Cross body bag needed & tips for reducing weight

[mikeTV]

I have ongoing back issues and my physio told me to start using a cross body bag instead of my usual rucksack style.

My first question is - any recommendations? Would prefer not black

I'm aware that I need to cut back on what I keep in my bag to reduce the weight, but I'm no good at travelling light on a day to day basis.

I usually carry the following - how can I cut back??

• small a5 notebook
• kindle
• pens & charger
• phone
• purse/card wallet
• water bottle
• reusable coffee cup
• pouch containing painkillers, plasters, make up etc

Thanks!

Oh - I also carry sunglasses & regular glasses (worn for reading etc)

I would recommend any nylon crossbody bag for lightest. I think non leather bags are generally lighter. If you hold a bag that is empty and you can feel the weight then it's a heavy bag. If it feels light as a feather empty then it's a good sign

You can take everything you have just make these adjustments-

A5 notebook- soft cover not hardcover- thin one rather than thick one.Better still can you get a smaller size soft cover notebook. Is A6 too small?

Purse - what kind of purse you carrying- those long continental wallet.?Do you need this? can use a smaller wallet half the size?Again, find a wallet that feels light when empty. Ive seem some people carry 50 cards in their wallet - limit it to necessary ones.

Change pouch to lighter one or use ziplock bag for medicine and a small nice light pouch for makeup.

Sunglasses- if you need everyday- look for lighter carry case- some hard case ones weigh a ton- try some semi soft cases.

HTH

You could use the kindle app on your phone, and a loyalty card app. That might help cut down the weight.

Ditch the notepad and pen. Surely you use your phones functions for that.

Also get rid of the kindle. They weigh a lot. Could you switch to audio books or reading books on your phone?

Keep the coins in your purse to a minimum - empty out change often as it can soon mount up and become heavy

Leave makeup at home if you can, or just carry the minimum if you need it en route

I find Kipling bags to be the lightest there is, but stylish they are not! You can get a range of sizes, colours and prints. Of your load, would ditch the notebook and use the phone, but I couldn’t read a book on my phone, so my kindle would be staying. I have the paperwhite though, which is very lightweight. I bought the smallest charging plug I could find, rather than the one that came with my phone. It’s not as quick as the original but fine on the train. I have one of those collapsible coffee cups rather than a thermal one and keep all my bits in a small ziplock. Glasses are in one of those fabric bags rather than a hard case. Having said all that, I always find a properly worn rucksack with decent straps much easier on my back than a cross body.

Choose a cross body bag with a fairly wide strap. They can really dig in if too narrow and if bag too heavy.

Thanks all - I have a Kipling bag (although I'm not sure I like the style) so will try that/see if I can find something similar.

Thanks also for the streamlining tips - I have a notebook as I go to a lot of meetings and it'll look a bit dodgy if I'm on my phone making notes!

I have a small coin purse & a small card holder (in an attempt to reduce what I'm carrying!)

Any other tips/recommendations?

It's the water that makes the biggest difference for me. I've got a 250ml bottle now and am looking to get an even smaller one, as I really just use it when I'm desperate - otherwise, I'll get water wherever I am, or refill the bottle in a coffee shop or something.

I also got a silicone collapsible coffee mug for days when I have to carry it round, though I prefer the glass ones if I'm not going as far.

I'm surprised physio thinks cross body is better than rucksack as cross body will distribute weight less evenly and you carry the weight much lower down which causes increased strain. Has physio checked you are wearing rucksack correctly? Obviously I don't know your back issues so sorry if I'm going over old ground.
Anyway I have back problems so sympathise. Agree with suggestions to use a smaller water bottle and refill more often.

Have you weighed the individual items to see what is heaviest? That may help to decide what you need to remove or replace with lighter version, or even just to see if lighter versions exist, e.g. of coffee cup, purse etc.

Also re: coin purse - how much have you got in there? Do you really need it all or could you empty out the coins save a couple of pound coins and notes for each day? Or when you are in a shop make sure you spend loose change rather than carry it or take it home. Also what cards are you carrying? Loyalty cards can go on an app so you don't need to take them out (apart from Boots annoyingly). How many bank cards are you taking out each day. You may only need one.

Also are the cases for your kindle, phone, glasses etc light cases?

Silicon collapsible cup sounds good - I'm going to google that!

I don't tend to have much change tbh - I'll use contactless wherever I can :-)

I'll also look at a smaller water bottle, although I do drink a lot of water and am trying to avoid buying plastic bottles.

I was also surprised about the physio - I had a small rucksack/handbag with me and just flung it over my shoulder as I got up - she told me that I should get a cross body bag and wear it the opposite side to where I have back pain/problems (lower back disc issues).

She was right in that I tend to prefer my left shoulder for bag carrying (if im not using both straps), but I'd always thought back packs were better...

Yes that is odd advice!
I guess try it out and see what you think.
But also try carrying rucksack with both straps (I know you know - it's probably just a habit to sling on one shoulder that you need to change) and make sure straps are adjusted and tightened correctly so bag is carried high on your back (rather than dangling mid back) and fits snug to you.

I use very small notebooks that come in packs of 3 from moleskine or paperchase - They have a light card cover and weigh almost nothing.
Only partially fill water bottle if you reckon you can get refills when needed?

fewer gadgets. notebook and.pen wont run out of battery.

if you need mobile internet for work you are stuck with brick and charger. if not get a decent phone (£10 samsung) as currently.in my pocket, charge lasts a week or more

no need for coffee on the move, ditch that and drink less/spend less.

I am not a.physio - but really? obviously not a crap fashion ruck sack with.a ton of trim, straps and trinkets, but no proper one with a.hip belt? need not be huge. buy bloke, nothing designed for.women.

The heaviest items are the water bottle and kindle.
Can you use the kindle app on your phone instead?
Not sure what to advise about the water as I'm not in the habit of carrying water around with me unless I'm sightseeing in a hot country.

You can buy a bag that is apparently specially designed for backs. They are called something like The healthy back bag Company ( or thereabouts)

Try a healthy back bag.

Also surprised the physio said a cross body bag over a rucksack. Do you always wear the rucksack Just with one strap? Perhaps using both straps would be better?

A cross body makes my back worse, but to try and help one with a wider strap usually helps with the weight distribution. A thin strap can pull on my neck and then in turn make my neck and back ache.

Eastpac are good, very light and strong. Well designed. I have one of those Fjallraven kanken backpacks which are designed not to put pressure on the back. They're excellent.

Wearing any bag on one shoulder on one side will be bad. A ruck sack on one shoulder is awful. You have to keep your shoulder slightly tense and up in order to keep the bag on. What rucksack have you got? A leather one with thin straps or a day pack?

I'd carry any old bag in the way she has suggested for a while before I spent any money - just to check she's right about it being more comfortable.

There are loads of designs of kipling bags, they are not all frumpy