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Seeking advice about purse/bag for travel ETA: Pictures of my new bag

Molly Mac

Veteran

I am traveling to Italy with my family this summer. We will be in Rome, Siena, Florence, and Venice. I only use a backpack as my bag since a shoulder injury a few years ago. Several friends have commented that pick pockets are endemic in major Italian cities and backpacks are not a wise option. Any advice about bags you have carried to avoid this issue? I can't use totes or anything that can only be carried on one shoulder. A cross body bag might work but many of them are too small for an all day outing.
ETA: Thank you all for your help. I was at Marshalls this weekend shopping with DS #2. He needed shorts for camp. I ran to quickly look at bags and found this Baggallini cross body. The size is perfect and it is very light weight. The $24.00 price tag helped seal the deal. I am all sorted with my Italy bag. Now on to shoes...

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24 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

bj1111

Veteran

you can carry the backpack in front like a baby byorn.

Eliza

Veteran

I like lightweight crossbody styles for travel. My current brand favorite is MZ Wallace, often nylon bodied with leather trim. The multiple compartments, water resistance and durability are excellent. The bags are spendy; right now they are in the last few days of a sale. Many steeply discounted styles and now an additional 10% off discount code. Reviews are helpful in assessing various styles and the weight of the bags is listed. When DH and I travel, he also carries a smallish leather shoulder bag with enough room for 2 waters and a bit more. Helps to share the load.

If you need the backpack, you can streamline valuables and wear them close to the body and only keep non-valuables (guides or maps, water and light topper, sunscreen...) in the back pack. I sometimes use a small card holder that snaps to a bra strap if I am worried about security, with only a bit of cash in my bag.

Happy travels.

SarahD8

Veteran

I have a Tumi crossbody (similar to the voyageur canton) that fits an amazing amount of stuff. It would hold wallet, keys, phone, small pouch of necessaries (sunscreen, lip balm, blister treatment), 12-oz water bottle, and lightweight scarf for sun protection/church modesty.

Roberta

Veteran

I am wildly fond of my Sherpani Vale, which just wandered around the Baltic for ten days. It is lightweight, secure, and is roomy enough to hold the occasional purchase on a daily basis. I've stuffed a scarf, a mug, a couple of candy bars, water bottle, etc. in mine. It has an internal keyfob and is not overwhelmed with zippers and pockets (which I prefer). The top folds over but adds an extra square foot of space if needed. It also lies quite flat against the body.

ETA - I think the new Vale is larger than my three-year-old Vale. The Sherpani Sadie is similar but not as big.

Sherpani Vale RFID Crossbody Bag, Hide

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Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

A lot of backpack bags are made to open to the side that is on your back. I would look for one of those. Groom bags seem well designed for city use, for example.

Here's another example, from Etsy.

My Rebecca Minkoff backpack has a swivel clip that can be clipped to the top or the bottom of the bag, and I have used it in New York, clipped to the top, so it is secure from pick-pocketing. (Clipping to the top encloses that long zipper, so you can't get to it without unclipping.)

Rebecca Minkoff 'Line Quilted Julian' Backpack

$325.00 $162.49

Sale

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Sal

Veteran

I visited those cities this year and on occasions wore backpacks. We had no problems.

I don’t carry everything on me - I leave passport and some cash in a safe.

Put your wallet deep down in the backpack not in an accessible place.

Crossbodies are great but if you have a water bottle they don’t work so well.

Wise Shopper

(website)

Italy is not as bad as they say. You are not going to bring your documents everywhere, right? Just put money and phone in the pocket, and the backpack is a perfect choice.

Joy

Veteran

Pickpockets are prevalent in Italy can be groups of women or children with razor blade type knives that cut right though bags and pockets. I wear a soft case for valuables around my waist or neck. Mine are from Eagle Creek and fit my passport, train tickets , and some cash and credit cards. The pickpocket can come at you and surround you in a group, distracting you and poking at you with razor bladed fingernails. Be especially careful in busses and near touristy places. I do not carry anything of value in a purse, in fact try not to look like a tourist or wear jewelry. I do carry a nylon bag for a water bottle, possible purchases and snacks, possibly an umbrella.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Joy where did you have these experiences? Yikes!
Definitely don't keep anything valuable on you back when you travel anywhere would be my advice. I like crossbody with the bag in front of me at all time, Make sure it closes and perhaps thick straps make sense.

Anonymous

I always use Baggalini crossbodies. They are lightweight and perfect for travel, since they have convenient pockets for everything you need on a typical travel day. I have two of them and use them all the time on trips. You can even throw them in washer when your trip is over!

Chris987

Veteran

Another vote for Baggelini. They are all nylon so very lightweight, come in lots of style and colors, and wear like iron. Reasonable prices. Kipling is a similar brand. I look for very lightweight bags for travel, in part due to a back muscle injury last year, but also just because.

I have a small collection of these two brands, and use them all. The black cross body bag (first find) is the most versatile, being big enough to hold daily needs plus a few extras. I love it for winter city travel (I've been to a few European cities for Christmas) where I need a knit hat and gloves outdoors but take them off indoors and this bag is big enough to hold them so I don't lose them. It also was perfect in Barcelona one summer (supposedly another pickpocket haven) where I zipped it shut , wore it cross body and put my hand/arm over it, and felt very secure.

