Help me decide on a bag

[marriedmarylander]

DH wants to carry this backpack we have but it doesn't have any small inner compartments and most of our stuff is small.

This is what we have to carry around:
Water bottle - Dh insists we carry around two, but I say just one.
Sunscreen
Digital Camera
Extra Camera batteries, memory disk
Hair brush
Sunglass case
Poncho / umbrella - ??? only if they call for rain?
Ziploc bags
Contact supplies - travel solution, eye drops, extra contacts
Hair bands

Probably carry in pocket:
Chapstick
Money
Tickets
Credit Cards

I remember once before we lugged a backpack around Kings Dominion and hardly anything was in it. DH says it's good to have a backpack incase we want to put things in like he might take his shirt off (he wears like 3 shirts whereever he goes), a hat, random souveniers (I would like to wait until last day to get these), etc.

Would you think we should carry the backpack - I'd then have to do something about not having small compartments, or just get a mini backpack cheaply somewhere (walmart, target, etc). The other problem is the water bottle - because it sweats I'd need a sleeve for it. The brita bottle is huge and wont' fit into mini backpack water bottle holders.

I've got the Baggallini bag but not sure about it... ?? The water bottle sleeve is really tight on the brita bottle. I guess I could carry it in the bag? I dunno... I don't know how many times I'd use this bag again.. well or any bag I guess

 

[stinkerbelle]

is it just you and your dh?
Here's how DH and I do it:
DH wears cargo shorts (seriously - all his shorts are cargo)...in one pocket he carries a mini-cosmetics bag (so manly, hehe) that has the digicam/batteries/memory cards in it.
he carries his wallet with money/passes, and cell phone

i do carry a nylon purse - worn across my body, that holds my wallet/smokes & lighter (well, I quit, so I guess i don't need those anymore) anti-bacertial hand gel, gum, pen, chapsitck/lip gloss and my water bottle strap. there is still room in the purse to put the digicam in there if we are going on a 'wet' ride.

if you do need to carry more stuff - I suggest the smallest LLBean bag available...it's still a good size to cram in some sweatshirts and all your stuff...plus the thing lasts forever.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

My favorite backpack I ever had was a diaper backpack - it has all kinds of little compartments for storing things - a lot of them have an insulated area for bottles - believe me with the amount of stuff mom's hace to carry around - you will have plenty of room with pockets to boot!!

I have seen good ones at Target and Babies R Us

I wasn't sure if you had thought of that but i bet most moms would tell you they love their diaper backpacks and no one would ever know they were for a baby!!

here is one that I think is pretty practical from babystyle

http://www.babystyle.com/common/dPr...1&dept=36&cmCL=geardept-diaperbagstotes&cmPG=

 

[tlbwriter]

When you say he wears 3 shirts, do you mean he layers them, or wears one at a time and changes frequently? If he's just discarding layers during the day, I'd have him tie them around his waist or tuck them into his waistband in the back (kind of like a backwards apron) rather than carrying a bag. But then, if he wants to carry the bag, let him!

 

[dakyak]

I actually just bought a really cute backpack from eddie bauer that looks to be the perfect size. What i like most about it is how the straps go over and hide the zipper for the "big" compartment so noone can get in while i an wearing it. It also has two side nets to carry water bottles, and some smaller pcokets.

The item name is Mini Backpack...i love it and think it will be the perfect size to carry all your things. can't wait to use it!

 

[cdnmom22teens]

The boys (teens) and I each have water bottle waist-packs with a zippered compartment for cash & our APs, and that's all we have to carry - dh gladly carries everything else. He is amazing! He loves his backpack and carries a ton of stuff for the four of us: his own water bottle and extra frozen water bottles, sunscreen, misting fan, cellphone, healthy snacks (he doesn't eat junk but we do), gum, disposable rain ponchos, digital camera, batteries, binoculars, hand wipes, tissues, pennies for pressing, traveller's cheques and more. His backpack has lots of compartments and mesh holders for water bottles but we still keep stuff separate and dry with ziploc bags.

