Is there such thing as a stylish rucsac - for day trips out?

[GiganticusBottomus]

When I go out with the dc I end up borrowing dh's ruc sac and it's horrible (I have a deep loathing for it anyway having had to endure it cluttering up the hall for years before I bought him a nice leather messenger bag.)

Aaaaanyway, I would like a nice bag - preferably rucsac,so I have hands free for dc, to take on day trips, it needs to be big enough for packed lunches, book, big bottle of water etc. Does such a thing exist?

I've tried: millets, accessorize (one possibility there), Cath kidston, samsonite, next.

Any suggestions? Thanks

i ended up getting an eastpak one in black, the straps are very padded and it looks very well made should be for the price, i had been looking at a leather rucksack until someone pointed out that the straps are not padded.

I saw this company mentioned favourably on here a few weeks ago...

www.trooplondon.com/epages/es114527.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es114527_es122149120482/Categories/Backpack

Thanks miche and Keynesian. I do like the troop ones, stylish but simple but so damn sensible! Now I'm torn as to whether to go for the frivolous but far less practical one from accessorize here or the troop one.

Good point about the leather ones and the straps - luckily they are out of my price range but also I did wonder if the leather would make the bag heavy in itself before I even put all the bits I need in it.

I think Kipling look reasonable and they're practical too. Various sizes and colours?

A ruck sac isn't going to be stylish so you might as well accept that and buy the wildest, animal or other surfer type brand one and enjoy the fact that it will have lots of practical pockets.

those troop ones are nice - i like the old fashioned looking one particularly, but are they waterproof?

i'd say you can't disguise a rucksack and those that try to be like handbags are odd... just go for full pelt for a north face or something (i've got a 'nice' black northface with laptop sleeve for cycling to work)

I like those troop ones- anyone know if the straps are padded, because I think that is a necessity, and it is where "nice" rucksacks often fall short. Kipling not well enough padded IMO.

Fjallraven Kanken! A classic from the 1970's, will last you a lifetime. try here

the floral accessorise one would be nice in the summer (imagining perfect picnics in NT properties etc). For the winter, I think a plain colour Eastpac style one is fine. Mine's a very blue one (goes nicely with the anorak!!). It's comfy and it looks OK.