Yes another park bag thread...

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I have been on the hunt for a perfect park bag for years now.
Since 2014 I've been using Vera Bradley hipster crossbody bags but lately I've found them to be too big and yet too small since they are slim profile.
I've also found my shoulder hurting which I guess is just coming with my age. I'm not in my 20's anymore lol.
I tested out the Jansport half pint FX at the county fair and I did like it but I was mostly just walking around not going on rides where I would have to take it off and put it on constantly so not sure how I'd like it at Disney.

Its weird because I'm someone that loves the idea of as compact as possible yet I like the idea of having extra space to toss a bottle of water or my hat or bag of Halloween candy without having to somehow hang them on the side of a bag.

I also like the idea of a hands free option like a belt bag.

I recently came across the brand Lug which has a crossbody that turns into a belt bag (the model is called Carousel 3). It seems like it could meet my needs for organization, compact, yet big enough for extras, and it can be a crossbody or belt bag so its versatile.

I'm curious as to if anyone owns a Lug brand belt bag and how you like it or if not what is the bag you use for the parks?

I love getting ideas to check out to see if they may work well for me.

 

[LaughingGravy]

33 year old Eddie Bauer backpack works great for me.

 

[graphite1326]

Do what I do. Don't take one.

I take myself and my Magic band. I don't like being bogged down with anything.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Do what I do. Don't take one.

I take myself and my Magic band. I don't like being bogged down with anything.

Sorry I do not like going bagless. It's not for some people.

 

[rpcrow]

A Bagallini RFID Mini Cross body bag, fits my iPhone on the back for easy access and inside a small pouch to fit credit cards, few mints and lipgloss. Easy to get through security and also water resistant if it starts to rain.

 

[eliza61nyc]

So like @graphite1326 I'm now on the dark side and don't bring a bag with me when I'm in the parks, but when I went to Greece this summer I took the "simple crossbody" bag by madewell

easy enough for me to throw the essentials in and I like it better than those nylon travel cross body bag.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I don't take much with me to the parks: my phone (sometimes with a small charging pack), sunglasses, a couple of credit cards/ID/insurance, some Band-Aids and Tylenol, maybe Chapstick. If I need a sweatshirt for later, I tie it around my waist. If I need a drink, I stop at a drinking fountain, or get free water from a CS location, so there's no need to lug around a bottle of water. (If somebody would invent the perfect pair of ladies shorts/capris with zippable pockets big enough for a phone and situated in a spot where you won't break your phone by sitting down, I'd go bagless -- until that time, we press on.)

Depending on the occasion or my mood when I'm packing (or the colors of the outfits I'm taking), I either carry a tiny crossbody bag with a sturdy strap, like the one below from Baggallini (thinner straps cut into my shoulder and don't seem as secure), or even a waist pack (I just asked for the one below, for Christmas). What I love about both of them is that they can be worn close to the body and shifted to accommodate any ride restraint (and even worn into restaurants or restrooms) without being taken off, so there's no chance of [forgetful and easily-distracted] me losing them. One advantage to the waist pack is that it's effortless, and if you are ample-chested, you don't have to suffer the one disadvantage of a cross-body bag: that strap threading its way between your [oh my gosh they keep bleeping every mammary-related word I post here, however benign -- let's see if this works -- "jahoobies"] all day and pushing the fabric of your shirt in between them as if to yell to the world, "Hey, check these OUT!!!!"

OP, I too have purchased and used bags that convert from crossbody to waist pack before -- for me, the novelty wore off quickly and it was inconvenient to make the adjustment from one style of bag to another, so I ended up wearing it as a crossbody 99% of the time. I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you, but it sounds like you've struck a good balance between size and function.

 

[networkpro]

My wife has moved to small cross body bags, but only those with the integrated wallet feature. Otherwise everything becomes a jumble inside unless you also fill it with a wallet. Also to complicate finding these bags, she only likes leather bags as the impregnated cloth and pleather ones are not durable at all. So in the past two years, that has eliminated Dooney and Burke since they've switched to cloth, and only the Brahmin Kimie this year fits the bill.

 

[graphite1326]

Sorry I do not like going bagless. It's not for some people.

What do you put in it?

 

[JustAFan]

I carry a string backpack.

What do you put in it?

Any or all of: poncho, water bottle, chapstick, autograph book (for kids), jacket, hand sanitizer

 

[graphite1326]

I carry a string backpack.


Any or all of: poncho, water bottle, chapstick, autograph book (for kids), jacket, hand sanitizer

I do sometimes take a poncho. Wal Mart special fits in my back pocket.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

What do you put in it?