I'll mention two that don't meet your needs but give an example of how versatile these brands can be. 1) I just bought the gold small one (second find) which was perfect for holding wallet, passport, iphone, chapstick, meds that I wanted easy access to while on long flights with several connections. It stows easily into a larger bag. 2) I also have a Kipling backpack (I think it's sold as a "school book pack" for teenagers) that is the lightest backpack I've ever found, yet has room for my laptop.

If you are a fan of TJmaxx you can usually find both of these brands there, although the styles/colors will be hit or miss of course. Zappos carries wide selections of both, and Macys carries Kipling and a limited number of Baggelinis. There are probably other retailers that sell them too but those are the ones that come to mind for me.

Baggallini Crossover Crossbody

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Kipling Seoul Medium Backpack

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Molly Mac

Veteran

Thank you all for your suggestions. I like the idea of a nylon cross body and many of these bags are a nice size for my needs.

notsaf

Veteran

I've lived in Italy for years at a time, and yes pickpocketing of tourists is something that happens on crowded public buses, in busy lines for tourist sights, etc. Wear a bag that closes with a zipper, and don't carry a wallet on the outside pocket. Be mindful of it in those kinds of spaces, and you'll be fine with a backpack.

I carry the Tumi "Just in Case" backpack while travelling (and sometimes at home, as well), and adore it. It's appealing and durable, and not wildly expensive (currently on sale in some colors, too): https://www.tumi.com/p/just-in.....100406247/

Runcarla

Veteran

I'm a fan of the Longchamps Lepliage nylon bag for travel. The Neo is a cross body. You could also use a fanny pack worn bandolier style.

Just an idea. I have a smaller wallet I use as my travel wallet. Before a trip, I sort through my regular wallet and select only the cards I need for the trip (no loyalty cards, work ID, etc.) I learned from an Incident DH had when he took out all the unnecessary stuff, but his wallet was so stretched that the stuff he did keep kept slipping out!

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rachylou

Veteran

I’ve been in all these museums and other places recently where it’s no longer permitted to wear a bag on your back. I don’t know what it is... people knocking into things with them or something. You are REQUIRED to wear your backpack in the front.

I would definitely do the hidden money belt thing and keep my papers and valuables close and on me at all times. Definitely I don’t leave things in hotel rooms or the hotel safe, where staff is in and out all the time.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I don't have any bag suggestions, but one tip would be to find something smooth to avoid the wear your bag will put on your clothing. I've had my bag ruin my clothes on site seeing trips...pills, etc. On the other hand, after a month in Europe one time, I was so sick of my clothes I barely ever wanted to wear them again! Have a fun trip!!!

Gretchen

Veteran

Another vote for a smaller crossbody like a baggalini. I prefer to have the smallest crossbody bag I can while sightseeing. It's easier for me to keep hands free when it's not weighted down. And what do I really needs besides $, phone and hotel key?

I've travelled to Rome multiple times and Florence and Venice once each and never felt unsafe or at risk. It's more a case of keeping your eyes open and paying attention when you are in crowded places - pickpockets are in every large city, we just notice it more in unfamiliar surroundings.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I travel a lot, and wear my Furlas as crossbodies.

Jules

Veteran

I concur with all the suggestions to carry just your days’ essentials in an inexpensive light weight bag, and leave passport, major cash/extra cards etc at the hotel or hidden close to the body if in transit. My parents were ‘swarmed’ on the metro in Rome by a group of young women, but they only got the 60 euros or so my dad keeps readily available when travelling. So he was pleased that his longtime system paid off

Lesley

Veteran

The backpack will be fine, just as long as when you are in close quarters (riding the subway or bus) you move it to the front. That's when the pickpockets are busy, and yes, they are a real thing—both my husband and I had attempts on us last year, mine while I was holding my daughter on my lap on the bus! Otherwise, a good crossbody is a good idea, but again, never let it hang behind you when you're in a crowded space. I got a great travel crossbody right in Rome, from Mandarina Duck!

elpgal

Veteran

I was in Rome earlier this year. I used a combination of a neck bag for passport, card and cash. I carried my essentials in a very colorful, non-fancy LL Bean kids backpack. We almost always used public transportation, took buses and trains and didn't have any strange encounters.

karen13

Veteran

Molly- I have been really happy with this Tumi convertible backpack/messenger/tote for travel. I posted a bun of photos about halfway through this thread. I've been using it for about 6 months now. One things that you can wear it as a backpack with either side against your back so the outer zip pocket can be more secure.

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....e-them-all

Tumi Voyageur Jena Convertible Backpack

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JAileen

Veteran

REI carries this bag with stainless steel mesh embedded in the strap to protect again slash and run theft.

https://www.rei.com/product/89.....-bag-black

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Sal

Veteran

I wonder if you are travelling with a family if you all need a bag. Maybe a couple to carry an extra layer or sunscreen or water bottles/ snacks. And maybe a very small crossbody for yourself with money phone. Between the six of us on outings we only needed a couple of bags.

Get up early and enjoy the city- we loved the early mornings and nights the best.