[cloth_guy5]

Nah, I'm just aware of the problems that can arise during travel in unfamiliar locations. Thanks for your input, though.

@ThomGault,

In my opinion, and my respectful opinion only, I don't believe at all you are being "drama" or foolish at all but merely sensible, intelligent, realistic, and responsible. Within my truck there always, as in 24/7 home or away, resides a 72 hour kit with the "uh-oh" emergency essentials. Perhaps this comes from my family upbringing and where/how I was born and raised.

Anyways, to give my recommendations to your question. I have mentioned here before that I make fairly frequent trips South of the Border. I really have no choice but to make these trips by air unfortunately. For these trips I have found that for my needs, both carry on and after arrival, the 5.11 bailout bag works fantastic! I am posting a link below. Actually, when I purchased this product it was for other purposes. I had no intention of using it as a travel bag. However, several years ago I decided to try it out once on a trip and I was hooked! It's really great for that purpose. It holds all my "uh-oh" emergency essentials (albeit more of a 24 hour version vs. 72) very conveniently, is easy to organize, comfortable, and well made. Additionally, I have it in the flat earth color and if you ask me it's downright stylish! I'm just sincerely trying to help by giving a recommendation of a product that I have used. This works for me and perhaps it will for you as well. Have a great day!

https://www.511tactical.com/bags-packs/bail-out-bag.html

 

[The Irishman]

That 5.11 tactical bag seems optimised fairly heavily towards someone who needs to tote a decent number of AR magazines within easy reach. An eventful holiday, but perhaps the OP is so inclined.

I think the OP should either revisit backpacks, probably. There are non tactical, non sporty versions of same, if that is a concern, the Filson photoprapher's backpack springs to mind, or maybe a waxed cotton rolltop rucksack of some sort.

By way of general comment, if I'm on holidays I probably would bring a small bag if I'm heading out for the day. Not to contain an emergency survival kit, or my clandestine armaments in case I end up in a desperate Taken style battle with Albanian organised crime to recover my children, but rather to hold stuff like a book, a camera, an extra layer I don't want to wear and (most importantly) to have a place to put anything that I buy, because I hate toting around bags from shops.

 

[SG_67]

I appreciate your view point, even though it differs from mine. However, with your indifference to others' perspectives, apparent distaste for traveling internationally, and general negativity to my entire question (and, honestly, to many other threads requesting advice), I'm not quite sure why you're posting in this thread. If you have a positive suggestion, I'd be very grateful if you shared it.

Fair enough. But why even ask the question? If you really need to carry so many things around with you, just find a suitable bag that is easy to carry and can hold all of the things you want to take with you. Perhaps a backpack. What have you used before and how is it that it's all of a sudden so inadequate?

 

[Kyle76]

https://www.filson.com/small-rugged-twill-field-bag.html#sku=11070230-fco-000971914

This. Not a purse, not even a man purse. Small enough but will handle an array of emergency items. You can't go wrong with Filson.

 

[The Irishman]

The only warning I'd offer with Filson stuff is that if you start a collection and you're going to buy larger luggage down the line from them, or the medium or large holdall bags, and might want to check them in ... Don't get the tan. If it gets stained (as happened to one of mine) then you can't do much more than spot clean. I regret not getting one of the darker colours.

Fair enough. But why even ask the question? If you really need to carry so many things around with you, just find a suitable bag that is easy to carry and can hold all of the things you want to take with you. Perhaps a backpack. What have you used before and how is it that it's all of a sudden so inadequate?

Ah, come on, it's a discussion forum. If we were to answer some of the queries that come up in the spirit suggested above ("A belt? Just find a suitable belt", "A suit? What suits have you worn before, and why are they suddenly inadequate?") then the scope for friendly conversation would be somewhat limited. Or better yet, if someone poses a question which is of no interest, then simply move on to another thread.

 

[ItalianStyle]

I stand by my suggestion of not carrying a bag at all.

That advice was for city sightseeing (as stated), but then suddenly we had babies in tow (a completely different ballgame) and then suddenly we were in the Scottish countryside (again, a completely different choice of bags).
For city sightseeing I will not wear a backpack - not just because of how it looks but mostly because of the inevitable sweaty back you'll get within minutes.

How to go sightseeing without a bag, you ask?

Well, imagine you lived in that city (which you kind of do if you have a hotel room) and wanted to go and visit, say, a museum or take a stroll in a new neighborhood. Would you carry snacks, water, band aid etc.? Of course not. You would handle blisters when you got 'home' and were you on the very point of starvation, buy a snack from a shop. "Tourist prices"? Not in a city, and even so, I don't mind paying tourist prices for food and drinks on rare occasions if it saves me from dragging same around with me and not needing it.

