how many bags there are now made from recycled materials, and I feel I musty suggest one of those. I know Freitag makes various sizes, they're definitely androgynous, and while they may not be cheap (though neither are tb2), they're all gonna be durable and you'll look hip.
posted by andifsohow at 4:51 PM on August 10, 2006

Crumpler!

An Australian company (yay!), that makes excellent bags. I just picked up a Barney Rustle Blanket, and I couldn't be happier with it. The quality of the construction is outstanding—they will last for years, no matter how you treat them.
posted by oxford blue at 4:58 PM on August 10, 2006

Check out the bags here. His bags are very well designed and made.
posted by LeisureGuy at 5:34 PM on August 10, 2006

Rest assured that there are more stores per square mile in Manhattan selling messenger bags than anywhere on the planet. So don't worry if you don't have a bag before you arrive.

Yes, the timbuk2 bags are nice and I've been wanting to check out the Crumpler store in Manhattan. A lot of folks also seem to like messenger bags from Brooklyn Industries -- whcih also has a store in Manhattan.

As the owner of about 6 messeger bags in various sizes, I have to say that my favorite is the cheap one that I paid about $12 for in the Strand Bookstore, LOL. It's soft, unlined green army surplus type material. It's lightweight and could even be rolled up. And it's easy to mash an extra shirt or sweater and such into.

So my recommendation would be to keep it simple and cheap!
posted by bim at 5:43 PM on August 10, 2006

I took a Crumpler Skivvy with me to Europe last year and couldn't have been happier with it. Here's a non-Flash non-annoying link to the Skivvy. That's the color of the one I have too.

It's got a HUGE velcro on it. And there's a zipped/hidden large section on the inside for a wallet, etc. So, basically, a decent bag to definitely notice if anyone is trying to get into it. :) RRRRRIIIPPPP!
posted by smallerdemon at 6:48 PM on August 10, 2006

I tend to use small backpacks for that kind of thing.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:56 PM on August 10, 2006

A nylon Healthy Back Bag in a neutral color. Very light and roomy. Unisex (ignore the blonde). Large size has plenty of room for a jacket and a couple of books, with pockets on the outside for a water bottle, tickets, receipts, etc. Best prices are at Sierra Trading Post, or try eBay.
posted by Joleta at 9:06 PM on August 10, 2006

You're wasting your time with anything but this.
(Not the displayed color, though. My god, it's awful). I'm a guy and it looks nothing like a purse, and it's super comfortable.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:44 PM on August 10, 2006

I am an ardent supporter of Bailey Works messenger bags. They're really wonderful, and much better made than Timbuk2 are these days. A small or x-small 253 Courier Bag would be great, last for 10 years, and is totally waterproof. Probably more expensive than you're looking for, but it's *infinitely* reusable and you'd certainly find uses for it in real non-vacation life.
posted by The Michael The at 5:01 AM on August 11, 2006

This bag from the Container Store has great storage pockets in it. Two notes: not waterproof, not good for heavy load - won't tear just not so comfortable.
posted by terrortubby at 5:24 AM on August 11, 2006

When we were traveling last year we picked up a small 'man-bag' made by Rip Curl for about 20euros. When we got home we upgraded it with a Travel Pocket V1 from Kathmandu (Aussie/ NZ company), dimensions 25x25x10cm. I see that they also do a slightly larger version. The big one is $50AUD and the little one is $39AUD which is a quarter of the price for a poser crumpler bag. Even if where you are you can't get Kathmandu those style bags are everywhere and really handy.

Our Travel Pocket fits our Digital SLR, a big Fodors guide book and a map nicely, and has a pocket for your mp3 player with a headphone hole.

We NEVER carry backpacks/bookbags as they allow you to lug too much stuff, make you look more touristy and leave that horrible sweaty patch on the back of your shirt.

Also a good idea I read about if you don't want to carry a guidebook everywhere is to take photos of the pages you will use for the day with your digital camera, and use the zoom function to get a good read of the page.

Bon Voyage
posted by mule at 5:50 AM on August 11, 2006