I see a lot of people wearing their backpacks in front on public transport - not only on the vaporetti, but on the trains and buses in US cities. If you're not big busted it's not uncomfortable.
ETA: DH's favored camera bag is the Lowepro Orion:
He has backpacks, but of course a camera or lens in a backpack isn't accessible to the shooter, never mind whether it's accessible to pickpockets. The pack comes with a shoulder strap that takes some of the weight off the belt strap.
Last edited by OakLeaf; 05-07-2008 at 11:59 AM.
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler