USVI-On-Line

Ok wise ones, I need your suggestions.

I need a backpack for our upcoming STJ trip.

My intention is to use it a my personal item on the plane as well as my run-around bag while on STT/STJ so it needs to hold a small wallet, my DSLR camera (no extra lenses) and enough room for other stuff like little kid bits and pieces, a bottle or two of water, a hat.

I spent a ton of time today on EBags (Gromit's fav) and some other sites and just didn't find anything. The backpacks labelled for camera use looked too big/heavy. I did like the way some of them had a lower, seperate compartment for the camera accessed by a zipper with the other storage area on top.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Ideally I would like it to be lighter weight as I will likely use it as a day pack fo our real life hiking adventures too. Meaning it doesn't need to be a padded, professional photographer type of bag. I am looking for more of an all-around day pack

Are you looking for a "cute" backpack that doubles a a purse like thing, or a regular hiking backpack? This one is kind of cute (it's a slingpack)

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.d ... pid=740991

Or, if you like le sport sac, you can go to their site and paste the available patterns on to the backpack style of your choice and buy it right from the site--there are four sizes right now.

http://www.lesportsac.com/external/backpacks.html

If you are looking for more of a standard hiking backpack, I prefer north face brand. They make smaller ones for women.

I would just get a dry bag for your camera, and put that into a regular backpack. You could even just use a ziploc bag, I guess.

Mr. PA will be carrying it some of the time so he will start protesting if the cute level gets too high.

I think we may have a REI catalog at home with NorthFace packs in it.

I do like that LeSportSac day trip model...

$100+ for LeSport? really? when did that happen?

Get the "Forum Beach Bag/ Tote."
Big enough for all of your things, and small enough to "carry-on."
We actually stuffed our snorkel gear, fins & all, into it on the way home.
Perfect.
Smiles-
MJ

I have carried a daypack daily, for years. I started when I went back to school in the early 90s and now I use the pack instead of a briefcase. I'm a huge fan of LL Bean.
I carried this pack, full of heavy books and the rest of my gear, for 5 years: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/62852?pa ... -sub1&np=Y
Lifetime guarantee! Eventually, it just looked too old, so I bought this one: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/48014?pa ... -sub1&np=Y, which I also love, and both get great reviews.
I stick my camera, in it's case, in the bottom front pocket, while travelling.

Have you checked out the Kipling bags on ebags or other sites?
I love thes cause they are light and durable and hold a ton!

I have something similar to this (not the hunter version just a normal one in black but I don't see it anywhere online) that I used on our trip when my littlest was 10 months and then again when he was 19 months. It was awesome. Smaller than a typical backpack but lots of pockets. It was perfect for a change of clothes for him, a few diapers and wipes, snacks, toys and sippy cup. It was very easy to organize everything.

In addition to his stuff it had space for me to put our tickets, passports (as I am the trip organizer/paperwork holder) and my iphone, headphones, etc.

I loved that it was comfy, left both hands free, and was not heavy at all, and I could keep it on and rotate it to the front to get things in and out. Very convenient!

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/60312?pi ... e&subrnd=0

I always use a backpack for a carry on. I just use a good quality Jansport. It has a lot of compartments and holds a lot. Then it can be used to carry things to the beach.

KIPLING!!!

XOXO
Bug

like minde said, i love llbean backpacks. i just ordered the first one she mentioned from the sale section for $29.99 and used a free shipping code.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/54554?pa ... at4=502009

3018863 (free ship code from retailmenot.com)

happy shopping!

shelli

The Briggs & Riley excursion backpack (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/productDetail.aspx?id=Excursion-Backpack_BP118) is a good all-round daypack – ideal size to carry on board flights, great for sight seeing trips, and perfect for day hikes. The backpack is 22.8 liters and has a padded computer compartment. It should easily be able to hold everything from your carry on essentials like laptop, cell phone, travel docs, etc. to hiking equipment like flash lights, whistle, maps, wet tissues, bug repellants, and other such gear.

I have a Tamrac camera backpack. The camera compartment is on the bottom; then a roomy area on top. The padded separators are all velcroed, so you could remove/rearrange them so that you're camera is well protected, then you could put other items in the bottom, as well. If you're not going to be switching lenses/filters, it will work well.

http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-Adventure- ... B000EB7OTU

I know it's an additional item to tote around, but depending on your cameras, really their value, I'm not sure I'd want to put them into a bag with my general stuff. An exercise of taking the dslr to the beach and just avoiding the dust is a pretty big deal. You might be allowing a lot of that dust/sand when you mix items.

/just my suggestion.

I just ordered the one Jayseadee suggested--perfect! I was looking for the same thing and would have never found it on my own. Thanks!

Gina