Often, it's nice to dump the weight for a while :-) I carry a rain poncho when needed. Checking generally takes a short time and has never bothered me. I carry a canvas tote bag to transfer everything I need when I have to check the bag. I have also used little suitcase locks when I have something valuable inside. I rarely put my camera in it, but usually my binoculars (also great to have for seeing church details up close). If I'm in a "dicey" spot, I will slip it off one shoulder and use my arm to protect it. I find that the straps over both shoulders make it much more comfortable than anything that's single shoulder. I guess I started in my bike-riding days and got used to it. I travel solo for the most part and I always use a backpack, even at home, instead of a purse. I'm not really against backpacks, I guess I just don't need much extra "storage" space when I am out and about. I know lots of people fill and refill the same bottles and keep with them all the time, but I just don't-water is heavy. I try to drink water when I buy it rather than carrying heavy water bottles around with me, too. I can/would/do: rip the necessary pages out of my guidebook rather than taking the whole (heavy) thing use a pocket-size map or simply a paper tourist map from the hotel use a pocket-size digital camera that fits easily in hubby's front shirt pocket (always accessible) or inside my "long-strap across the body" small purse make sure I have a hotel room in the center of town so I can go back and drop off souvenirs I have purchased and don't have to carry too many souvenirs too far or for too long usually don't carry around snacks unless it is a granola/energy bar or something like that-flat and small. 3) To each his own, but backpacks get heavy in a hurry. are in a money belt on your body and not in the pack, then that may be a non-issue. As you said, if your cash, passports, etc. 2) Backpacks are relatively easily pickpocketed in crowded areas, standing in lines, etc. A minor inconvenience and takes a small bit of time, but nevertheless. Hi Brandon, Aside from the obvious "I'm a tourist" appearance you mentioned, I can think of 3 possible drawbacks to wearing backpacks (and they might be of no account to you): 1) You will almost certainly have to check said backpacks in the cloak room at pretty much every museum you visit (unless they are small "day packs"). We buy our snacks and then immediately eat them! Actually, we trade off who gets to carry it (it definitely doesn't look like a purse). But big enough for everything our family needs - umbrellas, a water bottle, multiple guide books, map, camera, any souveniers. It's small enough that I'm only required to check it about 1/2 the time (and sometimes I choose to check it). It can also convert into a backpack, which I don't usually do unless I'm in the countryside. I have a small-ish Eagle Creek convertible bag, they don't make them any more, but it's primarily a shoulder bag or cross-body bag. Do you really need two backpacks? You might consider whether you need something that large, especially if you don't want to keep checking it. Also, when wearing a backpack, be careful when you turn from side to side, to make sure you don't hit people near you. Bring a small bag that you can transfer your necessary items into while your backpack(s) are checked. Quite a few museums and some churches (San Marco's in Venice) do not allow backpacks - you'll need to check them.
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