What is best to carry while touring?

What do you all suggest to carry while touring? Backpack or smaller? Purse not advisable? I assume money pouch is best to protect against pickpocketers?

What is best to carry while touring?

Money belt (under your clothes) for your cash, TCs (if any), cards (if any) and passport.

Anything else, preferably something that you can sling over your shoulder + neck ie across your body. Not backpack.

What is best to carry while touring?

only bring some nessiaries and be careful in the crowrsa.

not brng many chas on your body and also bring some medicine,it%26#39;s also useful

Jeff

I think a backpack (smaller daypack) is very handy for carrying bottled water, guidebook, some TP, hand cleanser, maybe a snack, things you might buy, and perhaps even a light jacket or other layer you are not using at some point during the day.

Of course backpacks are not ideal for valuables, though I have often carried my camera in one. When not full, backpacks carried over one shoulder do easily slip under one arm to keep them safe in a crowd.

People I know who have been robbed left items unattended in a hostel, were pickpocketed on a crowded public bus or in a crowded train station (that one was me, I had 2 mao/jiao stolen from an outer coat pocket in the Guangzhou Train Station!), or had a bag/backpack stolen that they had set down in a restaurant.

Anything big enough and comfortable enough should be fine.

I agree that an underclothes moneybelt or neck pouch is best for most money and credit cards. Of course you need to keep some cash handy.

While we%26#39;re on this topic: don%26#39;t put wallets in any back pockets.

All great suggestions, thanks!!

I would advise against backpacks as pickpocketers find them easy targets in crowds. I imagine it would be uncomfortable to constantly have one hand guarding your back!

When you have to show your wallet, like in making payment, show that what little else are in that wallet. In other words, take 2, one to show/use and the other to store in a more secure place.

A small daybag backpack is still larger than a lap bag. The advantage is that the weight is shared by both shoulders. It should be locked. In tight situation, it can be slipped off one shoulder to swing to the front in your arms. No bag would stand up to a blade anyway. The smaller the bag, the easier and handier to hangon to it, not to be left alone nor forgotten.

Are your warnings against a backpack due to people taking their hands in and out or them slicing it right off your back? It%26#39;s hard to be equipped with toiletries without something of decent size to carry them around in.

Good idea about the two wallets.

Tricky to know what is the best to carry.

Where to you all buy these daypacks?

You can buy a low-price backpack in any department store or office-supply store. The ideal pack for travel in my mind is one that is not fancy, but instead one that is thin and compresses into a small space so it doesn%26#39;t take a lot of extra space in your luggage (unless you use it as a carry-on bag). You can find backpacks designed specifically for this purpose.

If you have things like TP and a bottle of water in your pack, it won%26#39;t be too big of a problem if someone steals them.

Good points. Thanks, travellevret!