Phone
Small portable charger
Chap stick
Tiny body spray
A few sticks of gum in a band aid holder
Round folding travel size hair brush
Small round pill container with OTC meds
A few throw away ponchos
Small travel wallet
Sports strap for my glasses for RNRC

All of these things can fit in a compact bag however like I said I like to have enough room in a bag to toss a bottle of water (I usually take a bottle of water and then refill it. Sometimes I get free ice water but its just not my style.), my hat (for when I go on more wild rides), and candy/cookies (when I go to a party)

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I do sometimes take a poncho. Wal Mart special fits in my back pocket.

Curious as to your gender.

 

[Rinx]

Sports strap for my glasses for RNRC

All of these things can fit in a compact bag however like I said I like to have enough room in a bag to toss a bottle of water (I usually take a bottle of water and then refill it. Sometimes I get free ice water but its just not my style.), my hat (for when I go on more wild rides), and candy/cookies (when I go to a party)

If it helps to limit what you carry and size of bag, I have never taken my glasses off for any ride including RNRC. Never felt like I might lose them. I also either hold my hat or just put it in the seat pouch.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If it helps to limit what you carry and size of bag, I have never taken my glasses off for any ride including RNRC. Never felt like I might lose them. I also either hold my hat or just put it in the seat pouch.

I will not chance anything happening to my $500 eyeglasses that are a rare prescription. An eye glasses sports strap is not a bulky item to ensure they are secure.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Phone
Small portable charger
Chap stick
Tiny body spray
A few sticks of gum in a band aid holder
Round folding travel size hair brush
Small round pill container with OTC meds
A few throw away ponchos
Small travel wallet
Sports strap for my glasses for RNRC

All of these things can fit in a compact bag however like I said I like to have enough room in a bag to toss a bottle of water (I usually take a bottle of water and then refill it. Sometimes I get free ice water but its just not my style.), my hat (for when I go on more wild rides), and candy/cookies (when I go to a party)

Given the amount of room you potentially need, and for ease of slipping it on and off, I'd recommend that you also consider a small backpack (ideally with thick straps to distribute weight, a water bottle pocket on the side for easy access, and a front flap with wallet-style organizer pockets, a phone pocket and a key carabiner). Bonus points if it's waterproof -- then you don't have to worry about the contents on wet rides or during a downpour, and can clean it easily. (I keep thinking about the adorable little LoungeFly backpacks in adorable Disney designs that they carry at Box Lunch, although those lack a water bottle pocket...) This one has everything but waterproof-ness: https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags...pack-wrfid-security/355707?productid=10689754

Backpacks are surprisingly easy to take on attractions with you -- DH often carries one. If it can't be squished into whatever pocket is available for bags inside the ride vehicle, then it can be placed on the floor. Thread one of your feet through a strap to keep it from flying around (e.g., on Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain R.R., Rock 'n' Rollercoaster), and you're good to go. On Kali River Rapids or Splash Mountain, he simply wears the backpack backwards (against his chest), with a disposable poncho over the top. It looks a little comical, but it gets the job done!

 

[epcotisbest]

My wife likes the Vera Bradley Small Backpack. It is lightweight, fairly roomy and easy to hand carry, use with one strap over shoulder or on the back with both straps.
Having said that, we now go bagless too, carrying nothing to the parks that won't fit in pockets.

 

[dreamfinder]

Messenger bag all day long. Either Timbuk2 or Crumpler. Both are pretty bombproof, and can adapt to be my carryon for the plane with laptop and assorted stuff, and then carry camera, rainjackets, water bottles, etc etc etc while in the parks.

 

[TheGuyThatMakesSwords]

Just me - let's back up?

WHAT must you carry? Start with that which you absolutely need in the park....

Now? If it won't fit into a pillow case, you might want to trim contents down. The idea is to have a concept of your VOLUME. Once you get this? You can pick the right bag with about 1.5 X that volume. For a couple? You may need TWO.

Key stuff: In FL, be sure that the bag is light, and rain resistant ("Water PROOF" usually results in a dive bag - heavy & hot).
A good metric is something that employs coated Nylon.

We still use an older LL Bean Coated Nylon Pack, big enough for TWO packed Nylon Coated Rain Parka's, and TWO 300 Weight Fleece sweaters (useful NOV-DEC). But we are an older couple - just two. YOUR volume needs may be different .

 

[thecouch]

Get a sea to summit backpack. They are the size of a old film canister when fold down and can fit in pocket.carry water bottle, battery pack in pocket and jumper on to get through security. After getting into park you can put everything in back pack and have plenty of room for gifts