sightseeing/travel bag

[surgtech1956]

Can anyone recommend a bag to use sightseeing/around town that I can carry my small/medium dsr camera, maps, phone, etc...? We're taking a trip to SF in February - I don't carry a purse. Thanks for your help.

[VeloVT]

how stylish must it be :D?

does it need to dress up for dinner, do you care if it's leather or fabric, etc...

[GraysonKelly]

I'd recommend a Timbuk2 bag if you can afford it and aren't worried about wanting something "stylish". (I don't really know the word for that. I just mean that I wouldn't bring mine to a business meeting or really nice restaurant) Anyway, they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors. Since you're carrying a camera, I'd probably get one of the laptop bags since they are padded on the inside...I carry my camera around in mine and it's a fairly substantial camera. There's all kinds of pockets, zippers, and such and most of the bigger ones come with a cross strap (if you go for the messenger type) that you can fasten to keep it from swinging while you ride or walk. They also make an "outawhack backpack" that is essentially a messenger bag that can also be carried like a backpack. Anyway, hope this helps. If you aren't into the Tiimbuk2 thing, then I'd suggest checking out LLBean...they have some awesome packs and stuff. My big backpack is from there and it's awesome.
Take care and have fun,
Gray

[michelem]

Can anyone recommend a bag to use sightseeing/around town that I can carry my small/medium dsr camera, maps, phone, etc...? We're taking a trip to SF in February - I don't carry a purse. Thanks for your help.


I really like my Lowepro Slingshot. I've used it to take my camera on hikes, etc. It holds my camera, lenses, and even space for extras like my sunglasses, camera manual, pens, etc.

Looks like this one is on sale through REI right now: http://www.rei.com/product/745010

Oh, it also comes with a waterproof cover -- perfect for February in SF, which is the height of the rainy season.

[Cataboo]

You should look at the crumpler bags - they have the 3, 4, & 6 million dollar home.

But you can also get crumpler "buckets" which are basically camera cases that fit into their bags - so the soup & salad messenger & the quarfie, barney rustle have those.


I second the recommendation of the lowepro slingshot - I use that for my dslr, and on trips just fit everything else I need into it as well. I really like that you can swing it around front and get to the camera and don't have to take it off your back.... However, if you have a heavy camera & lenses, it can get tiring to have that only on one shoulder all the time. I carried it around for 2 weeks in Spain - and it was doable, but did sometimes get tiring.

[bikecanada]

lululemon bags are a good size and there's some that look kind of dressy. You'd probably have to keep your camera in a camera bag but it'll probably fit in the bags too. I use mine all the time to travel

[wolfak]

I like my Mountainsmith Tour - small, but can pack a lot! It has a nice shoulder pad, and lumbar padding. I usually keep my hip straps tucked inside the lumbar padding, but they are super nice when I carry around something heavy.

http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=28&categoryId=4&subCategoryId=3&subCategory2Id=0

[deeaimond]

I think a backpack style is easier on the back. I always get a shoulder and neckache when I use a slingbag stylee sort of bag.

[OakLeaf]

DH uses the Lowepro Orion for two bodies with lenses, plus two extra lenses and a collection of accessories. It comes in a Mini size if the regular one is larger than you want. There are several external pockets that you could use for phone, maps, filters, microfiber cleaning cloths, earplugs, etc. Also a built-in rain fly, which you definitely want for SF in February.

It has a wide, nicely padded belt strap plus a shoulder strap to help secure it and distribute the weight. That gives you the best of both worlds in terms of security (against both dropping and pickpockets), accessibility, being able to change from one hip to the other for muscle balance or even roll it around to the lumbar area for longer brisker walks.

"Stylish" it isn't, but a camera bag is what it is, and I think people are accepting of it. By the time you have enough structure to support the weight of a DSLR and lenses, and add enough padding to keep the pieces from knocking against each other as you walk, it's pretty much going to look like a camera bag whatever you do.

[Flur]

+1 on Crumpler. I have the 5 and 6 million dollar homes and I love them. A small SLR fits nicely in the 5 million dollar home with a lot of room to spare, but if you need to carry more the 6 million dollar home does the trick.

They also have fantastic backpacks if you find the weight is too much on one shoulder. Their "barge" bags are really nice for a smaller SLR.

Oh, another great thing about Crumpler bags is that they look really nice, and don't look like camera bags at all, so no one will know there's expensive equipment inside.

[wackyjacky1]

But you can also get crumpler "buckets" ... so the soup & salad messenger & the quarfie, barney rustle have those.

Good gravy, I thought you were speaking a different language for a minute. :D Then I googled "crumpler" and figured out what you were talking about. LOL!

[Cataboo]

Amazon.com has an extra 50% off certain case logic bags today. There's some holster & backpack options. (The 50% comes off the price when you check out) I ordered a holster for have something for when I just want to carry my slr & not 8 lenses with me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=xs_gb_bd_Bsp0acGAall-?ie=UTF8&docId=1000308911&pf_rd_p=441937801&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BYSSQC1GK93H6ZWQVHZ

[Aggie_Ama]

The Timbuktu Metro bag is super cool and would hold all that. I have hinted until I was blue in the face that DH should go back to the bike shop and get me one to replace my purse as a Christmas present. I think we saw the medium sized bag?

I am excited you chose SF, we loved it last February.

[surgtech1956]

Thanks. Doesn't has to be dressy, just casual - jeans/shorts/cargos/khakis. I've been looking at the timbuk2 bags and crumpler.

[VeloVT]

I have a Timbuk2 metro bag. It's a great size, bigger than what I carry as a purse but still pretty small, and Timbuk2 does a GREAT job with pockets/organization. The Macy Tote is about the same size and is also cute.

[Cataboo]

The only thing I'd caution you about in using the timbuk2 or crumpler bags is making sure your camera has padding around it.

I almost always carry my camera in my lowepro bag - but after staying once in a questionable hotel, I put the bag out in my shed just in case anything hitchhiked home with me. And I'm usually super paranoid with my camera...

So when wanting to go on a quick hike, I stuck the dslr in a small messenger type bag inside a hat.

Then I set the bag on a table, walked away, and yep... the bag toppled off.

I now have a crack in my dslr body.

[PamNY]

Sierra Trading Post often has Timbuk2 bags. Not all colors and styles, of course, but it's worth checking.

They also have Overland Equipment; I like their bags.

Pam

[Aggie_Ama]

Surg- If you were thinking a small Timbuk2 REI has the metro or small messenger on sale in their online outlet. Plus until tomorrow they got an extra 20% off in the outlet (or maybe today!).

[OakLeaf]

I just happened to look in DH's December issue of Outdoor Photographer magazine and it has reviews (http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/gear/more-gear/gadget-bag/gadget-bag-ultralight-carry-solutions.html) of several small-medium size DSLR bags; some of them are reasonably attractive and not so camera-bag looking.