A passport can be cumbersome to carry. I admit that in countries which require that you carry it on you, I'll play the 'dumb tourist' if I ever should get stopped and asked to present it. I can't think of any other 'personal papers' I need to carry with me all the time...

My wallet is a plastic 'container' that holds 2 credit cards - that's all I need.

Should I be in the dire need of a bag for city sightseeing, my vote is for the messenger style bag.

 

[Woofa]

I don't think there is a perfect answer to this question. Different travel situations require different stuff and one bag will not fit all situations. Having said that here are some of my thoughts. (fyi I apologize if some of these snarky but there it is.)
1. Your married, let your wife carry this crap in her purse. End of story!
2. If you have young children carrying a bag while towing a 3 year is acceptable. No one will judge you. Of course better if your rich enough to have a nanny carry all the crap (i am not so rich.)
3. Any papers you need, like a wallet or passport should be carried on you or left in the hotel safe not in a bag. This is not Germany in 1940 and if you are travelling to places with similar requirements then you need to take special precautions.
4. The only bag which will have no questions of being called a man purse by someone who feels that way is a back pack. Get over caring what anyone else thinks.
A small fanny pack worn under a sport coat can be almost undetectable.
5. The right kind of messenger bag, be it a filson (i own a medium field bag and travel with it but usually have no reason to bring it with me on all excursions. I highly recommend filson from my experiences ) or a military type bag is masculine enough to get you by in most situations. (the tactical mesh bag is probably someone trying to sell them and not reasonable to normal stylish clothing.)
6. A light jacket can have interior pockets sewn in by a tailor which can hold numerous small items. (fyi I have plastic disposable rain parkas that are smaller than a wallet and weigh almost nothing.)
7. Carrying small water bottles in your hands is common practice everywhere. Buy them every few hours and throw them away. Anything more than 12 ounces and you need to accept you are not going to look that cool. If you need more or food for medical conditions than stop worrying what anyone else thinks.
8. Carrying an actual umbrella (totes makes small light travel umbrellas now if you know you will be in a downpour.) is not reasonable to most travel in 2018.
9. Learn to plan your day a little better. A quick look at the weather plus breaking your day into sections where you come back to the hotel is reasonable especially as you get older.

I wish you luck and please let us know what you end up getting.

 

[HanEyeAm]

Some really good ideas in this thread.

I would not discount the utility of cargo pants as well. Scoff if you will, but distribute your things between cargo pants, perhaps a fanny pack, and your wife's purse can work perfectly.

 

[Kyle76]

The only warning I'd offer with Filson stuff is that if you start a collection and you're going to buy larger luggage down the line from them, or the medium or large holdall bags, and might want to check them in ... Don't get the tan. If it gets stained (as happened to one of mine) then you can't do much more than spot clean. I regret not getting one of the darker colours.

This is true. Airlines are not kind to Filson. On the other hand, I was able to sell my stained items on ebay for pretty good money.

 

[HanEyeAm]

Regarding backpacks, security prohibition aside, there are many travel-specific backpacks that are built for travel with anti-theft features such as Kevlar anti-slash construction.

I use a day pack that cinches at the top. Unless someone slashes the bottom of the backpack, no one's going to be able to stick a hand in there. It has pretty good ventilation, it is very comfortable, with minimal structure and very low weight, so it's very packable in your main suitcase. Mine is strappy and not particularly attractive, but there are some out there that would work great for your situation.

 

[eagle2250]

^^Way back in the day, we used to carry our rucks, mounted on a light metal frame that maintained an airspace between the pack and our respective back(s). Even in very humid operating conditions, it seemed to control the perspiration problem described in earlier posts to this thread! LOL.

 

[HanEyeAm]

^^Way back in the day, we used to carry our rucks, mounted on a light metal frame that maintained an airspace between the pack and our respective back(s). Even in very humid operating conditions, it seemed to control the perspiration problem described in earlier posts to this thread! LOL.

With internal frames, the pack can be closer to the body, making it more comfortable and just easier to carry. As you said, the trade-off is then that the backpack is closer to the body, making ventilation more difficult.

