Daypack type bag for city trips

[butterfliesinmytummy]

I'm heading to New York and paris this spring / summer and although I don't want to be outed as a tourist straight away, I don't want to carry my usual handbag. I need a rucksack type bag that I can stash a bottle of water, camera, phone, wallet in (traveling with kids so sun hats etc too) but that looks like it belongs in a city. I'm thinking mandarina duck, tumi, fjallraven etc .... Any ideas on what's going to look good?

I like these

www.ilovemykanken.com/shop/other-products/fjallraven-numbers/

www.selfridges.com/en/Bags/Categories/THE-SELFRIDGES-EDIT/Our-Backpack-Edit/Rubber-Little-America-backpack_193-1000201-1001400230OS/?previewAttribute=Mandarin

They both come in lots of different colours, the Herschel is cheaper in the US.

I recently bought this Le Pliage backpack it's not huge but is roomy enough. Am very please with it as it's pretty lightweight too.

Thanks both. I like the Herschel but at 51cm tall it's much too big for me and really deep, I think everything will sink to the bottom. The fjallraven has no outside pockets, same as the pliage. I'm not a fan of longchamp nylon bags either as everyone had fake ones in Asia when I lived there....

Google Herschel website - they do different sizes, New York would be the perfect place to purchase,

I just bought a backpack for work from this lot, several types and sizes available:

www.sandqvist.net/en/backpacks.html

Thanks again. I actually live in Texas so know Herschel pretty well and can buy here at US prices. I do like the city backpack and also the Tumi Epsom

I like Sandqvist but they really are backpacks imho and I think go too far down the "tourist" route for me, they're not really city bags... Maybe I'm looking for more of a rucksack / handbag...

I know it's not what you asked OP but I always find cross body, postman bags better for busy city breaks (especially if they have a lock on the flap). Rucksacks feel a bit out of sight, and especially on subway can be really easy to pick. Maybe look at a decent leather postman or satchel option? Looks like a big handbag that a mum would carry, after all :)

You should always take you bag off your back on a tube/subway to avoid it getting in the way of other passengers anyway.

The Herschel city is lovely but it's small at only 7 litres.

I have a Kanken which I love, but have recently acquired a proper running rucksack which is a whole new world in comfort and doesn't look TOO ugly.

I always keep my purse in a small cross my body bag even if I have a rucksack as well

I don't need anything too big (dcs are 5 and 9 so it's not like I need wipes and changes of clothes) and am looking for a handbag type bag, nothing that looks too much like a traditional rucksack. Anything too big and stuff will get lost at the bottom and I'll be tempted to load it up.

Hadn't thought about a cross body.... I love Madewell bags - this might be too big but I love this...

Rucksack/backpack not a good idea as it can be accessed from behind without you knowing. This happened to someone on our holiday last year. Back was slit at the bottom whilst she was wearing it and passports and money stolen.
Get a comfy over the body bag, I like the kipling ones.
Or what nocomet says, keep passport phone and money close to the front of your body and the other stuff in a rucksack.

How about a cross body bag for you and a little light weight backpack for your 9 year old?

Right, I think I would look too touristy with a rucksack and agree that it's not too safe. I wouldn't ever carry passports or more than 2 credit cards around with me though! I wouldn't even take passports to NY....

My normal handbag is a Chloe and I don't really want to take anything that flashy, think I'm heading for the leather crossbody. All I need for the day is wallet, phone, water bottle, sunglasses, small camera, micro first aid kit (which I always carry) and possibly some tissues. If I can fit in a mini ipad, I'm good for traveling there with it too. I really don't need a large bag..... My 9 yo can take a bag with her camera too.

Look at troop London - I have five different bags from there, all fab.

I'm a huge Kipling fan, good strong bags and very light. I've never been to NY but when I go to London I put my basics in a small rucksack and my cash etc in a cross body bag.

I think you have to carry a passport round in ny? I could be wrong

Anyway you need it to get your tax back when shopping .....

I'm resident in the USA, which doesn't offer sales tax refunds to foreigners anyway (it's state level tax and Louisiana I believe is the only state to offer this) and it's not a legal requirement in any state to carry photo id. Always best to leave the passport in the hotel safe.

If you need to carry ID to order alcohol etc your best bet is a drivers license as it's more easily replaced (and some venues will ID you if you appear to be under 35)

Ah I must have got that wrong. I was just remembering going to Macys and showing my passport and getting a discount of some sort on my shopping.

You're right. Macy's and Bloomingdales offer non US residents a discount card but will accept a foreign driving license too.

Love both bags you posted OP. Definitely think it's a better option for fitting in, and for security when your hands are full. Hope you have a great trip!