wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

We will be making our first ever trip to Europe (Italy) this fall. We start in Venice, then spend 6 days hiking and sightseeing in the Cinque Terre and Tuscany, then Florence and end with a couple of days in Rome. I usually carry my camera, extra lenses and other gear in a Tamrac backpack and use a Black Rapid sling strap when I'm walking. This time I'm going light on the camera gear. I'll have my Canon40D with a single 15-85mm lens and a Canon S110 point and shoot. I may or may not have a tablet with me.

My backpack is kind of large and not a very safe way to carry stuff, so I don't think it will make the trip, but I do want to be able to carry some items like rain gear, snacks, water, etc while we're hiking, riding trains and being tourists.

I am concerned about safety and security when I am in tourist areas, especially crowded ones. I've hard about slash and run thieves, so my question is: what is the best way to carry my gear to avoid theft?

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

You can always turn your bag/backpack around to the front like a baby carrier.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Consider Pacsafe:

http://www.pacsafe.com/camsafe-v25-camera-backpack-1.html

I never had a problem in the Italian countryside, but in big cities like Rome or Naples, you have got to be aware.

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

My expensive monopod was stolen in Milan while I was standing nearby, I let go of it to use the cell phone. Watch your stuff carefully.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

wkocken,
Are you doing the National Geographic Photo Exp. of Tuscany and Cinque Terre with Massimo Bassano? I am doing that trip 20-28 October. It is a difficult situation to pack for as they suggest going light. (I am also going to Turkey just before. Since I plan to do some early morning and night shooting, I am taking a tripod!) I'd like to take more gear, and leave some in our hotel while out walking. I have several backpacks, but they are hard to access quickly and seem to work better for travel/packing than out and about shooting. I prefer a shoulder bag with a nice padded strap, slung across my body not off one shoulder. You can get these to hold one camera and a few lens, then when the camera is out you roll up your rain jacket and put it in the bag. I have a slightly larger shoulder bag by Domke. I will probably take two cameras, and keep one in the bag ready to grab, and the other on a strap around my neck. One with wide lens, the other with mid-zoom. I did this in April through Cuba and it worked pretty well. I don't like to be changing lenses a lot as I did this in France last year and ended up with a very dirty sensor for most of the trip.
With regard to safety/security, I agree with most of the others. I went to school in Rome a long time ago, and worked in Italy a lot from '98-'07. In Tuscany and Cinque Terre, any countryside really, there is not much to worry about. Rome, Milan, and maybe even crowded Siena if there at the wrong time, could be a problem. Also, if you have a traveling companion, have that person stick near to you and stand on the side your bag is hanging. I also tend to have airline locks on my suitcases, and the camera gear I leave in the room gets locked in the suitcase. Anything small goes in the safe.
Buona fortuna, JH

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Went pretty much all over Italy two years ago. I took my D7000 with a 18-200 VR ll in a Tamrac 517 zoom pack. Lens and hood down camera up. The pack has a addition waist strap for added security from pick pockets. One strap over the head on far shoulder the other around the waist. This zoom pack has been around Europe several times s well as Hawaii. Love it. $57 from B&H.

wkocken Loc: McGregor, MN

Everyone,
Lots of great ideas, keep 'em coming.
What about a messenger style bag? Are they comfortable enough if we're doing lots of hiking, say 5-10 miles a day, or are they more suitable for street shooting?

Rgrenader,
The Pacsafe looks interesting. But, I'm wary of anything on my back which would be tempting.

John,
We're doing a tour through Backroads for the Cinque Terre and Tuscany portion. We're on our own for the rest of the trip.

Duane,
Does the Tamrac zoom pack rid on your back, hip or in front?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I use my F-stop Shibata messenger bag all the time. I can hold my EM-1, battery grip, 75, 12-40, and 2 more little primes along with a ton of accessories. I also have a water bottle holder that I attache to the strap. Keep in mind my setup is smaller than yours, but it's a very versatile, comfortable bag.

http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/millar/shibata.html

The bandon model may work better.

preachy Loc: Dover Plains, NY

I use a messenger style bag when going out for shorter shoots, or when I only need to carry a camera one/two lenses. I bought a Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home bag last year, and I absolutely love it! It's light, well padded, weather resistant, and very comfortable to carry.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Since you are going to be hiking, look into one of the solar chargers that fit on a backpack. They are slow but work good. (It's always nice to have some power here and there.)

Another thing; don't have to much cash on you. Prior to leaving get a bunch of replaceable money orders at your local bank. Any hotel, large store, bank, etc. will accept them and they are easy to replace. Although credit cards are good, they are also often a pain to replace.

Be careful in Venice. When I visited it, I was told to watch my belongings. Only having my camera strapped like a typical tourist, (safest way), and my wallet, (crooks will take cameras but cell phones are the easiest for them to sell and money.)

I decided to put my wallet inside my front pocket AND luckily had both hands inside my pockets when a mid twenty's couple quickly walked by me.

The male was nearest me and had one arm over her shoulders and was pointing to something with the other. The female on the other side with her arm around his waist. (Looking pretty normal.)

As they walked by, the couple swaggered and the male bumping me. At the same time, the female put her hand inside my front pocket and carefully started trying to grab anything she could.

Having my hand on top of my wallet, she didn't get it and I think I actually scratched her hand at the same time. After that they went to "look" at a store window. What could I do? A language barrier, no cops at the time, nothing was taken, so I just keep walking along.

The crooks are everywhere in larger cities, "gypsey's" around France and a well practiced bunch can try to steal at any time. Be very careful of a bunch of children also! They crowd around you asking for candy or something else while that is happening the others are begging and trying to get anything they can. All the cops do is briefly tell them to leave.

Be careful!

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

wkocken:
It rides on your hip. Main strap over your head and on my right shoulder, cross chest. Pack on my left hip with smaller bottom strap going around waist. Also wear it bicycle riding. Need the camera, open the top and grip the camera. On page 218 in B&H's latest catalog Tamrac 517 Zoom pack, $56.95. I have had and it for years, including back in film camera days.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

John Howard: It's going to be warm in Italy in October, whose climate is similar to Southern California. And the Cinque Terra walk is long. You'd be better served with a monopod and a fast lens.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Also I often hang a monopod from one of the clips, and just let it dangle.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Venice & Florence are usually very safe. I've been there 7 times and never had any sort of problem. Rome could be another matter. Like anywhere else, you have to keep up with your stuff. You might have to watch the train stations and trains more carefully although I have traveled a lot by train in Italy and France and have never had any problems. Naples and Rome, in that order, are the least safe places in Italy. I always wear a money pouch and stick pocket money in my front pants pocket along with my credit cards and passports. Venice is very, very crowded, more so than Florence and I always protect myself from pickpockets. The pickpockets can be very bad in Rome. I can't speak for hiking and maybe some else can. You will really love it. I'm going to London and Paris next month and I will take much of my gear. I carry a backpack for travel and a daypack for walking around. Have a great trip.

seagullmist Loc: Niantic CT

Google pick pockets and watch some of the videos to learn how they work. Children are used also for this and they travel in groups. They are every good at distracting you and getting you wallet or anything else.