quote:

Originally posted by Kevmo:
If I am traveling and taking minimal gear I love the LowePro AW backpacks. I think I have a 150 or 200 that I use and it is perfect for Body with 1-3 lenses and flash, batteries etc...

This is what I also use because it holds all my gear.

I am looking for something a bit smaller for most times when I don't need to carry it all.

Naneu

These May be too big, but we have a smaller one that we have loved.

I have a PacSafe backpack. Doesn't scream "expensive camera gear" and the outside of the pack and the shoulder straps are "laced" with steel wire, making a slash and grab robbery quite difficult. The zippers are strong, and also can clip lock close, also to thwart theft.

I just use my Maxpedition VersaPack. I roll up a t-shirt and put it in the bottom for padding.

Ken Rockwell says to use a diaper bag. No one steals a diaper bag.

LA Police Gear has these on closeout for $20. They seem to be pretty decently made: padded, with modular sub-dividers. I picked up one a few months ago, but it was bigger than what I needed (Dimensions: 9" W x 12" H x 8" D).

http://www.lapolicegear.com/co-tg-168-camera-bag.html

HTH

I will add one more thing. You said a cruise with I am guessing mines port calls in other countries. I don't know where you are going but I have traveled many places with a camera and some of them I will use a regular backpack with the camera in a padded case inside the pack. There are places you don't want something that screams camera bag even if you are aware of your surroundings.

Thanks for the suggestions, I ended up ordering one of these to try out.

http://store.lowepro.com/sling...lingshot-edge-250-aw

Originally I really wanted a backpack rather than a single strap sling bag. But the design of this, the ability to rotate around the front to work out of it and the extra security of it forced me to re-examine my thinking.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
But the design of this, the ability to rotate around the front to work out of it and the extra security of it forced me to re-examine my thinking.

I haven't used that specific bag, but the rotate-around-the-front thing is pretty nice. That's one of the things I really like about the Peak Design backpack - both sides zip open and the dividers are horizontal, so you can slip one strap off and sling it around in front of you and get into it.