However, take heart! Technology has come a long way. Manufacturers use construction such as floating mesh panels to enhance air flow. My mountain biking backpack, for example, has pretty good airflow despite being close to the body. Here's a link to the Osprey company's description of the tech.

https://www.osprey.com/us/en/pack-design-technology/suspension

 

[RogerP]

My vacation travel bag is a compact black leather backpack. Looks like a quality piece of leatherwork because that's what it is. No camo fabric, no external webbing and and no jingling collection of metal zipper pull tags - so it doesn't give the impression that I am confusing my vacation with either a covert reconnaissance mission behind enemy lines, or an ascent of K2. I use a combination lock for the main compartment and anything of value goes in there. If the pickpockets want to lift a pack of gum, the book I am reading or some tourist pamphlets and maps from the outer compartments, they are welcome to try.

 

[London380sl]

My vacation travel bag is a messenger bag. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned them yet. They are quite common in Europe so you won't stand out as tourist. If they are good enough for Indiana Jones they are good enough for me.

They are great for carrying around maps, guide books, camera and spare batteries, sunglasses, a bottle or two water etc. And you can swing it around so the bag is in front of you for theft security.

If you are considering a messenger bag make sure it has the following:

1) the flap has a buckle and strap closure so it can be cinched down for security. Some bags use magnet clasps which make it easier to get into but also easier to steal from.
2) Make sure there is a zipper on the main internal compartment to act as second layer of theft protection.
3) My bag is 12x12x4 inches which I found is the minimum I want to go in size as a sheet of paper is 8x11. Tried smaller size bags but they didn't work for me. It all depends on what you're carrying around.

Kevlar fabric is not a bad idea. I had my leather bag slit at the side while I was on the subway in Barcelona. Didn't feel a thing and fortunately didn't lose anything as the bag was pretty empty. In the 10 years I 've been travelling in Europe the only city where I have ever had issues is Barcelona.

 

[memphislawyer]

I am thinking a full briefcase for me is too much, but I too would like a general carry-all bag for when I run errands or will be out and about a city walking all day, such as NYC. I have backbacks and they are great for airports but I don't know that I want a backpack all day. Then again, a full carry briefcase and even in leather would be too much. I have seen some filson messenger backs on Ebay that look good, and then for the price, the LL Bean messenger looks good. There is a Mills canvas that uses like sailcloth but at $170 or so, I would spend a little more and get a Filson.

Any other canvas, waxed canvas or canvas/leather bags to consider?

Found this, pardon the wording:

https://nutsacbags.com/products/satchel-pro

this seems like filson
Like the big Sagnaga case

https://www.frostriver.com/shop/what-s-new/saganaga-travel-satchel/

 

[Kyle76]

I am thinking a full briefcase for me is too much, but I too would like a general carry-all bag for when I run errands or will be out and about a city walking all day, such as NYC. I have backbacks and they are great for airports but I don't know that I want a backpack all day. Then again, a full carry briefcase and even in leather would be too much. I have seen some filson messenger backs on Ebay that look good, and then for the price, the LL Bean messenger looks good. There is a Mills canvas that uses like sailcloth but at $170 or so, I would spend a little more and get a Filson.

Any other canvas, waxed canvas or canvas/leather bags to consider?

Sam, this one looks nice:

https://www.amazon.com/FRYE-Mens-Ca...6087956&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=frye+messenger+bag+waxed+cotton

 

[ItalianStyle]

My vacation travel bag is a messenger bag. I'm surprised nobody else mentioned them yet.

Well, mentioned in post #1, #5, #26 and #27...

This is my 'messenger bag' if I absolutely MUST have a bag with me in the city. Genuine WWII army surplus (and used by me in the Air Force). Cost in a surplus store is a few dollars and the patina comes free with it
Measures 12 x 9 x 4 inches and can hold more than I would ever need. It weighs next to nothing when empty.

 

[ADutchmaninNY]

Have a look at Billingham photography bags. If you take out or adjust the dividers, they make for great and good-looking city bags.

 

[David J. Cooper]

I carry the direct opposite of a tactical bag. It's an L.L Bean medium zippered Board and Tote. There is room for my sunglasses, a note book, pen and my cell phone.

I know I will probably buy a couple bottles of wine and a shirt or sweater or a piece of cheese. No need to carry bug out equipment or shotgun shells I hope.

 

[icky thump]

When I do carry a bag it's a Tumi expandable briefcase. I carry when I travel (but am returning the same day) or to court or work, when I need files or documents. I generally have miniumbrella, notary stamp, toiletries and cables in separate pouches in there. I have an old Schlessenger leather briefcase which sits unused, I don't know why.

I bring this up because more and more, I am in the no-bag crowd. I try to avoid carrying it when just into the office or walking out and about. Walking around with it hurts my older back. It is useable but maybe a little small for overnight travel.