If your dh wants to carry a backpack, use ziplocs to organize your stuff, and let him go for it! You should be able to find a bottle strap so the Brita can hang off the outside of the pack (a cool sweating bottle feels great on the back of your neck on a really hot day).

 

[LVSWL]

I normally carry a fanny pack for my money, credit card, and small personal stuff. I have a water bottle strap from disney, pick one up at any ice cream stand for my britta bottle, and a strap for my camera, or sometimes put it in my fanny pack. We carry a backpack when the weather is iffy. I scotchguard it to help with the rain. We put our ponchos and video in it. Also a couple of target or other plastic bags (one for us and one to share) are nice to put your damp ponchos in after the rain so the backpack doesn't get so damp. The most important thing with a backpack is good support, and not too heavy.Ours is a columbia.It has water bottle pockets on either side, but no compartments, unfortunately. I just use a couple of ziplocs.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I actually just bought a really cute backpack from eddie bauer that looks to be the perfect size. What i like most about it is how the straps go over and hide the zipper for the "big" compartment so noone can get in while i an wearing it. It also has two side nets to carry water bottles, and some smaller pcokets.

The item name is Mini Backpack...i love it and think it will be the perfect size to carry all your things. can't wait to use it!

That is really cute. Where do you buy this kind of stuff at the stores? Do you have to go to Eddie Bauer Store?

 

[wright1baby]

LL bean has a great mini backpack as well. They will "stitch" a monogram/name for free.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...egory=5179&cat4=2943&shop_method=pp&feat=dp50
I actually got one of these for each of my children... It's smaller than standard backpacks but big enough to keep a bunch of stuff in as well as small pockets and a clip to keep keys attached. I will attest to the quality of LL bean packbacks. I still have mine from High School--I graduated in 1991!! Thats quality!

 

[marriedmarylander]

Thanks everyone for help!
I think I really need to go to these stores to check stuff out. I'm also looking for a new gym bag that's small (I go dressed already) so maybe I can use it again and again.

 

[tzuhouse]

I'm planning on taking my camera bag. It's made by Lowepro. It's a great backpack with upper and lower buckles, so you are killing your back. Has several compartments, plus little ones inside. My camera, wide angle lens, extra batteries and charger, plus all the tickets, $$, sunscreen, etc. will all go in and DH and I will trade off. I've hiked all over with this bag and love it. Bought it off ebay.

Mary

 

[golfgal]

I just ordered this for our trip. The waterbottle holder is big enough for our Britta water bottles and the bag is big enough to hold all the stuff we want.

http://www.ebags.com/ultimate_direction/access_plus/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=52336

 

[pixiedust23]

You coulkd always just go to target and get a small tote bag. This way you can use it when you go to the gym, to the beach, etc. You'll be able to use it again and again. And you dont have enough stuff in there where it would start to hurt if when you put it on one shoulder. Also make sure it zips b/c if you go on rides like ToT, RnR, TT, SM,BTM, etc you dont want stuff falling out!

 

[marriedmarylander]

You coulkd always just go to target and get a small tote bag. This way you can use it when you go to the gym, to the beach, etc. You'll be able to use it again and again. And you dont have enough stuff in there where it would start to hurt if when you put it on one shoulder. Also make sure it zips b/c if you go on rides like ToT, RnR, TT, SM,BTM, etc you dont want stuff falling out!

True but one shoulder bags all day hurt my shoulder.

 

[YEKCIM]

My spousal unit (wife) and I use these:

http://www.sieglers.com/cgi-bin/Sie...=151454-1&wt_cat=SearchResults&wt_subcat=none

They are a wonderful MickeyWorld accessory; we wouldn't go w/o them. Only drawback is that you end up losing "stuff" since there are so many pockets.

~YEKCIM

 

[YEKCIM]

The link I posted above did not direct to the specific item, only the homepage. If interested, go here: http://www.sieglers.com/cgi-bin/Sie...=151454-1&wt_cat=SearchResults&wt_subcat=none and type "traveler's vest" in SEARCH, and click "GO".

~YEKCIM